Chapter 2
“So the days you'll be expected to complete your hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.” Erica watched as Franky scrawled notes and doodles into the margins of the paperwork. “As for what those hours actually are, your supervisor will be in contact within the next few days.”
Franky looked up. “It's not going to be you?”
“Why would I be?”
“Well, you were at my interview. And you're the one here now givin' me the down low.” Franky shrugged, snorting at her innuendo as Erica rolled her eyes. “Aren't those supervisory duties? Or did you miss me that much?”
“No.” Erica smiled, not quite answering either question. “However, as you used me as a reference, I have a certain interest in making sure that you have the 'down low'.” She used air quotes. “As well as making sure you stay on your best behavior...”
“If I knew you were at the OPP when I first submitted my application, I would've picked a different reference,” Franky chided.
“And here I was thinking that you google'd me every chance you had.” Though, Erica did find herself wondering how often, if at all, the former prisoner had looked her up. Of course she had, just not immediately.
When it had come time in the semester to start applying for internships, Franky had every intention of putting her course advisor as one reference and Bridget as another. Bridget had quickly dismissed herself as a choice because their relationship had evolved much more beyond that of counselor and client and it would thus, “be unwise to offer a recommendation”. Franky hadn't quite understood why the nature of their relationship would dictate whether or not Bridget would be a fine reference; the psychologist had clearly cut corners on what was or was not appropriate with her former patient before.
“C'mon Gidge.” Franky sighed. “You know all about me, you're the perfect character reference.”
Bridget shook her head. “You'd be better off getting your parole officer or another one of your professors.” She was seated comfortably beside Franky on the couch with a glass of wine. “It would be unwise for me to offer a recommendation.”
“But you'll only have nice things to say about me.” Franky leaned in close to Bridget, playfully biting her ear.
Bridget closed her eyes. “Exactly. You need someone who can be a bit more objective.”
And so, Franky wound up using the former governor Erica Davidson. At first, she had listed her as a place holder, a joke even, never expecting to actually submit anything with Erica's name on it. However, she quickly realized that despite what had happened between her and Erica, the ex-governor certainly would not be able to deny Franky's academic performance and quick wit. Plus, Erica was likely now some kind of higher-up in law land. She only hoped that if the powers that be decided to contact her references, Erica wouldn't break her career before she even had the opportunity to make it.
- - -
“Oi, Erica, do you have a second?” Erica Davidson looked up from up from her monitor to see Virginia Beech, a junior HR manager peaking through the door to her office.
She tried to conceal her irritation and feigned a smile. Don't people knock anymore? “I suppose I do now.”
Virginia shuffled into the office, her feet audibly dragging on the floor. “We've been going through the prospective interns and I thought that this one would be relevant to your interests.” She tentatively approached Erica's desk, ready to hand her the file she was holding onto.
“I'm not involved in interning or the process.” Erica nodded towards the door, hoping to dismiss the manager so she could get back to her own work. “Perhaps you'd like to alert one of the Directorate Managers.”
“Well, this one used you as a reference, so we'd like to consult you directly.” Virginia placed the file awkwardly on Erica's desk, patting it for good measure. She continued to stand stiffly as Erica glanced over the file.
“Me as a reference?” Erica looked at Virginia skeptically. She was trying to rack her brain as to who she would have offered to advocate for recently. One of the legal trainees or junior solicitors? But they wouldn't be applying for an internship, certainly not where they already worked. She opened the file, almost laughing out loud when she saw the name of the applicant: Francesca Doyle.
“Despite her background, she seemed interesting enough to at least call in for an interview. She's in 2L. Do you mind attending? We've asked the Director and Jim to be there too.”
Erica placed her hand at the side of her neck, shaking her head. “I..well...do I have a choice?” Franky Doyle, nearly three years later, coming back in to her life. She should have known.
“No,” Virginia offered a tight lipped smile. “Seeing as you're a senior solicitor here and she used you as a reference...” She paused and gave Erica an alarmed expression. “You did realize she would use you as a reference for this position, didn't you?”
Erica laughed a bit nervously. “Of course I did.” This was inevitable. She was looking through Franky's file. She had completed her Bachelor's and somehow managed to skip 1L straight into 2L in less than two and a half years. If nothing else, it would be interesting to see how life was treating her troublesome former-charge. Nothing else. “Will that be all?”
Virginia nodded, seeing herself out. “The interview will be next Monday.”
- - -
“Actually, I didn't think to look you up until after the interview.” Franky laughed. “I would've thought you'd be at VLA advocating for the helpless, or something.”
Erica shook her head, again trying to conceal a smile. “I consult there occasionally. I imagine you didn't apply there then?”
“No, I did,” Franky corrected. “Really only to see if you were there.” She eyed Erica carefully, quite pleased with herself that she was able to get the senior solicitor to crack a genuine smile.
“You'd probably do quite well at Legal Aid.” Erica mused. If anyone had a good idea of what the system was like and how to stay out of it, it would probably be Franky Doyle.
“I already deal with that shit for Wentworth,” Franky scoffed, averting her eyes away from the contract she had been given and back to Erica. “I wanted to try something different. Wouldn't you?”
Erica shook her head. She was trying evade eye contact. “Franky...”
“Erica...” She truly hadn't meant anything other than how it had sounded, but was intrigued that Erica seemed to have considered otherwise.
“Let's try and stay professional while we're here, yeah?” Erica sighed.
“Fine.” Franky crossed her arms, exaggerating a frown. “But only while we're in here.” She winked at Erica, who rewarded her with a chuckle and yet another eye roll.