Page 24 of Cadaver Lab: Mind Over Murder

Natalie handed the paper over to Harper. And as she watched, the expression on her friend’s face darkened as she read each devastating line.

Finally, Harper’s eyes popped wide. “Two million dollars?”

Natalie drew in a breath, feeling how tight her chest was. She could only imagine how Harper felt. How was she even remaining upright?

One thing was clear, to Natalie if not Harper, who couldn’t possibly be thinking clearly at this moment. “Harp, we talked about it, but now it’s time to actually call a lawyer.”

Hell, the local pastor wouldn’t be a bad idea either, because if there was ever a time for prayers, this was it.

Chapter Ten

“The fictional character equals a real person argument is hard to win in court,” Dee Flanders, Mudville’s resident lawyer, began. “But in the case of your books, Harper, the character you wrote is obviously Doug.”

“How is that obvious? My fictional Dougal Payne is not Doug Pompinou. He has a completely different name,” Harper protested.

“And the same job, personality and habits,” Dee added.

“Dee is right, sweetie,” Agnes said gently to her great niece. “Everyone in town recognized that character is him immediately.”

Harper scowled. “That’s ridiculous.”

As soon as Jules had arrived to watch the shop for Natalie, they’d all met in Dee’s office—Harper along with her great aunt Agnes and Natalie for support.

“You made him a real estate agent, Harper,” Dee said.

“Lots of people are real estate agents.”

“You had him complain about zoning laws,” Agnes said.

“Every town in America has zoning laws.”

“You also gave him high blood pressure,” Natalie added remembering when she and Harper sat together at a village meeting behind Doug and had to listen to him complain about his ailment.

Harper paused. “Okay, that one detail might be seen as… specific.”

“But it also proves he was already not a healthy man,” Natalie said, hoping that detail would help prove Harper innocent.

“Which means any undue exertion or stress inflicted upon him, such as an argument, could affect him more than a healthy man,” Dee pointed out.

One point for the plaintiff.

Damn. Things weren’t looking good for Harper in this lawsuit.

Two-million dollars. Holy crap. Natalie couldn’t even imagine owning that much, never mind losing that amount in a lawsuit... on top of legal fees.

The office was so quiet they could hear the ticking of the antique clock on the wall as the three on the client side of the desk, defeated, slumped silently in the leather chairs. Dee, opposite them, looked on with empathy.

Finally, Natalie asked the question that must be on all their minds. “What now?” She glanced around. “We can’t let Doug win.”

Dee frowned. “He can’t win. He’s dead.”

Natalie knew better than most that dead didn’t necessarily mean gone. “You know what I mean. Harper can’t lose. It’s not fair. She did nothing wrong.”

Dee tipped her head to the side. “She did write the books in question.”

Agnes drew back. “Deloris Amelie Flanders, whose side are you on, anyway? We’ve known each other since grade school and we’ve just handed over a hefty retainer for you to represent Harper.”

“Agnes, I’m on yours and Harper’s side, of course. But it’s my job to play devil’s advocate. I have to raise any objection the opposition could. You know that.”