Theodore Boone: The Scandal by John Grisham

stupid now. They were bound to get caught. They had become too aggressive with their cheating and had left too wide a trail.
    “You think we need a lawyer?” Geneva asked.
    “I don’t know,” Paul replied. “I really can’t afford one.”
    Ms. Hull’s phone began buzzing. It was the principal. “I think I’ll ignore that,” she said.
    “You can run but you can’t hide,” Mr. London said.
    “I know.”
      
    Meanwhile, back at East, Tom Willingham and Penn Norman also declined to take a polygraph exam. By lunch, rumors were flying through the school, and everyone knew about the suspensions. In a text to all teachers, the principal called a faculty meeting at the end of the day to discuss the situation.

Chapter 15
    E lsa’s desk was just inside the front door at Boone & Boone, and it was more of a command center than a reception area. With four incoming lines, she handled the phones with ease. Every caller received the same professional greeting, though a lot of calls were unwanted. She could immediately tell if a caller was shopping around for free legal advice, or had a bogus claim, or needed a lawyer for some type of work the Boones stayed away from, or was just one of the many nut jobs clogging up the lines. After thirty years, she had developed a sixth sense about who really needed help and who to avoid. She also handled the traffic: the clients who arrived early or late for appointments; the unexpected walk-ins; the door-to-door solicitors; the endless parade of salesmen peddling legal supplies and law books; and the lawyers who were there for various meetings. She also balanced the schedules of everyone in the firm, including Theo and his dental and medical appointments. She kept up with birthdays, anniversaries, deadlines, and docket calls, and she sent flowers on behalf of the firm for funerals and burials. She made the coffee and made sure there was always a fresh pot. She fed Judge, who was always prowling for food. She reminded Mr. Boone to take his pills. She fussed at him for smoking his pipe, though everyone knew that was a waste of time. She handled the mail, ran to the bank, sometimes ordered lunch, cranked out routine correspondence, and could type faster than any legal secretary in town. In short, Elsa ran the firm, and for a lady in her seventies she had incredible energy.
    She was typing away Monday afternoon when a young lady walked in without an appointment. She said her name was Geneva Hull, and she desperately needed to talk to Mrs. Marcella Boone. Elsa knew immediately that she was in trouble and needed help. Politely, she said, “Well, Mrs. Boone is very busy at the moment.”
    “I know. I should have called.”
    “May I ask what this is about?” Elsa asked without seeming to pry, though prying was exactly what she was doing.
    “I’d rather not say,” Ms. Hull replied.
    “I understand, but Mrs. Boone specializes in family law, and there are many cases she does not take.”
    Ms. Hull looked around as if she needed extreme privacy, then swallowed hard and said, “I’m a schoolteacher, and I think I’m about to get fired.”
    “I see. And where do you teach?”
    “At East Middle School.”
    Elsa quickly connected the dots and said, “If you don’t mind waiting a bit, I’ll see if Mrs. Boone has some time.”
    “Thank you.”
    Elsa handed her a sheet of paper and said, “Just have a seat in the conference room and fill out this questionnaire. It’s just basic information. Would you like some coffee?”
    “No thanks.”
    Fifteen minutes later, Elsa escorted Geneva Hull into Mrs. Boone’s sleek and stylish office. Introductions were made and Elsa excused herself. Geneva took a seat, and Mrs. Boone eased into her swivel chair behind her uncluttered glass and chrome desk. With a professional smile, she began, “How can I help you?”
    “I’ve never hired a lawyer before.”
    “Well, welcome to America. Everybody needs a lawyer at some point.”
    “I, uh, I think