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Authors: Lisa Scottoline
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don’t.”
“Yes, you do.” Judy’s eyes narrowed as she looked through the windshield at the Gardners, who were approaching. “They’re coming. Game face.”
“Got it.” Mary cut the ignition, and she and Judy got out of the car as the Gardners approached, walking in matching stride, which lent an unfortunate uniformity to their appearance, since they were both dressed in white polo shirts, pressed khaki shorts, and boy-and-girl patterns of Teva sandals.
“Welcome, I’m John Gardner.” John extended a large hand, and Mary shook it, trying to give good handshake. He was tall, fit, and handsome, with blue eyes and crow’s-feet that made him look reliable and reddish-brown hair that was turning sterling silver at the temples. His teeth were predictably straight and even, but his smile had a genuine warmth of a suburban dad.
“I’m Mary DiNunzio and this is Judy Carrier.” Mary stole a glance at Allegra’s mother while introductions were being made. Jane Gardner was also tall and thin, with wide-set hazel eyes and highlighted blonde hair scissored into a straight bob, curling obediently at her delicate chinline. Remarkably, however, a four-inch scar marred her right cheek, adding a badass touch to her wholesome American beauty.
“Call me Jane, and we’re happy you could make it today. Did you have much trouble finding us, Mary?”
“No, not at all, thanks.” Mary smiled to show they came in peace. “It’s great to meet you both, after meeting Allegra and hearing all the wonderful things she said about you. She’s a really remarkable young girl, and you must be proud of her.”
“We are, thank you so much.” John touched Mary’s arm and steered her toward the house. “Come on in. We’ll get you both something to drink and we can hash this out. Jane made us some fresh cookies and lemonade.”
“Where’s Allegra?” Mary asked, letting him guide them, and John gestured vaguely to the left, toward some evergreens.
“She’s setting up her new hives.”
“Does she know we’re here? I called her and left a message, but I’m not sure she got it.” Mary didn’t add that she had called Allegra on both of her telephone numbers, not knowing which one Allegra used more often.
“We didn’t tell her that we were expecting you, so unless you told her, she doesn’t know. As I said, we’d much prefer to meet with you alone.”
Mary was kicking herself. It was her own damn fault for not making sure she reached Allegra before they left the office. “Well, we’d like to see her.”
“You can, after we meet.”
“We’d like to see her first, if you don’t mind.” Mary hadn’t realized that the Gardners would try to game them out of meeting Allegra. She and Judy stopped walking at the same time, and so did the Gardners.
“In point of fact, we do mind.”
“Then let’s discuss this.” Mary hated to confront them as if they were opposing counsel in commercial litigation, instead of parents trying to deal with a painful family matter. She knew that their hearts had to be hurting under their well-dressed veneer. “We know this situation is difficult for you, and you have our condolences on the passing of your daughter Fiona. But Allegra has retained us, and as her counsel, we have an obligation that runs to her first and everybody else second, even her parents.”
Judy stood beside Mary, nodding. “John, you probably know that as lawyers we act only as an agent of a principal, and the scope of our authority is narrow. Frankly, we lack authority to meet with you on Allegra’s behalf without Allegra’s consent. So we have no choice but to meet with Allegra first, or we cannot meet with you at all.”
An awkward silence fell as John and Jane Gardner stood opposite Mary and Judy, the four of them squinting at each other in the sun, like rival teams in the most polite face-off ever. Suddenly they all looked over as the front door of the house opened and three older men in pinstriped
“Yes, you do.” Judy’s eyes narrowed as she looked through the windshield at the Gardners, who were approaching. “They’re coming. Game face.”
“Got it.” Mary cut the ignition, and she and Judy got out of the car as the Gardners approached, walking in matching stride, which lent an unfortunate uniformity to their appearance, since they were both dressed in white polo shirts, pressed khaki shorts, and boy-and-girl patterns of Teva sandals.
“Welcome, I’m John Gardner.” John extended a large hand, and Mary shook it, trying to give good handshake. He was tall, fit, and handsome, with blue eyes and crow’s-feet that made him look reliable and reddish-brown hair that was turning sterling silver at the temples. His teeth were predictably straight and even, but his smile had a genuine warmth of a suburban dad.
“I’m Mary DiNunzio and this is Judy Carrier.” Mary stole a glance at Allegra’s mother while introductions were being made. Jane Gardner was also tall and thin, with wide-set hazel eyes and highlighted blonde hair scissored into a straight bob, curling obediently at her delicate chinline. Remarkably, however, a four-inch scar marred her right cheek, adding a badass touch to her wholesome American beauty.
“Call me Jane, and we’re happy you could make it today. Did you have much trouble finding us, Mary?”
“No, not at all, thanks.” Mary smiled to show they came in peace. “It’s great to meet you both, after meeting Allegra and hearing all the wonderful things she said about you. She’s a really remarkable young girl, and you must be proud of her.”
“We are, thank you so much.” John touched Mary’s arm and steered her toward the house. “Come on in. We’ll get you both something to drink and we can hash this out. Jane made us some fresh cookies and lemonade.”
“Where’s Allegra?” Mary asked, letting him guide them, and John gestured vaguely to the left, toward some evergreens.
“She’s setting up her new hives.”
“Does she know we’re here? I called her and left a message, but I’m not sure she got it.” Mary didn’t add that she had called Allegra on both of her telephone numbers, not knowing which one Allegra used more often.
“We didn’t tell her that we were expecting you, so unless you told her, she doesn’t know. As I said, we’d much prefer to meet with you alone.”
Mary was kicking herself. It was her own damn fault for not making sure she reached Allegra before they left the office. “Well, we’d like to see her.”
“You can, after we meet.”
“We’d like to see her first, if you don’t mind.” Mary hadn’t realized that the Gardners would try to game them out of meeting Allegra. She and Judy stopped walking at the same time, and so did the Gardners.
“In point of fact, we do mind.”
“Then let’s discuss this.” Mary hated to confront them as if they were opposing counsel in commercial litigation, instead of parents trying to deal with a painful family matter. She knew that their hearts had to be hurting under their well-dressed veneer. “We know this situation is difficult for you, and you have our condolences on the passing of your daughter Fiona. But Allegra has retained us, and as her counsel, we have an obligation that runs to her first and everybody else second, even her parents.”
Judy stood beside Mary, nodding. “John, you probably know that as lawyers we act only as an agent of a principal, and the scope of our authority is narrow. Frankly, we lack authority to meet with you on Allegra’s behalf without Allegra’s consent. So we have no choice but to meet with Allegra first, or we cannot meet with you at all.”
An awkward silence fell as John and Jane Gardner stood opposite Mary and Judy, the four of them squinting at each other in the sun, like rival teams in the most polite face-off ever. Suddenly they all looked over as the front door of the house opened and three older men in pinstriped
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