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becoming something I don’t respect.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I left Beale & Ripley because I wanted to do something better. I was tired of always representing big corporations that used my cases as leverage in their business strategies. Even my big courtroom victories didn’t have much real meaning.”
    She nodded. “I remember. You used to joke that your job was ‘to redistribute wealth from the rich to the rich.’”
    “Exactly, except it wasn’t really a joke. I was ‘kidding on the square,’ as Uncle Mike used to say. That’s why, when the time came for me to make a run for partner, we prayed about it. Would I spend even more hours in the office and out entertaining clients? Or would we give up the security and comfort of big-firm life so I could go out on my own and you could open your own accounting practice?”
    She cocked her head and wrinkled her brow. “Yes, and we did exactly what we thought God was leading us to do. So why did you stop respecting yourself all of a sudden?”
    “Look at me.” Ben spread his arms. “I’m running around hustling nickel-and-dime cases to make my rent. I’m just a small-time solo practitioner. When I left Beale & Ripley, I wanted to take cases that would make a difference in people’s lives. The only one I’ve got that fits that bill is Circuit Dynamics , and I just took a shot from the judge who’ll be trying the case.”
    Noelle bit her lip. “Um, speaking of paying the rent . . .”
    Ben winced. “Are we past due?”
    She nodded. “The check from Anderson Engineering bounced, so I couldn’t pay Chicago Properties. I called Ed Anderson and told him I was going to break his kneecaps if he didn’t have a good check in my hands within twenty-four hours. He said he’s bringing over a new check tomorrow morning, but even if it’s good, it won’t clear for at least another day after that.”
    Despite the bad news, Ben couldn’t help smiling at the thought of his five-foot-four, 110-pound wife threatening to take out the knees of the burly engineer. “And by then we’ll be past the grace period and we’ll get hit with another $500 penalty, right?”
    Noelle nodded.
    Ben closed his eyes and sighed. “Any bright ideas?”
    “We just don’t have $3,000 free right now. We could try to take out a loan, but that would be hard to do on such short notice. Also, we could easily spend $500 on transaction costs and interest.” She thought for a moment. “Is there any work you could do that could raise some quick cash? What about that guy the Pugos referred? What kind of work did he want?”
    “Well, he wants a TRO and a preliminary injunction,” Ben explained reluctantly. “He’s willing to pay a $5,000 retainer.”
    “Terrific! That’ll take care of the rent and leave enough extra to pay for the new computer we wanted.”
    Ben frowned. “This is exactly the kind of work I’m trying to get away from. It’s just a two-bit little breach-of-contract case, but it could take up a lot of time over the next month, and I really need to focus on Circuit Dynamics . I was going to call this guy after dinner and tell him I couldn’t take his case.”
    “Ben, we need that money. What if the Andersons bounce another check? Chicago Properties has already threatened to evict us once. You can’t focus on Circuit Dynamics without an office.”
    Ben stared out into space, his jaws clenched in anger and frustration. The only way he was going to get more good cases was to do a good job on Circuit Dynamics , but he couldn’t do that unless he gave it enough time and attention. But if he gave Circuit Dynamics the time and attention it deserved, he wouldn’t be able to pay his bills—which would also prevent him from doing a good job. He felt trapped in a vicious cycle of mediocrity. He blamed his deadbeat clients for putting him in this bind, and he blamed himself for working for obvious (at least in hindsight) deadbeats, and particularly for not making them pay up