Read Online Accused: A Rosato & Associates Novel by Lisa Scottoline - Free Book Online Page B

suits emerged and strode toward them at a clip so purposeful that it could only be billable, like a legal cavalry. The Gardners had lawyered up, but Mary could have told them it wouldn’t work. The more outgunned she and Judy were, the more they liked it. You didn’t choose to be a lawyer unless you relished a good fight.
    John Gardner gestured at the three attorneys, who reached them wearing professional smiles. “Mary, Judy, meet Steve Korn, Vincent Copperton, and Neil Patel, who work in our in-house legal department.”
    “Hello, gentlemen.” Mary smiled back, in an equally professional manner.
    “Yes, hi.” Judy smiled more aggressively, if she were baring her teeth. She always said that a litigator’s smile didn’t count unless her incisors showed.
    “Excuse me.” Neil Patel stepped forward, his expression grim behind his thick glasses, and he buttoned his dark suit over a substantial waistline. “Mary, to come directly to the point, you’re well aware that Allegra Gardner is thirteen years old, a minor. Her parents are her legal guardians, and you may not meet with her, absent their consent.”
    “We were engaged by Allegra to represent her, and as her counsel, we can meet with her at any time.”
    “Allegra is legally unable to make any form of contract.”
    “No, that’s not precisely true.” Mary bore down. “As a minor, Allegra can make any or all contracts she chooses, whether written or oral, but the law is that contracts made by minors will not be enforced in court, should there be a problem. We do not anticipate needing to go to court to enforce our representation agreement, which, by the way, was oral.”
    Judy nodded. “Of course, we could ask a court to appoint a guardian ad litem for Allegra, and the guardian would have the ability to make enforceable contracts for her and to assure that her wishes are carried out. But if we do that, this matter would become public.”
    John scowled, and Patel lifted a bushy eyebrow. “Obviously, we wish to avoid that. Perhaps there is a way to compromise. We would agree that you could meet with Allegra, with her parents being present.”
    Mary shook her head. “I’m sorry, but no. Our conversation with Allegra is confidential and privileged.”
    “Allegra can waive that.”
    “I won’t ask her to, at this juncture.” Mary glanced at Judy, who looked like she was ready to bite. “It’s our understanding that Allegra’s parents were aware that she was seeking counsel, so I’m at a loss to understand why we’re conducting litigation on the driveway.” Mary faced John. “You did know she was interviewing law firms, correct?”
    “Admittedly, yes,” he answered, and Jane looked upset, pursing her lips. “But we didn’t believe she would really go through with it, and it’s gone too far. We don’t want outsiders poking their nose into our family, and we’ll put a stop to it, here and now.”
    “We’re not here to interfere with your family.”
    John stiffened. “Yet you are, and my counsel are prepared to file an injunction against you, if you persist.”
    “On what basis?” Mary recoiled. “There’s no grounds for an injunction.”
    “Invasion of privacy. Harassment.”
    Judy scoffed, stepping forward. “None of those grounds would prevail, and your counsel has probably told you as much. Again, we will defend in court, and all that would accomplish is to make this public.”
    Mary wanted to reason with him. “John, you can’t solve a problem legally unless you have a legal problem. You can’t stop your daughter from asking questions, whether you tell her not to, or a judge does. Allegra hired us to look into the conviction of Lonnie Stall, and we intend to confine our investigation to the court case—”
    “Investigation?” Jane frowned, deeply, and Mary turned to her.
    “Jane, we can explain this to you, calmly. Why don’t you let us see Allegra, then we’ll all sit down, okay? There’s no reason for this to be