44 NoraNora greedily sucked in tobacco smoke.
She was outdoors with Hugo. Sunshine blazing from a cloudless sky, they huddled in the meager shade of a leafy sapling.
They shared the square yard of concrete under their feet with a metal receptacle for cigarette butts.
According to Hugo, this pocket park a block from Brad’s office building was the only legal place to light a cigarette in downtown Parma.
When the deposition ended, he’d led her straight to it. He’d guessed she’d be desperate for nicotine.
She drew more smoke into her lungs and blessed the city planner who’d created the park.
“Man, that was painful to watch,” Hugo announced.
Nora nodded agreement. “I hated being so hard on Gunderson. I quit as soon as I got what I needed.”
She’d halted her interrogation when Gunderson a
