Limiting Liabilities: Book Two - The Martinique Files

by Colette Alaine

  “Oh Rebecca, I don’t think it’s quite that bad.” Tawny quickly tries to reassure her.

  “It is.” Then, she looks directly at Tawny. “And it’s your fault.”

  “Mine?” Tawny stops eating. This is a turn she was not expecting.

  “Before you arrived I kept to myself, did my work and was relatively successful. You brought in a new dynamic and instead of making you follow me, I tried to make changes to fit in.” She takes the smallest piece of the pizza. “I’m going back to who I was and what I did before. I was comfortable then. I’m not now but one thing that I’m not going to do is eat like a pig. I like my new body and I want to lose more weight.”

  Tawny stares at the pizza in Rebecca’s hands. “You look great and it’s hard to drop pounds.”

  “Like you have any idea.” Rebecca takes a small bite and chews slowly.

  Tawny cannot say much since she has never had to deal with counting calories or watching her weight. Being active and having a fast metabolism have taken care of her figure. Then again, she is only twenty-five.

  Rebecca finishes her one piece of pizza and sends Tawny out of her office. Not wanting to be here too late, she dives into her memo to make sure it is perfect.

  Billy is at her office door a few minutes after arriving to work for the day. Requesting the memo, Tawny is relieved that she stayed the extra hours last night to finish it. Reviewing it a few times at home before going to bed, she could not think of anything to change.

  Handing him the finished product, he collapses in her reception chair and begins to read the four page memo. The more memos she writes, the better they are and the shorter they’ve become. In her rookie year her memos stretched from eight to fifteen pages and she soon learned that the more concise they are, the better they are received.

  “You know since chromium is found naturally in rocks, plants and soil it’s going to occur in natural waters in the environment as trivalent chromium or chromium 3 and as hexavalent chromium.” Billy begins the discussion.

  “Yeah, and it’s also found in volcanic dust and animals.”

  “True, but we don’t have to worry about volcanic dust in Lake Michigan and I don’t know about the animals,” Billy reminds her they are in an office, not in a classroom. “Fish won’t raise the ppbs.”

  “You’re right. Neither of those are players here.” In wanting to make certain Billy doesn’t miss any detail of the memo, Tawny forgets to separate herself from the basic facts of the case. Quickly recovering, she focuses on the matter at hand.

  “Chromium 3 is an essential human dietary element and it’s in lots of vegetables, fruits, meats, grains and yeast. Chromium 6 occurs naturally in the environment from the erosion of natural chromium deposits. It can also be produced by industrial processes. Chromium is an odorless and tasteless metallic element so it’s not obvious to the common man.” Billy reads from her memo.

  “Wikipedia does a pretty good job of summarizing it so I quoted the online encyclopedia.” Tawny wants to make certain he knows what she is citing.

  “Here’s the key though.” He looks up at her before continuing his reading of her memo. “It says that there are demonstrated instances of chromium being released to the environment by leakage, poor storage or inadequate industrial waste disposal practices. To raise the chromium 6 levels that high that fast in Lake Michigan I’m pretty sure we’re looking at illegal activity here.”

  “That’s going to bring in the Safe Drinking Water Act since Chicago’s drinking water comes from Lake Michigan. The EPA has to determine the maximum contaminant level goals in the drinking water to make sure that no adverse health effects are likely to occur,” Tawny continues to respond to Billy with elements from her written memo.

  “But they’re non-enforceable health goals, based on possible health risks from exposure over a lifetime. Since they’re non-enforceable, we really have to discover the culprit,” Billy continues to examine his role.

  “Lake Michigan is huge. How do we investigate the entire lake?” Tawny can just imagine him asking her to drive along the shoreline for however long it takes to discover who is dumping.

  “The potential plaintiff initially discovered it close to the shore. They were on the beach and collected samples. Ken’s group did the same in that general area. He also had samplings taken in other more distant areas. I believe most of the high ppbs were found nearer the city,” Billy explains.

  “And that affects our drinking water,” Tawny replies. “So we look at the enforceable standards for drinking water contaminants set by the EPA. The maximum contaminant level is the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water delivered to any user of a public water system and that is enforceable.”

  “Exactly.” He leans back in his chair. “MCLs are set as close to the health goals as possible after considering costs, benefits and the ability of public water systems to detect and remove contaminants using suitable treatment technologies.” Billy again reads the Wikipedia quote from her memo.

  “This is what I found on hexavalent chromium that I thought was a decent overview. I didn’t research the purification of our drinking water. I can do that if you want.” Tawny wants to make certain she provides whatever Billy wants. If she is going to work on one of his cases, she does not want to miss anything.

  “Wait until after we talk to Ken. I don’t see any reason to search for information unless we think it’s necessary. Besides, I know you’ve got to finish up the Aerrol Bank memo,” Billy looks out the corner of his eye and Tawny shakes her head.

  “You really do know everything. Are there cameras in my office?” She looks around to show her suspicion.

  “I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t get by with doing that. Then again I really don’t need them as long as I have Linda.” Billy conveys his source.

  Tawny is appalled at the secretary’s behavior. No question where her loyalty lies. “Does she spy on me?”

  “I think she might.”

  Tawny glances across the room. “I’m closing my door from now on.”

  “You’ll be further away from her when you take Mark’s office,” Billy reminds her.

  “With all these new attorneys coming on board, where is everyone going to sit?” Right now, she is in a very small office next to a medium-sized conference room on the very end with Rebecca’s partner office next to her. Then there’s Nick’s office and Billy’s is next to him in the huge corner office. Turning the corner is Mark’s office. The building is not squared off and on this particular side it is jagged so that there is not a straight line of offices.

  Billy disappears into his own dissertation as he visually walks around the office explaining where everyone will sit. “I’m staying where I am because I have one of the best offices in the building. I’m moving Mark next to me in Nick’s office.” He points to Tawny. “You’re going into Mark’s office. Brandon is taking Rebecca’s office and a new associate gets your office. I anticipate hiring the interns and one of them is going to be dedicated to Brandon. He doesn’t plan to bring any associates with him and you’ll be working with him some. Next to you will be three more associate offices and then a new partner gets the large one on that jagged side. As you go down the row there’s several partner offices and associates offices with plenty of cubes for the paralegals and legal secretaries.”

  Tawny realizes he left out one notable person. “Where’s Rebecca?”

  “At the end of the second wall,” he informs her. “I’m giving it to her because it’s almost as big as mine and she’s been here long enough to deserve it. She also stays clear of me and I think that’s best for both of us. She can man that end and I’ll man this one. It’ll help with coordinating the new guys.”

  “At least you admit you don’t want her around you,” Tawny remarks.

  “Believe me the feeling is mutual.” Billy does not mince words.

  “Does she know?”

  “Yes, she does and she’s very happy about it. I know she’ll be loyal a
nd can keep an eye on the newbies for me.” Billy returns to his chair. “In the end, I hope it actually improves our relationship.”

  “It might,” Tawny admits as she considers the new seating arrangement.

  “She has an open associate office next to her and we’re really high on one intern that will be a good fit for her.” He reaches for his glass of water. “If we ever need to take offices down the third wall over there, she’ll be a good link at that location." He takes a drink.

  Tawny wonders about the timing of all the changes. “So when are you kicking out all the Securities people in those offices now?”

  “The Wills and Trust department doesn’t belong on this floor and they’re moving downstairs two levels. That space opened up and the management committee made a deal to add it to our lease. So as soon as they complete the remodeling for them they’ll move, then Securities moves and then it’s ready for us. They tell me it’ll be about a month.” Billy is being quite open with her.

  “Wow, that’s fast.” Not thrilled with the six female attorneys in the probate group, Tawny is ready for all of them to leave the floor. She heard about how badly they talk about her. Jealousy is not kind. “It’ll be interesting not having the Wills and Trusts people here.”

  “Securities is adding about five new attorneys and three support help,” he continues to give her information.

  Tawny is not concerned with what the other department is doing. All she cares about is her own environmental department. “It’s going to be an interesting summer.” Then, she asks a more basic question that directly affects her. “And Linda is staying where she is?”

  “Uh huh.” He smirks. “You won’t be in her path anymore. I’ll have to find someone else to check up on you.”

  “Oh, thanks so much,” Tawny retorts lightly.

  He waits a minute before responding. “To be honest, you’re really quite boring according to her.”

  “Good.” She glances his way. “She hasn’t heard any of the juicy stuff.”

  “Don’t be afraid to share.” He looks up at her with those sexy blue eyes.

  “Please, like I’d divulge any information to you. By the way, what time are we meeting Ken?”

  “Changing the subject again, Tawny? Oh well, it’s probably best. He lands in an hour. I told him we’d pick him up at the hotel and get some lunch. We’ll leave here about eleven fifteen. We can beat the crowd and get a table,” Billy responds.

  “I’ll be ready.” She is eager to begin working this case.

  “Finish up your other work this morning so you can give Ken your full attention these next couple of days or so.”

  “Will do.” On that note, Billy gets up from her reception chair and leaves her office.

  Pondering the new office arrangement, Tawny wonders if she will get a different secretary to type her work and take care of her secretarial needs. One thing that is so nice about BSF is that they insist the attorneys perform legal work and not use their time preparing letters and sending faxes. Tawny truly appreciates that she can hand off these tasks to someone who is much better equipped to do them. Every time she comes near a copy machine, it must sense her presence and breaks down. She is all thumbs and Linda almost forbids her to draw any nearer than twenty feet of any office machine.

  Having a new secretary would be a breath of fresh air. While Linda is great at her job, she is too much of a gossip and a busy body. Always looking for the dirt on someone in the firm, Tawny learned to keep her mouth shut. This has not set well with Billy’s secretary, who thinks she is a little too important for her own good.

  Linda watches Billy like a hawk. She has seen the myriad of women he dated and she never hesitates to provide her opinion to him. Sometimes he listens to what she has to say but mostly he ignores her. Tawny thought she might bust a vein when she found out that Billy and Tawny were dating. The whole fiasco of a relationship with him was worth it just to see her sweat.

  Not knowing what Billy has planned, Tawny will wait to ask about her new secretary later. He has much more important matters to handle right now and so does she. Digging out her notes from yesterday’s bank meeting, she diligently compiles a three page memo memorializing the conversation and the proposed deal.

  At eleven o’clock Billy stops by her office and says he is ready to go. Ken called and is bored just sitting in the hotel room. There is no reason to wait. They can grab lunch a little early.

  Tawny quickly locks her computer screen, picks up her purse and follows Billy, who is already at the elevator bank on his phone. He is apparently canceling plans with his date tomorrow night. She does not seem to be taking it well. As they wait for the elevator to arrive, Billy is trying to end the conversation. Finally, the elevator arrives and he says he has to go and ends the uncomfortable exchange.

  It has been some time since Tawny’s seen Billy with a girl. After the cheating incident, he laid low and has not brought any women to the office, a rarity for him she’s been told. Since she has not worked much with him, she has not been around when he is fighting with or seducing some fantasy girl he just met. Billy does not stick with one woman for too long. He is not ready for commitment and he certainly does not date females he wants his family to meet.

  “Sorry you had to listen to that.” Riding in silence in the elevator after hanging up, Billy acknowledges what she just heard.

  Tawny feels the same way. “Yeah, me too.” It is particularly painful because he just alluded to his feelings for her a few days ago. But what can she do? No way will he be without a beauty by his side.

  They reach the garage and continue to walk in silence toward his car. He opens the door for her, a gesture he made only while they were dating and certainly not since then. She thanks him and she hopes he starts a conversation about anything to break the tension.

  “Does pizza sound good?” Food is always an easy topic and he uses it.

  “To me it does but are you gonna take a client for pizza?” Tawny wonders why they aren’t going to a steakhouse. He answers her question without her asking it.

  “I’m trying to mix it up a bit. We’ll be having dinner with him tonight, two meals tomorrow and at least one the following day. We’ll have steak tonight.” Tawny is a little taken aback.

  “Am I going to be at all these meals?”

  He starts the Mercedes and backs out of his parking spot. “Um, yeah.”

  “I wished you would’ve mentioned it, that’s all.” She pulls on her seatbelt. “I could’ve prepared.”

  “You have big plans you have to cancel?” His curiosity about her schedule is too obvious.

  “No.”

  “Then it’s all good. Just expect to eat out a lot and work long hours when Ken comes to town. Despite Nick’s protests, you’re going to be involved in Ken’s work.” Billy’s opened up another topic that is going to be uneasy for her.

  The senior associate has not spent much time with her lately so this must be the reason. “Nick’s upset?”

  “To put it mildly. He’s worked a lot of years to be involved with Ken and the big cases. He likes you but he’s not taking it well that you’re who Ken wants to work with him.” Billy reveals the news.

  “Doesn’t Ken like Nick?”

  Billy speeds down the ramps until he has to stop or break through the wooden arm at the cashier stand. “Sure he does but he doesn’t think Nick has any real life experience. You grew up on a farm. He grew up in a luxury penthouse. He went to Harvard and expects to shine. This is a blow to his ego.”

  “I guess I can understand his feelings. Doesn’t mean I’m gonna step aside though.” Tawny defends her place and Billy laughs.

  “You know Tawny, no matter what you do, you cause me problems. Even when you don’t do anything, I have to deal with issues.” Billy pulls out of the garage and turns left onto the street.

  “Sorry I’m such a pain. It’s probably payback for all the slimy things you’ve done in life.” She half teases him.

  “If karma
is real, I’m so screwed.” Billy flashes Tawny a quick look and she cannot help but smile. No words are necessary to convey how true a sentiment that is.

  “Ken, my man, how’s it going?” Billy greets his good friend.

  “Good, good. Tawny, you’re stuck with me again.” Ken hugs the tall auburn-haired bombshell.

  “Never stuck, Ken. I definitely enjoy working for you.” Tawny pulls herself out of the bear hug. “It’s Billy that’s the problem.” Ken breaks out in laughter.

  “Billy boy, you have met your match with this one. Looks like we’re off to a good start again. You two been fighting?”

  “Not yet.” Billy steps in and takes over. “Let’s get some lunch and talk over this case.”

  The pizza joint is perfect for their meeting and the food is excellent too. They order a large Chicago-style pizza pie, salads, breadsticks and drinks. While waiting for the food, the conversation immediately turns to the results of the water and soil samplings Ken’s agency took.

  “We can pinpoint the area to about a twenty mile radius. The higher ppbs are in this vicinity and lose some strength as we move out further. Looks like somebody’s dumping something and it’s loaded with chromium 6. Hexavalent chromium is a carcinogen and with all those people coming to the beach as the weather warms up, the exposure is great.”

  “How long you think the dumping’s been going on?” Billy inquires after Ken’s initial statement.

  “All winter for sure but I’m thinking this isn’t the first winter. They probably start in mid-autumn, dump all during the winter and finish up right before late spring or when the temperature is warm enough to attract folks to the beach,” Ken continues to enlighten the two attorneys.

  “We need to get investigators all along that area watching for suspicious activity.” Billy is ready for action.