Page 47 of Frankie and the Fed

I pick up my handbag and study the envelope.

I go inside, put my bag in the entryway, kick off my heels, and rip open the seal.

What the hell?

I’m being sued. Michael’s fucking parents are suing me. Fifteen million dollars in compensation for the death of their son. Hysterical laughter bursts out of me. I can’t stop laughing.

Fifteen. Million.

They know I don’t have it. Where do they think I’d get this amount? Ridiculous. They can’t be serious.

My mood goes from happy to depressed with the wave of a hand. Or an envelope.

A new text message pops up on my phone. It’s from Ethan and surprises me. Where did he get my number? Well, he was always good at spying.

Ethan

Michael’s parents filed a lawsuit.

Are they suing you too?

I look at the forms again. How did I miss it? His name is written next to mine. They are suing us both. Now everything becomes clear to me. They hope to get the money out of Ethan.

Ethan

Do you have a good lawyer?

No. And I don’t have a bad lawyer, either.

I answer jokingly, but I’m sure Ethan isn’t kidding. That’s a huge amount.

Ethan

Ryan can practice in California too and he’ll be representing me, but he can’t represent both of us, so I’m sending you the number of an excellent attorney. Talk to him. Don’t worry about payment.

Why would you pay for a lawyer for me?

Ethan

Completely selfish reasons. We’re both part of this lawsuit. I don’t want to lose.

Shit. Because of me, they’ve dragged him into this whole mess and now into this lawsuit.

Okay.

I open and save the new contact he sends me.

* * *

The music in the Fantasy Club pounds in my ears, the bass shakes the floor, and I have to shout to Claire and Jenny to be heard. “I’m going to the bathroom!”

After an hour of dancing and a few drinks, the sweat drips from me, and I need a moment to freshen up.

The dancers are dressed in the most revealing clothes I have ever seen. To the same extent, they could dance naked. I’m on my way to the bathroom and can’t help but stare.

The club is decorated in reds and greens, like Christmas decorations, but on a huge scale. It’s cool.

The bar presents a special drink menu for the evening, and they serve an eggnog drink bursting with bourbon and a hot buttered rum that tastes amazing. The rest of the drinks were also given red and green colors, in the spirit of the holiday, and are decorated with small candies on a stick and miniature Christmas trees. After tasting a few of these drinks, my bladder presses down on me, and my head spins.