Wearing the Spider (A Suspense Novel) (Legal Thriller) (Thriller)

by Schaab, Susan

  “One has to wonder, though. I mean, if I’m the one who concocted this scheme of fraud and deceit, why would I not suddenly just disappear with the money? What did he plan to do and say after this thing closes? Did he really think I would just go along with this?”

  “Eves. That’s what I’m afraid of. He might not stop at setting you up. I don’t mean to scare you, but maybe he intends to silence you. So that you can’t defend yourself … so that he can say that he discovered your sinister plot and tried to stop you. And you won’t be around to say anything different.”

  “You meeeaaan … kill me?” She swallowed a bite of omelet with a gulp. ‘Oh Joe, no. No. No he couldn’t. I can’t imagine even Alan going that far. Miss Adelio was a threat. She was trying to reveal something they didn’t want revealed, and we don’t know who killed her. It could’ve been someone connected to their business partner. I’m actually of some importance to Alan’s scheme. At least until the deal closes, right? Otherwise, how could he claim I was the one to’ve closed it behind the firm’s back?”

  “I just want you to be very aware, stay off the streets as much as possible and check in with me.”

  “I will.” She took a bite of omelet and stared off into space.

  “I’d love to stop this deal,” she said. “That would support my argument that I had nothing to do with setting it up.”

  “The last woman who tried to stop it is in refrigeration at the morgue. Let the feds take over. Promise me you’ll stay in populated areas and you won’t take any chances.”

  “Okay. So you’re in New York for how long?”

  “Fortunately, today I have this meeting that would’ve been held in New York anyway. I can shuffle things around next week. Then, we’ll see.”

  “Who’s going to take care of Ayoka and Ajani?”

  He smiled. “A friend of mine agreed to stop by and get them. They’re going to stay on his ranch for a few days.”

  “They will probably enjoy that.”

  “Eves, I’m reachable by cell all day. I want you to call me if you need me. Promise?”

  “Joe?”

  “Yes?”

  “I love you.”

  He smiled and raised the last bite of his breakfast. “You know, you make a great omelet.”

  “So glad you like it.”

  31

  She stopped by the firm later that morning just to see if there was any more mail containing handwritten accusations. To her relief, there was nothing. Once in her office, it was almost as if nothing had changed, none of the administrative staff reacted any differently to her, and she wondered if any announcement had been made.

  Since she was there, she checked her messages. Adam. Roma Sori. It broke her heart not to be able to continue working for her favorite client. That SerosaSoft deal would definitely be active over the next two weeks. Despite the instructions from Paul, she dialed Adam’s office. His secretary, Kim, answered and asked her to hold. Kim added that Adam wanted very much to talk to her. She waited.

  “Evie! How are you? I’ve been very interested in the current events at your firm. I was sorry to hear about Hanover. How’s he doing?”

  “Adam, I’m actually not sure, but thanks for your concern.”

  “Well, I’ve heard rumblings this morning about changes to be made in your firm. And, well, let me get to the point. I would like very much for you to consider an in-house position.”

  “A job with Roma Sori?”

  “Yes. As you know, our general counsel recently resigned and since then we’ve just been outsourcing all our legal work, relying on your firm for all our legal needs. Actually, we’ve been relying on you for the most part. You’ve been just an enormous asset to our company. We think that you have exceptional talent and that you would be a great addition to our organization.”

  “I’m very flattered, Adam. And I appreciate your confidence in me, but I’ve never worked in-house, with responsibility for the full array of legal needs of a company such as Roma Sori. I will have to consider this very carefully—”

  “Yes, of course. Let me just say that there would be several options for you to consider. If you wanted to serve Roma Sori as legal counsel, that would be welcome and you would still have a budget for outside legal support. If not, I would want to talk to you about other options. There could be other positions within the company you might find interesting, uhh … Evie, excuse me one minute.” She could hear him speak to someone in his office.

  Working for Roma Sori exclusively. Now, this is an interesting proposal.

  Adam completed his local conversation and continued, “For example, and this is just a suggestion as you may have no interest in anything outside a pure legal role, but I’d like to talk to you about taking your career a completely different direction. I’ve been thinking about this for some time. There are some new Roma Sori product lines that need leadership. Perhaps you might consider heading up a division. I’m talking about an Executive Vice President position.”

  “Adam, I don’t know what to say.”

  “Will you think about it? I mean I can’t yet offer explicit details on the scope of the position, but you have demonstrated an unusual skill for marketing and the decision-making that goes with managing a product line. You’re a quick study. And, whatever position you selected, your legal mind would be a valued internal asset.”

  “Adam, thank you for the offer. I’ll give your proposal careful consideration.”

  “No rush, Evie. The reorganization I’m planning would take place over a six-to-eight month period.”

  “Adam. One more thing. I should tell you that for the next two weeks at least, you can reach me at my home number or on my cell.”

  “Taking a vacation?”

  “No. Actually, a short leave of absence. So interestingly enough, your proposals are incredibly well-timed.”

  “Good! If you decide that either one of them is the least bit attractive, call me and we can put some flesh on the bone. Talk specifics.”

  “Okay, Adam. Thanks again. I’ll be in touch.”

  Evie hung up and was about to dial another client when she looked up to see Jenna stick her head in.

  “Jen. Hey, how are you?” Evie said hanging up the telephone receiver.

  “It finally happened,” quipped Jenna as she walked into the office. “I used a handicapped stall in the bathroom at the airport like I always do, but this time there was actually a woman in a wheelchair waiting when I got out.”

  Evie smiled. “I’m sure she didn’t mind.”

  “Have a minute?”

  “Yes. Of course,” Evie said waving her over to sit down.

  “I’ve been traveling nonstop. I just got back this morning from Philly. Is it true? Are you taking a leave?” She sat down frowning and looked down at Evie’s desk as if the answer was there somewhere.

  “Yes.”

  “Was it your idea?

  “No.”

  “I can’t fucking believe it. Hanover’s laid up for a few days and the vultures are circling. All kinds of rumors about changes to the firm. I think there’s a merger in the works. Do you think you’ve lost your chance at partnership?”

  “I think that’s the reality, even though nothing was said. I guess it’s up to you now, Jen. This round is all yours.”

  “Damn! I can’t believe they’re doing this to you. What a bunch of short-sighted pricks! Does this have to do with that Gerais Chevas deal?”

  “I think so. I think it’s that and bad performance reviews and the fact that I finally reported that Chicago incident. They want to be seen as indulging me with time to evaluate my options. They’ve left it up to me whether or not to stay, but I can’t imagine ever being trusted by the rest of the partners if I ever did get an invitation to join.”

  “That sounds like retaliation for having reported a harassment.”

  “Well, I guess they see it as giving me a paid breather, but I know they’re using it as a way to keep Alan from interacting with me until
the temperatures cool. Anyway, it doesn’t feel like a positive.”

  “What are you going to do?” asked Jenna as she sat down across from Evie.

  “I don’t know.” Evie was not going to confide in Jenna about hiring a lawyer or any more of the Gerais Chevas details. While being somewhat self-protective, she knew that involving Jenna in the secrecy and imminent confrontation undoubtedly ahead, might interfere with her friend’s own career objectives. There was nothing to gain and everything to lose.

  Evie stood, walked around to the front of the desk and hugged Jenna.

  “You’re a good friend, Jen. I’ll stay in touch.”

  Jenna hugged her back, frowned and made her promise to call when she made up her mind about her future.

  After Jenna left, Evie sorted through new messages on her desk and there was a note in an envelope from Helen saying Beverly had confirmed Alan’s presence in Dallas on the same dates Evie was there. I’m glad I found this before someone else did, she thought.

  Before leaving, she docked her laptop and powered it up to see if Paul had responded to her email. Her eyes fell on her inbox, its messages filling the screen. Not only was there no new email from Paul, she noticed as she looked more closely that she’d not received a new email in several days. The date of the last new one was two days before her meeting with Paul. Could the cessation have anything to do with the partners’ decision for her to take a leave? Paul had said she would still have office and computer privileges during the leave. She immediately suspected Alan and wondered how he could have unilaterally stopped her flow of email.

  A few of the final ones in the inbox were unread, so she opened each of them. One was from a female trademark paralegal from within Finley Regent. It read that she was confused about the initiation of a trademark search for a list of product names, Neolactin, being the most recent. She’d written that there was no one in the paralegal departments of any of the divisions by the name of Beth Hoffman. Evie remembered that there had been a whole series of new drug names, for which trademark clearance had been requested by that same woman. Evie looked for the latest email she’d received bearing that name. She found it and opened it. It contained the internal firm client number for Finley Regent, 1270, which she remembered thinking was strange. Where could those inquiries have come from?

  She forwarded both emails on to Paul with a question so someone could follow up, but then wondered if her ability to send emails had also been squashed. Maybe Paul had not received the email she’d sent with her time record and workflow attached. Maybe that was by design.

  Her BlackBerry rang, and she recognized the number.

  “Hello, Michael.”

  “Evie, can you be at my office at two? The Bureau is sending a couple of agents to meet with us.”

  “Yes, I’ll be there. Michael, I just noticed that my ability to send email seems to have been discontinued.”

  “What are you doing logging onto the firm’s network? I told you to stay off.”

  “Well, I was here and my computer was docked. I wanted to check to see if Paul had responded to that last email I sent.”

  “Oh. So, you don’t have any new emails? Are you able to send?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t get an error message.”

  “Try sending me a test message and we’ll bring it up when we meet with them.”

  “Did Joe call you?”

  “Yes, I’ve got a call into his PI.”

  “Did he tell you what else he found?”

  “No, we didn’t talk directly, just exchanged messages.”

  “Okay, we’ll talk when I get there. I’ll see you a little before two.”

  Evie logged off the firm’s network for what felt like the last time. She looked around her office and took a breath. This was probably it. There was sadness after eight years servicing clients in this tiny office. For what purpose had all those hours been expended? The pride and satisfaction of practicing her craft was to be left behind like the echo of a passing parade, bouncing off these walls in silence until the next fledgling attorney and wanna-be partner enthusiastically took up residence here.

  She carried her briefcase out the front door of the building and hurried to the City Bar building on 44th Street to bury herself in research until her meeting with the FBI.

  After some reading among the law treatises, she sat down at one of the library’s computers that was connected to the Internet. A news site she frequented had links to other news organizations and she did some reading on current events, before clicking the link to a local New York site called Press Time Gotham. It was known as a political debate forum and was used routinely as a vehicle for campaigning politicians.

  There was an icon with Senator Arbeson’s photo attached, so she clicked it to see what he was currently releasing to the press. His campaign for re-election was in full swing, so the bullet points listed the series of stump speeches he was to make over the coming months. There was an icon inviting the viewing of video clips. Most of them were archived versions of televised interviews given by his various campaign lieutenants, of which Alan was one. She clicked the video choice bearing Alan’s name and a small window appeared showing Alan, seated in a guest chair, opposite a news analyst. She turned the volume low so she wouldn’t disturb the few other lawyers sitting at nearby tables.

  “… And so Mr. Levenger, you’re saying, on behalf of Senator Arbeson, that the allegations of bribery are unfounded?”

  “Yes. You know, last time I checked, our justice system entitles a person to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Senators Broewer and Mayor have made outrageous statements that are designed to convince the public that Senator Arbeson is guilty. There is no basis on which to make those statements. This is a political assault and battery. When the facts come out, and let me reiterate that the Senator has been more than cooperative in the investigation, it will be proven that Senator Arbeson is innocent of the charges that have been made against him. And I can tell you that I think the American people will agree that he has handled this incident with tremendous grace.”

  “What about the specific allegation that Senator Arbeson solicited a bribe to grant favors to a Mr. Wheeler, an industrialist from New York …”

  “This is the worst kind of politics, Harvey. It’s crystal clear that Senator Arbeson has become a target by the Democrats who want to steal his senate seat in the coming election. A smear campaign can always find a spokesman. And, Harvey, as you well know, when one dog starts to howl in Washington, well, they all chime in.”

  “So, Senator Arbeson has decided to run again?”

  Alan leaned over the desk and put his hand on the host’s arm, his smile a display of arrogance. She noticed the crows feet take form on the palate of freckle-spotted, tanned skin—an expression of canned charm she had seen close up.

  “Harvey,” Alan said as if he was taking Harvey and the entire nationwide-listening-audience into his confidence. “Senator Arbeson is a great patriot who understands that he has a job to do. He will not be deterred by the jealous, leftist liberals. He will not disappoint the majority in this state who elected him to represent their interests, despite the superficial flesh wounds inflicted by an overzealous challenger and his henchmen.”

  “Well, thank you for your comments, Mr. Levenger.”

  Evie closed the link, her hands sweaty. Just as Ralph had said, even prior to Project Neon, there were already allegations of bribery out there against the Senator. His campaign had not yet managed to establish those allegations as merely a political ploy. They were fighting the typical dirty campaign dogfight.

  At 1:30 p.m., she headed downtown to Michael’s office. While in the taxi, she checked in with Joe, who was just finishing his meeting and heading out for a lunch with his colleagues. He asked her to meet him at the bar in the Four Seasons hotel around six o’clock p.m. and reminded her to be very careful. She agreed and hung up just as the taxi pulled up in front of Michael’s building.

  In
Michael’s office, they sat down for a few minutes before the FBI agents arrived.

  “It was difficult to know what to say to my clients,” said Evie. “I spoke to two of them while I was briefly in my office.”

  “Perhaps they’ll follow you to your next firm.”

  “Hmmm,” she replied. “Did you receive the test email I sent you?”

  “No, I didn’t. They’ll hear about that loss of email access.”

  “That spyware tool Joe sent Alan invisibly collects everything that Alan types and sends it to a remote website. He said one of Alan’s email correspondence trails was a discussion about a Trojan horse that gives someone the ability to control somebody else’s computer.”

  “Well, that would tend to prove the method by which he electronically impersonated you. And, maybe the way he’s changed your email status.”

  “Yes, starting with the Sangerson deal. He sent that original version of that Zoomhelix contract out to get me in trouble and deleted my revised version off the firm’s network. And, then he masqueraded as me to send out all those Gerais Chevas emails.”

  “If you can’t receive email right now, who knows what he’s continuing to plant in your inbox? All the more important to get the FBI working on this.”

  At two o’clock p.m., Michael escorted Evie to a conference room. Two FBI agents had been shown in and were waiting for them. Daniel Weber re-introduced himself and a second agent, Mark Harrison, stood and shook her hand.

  Weber spoke first, “Ms. Sullivan, I want to apologize if I seemed a bit aggressive when we met yesterday. We’ve been investigating the murder of this Brazilian national, Emira Adelio, with Interpol and we had very little to go on. That’s what I do in the face of resistance—I push. In your case, probably a bit too hard.”

  “No problem,” said Evie.

  Michael spoke up next. “Evie, the FBI has offered you an immunity deal related to Gerais Chevas. They’re not targeting you. They’re operating on the theory that you’re an unwitting victim in this scheme and a very valuable source of information. They also see you as an ongoing source. In exchange for the immunity, they want your cooperation in the investigation, your willingness to testify, if necessary, and your commitment to help gather some additional information while still employed with the firm.”