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“Oh, I can get that for you Make me sick I had to take another job, since Giant cut back ah think he can screw me outta my child support Well, we’ll just see ‘bout that”

“As we discussed, it’ll be three hundred dollars to handle your daughter’s case For your case, I’ll have to ask for a two thousand dollar retainer up front,” I said “If the retainer’s used up, I’ll bill you monthly I need payment by cashier’s check or money order”

Without batting an eye, she said, “Okay” I gritted o poor- for a referral frorand on the child support case

I pulled up the retainer agreeet access to her school information I also opened a standard form for Shanae’s case, and typed in the retainer a the papers

I told her to read thened them without comment Just to be sure, I reviewed the main terms with her Shanae handedthat she had come with payment in hand made me feel better

“I’ll start work on your child support case after I get the two thousand dollars,” I rereement for her and her brother and handed her another business card

“All right Thank you, Ms McRae”

Her sudden politeness was a welcoe “Call me Sam,” I said “See you later”

Shanae strode out It was the last time I saw her alive

CHAPTER TWO

Assistant State’s Attorney Ellen Martinez was nothing, if not coanized When I stopped by her office to talk about Tina Jackson, she retrieved the girl’s file in an instant—a quick walk to a file cabinet and a glance in one drawer She wore a white suit I searched for a spot or stray hair and caanized should be shot

“Tina Jackson Let’s see” Martinez rocked in her high-backed chair, flipping through the file She stopped, her eyebrow arched “First offense They ht have let her slide at intake, if she hadn’t broken that poor woman’s arm”

“That was an accident,” I said “She never meant to hurt her”

“Little Tina has a mouth on her, too, says here”

“I think her talk is bigger than her walk”