21 A Sweet Perspective

In all his life, Adam Lechoń had never been so tired and yet so happy.

During his studies, he often slept for two hours or less in order to prepare a presentation or a paper. When he started working, he did not even notice when the next day came, he was so buried in piles of papers preparing for the trial. He was so tired that he could hardly move his muscles, numb from always being in the same position. His mind was like a sponge and his body like a rod. Every atom of him ached.

Now it was similar, yet different. Now his body screamed not from lack of movement but from its excess. Carrying boards, supporting beams, nailing nails he could barely reach made his body meet a series of physical challenges. He did not fare well, fortunately the construction crew welcomed him warmly. Admittedly, he was laughed at several times, but without much malice. Just that they had the opportunity to watch a novice who does not know which side of the hammer to drive nails with. At least he knew what he was being held for.

The hard work and the intense sun made the lawyer, who was not used to physical exertion, feel as if his whole body was going to fall apart, but in spite of this he felt great satisfaction and relief. It had been a long time since he had felt so good.

He finished the day with everyone and said goodbye to them outside the hotel. Only Hubert remained looking at him with the crooked, arrogant smile of a man who has an advantage over him.

And yet that smile was warm. Like the smile of Han Solo taunting the young and inexperienced Luke Skywolker, the naive man talking about some absurd Force. Admittedly, Adam did not feel like Luke, but he had the impression that such a smile from Han Solo gave him courage. He, for example, felt it growing inside him.

“So, are you coming tomorrow and the construction?” Hubert asked provocatively.

“I think I've worked for my board and lodging” smiled Adam. He felt really good and didn't mind if this state would last longer.

“Ok, I can agree with that. There was a little bit of laissez-faire, but on the whole we can say that we are in the clear. Maybe you want to make some extra money, though?”

“In the black?”

Hubert shrugged his shoulders. His smile was so provocative and arrogant that Adam felt his heart beat faster and his throat felt dry. He would have loved to spend another night with him, a more active one, but he couldn't come out with a proposal. His past experiences weren't the best, so his confidence in these matters wasn't among the greatest either.

“Officially, we can consider this as neighborly help” Hubert suggested. “I admit that when you were working today, you looked really sexy. White collar as a construction worker, covered in sweat and covered in shavings... Definitely a sight to behold.”

Well, a construction worker as a construction worker looked good too, Lechoń had to admit. Hard work had sculpted Hubert’s arms, the sun and the wind had made his face flushed, and his scruffy, several-day stubble and sweaty hair gave him a somewhat wild, prim and - this too had to be admitted - tempting look.

Adam felt like saying all that, but he couldn't. He could be confident in the courtroom, where he had solid support in the evidence. Flirting was something unknown to him. So he blushed like an innocent maiden.

“Still unable to say what you want?” Hubert asked apparently guessing something. “Ok, so don't say it. If you want to meet me, be there at nine o'clock where we first met. See you later!”

He raised his hand in a farewell gesture and left Adam before he could muster any visible reaction.

Hubert's proposal caused his heart to beat faster and butterflies in his stomach. He didn't even realize that his whole face lit up. The unpretentious directness of the proposal and at the same time giving him the freedom to carry it out, opened a door for Lechoń to decide on the pace of further development of their acquaintance. Adam did not have to think twice to know that this evening he would go for a short walk to the lake.

Now, however, he fancied a long and thorough shower to wash away the sweat and dust. Admittedly, there was something erotic about the smell of an overworked man, but he would only be able to get so close in the fire of a passion suddenly arising in field conditions. If one goes to a scheduled meeting and has a few hours to go, it would be a sin not to prepare properly.

He was entering the hotel when a long-haired fury hit him. Magda had just run out of the hotel without looking to see who she was trashing on the way. She startled him, so he got out of her way. At the reception desk he saw the owner disappearing behind the second door. She also looked nervous. Clearly the two had just had a sharp conversation, so typical between a mother and adolescent daughter. As an attorney, Adam sometimes encountered these situations, usually when he was handling divorce cases.

Of course, arguments happened in all families and without accompanying divorces, he simply had no contact with them outside of such situations. Therefore, he took no interest in either. Their private affairs were their own, private affairs.

***

"What do you mean, nothing? Nothing at all?"

Agnieszka Madera couldn't believe what she was hearing from her senior colleague. She stood bent over his head, with her hand resting on his desk, quite as if she wanted to pin him down. Przemek, however, did not look as if she was making any impression on him.

"I was surprised myself," he admitted. "He hasn't made a single transaction with his card in a week."

"Maybe he pays cash..." Madera tossed out an idea.

"Perhaps, but in that case he must have had some of it at home, because he hasn't taken a larger amount from the ATM lately" Przemek lifted his gaze to her. "Nice perfume, new?"

Agnieszka realized he was a little too close. She moved away instantly, all covered in blush.

"Uhm," she grunted. "You don't think something's happened to him, do you?"

Przemek looked at her like she was an idiot.

"And you think you're an investigative journalist?" he asked disapprovingly. "The guy is hiding from journalists. Probably Niedziałek, or some other of his handlers, hid him in some villa with a stuffed fridge."

Yes, that was logical, Agnieszka concluded.

"But why would they do that?" she asked. "I may not be the best investigator, but I know that Niedziałek&Hess are still interested in Kwiecień’s case and are not happy that it was taken from them. Even Razor Klimek's name came up on the Kwiecień case. Why would they protect and hide Lechoń? Shouldn't they put him out of a job?"

"It's called 'damage control,' baby. They can fire Lechoń and turn him over to the media, but then they'd have to admit that they hired an irresponsible lawyer, and that would hit their image. Do you see what I mean?"

"Of course, I'm not stupid. But I still don't know why they have to protect him. Why did this guy back off the case?"

"Maybe he has a conscience?" suggested Przemek.

"Sure, right!" she snorted with laughter. "Have you ever seen a lawyer in such a big firm who had a conscience?"

Przemek had not. Just as he hadn't seen a journalist who put truth before sensationalism.

"You still think he ducked because he found out Kwiecień was guilty? Just why would he do that? The only reason is conscience."

"No, not the only one," stated Agnieszka firmly. Think about it, Kwiecień is guilty, Lechoń led to his release and to the death of another victim. You say you're a journalist and you really can't see what a story this is? Don't tell me you wouldn't tear apart a lawyer like that who frees murderers."

"Well, actually..."

"So you see. Lechoń bundled up and gave chase. There's no other option."

“Well, maybe," Przemek agreed very reluctantly. He did so not because he believed in Lechoń's honesty. Przemek simply loved to have the opposite opinion from Agnes. The truth was less important when he could tease her out.