“No. No way. I was real y upset when you said you were leaving.
And I know we haven’t always been close, but I wouldn’t do that to you, or to anyone.”
“No. No, of course, you wouldn’t. Sorry. I just keep thinking, who did I piss off this much, you know? Who hated me enough to do this?
I mean, I thought maybe Rachel, in the office, but . . .”
“She wouldn’t have the guts,” Camila said quietly.
“Yeah.” Hazel fished a Kleenex out of her pocket and blew her nose. “Look, I have to go. I’l see you around. And sorry. For what I said before.” She hurried away, and Camila and Hannah stood and watched her go.
“Shit,” Camila said quietly. “Poor Hazel. She was so embarrassed when she was the only one not to get an offer at the end of the summer. There was a rumor she’d been involved with that partner, Gabe, and it ended badly. You know stories like that are just so dangerous in law. Everyone knows everyone. People won’t hire you in case you’re trouble. So she had that fol owing her around. And now she has this.”
Hannah swal owed. “But she’s rich, right? Didn’t you say that, at the bar? Her family wil look after her.”
Camila flushed. “I was being a bitch, because I was angry.
Hazel’s parents are divorced. She lives with her mother. I don’t even know if she’s in touch with her dad.”
“Oh,” Hannah said.
“Yeah.” Camila didn’t move. “Funny how she thought it might have been Rachel though, right? I mean, yes, Rachel’s jealous and she’d love to have taken Hazel’s spot on the team. But I can’t see it.
Rachel would never have the bal s to pul it off. And Rachel didn’t get Hazel’s spot. You did.”
Hannah gave her a look that said back off, and started walking on toward the office. Camila fol owed.
“So you agree?” Camila asked.
“What?”
“That it wasn’t Rachel.”
“I real y don’t know Rachel that wel , but she doesn’t seem like the type.”
“No. No she doesn’t. You might be, though.”
Hannah stopped walking. “Excuse me?”
“I think you heard me. You’re the kind of person who takes ‘bold action.’？” Camila drew air quotes for the last two words. “Isn’t that what Rob said when he brought you on? That’s what he said to me and Sean. That you were a doer. That you weren’t afraid to be direct.”
“What exactly are you accusing me of, Camila?”
“I’m not accusing you of anything. I’m asking you—did you fake a job offer to Hazel to get her off the team so there was room for you?
And also—did you fuck with our filings? You came from out of nowhere, didn’t you . . . with this transfer from Maine right into the heart of our team. So, who are you, Hannah?”
Hannah’s fighting instinct final y kicked in. She stared the other girl down. “You’ve got to be kidding me. What is this about, real y, Camila? Are you pissed that Parekh wanted me to chase down Prosper with Sean, instead of you? Because if that’s your problem, I suggest you take it up with him, instead of making crazy swipes at me. I didn’t have anything to do with Hazel’s job offer, real or not. I’ve said hel o to her, and bought her a coffee. That’s the extent of our relationship.”
Camila opened her mouth to stay something, but Hannah held up a hand. “No,” she said. “You don’t get to talk right now. I don’t know enough about Hazel to screw with her life so successful y, and I have no possible reason to do it. I’m here to volunteer, just like you. And yes, someone tried to embarrass her but what makes you think it has anything to do with the Project? It seems to me like someone out there doesn’t like Hazel very much. What they did to her was personal. Designed to humiliate. I don’t think it has anything to do with the Project at al . And as for the filings.” Hannah made a scoffing noise. “Are you kidding me? You think I have the skil s to get into the computer system and mess with a bunch of motions at the same time that they are being careful y edited by Jim . . . oh, and al while logged in under my student ID of course, and not get caught?
Jesus, Camila. Get a grip.”
Camila’s expression was blank, giving nothing away.
“And for God’s sake, why? If you honestly think there’s a chance I did this, you must have a theory as to why?”
For the first time, doubt showed in Camila’s eyes. “That’s the one thing I can’t figure out.”