The Leech's Kiss

Soaring global economies created thousands of new millionaires, but this explosion of wealth attracted more than fame; the extortionist leech slithered closely behind. These parasites were tech savvy and adept at tracking their prey through the social media. Their target's behaviors were studied, vulnerabilities identified, evidence was fabricated, and the attack began. The primitive shakedown had evolved into a profitable cottage industry managed by lawyers whose ethics fit neatly in a flea's navel. In one week, James Kaplan had appeared on the cover of Forbes magazine, and then was battered in the national media by detailed allegations of sexual misconduct made by two former employees. Their lawyer assumed that his barbarous reputation would cause Kaplan to settle quickly, but he'd underestimated his victim. Kaplan reached out for help from an old friend who was skilled in the tactics of intense, bare-knuckled litigation; he called Christopher Garcia, and the game was on.