Contents ( 71)
- THE
- DAUGHTER
- MICHELLE FRANCES
- PROLOGUE
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- EPILOGUE
- AUTHOR’S NOTE
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
She waved as the car began its journey through the icy black night. Then, as they turned the corner, she stared out of the window, not seeing anything, her mind full. One question burned away at her: what was Adam afraid of?
THIRTY-THREE
2018
The heat from the day had lingered and the classroom was stuffy. Kate stifled a yawn as she took her seat. The long hours were taking their toll and more than once she’d lain on the sofa, reading through legal papers, only to have them slap her in the face as they jolted her awake. The more she read, the more she realized just how out of her depth she was but had got no further in figuring out how to keep her promises to Grace and the others.
‘Right,’ said Gloria, as she took her position at the head of the class. ‘A change to this evening’s lesson. We are not going to evaluate a range of contractual disputes, but instead I’ve managed to persuade Jill Pattinson to come and talk to you. Jill doesn’t normally do talks to students as she simply doesn’t have the time but let’s just say she owes me one, and I have, as a gift to you all, pulled a favour.’
Kate appraised the new arrival. She was tall with cropped grey hair and as skinny as a beanpole. Her outfit was equally formidable: a tailored grey jacket and pencil skirt, and an incongruous pair of patent purple heels, which gave her a sense of fun – or attitude. Kate couldn’t quite decide which.
‘Jill is a solicitor who’s worked in civil litigation for over thirty years. She’s going to outline a couple of her more significant cases, notably those in the area of negligence. Please listen and take notes as there will be questions on them next week.’
Kate sat up, her tiredness abating. These cases may well have aspects that were relevant to what she was trying to achieve. As she listened to Jill speak about what had happened to her clients and the passion with which she fought to win them compensation, she became inspired by her sense of natural justice, and her determination to fight until the end. As Jill brought her talk to a close, Kate suddenly got an idea. It was mad, presumptuous, but she didn’t stop to question it.
As soon as class was over, Kate clutched her things in her arms and ran out into the corridor, but Jill had already left and was outside, walking back to her car.
‘Excuse me?’ Kate called, dropping her notepad, but Jill turned, so she didn’t stop and pick it up, just ran up to her. ‘My name’s Kate Ellis. I’m a student . . .’
‘Yes, I saw,’ said Jill, a touch impatiently, thought Kate.
She got to the point. ‘I hope you don’t mind me approaching you like this, but I was wondering if I could ask you for some advice.’
Jill checked her watch. ‘I really do have to be somewhere . . .’