Chapter 80
"I'll tell you what, the minute I feel like I am in any danger at all, I will let you know," Catherine insisted.
"By that time it will probably be too late! But if that is the way you want to play it, far be it from me to waste the taxpayer's money. I will get these goons rounded up for a real line up and give you a call to come in. As for the job, I will run it by Moreno, the DA, and get back to you. How much notice do you need to give your father's firm?"
"I don't have anything pending that one of the other associates couldn't handle, so a day or two should be plenty."
"Okay then, leave your info with Edie, the girl that came in here, and I will let you know as soon as I do," Joe said, standing to shake her hand.
Catherine knew that her father would be disappointed at this decision, but it just felt so 'right'! She couldn't wait to tell Vincent this evening. But for now she had to go into the office and break the news to her father.
She had been right; Charles had not been at all pleased when she told him the news. The comment that had struck her the most had been, "Cathy, it seems as if you are determined to change your whole life! I feel as if I don't know you at all anymore!" She had tried to reassure him, but since things in her life really were drastically changing, there wasn't much she could say.
Vincent, on the other hand, could sense how excited she was about the prospect of the new job and was very supportive. She also told him about the other attack on the girl they had thought she was. He quickly suggested that Catherine should stay Below to protect herself from harm until the men had been brought to justice. Catherine agreed that might be best, but said there was no need to do so until after the official line up. The men would have no way of knowing there was another case against them until then.
The next morning Vincent had just left and Catherine was on her way to the door when the phone rang. It was Joe Maxwell asking her if she could start the next day. Catherine eagerly told him yes and went into the office to give her father the bad news.
Wednesday morning Vincent watched in bemusement as Catherine pulled one outfit after another out of her closet. She explained that she had to find just the right one. It had to say that she would be a hard working employee who didn't want any special treatment. Also, it couldn't show off her wealth, but showed how responsible she was. He received a perturbed look when he chuckled and told her that was a lot to expect one outfit to say.
She finally settled on a navy blue suit with a cream colored silk blouse, a single strand of pearls around her neck and matching studs in her ears. Her shoes were a simple pair of navy leather pumps that Vincent would have been shocked to learn had cost nearly $600. She kissed him good-bye, after asking him to wish her luck, and then hurried out of the apartment.
Walking into the DA's office that morning Catherine really felt like she belonged there even though she could only put two names to the faces around her it still felt right.
Joe Maxwell approached her and motioned for her to follow him. "I'll introduce you to Jeff Radler and you can dig right in. Your desk is right next to his."
"Great," Catherine said, "I'm eager to get started."
They arrived next to an empty desk that she assumed would be hers and one where a brown haired male sat with his head in his hands. "Radler, I have your new help here. She should be great at paperwork, she graduated from Radcliff… Hey! Radler and Radcliff! You two should make a pretty good team!"
Somewhere during Joe's speech 'Radler' lifted his head to look at them. Joe barely got a second long glance, but when his eyes landed on Catherine he got to his feet with a bright smile. Holding out his hand to her, he asked, "Does this lovely savior of mine have a name or should I just call her Angel?"
To be continued….