The Naked Typist

4

Kelly Blaine certainly looked different when she emerged from the inner office where Steve Winslow and Tracy Garvin had left her to dress. Of course, Steve had only seen her in a grungy overcoat before, but still the change was amazing. She had taken the time to fix her makeup and comb her hair. As a result, the face that looked as if it could be attractive was attractive.

So was the figure. Her clothes, though discrete and conservative, covered a full-breasted, slim-waisted body that dressed differently could only be described as voluptuous.

Steve Winslow smiled. “‘Well, Miss Blaine, you do look better.”

She smiled back. “I can’t thank you enough. The whole thing was such a nightmare. I can’t believe it’s over.”

“Well, it is. Signed, sealed and delivered. I’ve had Miss Garvin draw you up a check.”

“Check?”

“Yes. Mr. Castleton naturally made the settlement out to me as your attorney. As I told you, I’m retaining a third as my fee. I’ve had Miss Garvin make you out a check for the balance.”

Steve nodded to Tracy, who picked up the check from the desk and handed it to Kelly. She took it, folded it, started to stick it in her purse.

“You’d better look at it,” Steve said.

“Why?” she said. She stopped, unfolded the check. Her eyes widened. “Oh, my god!” She stared at the check a moment, then looked up at Steve. “This check is for thirty-three thousand dollars.”

“Thirty-three thousand and change. That’s your share of the settlement. My share’s sixteen thousand and change. The settlement was fifty thousand.”

She stared at him. “I told you to settle for eight.”

“I know. I’m a bad boy.”

She shook her head. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Well, it’s done.”

“Yeah, but you could have blown the settlement.”

“If I had, you could sue me for malpractice. As it is, you take the money and run.”

Kelly Blaine looked at the check again. “Thirty-three thousand dollars.”

“Yeah,” Steve said. “I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I couldn’t help myself. It wasn’t just that I wanted a bigger fee or that I wanted the money for you. I was just pissed off at the smug son of a bitch for what he did to you, and I wanted to bash him one.”

“I see,’” Kelly said.

“What’s the matter?” Steve said. “You don’t look happy.”

Kelly Blaine blinked. “I don’t know. It’s just … I guess I’m just a little stunned.”

She took one more look at the check, then folded it, jammed it into her purse and pulled the drawstring shut.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t mean to seem ungrateful. It was terrific work. Unbelievable. I don’t know how you did it. But if you’ll excuse me, I gotta get home, relax, get this out of my mind.”

She smiled at Steve, nodded to Tracy, then turned hurriedly and let herself out the door.

Steve Winslow and Tracy Garvin watched her go, then turned and looked at each other in puzzlement.

Considering she had gotten everything she came here for and more, Kelly Blaine did not look one bit happy.