Chapter 12 - The Firm Turns Its Back
Hawthorne, Bell and Mercer removed David’s name from its website on January 8.
By lunchtime, he had been placed on indefinite leave.
By evening, two major clients had requested new counsel.
David called the managing partner repeatedly.
Nobody returned his calls.
For years, he had believed professional relationships were friendships.
Now he learned the difference.
The law firm released a short statement.
It expressed concern.
It promised cooperation.
It emphasized that David’s alleged conduct did not represent the firm.
David read it alone inside a hotel room.
He had moved out of the marital home after Anna obtained a protective order.
His mother refused to speak to him.
Sylvia blamed David for calling Anna’s father.
David blamed Sylvia for pushing Anna.
Each believed the other had ruined everything.
Neither blamed themselves.
Then David received the letter that frightened him more than any headline.
The state bar had opened a disciplinary investigation.
He read the first paragraph three times.
Professional misconduct.
Dishonesty.
Possible fraud.
Conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.
His hands shook.
He called Charles Harlan.
“We can fight this.”
Harlan was silent.
“Charles?”
“We can respond.”
“That’s what I said.”
“No.”
Harlan’s tone hardened.
“You said fight.”
David stood near the hotel window.
“What’s the difference?”
“The difference is that you still think aggression solves every problem.”
David said nothing.
Harlan continued.
“There are recordings.”
“I know.”
“There are documents.”
“They can be explained.”
“There are witnesses.”
“They’re protecting themselves.”
“There is a broken phone.”
David’s jaw tightened.
“And?”
“And your pregnant wife was transported for emergency surgery minutes after you refused to call an ambulance.”
David closed his eyes.
Harlan lowered his voice.
“You need to understand something.”
“What?”
“This is no longer about who Anna’s father is.”
David looked at the city below.
“The public thinks it is.”
“The public is not deciding whether you keep your license.”
David gripped the phone.
“I worked fifteen years for this career.”
“And you may have destroyed it in fifteen minutes.”
David ended the call.
Then he threw the hotel glass against the wall.
May you like
It shattered.
For the first time, there was nobody nearby to clean it for him.
