Tattooed Read Online Free Page A

cowardice, that she had not agreed to take Frances as a client. Then she wouldn’t have to face her own inability to help her.
You can’t overturn the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision, Kate.
She could only put up a challenge to it, if her client was willing.
And Frances Sloane was not.
“I’m afraid there isn’t anything more I can offer you,” Kate said, rising to her feet. How did doctors do this all the time?
Frances took a shaky breath. “I understand. Could you get Phyllis for me?”
Kate nodded. “Of course.”
She hurried to the foyer. The cool air of the corridor refreshed her. She hadn’t realized how thick the atmosphere had become in her office.
Kate hovered in the hallway while Phyllis guided Frances’ wheelchair down the corridor.
She raised her hand in farewell. “Take care, Frances.” That sounded horribly inadequate to her ears. But what else could she say? “Hope you have a peaceful death,” or “I’ll come to your funeral”?
Frances slurred, “Goodbye.”
Oh, no. Those were tears in Frances’ eyes.
Kate watched Phyllis guide her client’s wheelchair to the elevators.
This is probably going to be the last time you’ll see her.
Her stomach clenched. She spun on her heel, closing the door to her office with more force than necessary. You couldn’t have done more, Kate. The law is the law. She didn’t want to take on a court challenge.
She threw herself into her chair, closed her eyes and leaned her head back.
An image of Frances Sloane, crumpled in her wheelchair, her eyes burning into Kate’s, jumped into her head.
“Damn!”
She leapt to her feet, trying to rid her brain of the image, and rushed out of her office. Frances and her caregiver waited at the elevator.
“Frances!” Kate planted herself between her client’s wheelchair and the elevator doors. “I just thought of something—”
“There is a loophole?”
“No. But there is one other way to change the law,” Kate said. “You could lobby your M.P. to amend the Criminal Code. Or get the government to strike down the provision.”
Frances’ gaze sharpened.
Kate lowered her voice. “If you can convince them of the merits of the issue, then they will fight for it in Parliament. You won’t have to engage in a lengthy battle in the courts.”
The elevator bell chimed. Frances’ caregiver began to push the wheelchair toward the doors but Frances reached for Kate’s sleeve. Her fingers were unable to grip the fabric. Her hand sank back to her armrest.
The elevator began its descent without Kate’s client.
“Can you help me?” Frances asked, reaching out her hand again. Kate didn’t remember Frances Sloane ever being so touchy-feely. Perhaps it was because she was losing the ability to do so that compelled her to attempt it while she could. “Can you write a legal argument for my M.P.?”
Kate shook her head, regret twisting her mouth. “I’m not a lobbyist, Frances.”
“But you know the issues. You could do this for me.”
Kate shook her head. “Frances…I’m sorry,” she said, her tone gentle. “You need to find a professional lobbyist. I’m sure there are ones with legal training who could help you.”
“I’ve chosen you.” Frances’ gaze became pleading.
A weight formed in Kate’s chest. “Why?”
“You fought the Body Butcher so you wouldn’t die a horrible death.”
The foyer had become very quiet. The back of Kate’s neck prickled. She was certain that the receptionist listened intently. She was also certain that Melissa would be looking anywhere but at them.
You’ve got this all mixed up, Frances. It was pure survival instinct, not a well-thought-out plan about my means of departing this earth. Kate rubbed her arms. “I fought him because I wanted to live, Frances.”
“But you didn’t want to die like that, did you?”
Kate saw exactly where Frances was heading with her question. Yet she couldn’t lie to her. “No.” The desire to live had fuelled her fight to the death with