In Practice

(To read from the beginning, click here)

“I’ll grant you it’s not our run of the mill estates case. The detective responding to the call for the suicide found the Hershbergers’ information on the night stand and notified them of the decedent’s passing. The police needed a positive ID on the body because it had, uh, been there awhile. So, the Hershbergers came down and made the ID. They’re friends of the decedent. Apparently there is no real family to speak of.”

“Sad,” Katie said softly. “And us? How’d they pick us?” she asked.

“I don’t know, Yellow Pages? I didn’t ask, it didn’t seem very appropriate at the time, they were pretty upset about the whole thing. Anyhow, judging from the house and the cars, it looks like it will be a decent size estate. I figure you can have a go at it on your own. After all, you’re almost a real lawyer now and everything,” he joked.

“Almost,” she replied cheerfully. “Just about a month left to go.” She tried not to think about the bar exam but it was pretty much always on her mind these days – and everyone else seemed to be thinking of it. Her mom routinely called to ask if she was getting nervous about it, which she usually wasn’t – until her mom asked.

Jim looked at his watch. “Wow, look at the time. I have to run. I need to pick up Jeff from soccer practice. It should be over by now.”

“I guess so. It’s dark out already,” Katie answered glancing out of the window.