Matthew's Children

“I realize no one in the firm will be clamoring to handle this one.”

Russell had that right. Sexual misconduct involving a minor. You couldn’t get much uglier than that. Usually, such cases were assigned on a rotating basis. Who had handled the last one? Matthew knew it hadn’t been him.

“According to the schedule, this one is Jane’s.”

Matthew, like everyone else in the room, turned to her. Jane’s face paled, but she showed no other reaction.

“However, in this instance,” Russell continued, “our client has requested a specific lawyer. Matthew Gray.”

Matthew felt sucker punched. “Who is this guy? Did he give any reason for requesting me?”

“He’s the coach of your son’s soccer team. He says you met at the season start-up party for the Blazers.”

Matthew did his best to organize his thoughts. “You must be talking about Wally Keller.”

“That’s correct.”

“What, exactly, is Coach Keller alleged to have done?” Please let it have nothing to do with Derrick.

“The police are investigating him for sexual misconduct with the twin sister of one of the boys on the team.”

Matthew only knew of one guy on the team who had a twin sister. Right now, he couldn’t remember either of their names. “Do you have a name?”

“Sarah Boutin.”

His memory quickly provided him with an image of the girl. An outgoing blonde, tall and thin like her brother. Matthew recalled the boy’s name now; it was Robert. The Boutins lived in the same neighborhood as his ex-wife and kids. He had a dim recollection of Robert and Sarah coming over to play with Derrick when they were younger.

“Is she okay?”

“She’s at home with her mother, so physically she must be fine. But she has claimed sexual abuse, and medical examination has confirmed this. We don’t yet know the details of what transpired.”

Details. Matthew’s stomach turned. “And she said Coach Keller was responsible?”

“That’s right.”

He swore. “I don’t want anything to do with this case.”

“None of us does, Matt. But the client is asking for you. He told me you seemed like a decent guy and he wanted your help with this.”

Damn it. Why had Keller done that? Matthew would have been pleased to refer him to several excellent attorneys.

With all eyes on him, Matthew shook his head. “Isn’t it obvious I can’t do it? I have a conflict of interest. My son is on his soccer team.”

“That makes it a gray area, I agree. Which is why I’ve decided to put two lawyers on this one. You’ll be on the team primarily to hold Keller’s hand, walk him through this. You know how tough these cases can be.”

Hold his hand? Walk him through it? “I’m a pretty expensive babysitter.”

Everyone chuckled, including Russell, but the senior partner didn’t back down. “I have no doubt you’ll provide the client with good value. Besides, this is an excellent career opportunity for you. This case has the potential to be high-profile.”

“What if I’m not that ambitious?”

Again there was laughter. No one in the room considered it possible that he wasn’t joking.

Actually, one person didn’t laugh. Jane’s gaze met his, warm with sympathy, but also a hint of apprehension. Matthew thought he understood why.

As if he could read Matthew’s mind, Russell nodded. “You’ll be working with Jane on this one, Matt. That’s who I’ve decided should be lead lawyer.”

“But—” He and Jane objected at the same time.

Russell held up his hand. “I know the two of you haven’t worked together in a while. But we’re a small team here and that can’t go on forever. Eve and Davis agree with me.”

He said nothing more, and neither did Jane nor Matthew. But as soon as the meeting was over, Matthew intended to have a strongly worded chat with Russell. From the grim expression on Jane’s face, so did she.

Chapter Two

“THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE, Russell.” Jane sounded calm. The only sign betraying her agitation was the end-over-end rotation of her pen as she jabbed it again and again on a blank page of her notepad.

Matthew recognized the nervous habit from years of observing Jane in court. It was something she fell back on when she felt cornered.

The three of them were alone in the conference room now. The other partners had scattered at the official closing of the meeting. Jane and Matthew had moved to sit on either side of Russell.

“She’s right,” he said, hoping his composure was a match for hers. “We can’t work together.”

“Aren’t you being dramatic? A year has passed, guys. The divorce is behind you, Matt. We can’t do anything about that now.”

Russell made it sound so cut-and-dried. From a legal standpoint, Matthew supposed he was correct. But emotional wounds couldn’t be healed with a court document. A year had passed but they were all still hurting.

“Come on, Russell. You’ve made Jane the lead lawyer. She might as well handle the case on her own. I’ll just get in her way.”

“Wally Keller is scared, Matt. Can you imagine how it feels to be accused of something like this? What do you suppose he’ll tell his wife? His kids? He knows you and he trusts you. Can you blame him for wanting a familiar face on his team?”

Matthew paused, thinking about how Wally had gone out of his way to help his son at the beginning of the season. Unlike most of the other boys on the team, Derrick hadn’t started his adolescent growth spurt yet and was self-conscious about his size. At the team’s first practice, the coach proposed a strategy for dealing with the bigger boys on the field. His suggestions had given Derrick a whole new confidence in his abilities.

“If Matt has to be on the case, then let him handle it on his own,” Jane insisted. “Or assign another lead lawyer.”

“No one else has the time right now. And since your Laskin case wrapped up last week, Jane, you’re the obvious choice. Besides, it is your turn.”

She bowed her head, acknowledging the logic of his argument.

“Matt. Jane. Let’s be reasonable adults here. We can’t let a bunch of ugly rumors—and I have no doubt they were just rumors—destroy two excellent careers. Everyone remembers how well you two used to work together. Your skills complement each other, and I have every faith in your ability to provide Wally Keller the best defense this firm can offer.”

With that, Russell rose from his chair. He slid a file to the center of the table. “This is all I have so far. Mr. Keller is scheduled for an initial consult at one o’clock tomorrow. I’ve taken the liberty of booking the small conference room for your meeting.”

He left the room, diplomatically closing the door behind him. Matthew fixed his gaze on the folder. As he watched, Jane reached for it and pulled it across the table.

Their eyes met.

“I suppose Russ has a point,” Matthew began tentatively. “In a firm this size we can’t avoid each other forever.”