<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Bert Walder – The Retired Lawyer</span></div><br/><br/>Bert hid the grin that broke onto his face at Evelyn’s response, by turning to the young kid who entered the room.<br/><br/>Shortly after Bert had first met James at the Agency, he had argued with Mr Silverman. Bert still remembered his exact words:<span style="font-style: italic">Jesus Christ, Silverman! The kid’s barely out of diapers! How could he possibly help with a case?</span>He had fought to get James sent back to school, or wherever he came from. Mr Silverman had sat at his desk and brought the argument to a close with a single sentence. He simply pointed out that some people at the Agency felt Bert was<span style="font-style: italic">too old</span>to work a case and that maybe he should send Bert home too.<br/><br/>Bert had kept his mouth shut on the subject since.<br/><br/>“Just water for me, kid,” Bert said to James. “Doctor’s orders.”<br/><br/>He paused. Maybe he<span style="font-style: italic">was</span>an old man. “Actually, to hell with it. Get me a black coffee. Gouts not going anywhere any time soon.”<br/><br/>Bert sat and watched as the final agents came into the room. First, the detective Claude Baldwin, who carried himself with an air of authority which could only be found from years on the police force. Finally, rushed and late, came Carol the reporter. Bert tried not to roll his eyes. He couldn’t stand journalists. Especially ones who poke their noses in places they shouldn’t be and mess everything up. As a lawyer he had been on the receiving end of that problem too many times. Not by Carol, of course, but he couldn't help but think that they were all the same.<br/><br/>As Alexandra stood up and spoke, Bert watched her. She spoke with surprising professionalism for someone who was going through so much. Just like her father, he thought to himself.<br/><br/>Bert frowned as she finished, and others in the room offered their services without hesitation. Slowly, he spoke too: “I have a great respect for your father and his work, Miss. Silverman. It’s a great loss to the city and even this fine country that he is no longer with us. But are you sure that he was murdered? I mean intuition and feelings aren’t worth<span style="font-style: italic">shit</span>, pardon my French, in a Court of Law. I’ve got the police report right here.” Bert tapped his briefcase and glanced towards Baldwin. “They say it was natural causes. Do you have any evidence?”<br/><br/>Bert paused, then quickly added: “Obviously, I’m willing to help in any way I can.”