The Amazing Harvey

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Book: Read The Amazing Harvey for Free Online
Authors: Don Passman
whenever you want to go.”
    â€œHarvey…”
    I stood up. “What’ll it take? I’ll do magic at your birthday party. I’ll cut your lawn on weekends.”
    She smirked at me.
    I got on one knee, clasped my hands in a begging gesture, then produced a red silk handkerchief from between my hands. I held the silk out for her. “If you take me on, there’s more where this one came from.”
    Hannah laughed. She didn’t take the handkerchief.
    She said, “Were you this weird in high school?”
    â€œNo. I’m less weird now.”
    She shook her head, let out a sigh. “Tell you what. I’ll look at your case tomorrow. No promises.”
    I grabbed her hand. “Thank you, thank you.”
    She pulled her hand back. “I said, ‘No promises.’”
    â€œOf course.” I got up off my knee. “Say, what do you charge?”
    â€œI didn’t say I was doing this.”
    â€œI know. I mean, hypothetically. Isn’t that what you lawyers say?”
    â€œHypothetically, I would charge you a friend’s rate. Ten thousand. I know that sounds like a lot, but it isn’t.”
    Next to Nadler, it sounds like Kmart. “Fine. Done.”
    â€œNot done. I’m only going to take a look. Come back tomorrow at two fifteen. I’ll call the cops and get a copy of your file.”
    â€œThank you, thank you.” I turned to hustle out before she changed her mind.
    Behind me, I heard her call, “No promises.”
    Without turning around, I waved my arm over my head.
    *   *   *
    When I got back to my apartment, my mother was standing in front of the door with her fists on her hips. She said, “Why didn’t you call me back about Nadler?”
    â€œI had bad cell phone reception.” At least, I’m sure the reception would have been bad if I’d turned the phone on.
    â€œFor eighteen hours?”
    I took my keys out of my pocket. “Sorry. I found another lawyer.”
    Her eyes burned into me. “I went to a lot of effort to get Nadler.”
    â€œI appreciate it, but I hated the sonofabitch. Besides, I can’t let you spend that kind of dough.”
    â€œThat’s my business.”
    I toyed with my keys, jingling them. “You can’t afford it.”
    â€œI’ve got savings for emergencies.”
    â€œNo. You’ve got savings to live on. Besides, I found someone who’s just as good and way cheaper.”
    Mom gave a sarcastic “Ha.” “And just who do you think is as good as Michael Nadler?”
    â€œHannah Fisher.”
    She wrinkled her forehead. “Who?”
    â€œShe’s a Harvard lawyer. She’ll make me a priority.”
    â€œYeah, probably because she’s got nothing else to do. How did you find her? Yellow Pages?”
    â€œI knew her in high school.”
    â€œHigh school? You want to use someone your age?”
    â€œI’m twenty-nine, you know.”
    She shook her head. “You need a lawyer with years of experience.”
    â€œI didn’t do anything wrong. The cops will see that. Mom, I’m using Hannah. That’s final.” Assuming she’ll take my case.
    Mom let out a breath. “Let’s put it this way. I’m happy to pay for Nadler. But if you want to go off on some tangent, you can pay for that yourself.”
    â€œFine.”
    Yikes!

 
    CHAPTER EIGHT
    Â 
    Next morning, I phoned in to ask about substitute teacher work. When the nasal woman told me there was nothing available, I said, “How’s it possible that every teacher in Los Angeles is healthy today?”
    â€œMr. Kendall, I don’t make the rules.”
    *   *   *
    That afternoon, at two fifteen sharp, I grabbed the handle of Hannah’s office door and twisted it hard.
    Locked.
    I looked at my watch. I actually managed to show up on time. Where the hell is she? We had an

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