Read Online John Lescroart by The Hearing - Free Book Online Page B

sir?”
    In spite of the message he was about to deliver, Jackman found himself almost enjoying the moment. This was a woman with presence. A slight puffiness around her eyes in no way detracted from her appearance. If she was wearing any makeup, it was very subtle—she sat about ten feet from Jackman and he saw no sign of any, not even lipstick. Her face was handsome—Jackman decided that if she made it up it would be close to beautiful, which was probably why she didn’t bother. It had an angular, almost exotic cast—some hint of an Asian bloodline in the racial mix. Conservatively dressed in a honey-colored silk blouse and knee-length skirt, she still managed to project a powerful physicality. There was no sign of any extra weight on her, but she wasn’t petite. She came across, more than anything, as strong.
    These impressions coalesced in the seconds it took Jackman to frame his response. His own expression was grave, his body language sympathetic as he came forward, his arms on his desk. “Well, first,” he began in his deep, soothing voice, “I wanted to see how you’re holding up in the wake of . . . Elaine.”
    â€œI’ve tried to do most of my crying at home.” He admired the self-deprecating way she phrased it, meeting his eye. “I haven’t always been successful.”
    â€œIt’s a tragedy,” Jackman declared. “A terrible tragedy.”
    â€œYes, sir, it is.” She inhaled deeply and waited. Jackman might be both sympathetic and sincere, but he hadn’t called her up here to share condolences.
    It didn’t take any time at all for the managing partner to get to it. Jackman pulled himself up straight in his chair and cleared his throat. “On another note, a bit unpleasantI’m afraid, I wanted to make sure that your situation over the next few weeks isn’t any cause for awkwardness.” He paused. “I understand that you worked for Elaine pretty much exclusively.”
    Treya nodded in acknowledgment. Jackman, of course, wasn’t guessing. He knew that Treya and Elaine had evolved a working relationship that was unique in the firm. All of the other paralegals “floated” between loosely defined teams of three to five attorneys, taking assignments from any of them. Treya, on the other hand, got all of her hours assisting Elaine. Though it was an unusual arrangement, Jackman had allowed it to continue because it had worked. Elaine had been a workhorse with a case and business load of incredible diversity, and Treya was organized and efficient enough to keep up with her.
    But now, the arrangement loomed as a liability. Jackman drove home the point. “I assume that over the next six weeks you’ll be helping out with the distribution of Elaine’s caseload and that should keep your utilization high.”
    â€œI was thinking the same thing.”
    â€œGood. Beyond that, I’d like to recommend, if I may, that during that transition you also begin taking assignments from some of the other attorneys if they are offered to you.”
    â€œYes, sir. I was hoping to do just that, too.”
    â€œSplendid.” Jackman didn’t have to issue the warning any more clearly. Left unspoken was the hard truth that if Treya could not find enough work with one of the teams to keep her fully utilized, Jackman wouldn’t be able to justify keeping her on. “You’ve been with the firm quite a while now, haven’t you?”
    â€œAlmost seven years. I came with Elaine when she moved over from the city.”
    Jackman had his fingers intertwined on the desk. He was rolling his thumbs ponderously. Something was going on in his brain, though his face didn’t show it. “Well,” he said with resignation, “your good work hasn’t gone unnoticed.” He paused again, offered an avuncular smile.“Let’s call it a soft six weeks, shall we? If you need a