yesterday.
I closed the law office over the lunch hour and walked the few blocks to Becky and Ben’s house.
“Come in,” she called out in answer to my knock.
The front door was unlocked, and I entered the small foyer, thinking how very different this was from Manhattan, with security in the lobby and double door locks on our suite. It was refreshing, neighborly. I liked it.
“It’s Laila!” I called out.
“Oh, thank goodness.” She sounded relieved.
“Is everything all right?” I asked as I closed the door behind me. “Do you need something?”
“Everything’s fine.” Her smile was welcoming as I made my way into the living room. “It’s fun to have someone visit is all.”
It was bright and warm inside the house, with the windows all open to the still summer air. Clouds were gathering in the mountain peaks, with rain and wind forecasted for later tonight.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be very much fun,” I said.
“Why? Is something wrong? Is it the cats?”
“No. As a matter of fact Madeline came up with a good idea for the cats.”
“What idea?”
“She was inspired by Max’s sentencing record. Which is really why I’m here: to ask you about Max.”
“Tell me about the cats first. Have a seat.”
“Okay. Sure. We’re going to let the cats decide.”
Becky tipped her head back and let out a tinkling laugh. “That’s brilliant.”
“You understood what I meant?” I was impressed.
“You’re going to let Nellie and Humphrey each call the cats and see where they go. Max did it at least once with dogs. I’m not so sure cats will come on command.”
“Maybe not,” I said. “But it’s as neutral as we can make it.”
“Did they go for it? Nellie and Humphrey, I mean.”
“They’re coming by this afternoon, and I’ll propose it to them. Fingers crossed. I’ll let you know what they say.”
“Oh, I’d love to be there. For the cat part, I mean.”
“Not without a note from your doctor,” I told her.
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.” She sobered and her hand went to her stomach. “Everyone keeps telling me it’ll be worth it.”
“Everyone’s right. And you know that too.”
“I do. I just like to complain.”
“Ha!” I didn’t think I’d ever met anyone less likely to complain.
“Can you take a video of the cat contest?”
I hesitated. Videos had not been my friend lately.
“Please?” Becky asked. “You can do it if they give you permission. And I really need entertainment these days.”
“Sure,” I said. For Becky, I was willing to ask. Hopefully, I’d get it done before I left town. “Now, about Max.”
“He’s on the wacky side,” she said with affection. “But he’s a brilliant jurist. He’s teaching law school now.”
“I didn’t know that.” I quickly added that to my calculation. “Is he on summer break?”
“Maybe. I’m not sure if he teaches in the summer.”
“Do you happen to have his contact information?”
“I do. But I think Madeline’s setting everything up with him.”
“I was hoping he might come early. I tried to talk to Madeline about it yesterday, but the conversation went around in circles. She had trouble staying on topic.”
“Was it worse than normal?”
Becky’s concern had me rethinking the idea of bringing her into this. She had enough of her own problems to worry about. “No, not a whole lot worse. I just thought I could confirm with him myself. That way, you know, I can make my plans around his plans.”
Becky reached for her phone. “I’ll call him.”
“No. I don’t want you to—”
She waved me off.
“Maybe you could just give me his number?” I asked, feeling worse about dragging her into this. But she was already putting through the call.
“Hello, Max?” Becky said into the phone. “It’s Becky Seymour from Madeline’s office.” She paused. Then she smiled. “Yes. That’s right.”
Her smile was a relief.
“I don’t know if Madeline called you to touch base in the last couple of days.” Becky waited again. “Oh, I see.” Another pause. “Hmmm.” Her smile faded.
I didn’t take that as a good sign.
Then Ben’s voice interrupted. “Hello?”
I turned to find his disapproving gaze on me.
“We won’t,” Becky said into the phone. “Yes, we understand.”
“What is she doing?” Ben asked me. “This better not be work.”
Before I could answer, Josh appeared with Ben. He looked from me to Becky to Ben. Then he frowned in confusion.
“She’s just calling Max,” I said to both of them.
Ben’s expression hardened. “Calling Max is work. The doctor’s orders were very specific.”
“Yes,” Becky said into the phone, but she was looking at Ben now. “We’re looking forward to it. Thanks.”