Chapter 3

Platt knocked on Jess' open office door. Jess looked up and found Platt standing there.

"Trudy! Come in! What do I owe the pleasure?"

"Oh, stuff it, Bridey," Platt said in her usual ball busting routine.

Jess laughed. "You're definitely in Sergeant mode this morning. Ok, what can I do for y you? And please have a seat."

Platt took the chair in front of Jess' desk. She set her purse on the floor and shoved a box at Jess. "Brought you some breakfast."

"You didn't have to do that. Thank you!"

"Would you just shut up and open the box? I'm starving."

Jess laughed and opened the box. Inside were an assortment of doughnuts and Danish. She handed the open box back to Platt so she could make her selection. After Trudy had selected a chocolate glazed and a cherry Danish, she rose from her chair and walked over to her coffee maker. "Do you want plain old Maxwell House or you want some fancy girlie coffee?"

"Bridey, if you breathe one word about me drinking girlie coffee, I might have to kill you with my bare hands."

Jess laughed harder and slid a French Vanilla pod into her coffee brewer. "Deal. But do me a favor and stop calling me Bridey. I'm not a bride anymore."

"You're a bride for your first year. It's not August yet," Platt insisted.

"You just wait Gertrude Alice Platt. Your day with Mouch is coming. And I'm going to call you Bridey for the whole first year the two of you are married."

Platt gave her the You Had Better Not Even Try It look. It was meant to intimidate, but since Jess had known Voight for so long, it didn't work on her. It just made her laugh harder. "You so will not."

"Try me," she said as she slid the coffee over in front of her. "Now, eat. Tell me what you came to see me about."

"Well, it's kind of personal."

"It always is."

"I need you to represent me in a case."

Jess raised an eyebrow. "A case?"

"Yes, Bridey, a case. I wrote a book and I got a publisher. But now they're trying to rip me off on my royalties."

Jess looked at her friend. She had no idea that Trudy had written a book, let alone had gotten it published and was getting royalties."

"Anyway, Hank mentioned that you were an Entertainment lawyer, and I thought you could help."

"I can help. I'm assuming you have proof?"

Platt reached into her tote bag and pulled out a bunch of papers. She handed it to Jess. Jess took them and leafed through them.

"You wrote Murder on Navy Pier?" she asked incredulously.

"Damn Skippy. And Murder in Darkness, Murder at the River, Murder Makes a House Call, Murder at Wrigley Field, Murder in the Visitor's Lounge, Murder on the Miracle Mile, Murder at the Board of Trade, and Murder at the TV Station."

Jess leaned back in her chair and whistled. "Trudy, I had no idea. I've read them all. You're damn good. I love your books."

Platt waved her hand. "Don't go all fan girl on me, Jess. Just get me my money."

Jess leaned forward and looked Platt in the eye. "You bet your ass I will."

Platt took a bite of her Danish and a sip of coffee. "I knew you would. That's why I brought it to you and not your numb nuts partners at Dewey, Screwem, and Howe."

"I'll get right on this."

Platt rose and plunked another doughnut out of the box. "Not one word to anyone," she reminded.

"Attorney Client Privilege," Jess reminded.

"Good. Gotta go. I'll be late for shift."

Jess rose and walked her to her door. "Don't worry, Trudy. I'll make them pay."

"I know you will. Hank said you're a total Pit bull in court."

Jess smiled. "He just got lucky one day and saw me tear apart a defense witness."

"No matter. Just make sure the bastards pay. And find me a new publisher."

"I can do that. You need an agent too?"

"Yeah. Can I hire you for that too?"

"15% of your sales."

"I can do that. The asshole I have now charges me 20."

"I'm not out to make money on you, Trudy. I have my law practice and teaching for that."

"Not to mention Hank."

Jess shook her head. "Hank's money is Hank's money."

"Ah, modern woman. Good job, Bridey. Later."

"Have a good day, Trudy. And don't worry. I have this. I'll send the paperwork over later so you can look it over and sign it."

Platt nodded and walked down the hall to the elevator. Jess returned to her office and sat down in her chair. Her head was spinning. She had no idea her friend was in addition to being a Chicago Police Department Sergeant was also a bestselling mystery writer. Jess hadn't connected the dots because Trudy wrote under a pen name. She shook her head. It was all so unreal, but sitting in front of her was the proof.