Page 23 of Two Kinds of Stranger

‘Kate’s gone to the 27thPrecinct with Harry. We’ve got a new case.’

‘What is it?’

‘We’re defending a celebrity accused of double homicide.The New York Timesis calling it the TikTok murders. . .’

5

Kate

Denise had taken the call and transferred it straight through to Kate Brooks.

The offices of Flynn and Brooks, attorneys at law, had been quiet that morning. Harry Ford was reviewing files while he listened to a Rolling Stones album that played softly throughout the office. His dog, Clarence, lay peacefully at his feet. The phones had been mostly silent, and Kate had sat in her office working cases and dictating letters and motions for Denise to type.

The call came in from the desk sergeant at the 27thPrecinct. Of course, he’d called looking for Eddie. He made a point of getting to know the booking sergeants in most police precincts in the city. If a good case came in, Eddie wanted to know about it first. Kate didn’t exactly agree with this type of practice, but she had learned that sometimes it was better to look the other way as Eddie slipped fifty-dollar bills into the hands of those officers, loaded the trunks of patrol cars with cases of whiskey and kept Mets and Knicks tickets flowing to the friendly cops.

This was modern legal practice. Except, it felt just like the old legal practice.

Kate told the sergeant that Eddie was out, but she would see the prisoner. When she asked about the case, she wasn’t expecting to hear that their firm had been requested.

‘She told me she wanted Eddie Flynn. So I’m calling Eddie Flynn,’ he said.

‘I’ll call Eddie, but in the meantime I’ll be right over. What’s the client’s name?’

‘Elly Parker. She’s some kind of famous YouTuber.’

Kate knew the name. She’d seen the viral videos of Elly Parker catching her husband and best friend in bed together. Tens of millions of people all over the world had watched it too.

‘You mean the famous TikToker,’ said Kate.

‘Whatever, she’s gonna be charged with double homicide. Soon she’ll be the famous murderer.’

‘Who are the alleged victims?’

‘Her husband and some chick he was banging on the side. . .’

She closed her eyes, tried to swallow her anger, said, ‘Chick? Is that official NYPD terminology for female murder victims?’

‘Maybe I should just give this one to another lawyer.’

‘Didn’t you just say she requested our firm?’

‘Do I still get my fifty bucks?’

Kate sighed, said, ‘I’ll talk with Eddie. I’ll be right over to consult with Ms. Parker. Make sure she’s looked after until I get there.’

‘I’ll give her the best cell we got,’ he said, and hung up.

On the way out of her office, Kate grabbed her backpack, which held her pens, laptop and charger, business cards, legal pads, retainer agreements, nicotine gum and bottles of water for the clients. Her police precinct bag. Everything she needed for a jail visit.

Harry closed a file on his desk, nudged his reading glasses onto his forehead, pinched and then rubbed the bridge of his nose.

‘You want to come with me to the 27thPrecinct? I think this could be a big case. Celebrity TikToker accused of a double murder.’

‘What’s a Tikky Tokker?’

‘Someone who posts videos on TikTok?’

‘Is that a dating website?’