Chapter 9 Three days later , the first court hearing kicked off . But Maxine ? She was stuck at the firm , sidelined by Patrick . " Maxine , it's not like I'm trying to screw you over , alright ? " he said . " You're free right now , and the archive's a hot mess . Old case files gotta go . Can you handle it ? " Maxine let out a bitter chuckle . " Patrick , you're sticking me with intern - level crap? " Patrick's face twisted , caught in that awkward guilt trip - same look he had when he told her Kathleen was snatching her case . It clicked . Sebastian . He was the puppet master , keeping her out of the courtroom . Fuming , Maxine reached for her phone to tear Sebastian a new one , but a commotion at the firm's entrance stopped her dead . She stepped out and saw the crew back from the assault case . Kathleen was there , swinging her briefcase , smirking like she owned the place . " Hey , Maxine , bad news - this case ? Total trainwreck . We're done for . " Maxine's eyes went wide . " No freaking way . " Forty minutes . That was all it took . Not enough time to even touch the evidence or witnesses . ' How the hell did they tank it ? ' she thought . Kathleen just gave a lazy shrug , like she couldn't care less . Maxine's head was throbbing . She stormed out , ignoring Patrick's shouts trailing behind her . She hopped in a cab and raced to the victim's place . Ivanna Sandoval lived in a rough part of town where everybody knew everybody's business . As Maxine pulled up to Ivanna's building , a neighbor spotted her . " Hey , you're Ivanna's lawyer , right ? Looking for her ? " " Yeah ! " Maxine was out of breath , her gut screaming something was wrong . " Where'd she go ? " " She just left with her kid , headed west . " Maxine's heart plummeted . She'd been here before . West of this neighborhood was the Nealson River She didn't know how she ended up at the riverbank her feet just carried her . Then she heard it : a kid's gut - wrenching sobs echoing through the air . Maxine's knees buckled . Her vision blurred as she chased the sound . There , by the water , was Ivanna's little girl , barely old enough for kindergarten , crying her heart out . Floating on the river was a mustard - yellow jacket . Maxine froze . That was Ivanna's favorite jacket . 1/2 10:44 Tue 17 Jun Chapter 9 By the time Maxine got Ivanna's daughter settled and dragged herself back to the law firm , it was nearly time to punch out . She looked like hell - eyes red and swollen , hair a wild mess around her sharp features , her glare cold enough to stop a heart . Kathleen spotted her and grinned , all snark . " God , Ms. Hudson , you look like you got run over by a truck ." Maxine stomped closer , brushing off the dig . " Kathleen , you hear about Ivanna ? She threw herself in the river ." The words hit like a sucker punch . The nosy coworkers nearby , ready for some tea , went stone - cold quiet . Kathleen blinked , caught off guard , but quickly squared her shoulders . " Yeah , so ? That's got nothing to do with me . " " You were her lawyer ! " Maxine snapped , voice sharp as a knife . " The case was bulletproof - witnesses , evidence , everything . No way we should've lost . But forty minutes in court , and it's done ? You're telling me you're clean in this ? " Her voice cracked , eyes blazing . " Where's your damn conscience , Kathleen ? " Kathleen's face twisted , and she fired back , " Ivanna was a slut ! Hooking up with some rich player , then trying to spin it with a lawsuit ? She jumped ' cause she knew she was guilty . Don't put that on me ! " Maxine's fists clenched , her voice dropping to a low growl . " Say that again . I dare you . " " I said , she was a- " Kathleen didn't finish . Maxine lunged , grabbing a fistful of her hair and dragging her to the wall with a snarl . She slammed Kathleen against it , hard . Kathleen yelped , spitting curses . " You crazy bitch , let go ! " " God , we're all women - where's your heart ? " Maxine's voice broke , tears streaming as she pictured Ivanna's scared little girl . " If I snap your neck right now , you think I could just say you offed yourself ? Like , what , you botched the case and couldn't deal ? " AD