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s were legendary。 Victor Milligan； in his younger days； worked sixteen hours a day； seven days a week； until he made partner。 Then he quit working on Sundays。 He had a heart attack and gave up Saturdays。 His doctor put him on ten…hour days； five days a week； and he hasn't been happy since。 Marty Kozinski knew all the janitors by first name。 He was a 9 A。M。 man who wanted to have breakfast with the kids。 He would e in at nine and leave at midnight。 Nathan Locke claims he can't work well after the secretaries arrive； so he es in at six。 It would be a disgrace to start later。 Here's a man sixty…one years old； worth ten million； and works from six in the morning until eight at night five days a week and then a half day on Saturday。 If he retired； he'd die。
Nobody punched a clock； the partner explained。 e and go as you please。 Just get the work done。
Mitch said he got the message。 Sixteen hours a day would be nothing new。
Avery plimented him on the new suit。 There was an unwritten dress code； and it was apparent Mitch had caught on。 He had a tailor； an old Korean in South Memphis； he would remend when Mitch could afford it。 Fifteen hundred a suit。 Mitch said he would wait a year or two。
An attorney from one of the bigger firms interrupted and spoke to Avery。 He offered his sympathies and asked about the families。 He and Joe Hodge had worked together on a case last year； and he couldn't believe it。 Avery introduced him to Mitch。 He was at the funeral； he said。 They waited for him to leave； but he rambled on and on about how sorry he was。 It was obvious he wanted details。 Avery offered none； and he finally left。
By two； the power lunches were losing steam； and the crowd thinned。 Avery signed the check； and the maltre d' led them to the door。 The chauffeur stood patiently by the rear of the limo。 Mitch crawled into the back and sank into the heavy leather seat。 He watched the buildings and the traffic。 He looked at the pedestrians scurrying along the hot sidewalks and wondered how many of them had seen the inside of a limo or the inside of the Manhattan Club。 How many of them would be rich in ten years？ He smiled； and felt good。 Harvard was a million miles away。 Harvard with no student loans。 Kentucky was in another world。 His past was forgotten。 He had arrived。
The decorator was waiting in his office。 Avery excused himself and asked Mitch to be in his office in an hour to begin work。 She had books full of office furniture and samples of everything。 He asked for suggestions； listened with as much interest as he could muster； then told her he trusted her judgment and she could pick out whatever she felt was appropriate。 She liked the solid…cherry work desk； no drawers； burgundy leather wing chairs and a very expensive oriental rug。 Mitch said it was marvelous。
She left and he sat behind the old desk； one that looked fine and would have suited him except that it was considered used and therefore not good enough for a new lawyer at Bendini； Lambert & Locke。 The office was fifteen by fifteen； with two six…foot windows facing north and staring directly into the second floor of the old building next door。 Not much of a view。 With a strain； he could see a glimpse of the river to the northwest。 The walls were Sheetrock and bare。 She had picked out some artwork。 He determined that the Ego Wall would face the desk； behind the wing chairs。 The diplomas； etc。； would have to be mounted and framed。 The office was big； for an associate。 Much larger than the cubbyholes where the rookies were placed in New York and Chicago。 It would do for a couple of years。 Then on to one with a better view。 Then a corner office； one of those power ones。
Miss Nina Huff knocked on the door and introduced herself as the secretary。 She was a heavyset woman of forty…five； and with one glance it was not difficult to understand why she was still single。 With no family to support； it was evident she spent her money on clothes and makeup…all to no avail。 Mitch wondered why she did not invest in a fitness counselor。 She informed him forthrightly that she had been with eight and a half years now and knew all there was to know about office procedure。 If he had a question； just ask her。 He thanked her for that。 She had been in the typing pool and was grateful for the return to general secretarial duties。 He nodded as though he understood pletely。 She asked if he knew how to operate the dictating equipment。 Yes； he said。 In fact； the year before he had worked for a three…hundred…man firm on Wall Street and that firm owned the very latest in office technology。 But if he had a problem he would ask her； he promised。
〃What's your wife's name？〃 she asked。
〃Why is that important？〃 he asked。
〃Because when she calls； I would like to know her name so that I can be real sweet and friendly to her on the phone。〃
〃Abby。〃
〃How do you like your coffee？〃
〃Black； but I'll fix it myself。〃
〃I don't mind fixing your coffee for you。 It's part of the job。〃
〃I'll fix it myself。〃
〃All the secretaries do it。〃
〃If you ever touch my coffee； I'll see to it that you're sent to the mail room to lick stamps。〃
〃We have an automated licker。 Do they lick stamps on Wall Street？〃
〃It was a figure of speech。〃
〃Well； I've memorized your wife's name and we've settled the issue of coffee； so I guess I'm ready to start。〃
〃In the morning。 Be here at eight…thirty。〃
〃Yes； boss。〃 She left and Mitch smiled to himself。 She was a real smart…ass； but she would be fun。
Lamar was next。 He was late for a meeting with Nathan Locke； but he wanted to stop by and check on his friend。 He was pleased their offices were close。 He apologized again for last Thursday's dinner。 Yes； he and Kay and the kids would be there at seven to inspect the new house and the furniture。
Hunter Quin was five。 His sister Holly was seven。 They both ate the spaghetti with perfect manners from the brand…new dining table and dutifully ignored the grown…up talk circulating around them。 Abby watched the two and dreamed of babies。 Mitch thought they were cute； but was not inspired。 He was busy recalling the events of the day。
The women ate quickly； then left to look at the furniture and talk about the remodeling。 The children took Hearsay to the backyard。
〃I'm a little surprised they put you with Tolar；〃 Lamar said； wiping his mouth。
〃Why is that？〃
〃I don't think he's ever supervised an associate。〃
〃Any particular reason？〃
〃Not really。 He's a great guy； but not much of a team player。 Sort of a loner。 Prefers to work by himself。 He and his wife are having some problems； and there's talk that they've separated。 But he keeps it to himself。〃
Mitch pushed his plate away and sipped the iced tea。 〃Is he a good lawyer？〃
〃Yes； very good。 They're all good if they make partner。 A lot of his clients are rich people with millions to put in tax shelters。 He sets up limited partnerships。 Many of his shelters are risky； and he's known for his willingness to take chances and fight with the IRS later。 Most of his clients are big…time risk takers。 You'll do a lot of research looking for ways to bend the tax laws。 It'll be f