Accused: A Rosato & Associates Novel by Lisa Scottoline

phones?”
    Allegra flushed under her fair skin, and her eyes flared slightly. “Uh, yes. I have a cell phone that my parents don’t know about.”
    “Why?”
    “So I could set up the interviews with law firms and make the phone calls I wanted to make without my parents’ seeing. I’m still on the family plan with them on the phone they gave me, and I even think that comes from the company.”
    “Okay, I get that. Obviously, I won’t say anything, and Judy and I will use your private cell phone to reach you. Does that make sense?”
    “Yes. I’ll keep it with me more. I guess I’m just not used to getting calls.”
    Mary patted her on the shoulder, on impulse. “Now, we do want to meet with your parents. It’s clear they’re not happy about your hiring us, or your going forward with your questions, but we think the best way to deal with this is to be as respectful as possible. That’s why we’d like to meet with them today and get their view of the case. You’re sure you’re fine with that?”
    “Yes, totally.”
    “Your parents want us to have this meeting without you, but I think you should be present.”
    “Me, too.”
    “Good.” Mary loved the kid’s strength. “Ready to go?”
    “Sure.”
    “Then let’s rejoin them.” Mary touched Allegra’s arm, and they all turned toward the driveway, trooped past the pool, and reached the Gardners and their lawyers, hoping to defuse the situation. “Thanks so much for waiting for us to finish. Now, maybe we can all go inside and talk a little further.”
    John stepped forward, his mouth a grim line, his eyes flinty in the sun. “We would be happy to meet with you and Judy, but we don’t think that Allegra should be present.”
    Mary was about to respond, but Allegra spoke first. “Daddy, why not? We can try to figure this out together. It’s about Fiona, not us or the lawyers. Mary and Judy are just trying to help us.”
    John shook his head. “Allegra, this is getting out of hand. Your grandfather’s money may be giving you the power to hire these lawyers, and they can do with you whatever they have the legal power to do. But I’m still your father, she’s still your mother, and this is still my home.” He gestured at Jane, whose expression was equally grim. “We still have some say in this house and on this property, and you are not permitted to be at this meeting, as long as it’s here.”
    “Daddy, really?” Allegra sounded disappointed, but John ignored her, turning to Mary and Judy.
    “Ladies, if you want to meet with my wife and me on this property, you will do so without my daughter present. Otherwise, we can set the meeting for another day at your office, and my wife and I will consider whether we want to attend.”
    Mary read between the lines. If she insisted on having the meeting here with Allegra, she’d never get the meeting at all. She had no legal grounds to compel the Gardners to meet with her, especially if they were going to go with the my-house-my-rules routine, which had served fathers from the beginning of time, even her own, when she really wanted a pony for Christmas.
    Neil Patel stood next to John Gardner. “From now on, I am representing John and Jane Gardner, and all of your communications regarding any putative meetings should be addressed to me.” Patel slid his hand inside his jacket pocket, extracted a leather wallet, flipped it open, and took out a business card, which he handed to Mary. “Am I making myself clear? You may no longer communicate with Allegra’s parents except through me.”
    “Daddy,” Allegra said, her tone softer. “It’s more important to me that you and Mom meet with Mary and Judy, than I be there. So go have your meeting without me. I’ll go set up my hives.” She turned and walked away without another word, and Mary looked at Judy, both of them thinking the same thing:
    Who’s supposed to be the adult again?

 
    Chapter Ten
    Mary and Judy sat on a forest-green leather couch