If he agreed, that material would be deleted from the files under consideration by the State Supremes. Nora would have to rush back from Oregon and prepare her objection. She yanked on her parka, stomped downstairs to Channing’s office, and dragged her best friend away for a smoke break. En route, she explained what Freemantle had done. Outdoors, gusts sent clouds scudding across pale blue sky. The unseasonable thaw had pushed temperatures into the high thirties. The ground around the trash can was soggy. It smelled of rot. Hurriedly, she lit up. She sucked in smoke, let it out slowly. “I filed my brief yesterday to put Freemantle on a short deadline. She turned the whole thing around. I’m under the gun.” “The woman remains several steps ahead of us,” Channing agreed gloomily. “Rig