Tony: Alvarez Security Series Read Online Free Page A

huge sigh. She used to go to the State Capitol often for business, even if it was just delivering files to a client. But ever since the Senator had been caught in a huge scandal involving payoffs and mob bosses, Attorney Ashton Marks had scaled back as he was winding down his career. He kept his business to just family law, dealing mostly with wills and trusts. Necessary, but to Sherrie, it was a little boring.
    She was tired of spending her days stuck in the tiny office, completing legal forms for the clients. She could not help but smile at the memories of helping Jennifer with a little reconnaissance a few months earlier. She had felt alive and needed. Her gaze moved from the pile of folders to a small picture frame on her desk. She and Charisse, her sister. Raised in foster homes, she had gone the route of being a good student and Charisse had decided that prostituting herself for drugs was the way to break out of the system. Where are you now, sis?
    “Ms. Mullins?” a deep voice called from the door.
    Jumping, she exclaimed, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear anyone there.”
    A tall, handsome man wearing a nice, if inexpensive suit, walked in with his hand out. “I’m Simon Tolbert, Mr. Marks’ new partner.”
    Jumping to her feet, she shook his hand, saying, “That’s right. I totally forgot it was your first day here.”
    Seeing the look of disappointment cross his face, she explained, “I was involved in a friend’s wedding last week and am afraid my mind was completely pre-occupied.”
    He smiled and nodded his understanding. “Well, I’ll be settling into my office today and I’m sure I’ll see you later.” He turned and headed back out of her door.
    She did not have to wait long for the next time she saw Mr. Tolbert, when Mr. Marks called an office meeting. The receptionist stayed for just a few minutes of introductions and after she left, Sherrie and the two attorneys continued their meeting.
    “My specialty is family law, Ms. Mullins; and Mr. Marks tells me you are a CASA worker. I will be making some visits to children in foster care and would like a female to go with me when I am interviewing a child. I find that it makes them more comfortable. With your special training, you will be an invaluable asset. Other than that, I would expect that my needs for your services will be similar as to Mr. Marks’.”
    Smiling as she walked back to her office, she thought of working on some cases with children as well as her CASA assignment. This just might be the spark I needed.
    *
    Sherrie had her first time visiting a foster care home with the attorney that week. As they drove the short distance to the pleasant house, he asked her to call him ‘Simon’. “I know Mr. Marks believes in formality, but I prefer a friendlier atmosphere at work.”
    Nodding, she added, “And you may certainly call me ‘Sherrie’.”
    Arriving at the home, she followed his lead and sat with the child at the kitchen table as Simon asked them some questions. She could not help but look around at the pleasant surroundings. It reminded her of one of her earlier foster homes. When she and Charisse had been younger, the homes were nice. But as her sister’s behavior became more erratic, they had been shipped from one house to another. And a few of them, not very desirable.
    The interview went quickly and Simon called the DSS worker assigned to the case. After conferring with her for a few minutes, he turned back to Sherrie. “Want to grab some lunch while we’re out?”
    “Sure, anywhere’s fine,” she answered.
    “Do you know of any good places near the office? I’m still new to this side of town.”
    “There’s a great deli a few blocks from us. Good menu and good prices.”
    “Sounds like just the place for me,” he laughed.
    They soon were seated at a table near the back and welcomed the warm cup of cider from the owner. “Ahh,” Sherrie said. “This hits the spot on a cold day.”
    As they were eating, she