He ran into Herb Lowenstein in the hall, walking toward a conference room. “Jesus,” Lowenstein said, “where the hell have you been, Peter? Nobody could find you.”

“I’ve been doing a confidential job for a client.”

“Well next time tell your damn secretary how to reach you. You look like shit. What happened, you get in a fight or something? And what’s that above your ear? Jesus, are those stitches?”

“I fell.”

“Uh-huh. What client were you doing this confidential job for?”

“Nick Drake, actually.”

“Funny. He didn’t mention it.”

“No?”

“No, and he just left. I spent the whole morning with him. He’s very unhappy about the document rescinding the ten-million-dollar grant from the Morton Foundation. Especially that clause.”

“I know,” Evans said.

“He wants to know where the clause came from.”

“I know.”

“Where did it come from?”

“George asked me not to divulge that.”

“George is dead.”

“Not officially.”

“This is bullshit, Peter. Where did the clause come from?”

Evans shook his head. “I’m sorry, Herb. I have specific instructions from the client.”

“We’re in the same firm. And he’s my client, too.”

“He instructed me in writing, Herb.”

“In writing? Horseshit. George didn’t write anything.”

“Handwritten note,” Evans said.

“Nick wants the terms of the document broken.”

“I’m sure he does.”

“And I told him we’d do that for him,” Lowenstein said.

“I don’t see how.”

“Morton was not in his right mind.”

“But he was, Herb,” Evans said. “You’ll be taking ten million out of his estate and if anybody whispers in the ear of his daughter—”

“She’s a total cokehead—”

“—who goes through cash like a monkey through bananas. And if anybody whispers in her ear, this firm will be liable for the ten million, and for punitive damages for conspiracy to defraud. Have you talked to the other senior partners about this course of action?”

“You’re being obstructive.”

“I’m being cautious. Maybe I should express my concerns in an e-mail to you.”

“This is not how you advance in this firm, Peter.”

Evans said, “I think I am acting in the firm’s best interest. I certainly don’t see how you can abrogate this document without, at the very least, first obtaining written opinions from attorneys outside the firm.”

“But no outside attorney would countenance—” He broke off. He glared at Evans. “Drake is going to want to talk to you about this.”

“I’ll be happy to do that.”

“I’ll tell him you’ll call.”

“Fine.”

Lowenstein stalked off. Then he turned back. “And what was all that business about the police and your apartment?”

“My apartment was robbed.”

“For what? Drugs?”

“No, Herb.”

“My assistant had to leave the office to help you with a police matter.”

“That’s true. As a personal favor. And it was after hours, if I recall.”

Lowenstein snorted, and stomped off down the hall.

Evans made a mental note to call Drake. And get this entire business behind him.