Read Waiting for Cary Grant for Free Online

yell a lot like the lawyers in the movies?” Kathy asked.
    “If they do, I’ll yell back. Or I’ll beat them up for you. That’s a promise,” Harlan said.
    “Kathy, let me show you a new game.” Lana gestured towards her laptop. Kathy turned reluctantly away from Harlan.
    “A deposition! Of a child?! Are you kidding, Harlan?” She whispered.
    “I know, Lana. But they want to see how traumatized she is by the loss of her family…” He looked away.
    “Is there any question about that? Do the lawyers really believe—”
    “—No. They’re buying time. Seeing how cute she would look to a jury. And they’re sizing me up. They’ll decide what it’s worth to shut me up. What they could lose at trial against me.”
    “Billable hours. Are you paid by the hour, Harlan?” Lana asked.
    “No.”
    “How do you get paid?”
    “Contingency. I get a part of whatever Kathy gets.”
    “Oh.”
    A barrier came across her eyes. Harlan wanted to get through it. He liked this woman.
    “I’m here to protect her.” His dark eyes bore into Lana.
    “Hi, Harlan.” Stephanie stood at the door. She hoped she sounded cool and confident. Harlan made her nervous.
    “Nice to meet you, Kathy,” Stephanie said.
    “How do you know my name?” Kathy asked.
    “Harlan tells me you’re his favorite client.”
    Kathy beamed at this news. Of course she had a crush on him.
    “Think they can make a decent latte in this boarding school?” Taylor Stanworth sidled up to Stephanie.
    “Don’t you travel with your espresso and cappuccino maker, Taylor?” Stephanie asked.
    “Sure. When I’m in my limo. But I drove my Porsche today.”
    “We’re intruding on their hospitality by having the deposition here. They run a boarding school. I can’t imagine they cater depositions too, Taylor,” Harlan said.
    “And who is this pretty little girl?” Taylor Stanworth asked in the pseudo-sweet voice of someone who couldn’t stand children.
    “Kathy Slade, meet Taylor Stanworth. He’s a lawyer who will be asking you questions today during the deposition. If he asks a question you don’t understand, tell him. He’ll either ask it differently or I will beat him up. Whatever you want.” Harlan joked.
    Kathy giggled. This was definitely more interesting than her morning French class.
    “We’re going to be spending the day together.” Taylor announced.
    “Everything you say will be transcribed and put into booklet form. When you read the booklet, you can change your answers. But if you change your answers, lawyers can comment on it and your case could be hurt or you could be embarrassed.” Taylor’s voice took on a droning quality as he spoke.
    Stephanie blinked to stay awake.
    Her lower lip trembled. Harlan moved closer, his arm went around the arms of her chair, his leg went around the legs of her chair, his body seemed to encircle her. But Kathy remained stoic.
    “Were your parents getting along?”
    “OBJECTION!” Harlan’s body sprang out from his chair. “Calls for speculation. Calls for a conclusion. Counselor, what is the relevancy of this?” Harlan’s upper lip sneered and he leaned forward further, in the face of the trust fund baby who was beginning to look a little green around the gills.
    Despite the ever present caffeine twitch, exacerbated by the stress of Harlan in his face, Taylor managed to tug at his little bow tie while smugly responding: “Relevancy is not a proper objection at deposition.”
    And Harlan knew Taylor was right. Relevancy is only a proper objection at trial. But Harlan didn’t care. His client, an eleven year old girl, who worshiped the ground he walked upon, burst in to tears.
    “I don’t care about the rules. you’re not going to turn this deposition into a child abuse opportunity for you. If you continue to ask these questions, which don’t have any bearing on this case. I will conclude this deposition. And I will go to Law and Motion and I will request a deposition referee and