"That's a serious accusation, Mr. Brady," Lasky said, when all was quiet again. "Please elucidate."

"I was offered a considerable sum of money to convince the NFN to drop this suit, so that the federal government could proceed with the highway without opposition and without delay."

"I see. There will be a short recess while I consider the situation. Counsel will approach the bench." He banged the gavel again.

The courtroom erupted into sound as Marisa, still in a state of shock, rose in obedience. She turned as she pa.s.sed to look at Jack.

One glance at his stony face told her that he was convinced she was a party to the bribery attempt.

Chapter 7.

"Mr. Brady, were these dramatics really necessary?" Judge Lasky said with obvious restraint to the NFN counsel, when both lawyers were standing in front of the bench.

"Your honor..." Brady began.

Lasky waved his hand dismissively. "You could have approached me in chambers about this and handled it quietly. But then the press would not have been racing for the courtroom doors at this very moment, isn't that right?"

Brady tried, and failed, to look chastised.

Lasky sighed. "Mr. Brady, it would be well for you to remember that I am sixty-four years old and have been practicing law for forty of those years. No matter what you try to pull, I have seen it all before, many times. Is that clear?"

"Yes, your honor," Brady said, with as much humility as he could muster.

Lasky turned his gaze on Marisa, who was standing, dumbstruck, at Brady's side.

"Ms. Hanc.o.c.k, I suppose you know nothing about this charge of bribery that Mr. Brady has lodged against the representatives of the federal government?"

Marisa cleared her throat. "No, your honor."

"I was sure not," Lasky said dryly.

"I intend to investigate this incident thoroughly..." she began again but Lasky cut her off abruptly.

"You will do nothing," Lasky said sharply. "I am declaring a recess while I locate this Mr. uh..." He looked at Brady.

"Block," Brady supplied.

"Block," Lasky continued, "and get to the bottom of this. And take this warning in advance, Mr. Brady. If I discover you have fabricated any of this for the purposes of delay and/or confusion, your disbarment will begin to look like a very appealing prospect to me."

Brady did not look at all worried, which dismayed Marisa further; he must know he was on safe ground.

Lasky waved them away and looked up at the full court.

"This court is in recess until.. ." He looked at his calendar. "Thursday, December 18th, at 9:00 a.m. unless you are advised otherwise in the interim," he concluded.

The spectators rose to leave, buzzing with renewed speculation. Marisa hurried after Jack, who was already near the door.

"Jack, wait," she called.

He halted but did not turn to look at her.

Marisa ran around to confront him.

"Jack, I had nothing to do with any bribe," she said flatly, her eyes locking with his. "The first I heard of it was this morning in court."

He said nothing, but she could see that he did not believe her.

"Jack, you know me! You're not going to take the word of some federal flunky you've never met over mine, are you?"

"I've met him," Jack said quietly.

Marisa stared at him, taken aback. Then she said, "The courtroom next door is empty. Come in there with me for a few minutes and let's talk."

He hesitated.

"Please?" she said.

He followed her reluctantly, his mouth set. Once inside, Marisa closed the double doors behind them.

"Can't you see what's happening?" Marisa began. "This guy Block was upset at the way things were going, and he misjudged Brady on the basis of what he observed. Brady is a flamboyant blowhard but he's honest. Block thought he could slip him some money and Brady would then tell the NFN to drop the case. Instead it backfired and Brady blew the whistle on him. That's all there is to it."

"I've seen Block myself," Jack replied flatly. "When Brady told him he was going to Lasky with this, Block admitted that the whole thing was your idea. You knew you couldn't win in court so you thought up this clever scheme to come out on top another way."

"You don't actually believe that!" Marisa said, aghast.

"Why not? It makes sense."

"Then where is Block? Let him say this to my face. I want to see him do it!"

"I'm sure he's back in Washington, trying to salvage his career. Don't worry, Lasky will make certain he's located and questioned to everyone's satisfaction." Jack turned to go.

"Jack, is that all you have to say to me?" Marisa demanded, astonished.

He looked back at her. "Not quite all. You used me. I still can't believe I was quite that stupid, but apparently I was. You won't get the chance to dupe me again."

"How did I use you?" Marisa asked, trying desperately to maintain her sanity.

"You pursued a relationship with me in order to gain my trust while plotting behind my back," he said tightly. "Is that clear enough for you?"

Stinging tears filled Marisa's eyes. "Jack, how could you think that after..."

"You slept with me?" Jack finished for her. "Great little convincer, that was. And having your friend Tracy front for you, that was a nice move too."

"Front for me?" Marisa gasped.

"Yes, setting me up with touching stories about your innocence and lack of experience with men. I swallowed it all, didn't I?"

Marisa's distress was turning to anger. "Are you suggesting that I remained a virgin for twenty-eight years in order to entrap you?" she demanded icily.

"I'm suggesting you manipulated that... situation...in order to make me feel..." he stopped.

"What?" she whispered.

"In order to make me feel that you loved me!" he yelled.

"I do love you," she wailed.

"Bull!" he shouted and turned on his heel for the door.

Marisa ran after him and grabbed his arm. He wheeled and seized her shoulders so hard that she winced.

"Stay away from me," he said warningly. "I don't want to hurt you but I just might, so leave me alone." He released her suddenly and bolted through the doors before she could say anything else.

Marisa looked after him despairingly, still trying to absorb what had happened since she arrived at the courthouse that morning.

"What are you doing back so early?" Tracy said, looking up from her pile of notes. Then her expression changed. "My G.o.d, you look ghastly. What happened?"

Marisa told her, as briefly as possible, while Tracy stared at her in appalled silence.

"I can't believe it," Tracy whispered.

"That makes two of us," Marisa said, unb.u.t.toning her jacket, still in a state of shock.

"What are you going to do?"

"I have no idea," Marisa said miserably, wiping her eyes.

"You have to find Block, that's the first thing."

"I've already called the Bureau three times and left messages. His secretary keeps saying that he's in a meeting."

"I'll bet-what used to be called a lynching party. He never thought Brady would turn him in to Lasky. I knew Block was stupid."

"And now he's trying to bail himself out by saying it was all my idea," Marisa replied.

"Oh, he won't get away with that. He's just buying time. You'll straighten it out in the end. You'll see."

"I'd better, or I'll be lining up at the unemployment office." Marisa sat down hard and stared at the carpet fixedly without replying.

"That's not the worst of it, is it?" Tracy murmured.

Marisa raised her eyes. "Tracy, Jack wouldn't even listen to me," she said softly.

"He's just hurt, Marisa. Once he calms down he'll think better of it and call you. I know it."

Marisa shook her head. "You weren't there, you didn't see his face." She threw up her hands. "How could he take the word of that snake from the Bureau over mine?"

"He's not in love with Block. He's in love with you."

"Oh, what does that mean?" Marisa moaned.

"It means he's proud and sensitive and taking a big chance on you, right? Even the suggestion that you might not feel the same way about him, that you might have had ulterior motives for your relationship with him, is bound to drive him wild."

"But it isn't true!"

"He'll see that eventually."

"Easy for you to say."

"Why don't you give him a day or two to cool down and then go and see him?"

"a.s.suming he doesn't shoot me on sight."

"He'll calm down."

"I wish I could be sure of that. He was wild, Tracy. I've never seen him like that."

"But you knew that potential was there," Tracy replied.

Marisa looked at her.

"That's part of what attracted you to him so strongly, isn't it?" Tracy said sagely.

"I've never a.n.a.lyzed it," Marisa said.

"I have."

"Of course."

"It's the attraction of opposites. There's a lake of fire smoldering beneath that polished surface of Jack's, and you've always known that, haven't you?"

"I didn't expect it to burn me!" Marisa protested. "He was so unreasonable. Nothing I said had the slightest impact on him ."

"What did you think would happen?"

"I thought he would have some faith in me!"

"Maybe he's more insecure than he seems," Tracy observed.

Marisa snorted.