Meghan Ross: Con Artist in Training

High Noon (Part 1)

Someone had been systematically removing those involved with Hardman's five-year absence. First, Donna was fired. Then Harvey was put through an in-house, or mock, trial that would determine his status in the company as well as the life of his license to practice law. Once neither of those had gone his way, Hardman went for his end goal. Jessica.

Mike was in the firm's file room while Meghan was doing her rounds. It was much earlier in the day than her normal time to be at the office. Plus, they both needed to stay home for a few days.

"Should we really be here after-"

"After what, Meghan?" The tone he used usually meant she was in trouble. It was a dare for her to mention things she shouldn't know about his life on company time.

"You know something? The only thing I did to deserve that was tell Rachel you're my brother. She was going to see that eventually, regardless of what happened," she whispered so that no one else heard. Then she turned on her heel. Her exit from the library was not toward the associate's bullpen, but toward the elevator.

Just before she could catch the elevator, Rachel had spotted her.

"Shouldn't you be home after yesterday?" It wasn't judgmental or overstepping in this case. It was genuine concern. There weren't too many people who came to work right after a loved one died.

Meghan leaned against the wall, waiting for the next elevator now that she'd missed them all. "Dad thought it'd be best for the cover. I wanted us to stay home."

"At least one of you is thinking clearly," Rachel remarked. "Are you sure you should leave him alone, though?"

"I'm not abandoning him, Rachel. I just know he's going to do something stupid. He won't listen to me, and I can't be around that stuff anymore. Doesn't mix well with my meds."

Rachel didn't understand what Meghan meant just yet. The teen didn't like the reminders of what she did for Trevor and the situations he had gotten her into through drug transactions. Those reminders weren't as bad as watching someone get killed, but they were part of the reason she was on sleeping pills.

"Do you need me to tell Mike where you're going?"

"Not necessary. He can track my phone, plus I only go to one of two places when I need to talk about things that I can't mention here..." an elevator door slid open. "Dad's in the file room. I'll see you later."

As the elevator went down, Meghan removed her cellphone from her pocket. She sent a quick message that read:

Please don't be too hard on Mike, today. Or that you know anything. He doesn't want anyone to know this, and he'll be really upset with me for going against his wishes. Mike's grandmother passed yesterday. He's angry at himself so he might lash out if you try to do anything other than give him a heavier workload.

~***~***~

Rachel's time with Meghan was much more pleasant that the conversation she tried to have with Mike. The kid wasn't snippy or anything. Just resigned like she had given up before even trying. Mike on the other hand, was sarcastic and angry.

He was angry with himself more than anyone. He let himself get so caught up in work and the new apartment that visiting Edith never happened. Mike hadn't seen her in two months except for her visit to the office.

"What are you doing here?" Rachel asked in a hushed tone.

"Rachel, meet the file room," was the beginning of his sarcastic reply. Of course, she knew where they were. She'd been working there five years longer than either Ross. "It's where we store information on the cases that we're working on.