Before she left, Nina had told her that the partners were becoming uncomfortable with the attention being drawn to the firm. They wanted to put the John Lyons scandal behind them. At first, Kate’s role in ending the Body Butcher’s killing spree had given the firm a welcome sheen after Lyons’ betrayal. Her defense of Randall Barrett had allowed the firm to tout its pro bono efforts, but there had been a lingering sour taste that another partner of the once-esteemed firm was embroiled in a case that made headlines.

When Kate became the target of a stalker who was connected to the Frances Sloane case, it was impossible for McGrath Woods to stay out of the news. There were too many newsworthy angles: MP Harry Owen’s refusal to address assisted suicide, the death of a prominent female architect from a terrible disease, the high school connection of a celebrity tattoo artist to one of their associates, the discovery of a bog body, the cracking of a cold case…the list was long and well-exploited on slow news days. McGrath Woods’ name appeared constantly in relation to Kate’s name, and it was no longer the benefit it once was. Clients with large, confidential deals were concerned that their firm was dragged through the news cycle so frequently. They asked that Kate not be attached to their files.

It had angered Kate that her firm hadn’t acknowledged that both the TransTissue and the Sloane files were cases that McGrath Woods had assigned to her. That she was the aggrieved party—not them.

But it all came down to billable hours. The firm couldn’t succeed without clients.

And clients were beginning to look elsewhere.

Kate raised a brow. “I don’t know how one could misinterpret that statement.”

Nina gave her a cool look. “I should have qualified that statement. Clients in our litigation and corporate practices do not want the attention that your name attracts.”

Maybe they were worried she’d uncover some unsavory practices and not look the other way.

Kate returned Nina’s cool look with one of her own. “The firm used to bask in the media attention I received.”

“It’s gone on too long, Kate.” Nina’s tone was clipped. But she softened it in the next breath. “In fact, we feel that your talents would be better utilized elsewhere.”

Kate stared at Nina with mounting incredulity. She knew what Nina was about to say. And she couldn’t believe Nina and the firm would kick her when she was down.

But then again, she could.

Kate knew exactly what would be Nina’s next words. But she wanted to make the Managing Partner say them—so that she would never give Nina Woods the benefit of the doubt again. “And where do you think my ‘talents’ lie?”

Nina smiled. “In the Family and Probate practices.”

A flush burned in Kate’s chest.