Watershed Law

By Ross Richdale

Lawyers, Alina Hanlon and Jarin Boyd meet while participating in a white water rafting trip at an in-service retreat for their profession at the White Water Lodge. They survive being tossed from a raft and over a waterfall in the upper Rangitikei River of the central North Island in New Zealand and manage to reach a bush hut just before a summer storm arrives. 

So begins this romantic thriller about their lives and those in the two Auckland law firms where they work. Silverstone Law where Alina works is an upmarket firm with a devious hidden agenda and corrupt leaders including Titan Silverstone.  Jarin, is the owner of a small law firm Boyd and Boyd inherited from his father, dealing with mainly family law clients

As they become closer, Alina tells Jarin about a previous Silverstone Law Christmas party where she along with other female colleagues had been drugged and sexually abused. Her selection to attend this in-service course was made to pacify her but she is still humiliated and angry about the incident. She is, however, bound by a contact to remain with Silverstone Law for two years and fears that to break this contract will ruin her law career.

Back in Auckland, Jarin tries to help Alina out of the contract but it is her father Stan, a retired police sergeant with knowledge about Titan Silverstone who unknown to Alina threatens to expose the man if he doesn't release her from the contract.  Titan does this but vows vengeance against her for even trying to lay a complaint against him.

Alana resigns and joins Jarin at Boyd and Boyd to become a highly successful lawyer in family law with her mainly women clients. She also helps other women from her old firm to further antagonise Titan Silverstone.

Jarin and Alana research the practices of Silverstone Law and find it owns White Water Lodge and is under investigation by the police for illegal drug offences and the importation of young women to service a prostitution sham there. Alana and Jarin along with Doug McCann, a private detective set out to expose the firm and bring Titan and others responsible to justice.

Their findings led to a police raid on the lodge but danger and retaliation from the powerful Titan and Silverstone Law. In his eyes, if this slut of a girl thinks she can ruin his reputation and that of his firm she along and her new boyfriend would both suffer the consequences of meddling in his life.

As well, Alina and Jarin help Mukta, Freja, Darsha, Farzeen and other women caught up in the scandal at White Water Lodge with their passports seized and little hope of ever paying off the fake debts they incurred to bring them to New Zealand.

Also there is Henrick, the hermit who owns the bush hut above the lodge who reluctantly accepts help in his time of need.

 Can they succeed against the odds or does the ruthless Titan Silverstone and the powerful Silverstone Law overwhelm every effort made for justice?

Follow Alana and Jarin as their affection turns to love and their lives as lawyers at the newly named Watershed Law prosper.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ross Richdale
• Release date: Mar 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9780995127425

Ross Richdale

After a career as a teacher and principal of mainly small rural schools, Ross Richdale lives in the small university city of Palmerston North in the North Island of New Zealand where he writes contemporary novels and science fiction. He is married with three adult children and six grandchildren. His interest in current events and international incidents serve as a backdrop for many of his novels. Ordinary people rather than the super rich super powerful or violent, are the main characters in his stories. His plots also reflect his interest in the rural lifestyle as well as the cross section of personalities encountered during his years as a teacher.

Book preview

WATERSHED LAW

Ross Richdale

Rossrichdale©2020

ISBN 978-0-9951274-2-5

Lawyers, Alina Hanlon and Jarin Boyd meet while participating in a white water rafting trip at an in-service retreat for their profession at the White Water Lodge . They survive being tossed from a raft and over a waterfall in the upper Rangitikei River of the central North Island in New Zealand and manage to reach a bush hut just before a summer storm arrives.

So begins this romantic thriller about their lives and those in the two Auckland law firms where they work. Silverstone Law where Alina works is an upmarket firm with a devious hidden agenda and corrupt leaders including Titan Silverstone.  Jarin, is the owner of a small law firm Boyd and Boyd inherited from his father, dealing with mainly family law clients

As they become closer, Alina tells Jarin about a previous Silverstone Law Christmas party where she along with other female colleagues had been drugged and sexually abused. Her selection to attend this in-service course was made to pacify her but she is still humiliated and angry about the incident. She is, however, bound by a contact to remain with Silverstone Law for two years and fears that to break this contract will ruin her law career.

Back in Auckland, Jarin tries to help Alina out of the contract but it is her father Stan, a retired police sergeant with knowledge about Titan Silverstone who unknown to Alina threatens to expose the man if he doesn't release her from the contract.  Titan does this but vows vengeance against her for even trying to lay a complaint against him.

Alana resigns and joins Jarin at Boyd and Boyd to become a highly successful lawyer in family law with her mainly women clients. She also helps other women from her old firm to further antagonise Titan Silverstone.

Jarin and Alana research the practices of Silverstone Law and find it owns White Water Lodge and is under investigation by the police for illegal drug offences and the importation of young women to service a prostitution sham there. Alana and Jarin along with Doug McCann, a private detective set out to expose the firm and bring Titan and others responsible to justice.

Their findings led to a police raid on the lodge but danger and retaliation from the powerful Titan and Silverstone Law. In his eyes, if this slut of a girl thinks she can ruin his reputation and that of his firm she along and her new boyfriend would both suffer the consequences of meddling in his life.

As well, Alina and Jarin help Mukta, Freja, Darsha, Farzeen and other women caught up in the scandal at White Water Lodge with their passports seized and little hope of ever paying off the fake debts they incurred to bring them to New Zealand.

Also there is Henrick, the hermit who owns the bush hut above the lodge who reluctantly accepts help in his time of need.

Can they succeed against the odds or does the ruthless Titan Silverstone and the powerful Silverstone Law overwhelm every effort made for justice?

Follow Alana and Jarin as their affection turns to love and their lives as lawyers at the newly named Watershed Law prosper.

CHAPTER 1

D on't worry, the instructor at the White Water Lodge landing beside the Rangitikei River in central North Island of New Zealand said to the twenty or so nervous looking tourists. I know the water looks rough today but after last week's storm the higher water level is actually safer than when the river's low. He continued on with the various instructions but Jarin tuned out and glanced along at the semi-circle of people around him.  They all wore helmets, life jackets and clothes suitable for the trip downstream through Grade 4 rapids in a series of rubber rafts.

Most were overseas tourists, mainly Asians but there were also a sprinkling of what looked like local tourists. Of course many could be Europeans from Germany or Great Britain who were visiting New Zealand in January to get away from the northern winter.

The white water rafting trip would take approximately three hours where, at the other end they were back at White Water Lodge where they were staying.

With all lifejackets and helmets checked, the group made their way to two large rubber rafts.  These carried nine with four oars on each side and one employee who stood at the end with a large paddle that was used as a rudder. 

Jarin stood back and waited as the two rafts filled up and were ready to cast off from the small wooden landing. He grinned for there appeared to be no room for himself and a woman who just stood there looking almost as reluctant as he was.

He turned to her. Your first time? he asked.

She smiled slightly and nodded. All the team at work were asked to do something we'd never tried before. The other choice was a parachute jump. She held out her hand. Alina Hanlon. I'm from Auckland.

Jarin Boyd, he replied. It sounds like I'm a bit like you.

The original instructor came up to them. Hi, he said. We can fit ten riders in each big raft but with the water so swift we decided to just put eight in each one. I read on my sheet that you're both locals so I wondered if you'd mind going in a third one?

Just the two of us? Alina asked with a worried frown on her face.

The instructor chuckled and nodded at a young guy standing a few metres away. No, Eric here will go with you. He's working with us over the summer and is as good as any of us on this strip of water. They're bringing a smaller raft down from the bus.

Jarin looked up to where a couple of guys were carrying another raft down to the water's edge. Except for being smaller, it looked exactly the same as the other two.

Eric ambled across and shook both their hands. It holds five but the trip with three is easier to control. You'll have an oar each but really only need them to fend off exposed rocks or the cliff if we get too close. I'll use my big paddle to navigate. He grinned. Hope you don't mind getting wet.

Not at all, Alina said but the pout on her face portrayed otherwise.

We leave at five minute intervals, Eric said. Can't have a faster raft running into one in front. There'll be a ten-minute wait. Okay?

Sure, Jarin said. He watched the first raft push off from shore.  It was caught in the current within seconds and swept away between two large rocks to disappear in the mist. The second raft followed five minutes later and it was their turn.

Eric sat rather than stood at the end, grinned at them and pushed off. Jarin sat on the left with Alina beside him. He glanced sideways at her but really only noticed her hands gripping her oar that on, Eric's instructions she held out horizontally above the water. Jarin did the same and gasped as they hit the first wave. Water burst over them and the rock on his side slid by. They were now bumping through smaller waves but ahead was foaming water and mist. The rafts before them were nowhere in sight.

They hit the rapids and picked up speed, headed directly towards a gigantic boulder but Eric used his skill to navigate them past. As the raft tipped down on Alina's side, water surged in before tipping out again when the raft tipped the other way.

And so it continued for several moments before they reached smooth water and could see the other rafts ahead with the passengers paddling in the current.

We caught them up, Eric said. Not that it matters. With less weight we ride the rapids higher. We can just back-paddle a bit and let them get ahead for the next stretch. He grinned. It's a bit rough but you're old experts by now anyway.

If you say so, Alina muttered almost sarcastically. She caught Jarin's eyes and raised her eyebrows.

A BIT ROUGH! MY GOD it was like a horizontal waterfall with them bouncing through troughs with the water almost at head height on each side. They tipped up onto a wave and water saturated them before they crashed sideways into another trough. More water flooded the raft but left almost as quickly as it came in when they hit a wave directly in front with Eric high above in the almost vertical raft.

There was a shudder as they crashed again and Jarin barely had time to fend off a rock that appeared beside him when they rocketed down a mini waterfall with twirling foam everywhere.

Pull your oars in and just hang on! Eric shouted. Crouch forward a little and grip those handholds

Jarin did that and checked to see how Alina was doing. She looked terrified but already had her oar pulled across before them and had gripped the handhold tightly.

They bounced, a wall of water hit them and the front rose again. There was a violent shudder and Jarin noticed a wall of water but it was coming in from the right.

It hit!

They tipped sideways but there was no raft beside him. He was under the water and couldn't breathe. He kicked, gasped, reached out and felt a hand. He gripped it and with his other arm and legs kicked out in an attempt to reach air,

He did! The terrified woman beside him gripped his hand so tightly her fingernails cut into his skin. But there was no time!

More water crashed over them both and again he was fighting to breathe. He banged into something hard that sent stars through his vision. Just as he thought his lungs would burst he reached the surface and pulled the woman up. She rose to the surface, spluttered and appeared disorientated. Worst though, her helmet had gone and long wet hair appeared to be sucked into her mouth and nose.

He wrapped his other arm around beneath her shoulders and managed to use fingers to flick hair out of her face... just as another wave hit and they were sucked beneath the surface.

He held her in an iron grip and used his feet to push against rocks that were everywhere. It seemed important to help her. Somehow he knew that if he let her go she would drown. She was barely conscious now but the cold water helped.  He spat some out after reaching the surface again and managed to stay there while at the same time held her head up.

There was no raft around, no Eric or anything else except frothing white water and the sound like a tumbling waterfall. A rock appeared beside Alina, yes that was her name, so he pulled her in beside him, changed his grip and held her from behind. At least her lifejacket was still on. He thought of shifting his helmet over to her but realised it would be futile for he'd probably just lose it. Another wave hit and they were beneath the surface again.

Something clouted him on the side of the head; he swallowed water and blackened out to remember no more.

JARIN FORCED HIS EYES open and realised the situation was different. He was still in water that felt cold but his feet touched gravel and the surface was almost still with barely any current. Even the noise was different. He could hear water but it wasn't right beside him. He looked up and saw green fern and black rocks off to his left. Tumbling down over them was a waterfall with sparking white water that fell from the top fall into a deep pool. He was at the edge of a second pool with crystal clear water moving gently around.

Wow, what a contrast it was to the rapids they had been in.

They!

He remembered Alina. Almost frantically he swung around but she wasn't in sight.

Alina! he called. Alina. Are you there!

There was no reply.

Oh hell, after all he had done to help had she been swept away?

He waded through the water that became shallow and now only reached his knees. He saw a small line of rocks ahead but nothing else. That could be the only place where she might be. He scrambled ashore and ran along sand towards the rocks.

Yes, there she was lying motionless in the water. He tore in, pulled her closer to shore where he picked her up over his shoulders and continued up to a dry spot where he placed her down. She looked terrible!

He rolled her sideways, used fingers to reach in her mouth in case her tongue was choking her and bent her head slightly downhill. Water and some hair came out of her mouth. He was about to apply mouth to mouth that he'd learned years before but had never used in a situation such as this when her eyes flicked open, she shivered and began coughing.

Alina, he cried. It's okay. We're safe.

He helped her sit up and rubbed her back as she coughed up water and continued to shiver. After ages it seemed she turned to him, wiped a hand over her mouth and reached out to grab his hand.

Thank you, she whispered. It's Jarin, isn't it?

It is, he said. I thought you wouldn't make it.

Where's the young guy?

I've no idea. We were tossed out of the raft and I managed to grab you. The raft had gone by the time I reached the surface. He grinned. It was quite a rough ride, you know.

Alina attempted to stand but sort of staggered and fell back. Jarin grabbed her and stood with his arm tightly around her. He suddenly felt embarrassed and let her go. She grinned and bent forward coughing again before he again reached out to steady her.

Are you okay? he asked.

I will be, she replied. I think I twisted my ankle. It hurts when I try to stand.

Let me look, Jarin said.

Her ankle was definitely bruised and swollen. It looked twisted and he could understand that it would be painful. "I'm no expert but I'd say it's sprained but not broken.'

Alina grimaced and glanced at him.  It could have been a lot worse. Without you, I would never have made it, you know. I've never been a good swimmer and those last few moments terrified me.

Me too, Jarin admitted. I think we saved each other.

Could be. She smiled. However, I'm sure I was a hindrance rather than a help.

No, you gave me someone to fight for and it helped me more than you think.

She brought the knee of her good leg up but left the sprained ankle out and under water. I heard that cold water is good for a sprain. Her eyes switched to the waterfall. But how did we get here?

Some side stream I guess. I've no idea how long we were in the water so we could have been carried quite a way before reaching this calm spot. It's lucky for if we'd stayed in the rapids I doubt if we would have survived.

Alina looked at him with thoughtful eyes but said nothing. It was if she was gathering her thoughts about more than just the almost tragic event that had just happened.

It's okay, Jarin said. I've no doubt there will be a search party out right now looking for us. The chances are that they know the river flow and will guess that we could have been swept into this pool by the waterfall.

Could be, Alina replied. So we just wait and see, shall we?

Perhaps we could find a patch of sunlight and dry out. It's a hot day so we shouldn't stay cold for long.

There was a patch of sunshine a few metres away where even the flat rock was dry. Jarin helped Alina to her feet but she found it was impossible to put weight on her sprained ankle. He also offered to piggyback her up the small incline.  She refused but did thank him when he found a broken off branch that she could use as a crutch.

So now I'm a damn nuisance, she said after they reached the patch of sunlight.

Anything but, Jarin replied

She caught his eyes again but said nothing as they both took off their life jackets and Jarin also removed his helmet. He turned and noticed for the first time how attractive his companion was in her wet hair, clinging blouse and modern long shorts. She would be a bit younger than him.

So what's wrong? she asked?

Jarin felt his cheeks burn. Nothing. Nothing at all, he said. I'm just so glad we survived, that's all.

What a beautiful spot, she whispered almost to herself. And if we had remained on the raft we would have missed it.

So will your family be waiting for you? he asked.

I live with my dad, she replied. Mum died a while back and I guess I moved back home to give him the companionship he needed. She grinned. He's actually coping well and we really lead independent lives.

So you're at the lawyer's retreat course that I attended here?

She grinned. "Does it look so obvious?  After graduating, I've been a junior solicitor with Silverstone Law in Downtown Auckland for a year now."

He grinned. This was one of the larger firms in the city. He knew little about them but by most accounts they one of those upmarket places that charged exorbitant fees to keep the riffraff away. Mind you, she would have had to be well qualified to win a position there.

She leaned back with her arms extended and gazed at the waterfall for a moment. So you're a lawyer too. She raised her eyebrows.

"Yes I own a small law firm, Boyd and Boyd on the North Shore. The original Boyd was my dad. After he died I inherited all his shares and just kept the company name. We mainly deal with conveyancing but lately I've taken