The Exchange: After The Firm

“Yes, some of them.”

“They dressed me a like a monk, hijab and all. Last night they gave me this outfit back, all clean and pressed. Such nice boys.”

“You said you were hungry.”

“Yes, what’s on the menu?”

“Sea bass or steak.”

“I’ll take the fish. Thanks. And more champagne.”

Mitch was six hours behind them. Roberto had a car waiting for him at the Rome airport, along with strict instructions from Luca to come straight to his villa where a small party was underway. He arrived just after midnight, and practically tackled his wife when he saw her. After they finished a long embrace, he went for Giovanna. She thanked him repeatedly. He apologized repeatedly. He embraced Luca and thought the old guy looked ten years younger.

Along with Roberto and his wife, Cory, Darian, and Bella, there were about a dozen old family friends on the veranda and the mood was one of sheer euphoria and relief. They had feared the worst for so long, now it was time to celebrate the miracle. They did not want the night to end.

A friend who owned a restaurant around the corner arrived with another wave of food. Neighbors who complained of the noise were invited to join the revelry. “Giovanna’s back!” someone yelled and the word spread.

Mitch and Abby slept on a narrow bed in a guestroom, and awoke with mild, matching hangovers. Nothing that sparkling water and strong coffee couldn’t fix.

One glance at his phone and he wanted to toss it. Dozens of missed calls, voicemails, emails, texts, all related to the release of the hostage. He and Roberto huddled and put together a quick media strategy. They wrote a press release that gave the most important fact — Giovanna’s release and safe return — while avoiding all other details. They sent it to New York and London. Roberto would deal with the Italian newspapers. No one was getting near a television camera.

Mid-morning Luca appeared and joined them on the veranda. He said that Giovanna had agreed to follow the advice of his doctor and spend a couple of days in the hospital for tests and observation. She had lost at least twenty pounds and was dehydrated. He and Roberto would leave with her in half an hour.

Luca thanked Mitch and Abby again, and when he hugged them his eyes were moist. Mitch wondered if he would ever see him again.

Yes, he would. Once things were settled at home, he and Abby would return to Rome and hang out with Luca and Giovanna. He had made the decision to take some time off.

At noon, the Gulfstream left Rome again, bound for New York, where it would deposit Cory and Darian, then fuel up for a quick trip to Maine, where the McDeere family would be reunited and enjoy a long, lazy weekend.

Monday would be brutal. The boys were two weeks behind at school.

Chapter 47

As Mitch entered 110 Broad for the last time, he paused and drifted to his right where the designer benches sat empty, always empty, and the expensive and baffling paintings hung in plain view, ignored by all. He sat down and watched, just like his old pal Lamar Quin, as hundreds of young professionals raced upward with their phones stuck to their ears. The crowd was not as thick because the hour was late, almost 9:30 A.M., an unheard-of hour for arrivals in Big Law.

For the past week, Mitch had been going in later and leaving earlier, if he went in at all.

He finally made it to his office, where he checked on his storage boxes, then left without a word to his secretary. He might call her later.

Jack was expecting him at 9:45.

“Please thank Barry again,” Mitch said. “For his incredible hospitality. We might go back in August.”

“Well, I’ll be there, Mitch. I’m leaving July thirtieth.”

“I’m leaving now, Jack. I’m walking out, resigning, quitting, whatever you want to call it. I can’t work here. I saw Mavis Chisenhall yesterday in the cafeteria and she almost broke her neck trying to get away. Too ashamed to speak to me. I can’t work in a place where people avoid me.”

“Come on, Mitch. You’re a hero right now, the man of the hour.”

“Doesn’t feel that way.”

“It’s true. Everyone knows what the management committee did, or didn’t do, and the entire firm is upset.”

“Scully lost its spine, Jack, if it ever had one.”

“Don’t do it, Mitch. Let some time pass. Everybody will get over it.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re leaving.”

“True. I just hate to see you go somewhere else, Mitch.”

“I’m outta here, Jack. So is Luca. I talked to him yesterday and he’s resigning. Giovanna too. She’s moving back to Rome and will take over his office.”

“Please, Mitch, don’t overreact.”

“And I’m keeping Lannak. They’re fed up with Scully.”

“Poaching clients already?”

“Call it whatever. You’ve done your share. I can think of a few you’ve snagged. That’s the game in Big Law.”

Mitch stood and said, “There are four boxes of my office junk on my desk. Could you have them delivered to my apartment?”

“Of course. You’re really leaving?”

“I’m gone, Jack. Let’s part as friends.”

Jack stood and they shook hands.