Betrayed (Rosato & DiNunzio, #2)(99)

“We sure will,” her mother answered warmly, reaching over and patting Aunt Barb’s arm.

Judy watched them both, thinking back to last week, when she’d been sitting at a bridal salon, wishing that she were closer to her mother. In the end, it turned out that she really was close to her mother. She just hadn’t known who her mother was, until now. It wasn’t quite the ending she expected, but it was a happy one.

Her spirits lifted, and her heart filled with love. She had a feeling that from now on, things were going to be different. Even, better.

With both her mothers.

And the truth.





Chapter Forty-seven

Judy stepped off the elevator at work, and Mary, Allegra, and Marshall looked over from the reception desk, then burst into excited grins.

“Judy, thank God!” Mary shouted, rushing over with open arms, followed by Marshall and Allegra.

“Judy!” Allegra squealed, as the three of them swarmed Judy, scooping her up with girl hugs and happy noises.

“You guys are too much!” Judy joined them in laughter, disentangling herself from their joyful embrace, fragrant with fresh perfume and overpriced hair products.

Mary beamed. “You’re amazing! Are you okay? I called your cell phone a million times!”

Allegra’s eyes flared wide behind her glasses. “Who blew up your car? That’s so scary! It’s like a movie!”

“It’s a long story,” Judy told them, which was the understatement of the year.

“Judy.” Marshall stepped forward with a flurry of phone messages. “Sorry to be a buzz kill, but you have some things to deal with right away. The press has been calling all morning, and I don’t know who you want to respond to, if anybody.”

“None of them.” Judy took the phone messages without looking at them. There had been a slew of reporters in front of the office building, and she had no-commented her way past them.

Mary touched her arm. “Judy, there’s one or two reporters you could talk to. You just made huge news. It wouldn’t be the worst idea to promote yourself. Bennie would.”

“Well, I wouldn’t.” Judy snorted. Her only remaining nub of resentment was for Bennie, because now it was time to face the damages cases. “Where is the boss, by the way?”

“At her trial. The jury’s coming back.”

“She better win or I’ll fire her ass.”

Everybody laughed, including Mary. “Girl, don’t start. When the boss gets back from court, you should kiss and make up. Your stock is up right now and you need to parlay that sucker. Parlay, I tell you!”

“I’ll get right on that.” Judy looked over, seeing that Marshall had more to say, and it wasn’t easy to get a word in edgewise in an all-female law firm. “Marshall, what is it?”

“There’s good and bad news.”

“Good news first,” Judy said, her mood improving. Her heart felt lighter since the talk with her mother and aunt, and being back at the office with the girls felt like terra firma, solid under her clogs.

“You won in Adler. The judge denied the Rule 37 motion.”

“Yay!” Judy cheered, and so did Mary and Allegra.

Marshall grinned. “The judge’s order came in your email this morning, and I printed it. It’s here with your mail.” She handed Judy a thick packet of correspondence. “The judge really nailed Kelin, saying that he wasted the Court’s time and acted like a basketball player, faking that he got fouled.”

“Wonderful!” Judy thought ahead, anticipating her conversation with Linda Adler. Conversations with clients always went better when they started with victories, and Kelin would think harder about settling the case, now that his gambit had backfired.

“Here’s the bad news. John Foxman called and said you need to call him right away. There’s a problem with the money for your aunt. The message is on top.”

“Thanks, Marshall,” Judy said, concerned. She turned toward her office, but her cheering section followed, led by Mary.

“So fill me in.” Mary fell into step beside Judy. “How did you get her the deal from the FBI?”

Allegra tagged along. “Judy, what happened to your mouth? Did somebody hit you?”

“Fill you guys in later, okay?” Judy’s thoughts were elsewhere, wondering what was the matter with the money. Last night at the FBI, she had been so preoccupied with getting a deal for Daniella that she had left that as a loose end. “After I make this phone call, we can yap endlessly.”

“Okay, honey,” Mary said, falling behind. “Let me know if you need me.”

Allegra called after her, “Did you hit him back? Did he have a gun?”

Judy hurried into her office, shed her coat and purse on the chair, and sorted through her phone messages. She found John Foxman’s number, went around the desk, picked up the phone receiver, and plugged in the number, sitting down.

“Foxman here,” he answered, after one ring.

“John, this is Judy—”

“Judy!” John said, his tone concerned. “I can’t believe what I’m reading about you. You’re busting drug rings in Chester County now? I called your cell phone a few times, but there was no answer. I hope you weren’t injured.”