Chapter 9 #2
Despite Star Cove being a small town, Lev’s great-great-grandfather started this firm here over eighty years ago with his college buddy, Theodore Larson.
Generations of Larsons and Reillys have been succeeding the founders, and the firm has flourished, working some really big cases all over the county as well as in San Francisco and LA.
The boardroom reflects the old-fashioned opulence of the building with dark mahogany furniture, but a modern twist can be seen in all the glass and chrome accents in the light fittings and the long, rectangular tempered glass table.
A huge screen for presentations occupies one wall, and portraits of the founding members and the firm partners through the generations are hanging on the walls.
Christopher Reilly, Lev’s father, keeps the mahogany and glass door open for his wife.
If you look at Rachel Larson-Reilly’s portrait on the wall, it’s uncanny how little Lev’s mother has aged since she joined the family firm fresh out of law school.
Another thing that has always surprised me is how similar Lev looks to his mom. He’s her spitting image, just the male version of her; the same way Chance is a dead ringer for Dad and Atlas and I looked more like our late mother.
“Levin, Ares.” Rachel greets me with a polite smile, but she goes on the tips of her toes to kiss Lev’s cheek. “What do we owe the pleasure of this visit? Is everything ok?”
Lev has always complained that his parents are too busy and have always spent very minimal time with him, and he isn’t wrong in general. Although the Reillys have always made sure that Lev didn’t want for nothing, their careers have always been their focus.
That doesn’t mean that they don’t care about him, however. I hope Lev sees the way his mom’s eyes soften whenever she sees him.
I know that isn’t a justification for their hands-off, distracted parenting, but I guess different people love different ways. I just wish my best friend didn’t feel like an afterthought for his family, because despite the way they live their lives, I don’t think they don’t care about him.
When Lev opens his mouth to answer his mom’s question, I shake my head.
“I need some legal advice,” I begin cautiously. “And I was hoping you and Chris would agree to be my attorneys.”
Christopher’s brows knit together. “Both of us? Ares, I’m sure you know that Rachel and I practice wildly different types of law. Do you need a corporate lawyer or a criminal attorney?”
I don’t want to say anything until I know that our conversation isn’t being recorded or listened to.
Thinking quickly on my feet, I say something that I’m pretty sure will tip Lev’s parents off that something is odd.
“That depends on your fees. I want to start a new company, and I have some questions about my trust fund. I need to know what I can and can’t do with it and I don’t want to break the law from the get go. ”
“Oh,” Chris says. “Of course we wouldn’t—”
“I need a quote of your hourly rate in writing, please.” I arch my eyebrows to stop them from offering me free legal counsel, like Lev’s dad was about to do.
Lev’s parents look at one another, probably still unsure about what’s going on.
“Here you go, darling.” Rachel grabs a notepad and a pen from the table and hands them to me. “Write down how much you can spend, and Chris and I will give you a counteroffer. If you can’t afford us, I’m sure some of our junior associates will be able to help you.”
She scribbles something before passing me the notepad.
What’s going on? Are you guys in trouble?
I jot down another question.
Can you guarantee us that this room isn’t under surveillance? Your house might have been bugged by one of your biggest clients.
They know.
It becomes clear the second they read my question, and a look passes between her and her husband.
“Well then,” Christopher Reilly’s determined expression is uncannily similar to Lev’s.
“I think we have a deal. Rachel and I can represent you. But we haven’t looked into the intricacies of trust fund rules and inheritance law in years.
So we’re going to have to consult some of our law books in the office archive.
If you follow us, we can get what we need, and we can discuss your case while we search. ”
Leave your cell phones here. He scribbles.
If I’m right, this means that Lev’s parents are aware that they’re under surveillance, and they have somewhere in the office where they’re sure they have privacy.
We follow them down two flights of stairs, into the basement of the old building.
Christopher ushers us into a room that looks exactly like one would expect from an archive; rows and rows of high shelves filled to the brim with law books and binders with the countless cases the firm has worked on during the years.
Lev’s parents walk deeper into the room, and it almost feels like there’s no end to the shelves until we reach the opposite end of the t-shaped archive.
A long table and chairs, similar to those in the boardroom, are arranged in a functional but welcoming meeting area.
“We can talk here. The room is clean.” Christopher says.
“What’s going on?”
It’s the first time I’ve ever seen Lev’s mom lose the composed and professional demeanor she maintains in every situation. The anxiety in her tone is hard to miss.
“What kind of trouble are you in?” She asks when neither Lev nor I answer her question.
“What makes you think we’re in any trouble?” Lev counters.
Rachel rolls her eyes. “You came here asking if we had a place to talk where we were sure our conversations weren’t being listened to.
That can only mean that you realized that our house is under surveillance.
And if you know that, it can only mean that somehow you’ve had an encounter with the people who are surveilling the house.
Those people are clients of mine who wouldn’t have any reason to make themselves known to you, unless you hadn’t found yourselves mixed in their business. ”
I can’t argue with her assessment of the situation.
“So? What kind of trouble are you in?” she insists when neither of us speaks up. “Enzo Morelli would have no reason to get involved with you to the point that you found out that he was listening to your conversations unless it was something illegal.”
She sounds more worried with every word she utters.
There’s a tick in Lev’s jaw. It’s obvious that he isn’t happy about making his parents privy to our predicament.
The thing is, we’re in uncharted, dangerous waters. And with Enzo Morelli behind his nephew, we’re out of our depth.
“What we’re going to say needs to remain between us.” I say. “So I guess you’re going to have to act as our attorneys.”
Another look passes between Lev’s parents.
“Fine. You’re protected by attorney client privilege. Levin, is that what you wish to do too?”
Lev looks more uncomfortable with every passing second. “Yeah.” He finally says.
“Just to be clear,” Rachel says. “We have no issue being Ares’s attorneys.
But if whatever you tell us were to result in a court case, Levin will have to find alternative representation.
As your parents, we can’t guarantee that there wouldn’t be any conflict of interest in our actions, and any judge would be worried about the possible implications of that, if it could cause a mistrial. Is that clear?”
“Crystal.” Lev bites out.
His mother looks at him for a long moment. The tension from years of unresolved resentment between Lev and his parents is like a palpable presence in the room. “Levin, I hope you know that your father and I don’t mean to sound cold. But—”
He sighs. “I know, Mom. I understand that if we’re asking for legal counsel, you have to think as an attorney first and as my parents second.”
Christopher intervenes. “That’s exactly why your mother warned you that should this turn into a court case, we might have to rethink your representation. We care too much about you not to let that cloud our judgment.”
The tension in my best friend’s shoulders eases just a fraction. “I know. Thank you.”
Rachel takes a hesitant step toward him. She almost stops with her arms open, but Lev pulls her into the embrace his mother was seeking.
I know he’s always felt that his parents don’t care much about him.
Maybe the truth is that their way of showing their love for him is just different.
Some people show their love by providing and might focus on the material things rather than quality time spent together.
I’m not a fan of their parenting style, but it’s also not my place to judge them.
“Now that we figured out legal representation,” Christopher says. “Tell us what’s going on.”
I begin with what happened earlier in the women’s bathroom at the Country Club.
I don’t leave out any details. From our relationship with Zara to our fear for her safety if we don’t put an end to the races.
There’s no need to point out the obvious legal implications since motorcycles are banned in Star Cove.
“It’s obvious that Morelli has no intention of letting Zara, and the guys quit until the races are lucrative.
He keeps adding extortionate interest to her ‘debt.’ But after what happened earlier, we’re worried that when he’s done with the races, he has even more sinister plans for Zara. ” I conclude.
“That’s if she doesn’t get taken out by whoever tried to hit her bike twice at this point.” Lev adds.
Lev’s parents’ reaction is way more calm and composed than what I can imagine Dad would do if he knew everything I just said.
“You have gotten yourselves into a dangerous and complicated predicament.” Rachel says.
“You’re right that you can’t continue with those races.
Sooner or later, someone is going to get seriously hurt.
Whether it’s because of the complete lack of safety measures during the races, or because of this mysterious biker that has it out for Zara, or by the hand of Mason and his uncle. ”
“There’s only one way to end this situation without ending up on Enzo Morelli’s kill list.” Her husband concludes. “I have a plan.”
When he explains what he intends to do, Lev and I have opposite reactions.
“I don’t like it.” I say.
“I don’t like it either, but it’s the only way we stand a chance,” Lev argues.
Deep down I know he’s right. But I’m still scared for Zara and for what will happen to our relationship when this plan is set in motion.
The saying that beggars can’t be choosers, however, has never rung truer.
“We might need a few days, maybe a week, to set everything in motion.” Christopher says. “Whatever you do, you need to keep the status quo and not give away that you know about the surveillance.”
“Next week’s race is earlier than normal because it’s Thanksgiving.” Lev muses. “We’re playing a home game on a Tuesday, and there’s a race that night.”
Rachel nods. “You might have to race then. Please be careful.”
I don’t like the idea that the people I love the most in the world are going to have to risk their necks. But there’s nothing I can do to stop them.
Lev and I say our goodbyes to his parents. He offers to drive me to work for my night shift, but I would rather walk the block to the station.
The fresh sea breeze scented air doesn’t help me clear my mind the way I was hoping it would.
However this situation is going to get resolved, someone is going down. There’s no other possible outcome. Whether it’s us or Morelli and Fox, Zara’s safety is the one thing that matters to me.