Page 56 of Cruel Crypts
I should be.
Me:
Not really feeling it. Be there in 20
Dad:
In that case, bring me Kung Pao chicken
“Knox!” I glanced up from my phone screen to see Tristan on the stairs just below me, waving his own phone in my direction. “We’re ordering pizza for everyone.”
“I can’t. Gotta help my dad with some paperwork.”
He pulled a face. “What? But we’re celebrating.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I know. It’s—”
Stopping me with a hand on my arm, he shook his head. “No, I get it. I know it’s your future. Go and do what you need to do.”
“Thanks, mate.”
He shot me a sly grin. “I’m encouraging you for selfish reasons. It means I have less competition for the best pussy.”
I laughed, saluting him as I backed away. “Enjoy. And get your own condoms.”
“No promises!” he shouted after me.
* * *
“That hit the spot.” My dad dropped the empty carton into his office wastepaper basket. “Thanks, Knox.”
I gave him a thumbs-up before finishing up my final mouthful of rice. “I can’t work on an empty stomach, not to mention I just finished playing an hour of lacrosse.”
Wiping his hands on a napkin, he smiled. “True. Right, let’s get to work. Your mother will have my head if I keep you here past midnight.”
I studied the piles of paper in front of us. “What do you need me to do?”
He picked up the top sheaf and placed it in front of me. There was what looked like a phone number written in neat Biro at the top of the first piece of paper, followed by a printed list of numbers. “This is everything I have for the Stratford case. All I need you to do is go through these call logs and highlight any with the number I’ve written at the top. We can do it by computer, but I find it easier to see a pattern if it’s printed out.”
“I can do that.” Helping myself to his desk drawers, I pulled out a yellow highlighter and began scanning the first sheet. Next to me, my dad reached for his glasses and then opened one of the manila files, studying the photos inside.
“What did you want earlier?”
I glanced over at him. “Huh?”
“In your text. You asked if I was free this weekend. Golf?”
“No…uh, Elena failed her driving test today. I was just thinking that if you were around at the weekend, maybe you could take her out in the Nissan. Might do her good to get a bit of extra practice.”
He raised a brow. “Did you, now?” When I pulled a face, he smirked at me. “I’m sure I can sort something out. It’s so nice to know you care.”
“Shut up,” I muttered. “Do you still think you’ll win this?” Changing the subject from Elena as quickly as possible, I tugged off the highlighter cap with my teeth, then used a ruler to highlight a straight line on the call log.
“Yes.” His voice was full of confidence. “This is an easy one. All the evidence is stacked in my client’s favour.”
“Good.”
“Knox.” The seriousness in his tone had me lowering the highlighter to the desk and turning to face him. His brow was pinched. “I think…I worry that you have certain expectations about things. I’m very, very good at what I do, but I want you to know that even the very best barristers in the country have to be prepared for losses. It’s not an easy career, and I don’t want you placing too much pressure on yourself.”