***

First thing in the morning, my phone buzzes on my desk. Jake’s name flashes on the screen. For a moment, I hesitate. Do I want to talk to him? Last night he promised me later but later never came. Maybe just as well.

My hand hovers over the phone, but finally curiosity overrides reticence, and I open the message.

 about last night

I stare at the phone. Maybe I’ll forgive him. Maybe I won’t. Maybe I’ll make him suffer like I suffered last night since my vibrator was a poor substitute for what he promised me on the mats.

**frowns**

Forgive me, baby. Need your help.

What help?

My phone buzzes again. This time he has sent pictures of clothing.

Which suit?

For what?

Board meeting

Gray

Which tie?

Blue stripes

Which shoes?

Shiny black

Hate suits

I’ve never seen you in a full suit

You want to see me in a suit?

In and out of suit

Bad girl. BEHAVE

No choice. Someone left me high and dry last night

Make it up to u. Have 4 tix to see nu metal band, Slugs.

Slugs ≠ sex. Take a friend

U

I’m not ur friend

True. I’ll come by 2nite and show u how unfriendly I can be

No can do. Working 2nite. Have to interview witness

At night?

Farnsworth case. Only time she is available

Alone?

Penny is coming with me

Not pleased **frowns**

Get over it **laughs**

Will text venue address for concert. Meet u there

I haven’t said yes

Say it

Bossy

Say it

Yes

One more thing…

What?

Don’t wear panties

Chapter 10

I’M NOT LIKING THIS BOSSY NEW YOU

“Quesada Street. There it is!”

“This is so exciting.” Penny bounces in her seat as I pull the car over to the side of the road. “I’ve never been to the bad end of town.”

“There are many bad areas of town. This isn’t anywhere near the worst. A lot of families live here and parts of the area have been transformed with community gardens.”

Penny raises an eyebrow when I secure my vehicle with two clubs. Even though we are in the “good part” and things are slowly improving, Hunter’s Point still has one of the highest crime rates in San Francisco.

After double-checking the address on my phone, I grab my briefcase. First step in collecting evidence against Farnsworth is to establish he propositioned other women at the firm and I remembered hearing rumors about Jill Jackson, an intern who left the firm abruptly last year. She’s agreed to one interview and my heart thrums in anticipation. If I can establish a pattern of harassment, we won’t ever get to trial. Farnsworth will be begging me to settle.

We walk past a patchwork of small plots with a sandbox and rope swing, surrounded by a barbed wire fence. Jill’s house is at the edge of the garden, and a few minutes later we are settled at her kitchen table.

“She’s a mini you,” Penny whispers as Jill leaves to get the coffee. “Same long, blond hair. Same big blue eyes. Same creamy skin. Only difference is you have about two inches on her and bigger baps.” She squeezes her br**sts by way of translation.

“Thanks, Penny. Good to know you notice these things.”

“How can I not? I seethe with jealousy any time you wear anything tight.”

I am saved from further sarcastic retorts when Jill returns with three coffee cups and a plate of cookies. Penny records our meeting, takes notes, and eats the cookies while I ask questions.

Yes, Jill worked closely with Farnsworth. Yes, Farnsworth was overly touchy. Yes, she often found herself alone with him. He wined and dined her on the pretense of discussing cases. He took her with him on business trips. On one of these trips he came on to her, but she had a boyfriend she loved dearly. She turned Farnsworth down. He threatened to fire her and make sure she never worked in the area again. She told him to do his worst. He did. Now, she is keeping up her skills at the community legal aid clinic and still looking for a job.

After leaving Jill’s house, Penny and I decide to celebrate the damning evidence against Farnsworth with a visit to a wine bar in the Marina District, but when we return to the vehicle, we have unexpected company.

“Hi,” I say to the two scowling males who bear a suspicious resemblance to Jake and Ray. “How did you know we were here?”

Penny grimaces. “In my excitement, I might have mentioned our interview to Ray when he called to say he wouldn’t make it back to the office this afternoon. Then he might have casually tossed out a ‘No way in f**king hell are you two going to Hunter’s Point.’ After that, I might have said we were going anyway because we didn’t need his damn consent. Then he might have tossed out a few choice swear words and muttered something about waiting for him to get back to the office so he could come with us. To which I might have replied we were two grown women and didn’t need a babysitter. So who’s up for a drink?”

“Jesus f**king Christ.” Ray turns to Jake and growls. “And did they listen? No. They went on their own. Left the car on the street. Good thing I was in the office when Jake came by. Do you have any idea how dangerous this area is?”

With no apparent thought for her safety, Penny shrugs. “No. How dangerous is it to visit a house on the good end of the street beside a garden with swings and slides, especially when Amanda has pepper spray and takes fight classes?”