Page 27 of Take the Bait

Dani said as casually as she could muster, “Can you pull some basic statutory information on sexual harassment law in the state of New York? And I need you to do it very quietly.”

“Discretion is my other middle name, kiddo. What kind of work place are we talking about?”

“A law firm.”

Silence.

Then Zoey asked very gently, “Is everything okay, sweetie? You can talk to me, you know. I can keep a secret and I don’t gossip.”

“I know. And thanks for the offer. I’d rather not say anything just yet, but if I decide to pull the trigger on that particular gun, you’ll be the first to know.”

“How loaded a gun are we talking here?”

Dani sighed. “Let’s just say I’m getting my ducks in a row in case WMP decides to come after me.”

“Why would the firm come after you? Does this have anything to do with the Koronov case? Is the firm getting leaned on by someone? The U.S. government maybe…” A pause. “The Russian government isn’t trying to set you up, is it?”

“No, no. It’s nothing like that. I promise I’ll tell you everything when the time is right.”

“I’ll hold you to that. And as for—” she broke off abruptly. When she resumed speaking her voice took on a formal tone as if someone else from WMP had just walked into her office. “—as for the matter’s relevant law and citations, I’ll get right on that.”

“Thanks, Zoey. And if you have tons of spare time on your hands, maybe you could take a look at women attorneys who’ve been hired and subsequently let go from WMP? Particularly women who left in, say, less than two years.”

“Can do. I know a female P.I. who can help me with that. She’s as discreet as they come. Although…” Zoey trailed off. “Maybe I should go in as loudly as possible with that particular research. Rattle the bars of the cage to see what shakes out.”

Dani gasped. “God, no. I’m not ready to kick the hornet’s nest, yet!”

“All right, all right. We’ll do it your way. But I stand ready to drop kick the whole bloody nest. You just say the word.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Dani replied in abject relief that Zoey wasn’t going to blow open a giant scandal on her behalf.

Zoey lowered her voice to almost a whisper. “What’s this about, Dani?”

“I’ll explain when I can.”

“Okay. I’ll pull some stuff together for you ASAP. And very quietly.”

“You’re the best, Zoey.”

“Don’t you forget it,” her friend laughed.

Dani disconnected the call and stared at her phone for a second in indecision. Why not? In for a penny, in for a pound. She scrolled through her recent calls and hit redial.

“New York District Attorney’s office.”

“Cameron Townsend, please.”

“May I tell him who’s calling and what this is regarding?”

“Danielle Wellford. Whitney, Marcos & Pinter. He’ll know what it’s about.”

“One moment, ma’am.”

A familiar voice murmured in her ear almost immediately, “Hey, hot stuff. How’s the sexiest lawyer in the Big Apple today?”

“I have no idea how she’s doing. Who is she, anyway?” Dani asked lightly. “I’m sure you’ve already slept with her.”

A chuckle caressed her ear and tickled its way down her spine. “Decided to change your mind and accept my ever-so-generous plea deal?”

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