Steele said to me, “now that we’ve dealt with your little problem, can we talk about mine, which isn’t so little?” We were in Steele’s office, having just finished up with Dev and sent him on his way. “Someone’s death is a little problem to you?” I plopped down in a chair across from Steele’s modern chrome and black lacquer desk. Steele is usually obsessive about keeping his office clean. Most of the clutter for his cases is kept in my office or in his secretary’s area. But this current case was different. Steele’s desktop was nearly obliterated by files and binders and documents pertaining to the acquisition, which at various points in its history threatened to collapse in a heap of dead trees due to bickering by the parties involved. “At the risk of sounding more callous than usual, yes. At least if it doesn’t pertain to this matter.” Steele tapped one of the folders on his desktop.
