PART FOUR
Chapter One
ALICIA
We made it back to the office by nine-thirty and each went our separate ways. The woman whose husband was trying to take everything from her due to her infidelity was coming in to meet with me this morning and I needed to prepare. Carla had gotten copies of everything together for me to replace what had been taken in the robbery. I was hoping that the client, Patricia, would still want me as her attorney.
Adam had work to do on the civil case. Thus far, Miles hadn’t fired him so he was still making preparations to be in court on Monday morning. He went to meet with Mac to finalize their opening statements.
Patricia Lewis arrived at my office at precisely ten a.m. I welcomed her, and while Carla was getting her a cup of hot tea we made small talk about how the woman had been getting on. Once Carla left I asked her,
“So, Patricia, have you had time to think about what we spoke about on the phone the other day?”
“Whether or not I still want you to represent me?” she asked. “Yes, Alicia, I’ve thought about it, a lot. Whatever happened here the other night was not your fault. I can’t hold it against you. My biggest fear is that the copies of the photos of me and my lover will end up posted online, but I suppose there is just as much chance of that happening because of Nick’s anger and need for revenge.”
Patricia was a successful interior decorator. She had established her business prior to her marriage. She and Nick had met five years earlier and from what she had told me, it was love at first sight. They had married and Patricia put her business in Nick’s name, as well. She told me it was on the advice of Nick’s accountant, for tax purposes. Patricia found out later that Nick had not transferred his computer website building business assets into her name. Everything Nick owned when they were married, and anything his business had acquired since was in his name alone. He was trying to keep it that way – and take half of what Patricia had worked so hard for.
“I’m so glad you’ve decided to keep me on,” I told her. “I have to tell you again how sorry I am for what happened. I can assure you that we have beefed up our security here. We have security officers on site twenty-four-seven now. I wish we had thought of it before.”
“It’s okay, Alicia,” Patricia told me. “I like you, you’re a real person, and not judgmental of me and what I did to land myself in this position. I appreciate that.”
“I’m glad. As far as judging you, I can see how you were put in a vulnerable position and made a choice that you regretted later. We all do that from time to time. None of us are perfect, and I believe that we can convince a judge of that. You shouldn’t have everything you’ve ever worked for taken from you because of one mistake.”
Patricia told me how she had come to have the affair in the first place. Her and Nick’s whirlwind love affair had soured quickly. According to Patricia, Nick had become neglectful of her and was even verbally and emotionally abusive at times. When she would ask why he rarely touched her, he would tell her that she was fat or stupid. He would often feel bad about it later and bring her flowers or candy to make up, but after a few months of that, the damage was done.
Patricia found her self-esteem to be slipping and she began looking at herself differently than she had before. She felt lonely and unloved. It was a new and uncomfortable feeling for her. It only got worse when Nick began going out of town weekly for trainings on a new computer program that was going to go national soon. He would be gone for days, sometime weeks at a time. He called a lot at first, but then the phone calls dwindled to once a week, and he would act irritable with her if she complained that she was lonely or she missed him.
While he was gone, Patricia had been working for an older woman re-decorating her Fifth Avenue apartment. One afternoon while she was there alone checking color swatches against drapes and carpeting, a man walked through the front door. She said she was alarmed at first, as she hadn’t realized that anyone else lived there. The man introduced himself as Cameron, the woman’s companion.
Patricia had been a little shocked, seeing as how the woman was at least sixty and this man couldn’t have yet been out of his twenties, but she strived to be non-judgmental. Over the course of the next few weeks, Cameron would be there almost every time that Patricia was. They would talk and laugh as she worked.
She found him easy to be with, unlike her relationship with Nick had been lately. He complimented her often. At first it was subtle things like how nice her smile was or how he liked her hair. She found herself thinking of him often, and finding excuses to go back to the Fifth Avenue apartment for one thing or another just in hopes that he would be there.
One afternoon while they were alone Cameron simply said, “I think about you all the time. I really would like to kiss you; would you mind?”
Patricia didn’t allow herself to think about it, she just kissed him. That of course led to more and soon they were making love several times a week, even after she had finished working for Cameron’s “companion” and Nick had finished his training and was home for good.
Nick started noticing the changes in her, her newfound confidence and how she exercised more and took better care of her appearance. He didn’t ask her about it, though, and Patricia told Alicia if he had, she probably would have just told him the truth straight out.
Instead, he had her followed by a private investigator and weeks later at his attorney’s office, he presented her both with divorce papers and pictures of her and Cameron in very compromising positions. He and his attorney had told her she was going to lose everything, and that was when she had come to see me.
On my advice, she had stopped seeing Cameron. Patricia had known it wasn’t going anywhere except to the bedroom anyways, but that had been what she needed at the time. I had already had multiple meetings with Nick’s attorney and we deposed most of the witnesses from both sides. The case was ready to be presented to a judge and all that was left to do was prepare Patricia for her testimony. I spent several hours with her talking her through everything and I actually enjoyed it. Her case was simple and normal and compared to the rest of what was going on, refreshing.
Adam and I met up when we had both finished for the day. I told him I was headed home to have dinner with Mother and Father. “I guess I will see you after court in the morning.”
“Okay,” he said sadly. “I miss you.”
I put my hand on his face as we walked out the lobby doors. “I miss you, too. This won’t be forever, you know?”
He nodded. “Can we have lunch after court?”
“I’d like that.”
He pulled me in for a kiss and when he broke it he said, “We need to set a date.”
“A date for…”
He looked at me like I was crazy. “Our wedding.”
I laughed. “Really? You think planning a wedding less than a week before Christmas while were in the middle of international and political intrigue is the best idea?”
“It beats the hell out of anything else I’ve got going on right now.”
I kissed him softly again and said, “We’ll set a date right after we get through the holidays, okay?”
“Okay,” Adam said, sadly. “I just can’t wait to be married to you.”
“Me, too,” I said with a smile. I also knew my mother well and my wedding would be no small affair.
After another sweet kiss, Adam and I parted ways. I went home to pick up my parents for dinner. I took them to a small eclectic place in the Village. I had resolved on my drive home that although I had agreed to help the FBI, and I meant to do just that, I was going to spend the rest of the holidays enjoying my time with my parents. We talked and laughed as we ate and I didn’t mention work at all. The service at the restaurant was great and the atmosphere fun. I had a sirloin steak that melted in my mouth and my mother and father raved about how good their meals were, as well.
The full moon was out and the night was still young afterwards so we all took a walk in the light snow to a cozy little coffee shop not too far from the restaurant. While we were enjoying our coffee and a dessert pastry, my cell phone rang. It was Adam. I answered with a smile,
“Hi, babe.”
“Hi,” Adam said. “How is your evening going?”
“It’s been really good. My parents and I had a great dinner and now we’re having dessert. How was yours?”
“It was fine, too. I grabbed a bite with Mac and now I’m home relaxing and wishing you were here.”
“Me, too. Soon, baby.”
“Hey, I know we were going to wait until after the holidays to set a date, but I ran into a buddy of mine who does bookings at the Plaza. I mentioned us being engaged and he said it just so happened that he had a cancellation today for Valentine’s Day weekend. Interested?”
“Interested? Are you kidding? I’m ecstatic! Oh, Adam, the Plaza. We could have the wedding in the garden if the weather is good.”
“We can have it on the roof, if you like. I’ll book it and order a sunshine day while I’m at it.”
“I love you,” I told him.
“I love you, too,” Adam said. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”
“Goodnight, love.”
I hung up the phone and told my mother what Adam said. She got a thoughtful look on her face and said, “Wow, Valentine’s Day – that’s just over a month and a half away. It might not be easy to pull it off.”
“I know it won’t be,” I told her. “But the Plaza is booked years in advance. This is a golden opportunity. You’ll help me won’t you?” I asked, looking at both of my parents.
Mom and Dad looked at each other and my dad said, “Of course we will, right, dear?”
“Of course,” my mother said. I could tell right away that the excitement set in right away for Lady Winston. She started talking about what we should serve for dinner and who we would invite. She even called her personal assistant back home to have her start making calls to designers for my gown.
I couldn’t stop smiling. I was finally going to marry the man of my dreams, and I knew that no matter what, we were going to live happily ever after. My mother could plan it all as long as I walked out of there as Mrs. Adam Hanson.
On Saturday morning at breakfast, Mother was already conferencing on calls with caterers and decorators and bakers. Although I’d known her my entire life I was still impressed with her skills when it came to getting things done.
By the end of the day, her assistant had already found and booked a catering outfit right out of Manhattan. They texted over menu choices and we decided together on a sit-down salmon dinner. The baker was flying in from New Jersey just after New Year’s with cake samples, and the best and busiest wedding dress designer in France agreed, after some serious cajoling from Lady Winston, to come out just after New Years to begin taking measurements and to start the designs for me to choose from for my dress.
By Saturday afternoon, I felt like my head was spinning. It was all happening so fast, but I was happier than I had ever been. My mother was making sure that my wedding would make me feel like a princess, but the ultimate goal was to be Adam’s wife. I couldn’t wait.
My parents were meeting with old friends at noon for lunch, so Adam and I arranged to meet at Romaletti’s. I arrived before him and was seated by the hostess at the table they kept reserved for Adam and his guests. While I was waiting, I noticed a man in a business suit sitting alone at a table not far from mine. Glancing out towards the duck pond, I saw another lone man, that one dressed casually and feeding the ducks. I hadn’t given the FBI much thought since yesterday, but couldn’t help wondering if these were the men we had been told would be watching to make sure we were safe. I hoped that they were watching Adam as closely if they were. After all, they believed he had been the intended target of Marjorie’s murderer and I couldn’t help but worry.
Adam walked in just as my cell rang. I looked at it and saw that it was Miles. I wrinkled my nose and told Adam, “It’s Brigham.”
“Go ahead,” he said as he took his seat.
I answered and he said, “Hello, little lady. First off I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other night. I had a few drinks and sometimes tequila makes me act like an ass. I hope I didn’t upset you too much.”
“Apology accepted, thank you. What can I do for you, Mr. Brigham?”
“If you have the time on Monday, I would like to sit and talk with you about my case and also what the press is leaking regarding my son.”
“Absolutely,” I told him. “I have a court date early in the morning, but perhaps we can meet in my office around eleven?”
“I’ll be there, and thank you.” I hung up somewhat amazed at the change in his attitude from our last encounter. I told Adam so and he winked.
“I’ll bet you scared him straight.”
“Oh, yes,” I said with a grin. “I’m sure that was it.”
We both ordered a light lunch, and the chef came out and teased us about not liking his pasta. We both told him we liked it too much and didn’t want to have to roll down the aisle at our upcoming wedding. After lunch, we headed out to the duck pond and sat on a bench tossing them crumbs and talking about what Mother and I had arranged for our wedding so far. Adam was impressed that we’d already gotten so much done.
“Wow, I’ve always heard how long it takes to plan a big wedding. You and your mother are making it look easy.”
I laughed. “My mother makes everything look easy. I’ve never even see her break out in a sweat.”
“Lucky for us England is an ally, then,” he said with a grin. All I could think when I looked at his smile was,
“Lucky me.”