“I don’t have much time. I have a deposition scheduled in a few minutes, but I always try to take time for the press. What can I do for you, Miss Spritzer? I don’t understand what kind of quote I can possibly give you.” Long, scarlet nails filed to points drummed on the desktop. Other than that, not a muscle moved on the woman.

This was the part Maggie loved. She sat down, looked the lawyer straight in the eye, and said, “Can you tell me what your relationship with Baron Bell is? Is it professional, or is it romantic? My sources are telling me it’s both. Did you aid and abet him with the surrogate mothers who took back their babies from the adopting parents? I’m referring to the Dawsons and the Evanses. Again, my sources are telling me that the answer is yes in both cases. I also understand you are the attorney of record for a second, and possibly a third, placement of the babies.

“I also understand you were served this morning, along with Baron Bell. Do you care to confirm that? Before coming here, I met with Lizzie Fox. She’s going to be the attorney of record on these lawsuits. Do you care to confirm or deny that she is the attorney who had you served this morning? I think I used up my five minutes, so if you’ll just respond, I’ll be on my way, and you can get to your deposition.” Adel Newsom would make a good poker player, Maggie thought.

“I have no comment at this time, Miss Spritzer,” Newsom said in her husky voice.

“When will you have a comment, Miss Newsom? This is going to get ugly. I think you know that. Not only is it going to get very ugly, Miss Newsom, but there is a rumor going around the District that the vigilantes are on this case. Now it’s just a rumor, which I have been unable to confirm, but in my experience, where there’s smoke, there is usually fire.”

Adel Newsom stood up. Maggie was surprised at how tall the Lizzie Fox wannabe was, how perfectly proportioned. The lawyer did her best to smile, but it came off as a frightened grimace. “When I have a comment I wish to share, I’ll call you directly. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a deposition to take.”