* * *

Marisa saw Jack every day until the day before court hearings began again. On the morning that the case was due to resume she wore a pink dress with a shawl collar and paired it with navy shoes and purse. She was fastening her earrings when Tracy came through the door.

“You look so nice! Ain’t love grand?” she said.

“I’m discovering that it is.”

“Just remember whose side you’re on,” Tracy said warningly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Marisa asked, glancing at Tracy in the hotel mirror.

“Well, you might be affected by your feelings for Jack, don’t you think?”

“I’m trying very hard to keep the two situations completely separate,” Marisa replied.

“Good luck.”

“Tracy, don’t make this any more difficult for me. I’m nervous enough as it is,” Marisa said, picking up her briefcase.

Tracy nodded, looking away.

“And send that file over to the clerk as soon as it’s ready,” Marisa added as she left.

Tracy looked after her thoughtfully but said nothing.

* * *

As soon as Marisa arrived in court that day she knew that something was wrong. Jack, seated at the NFN desk, would not meet her eyes. His whole demeanor was stiff and unyielding. Ben Brady, on the other hand, looked positively exuberant. Marisa took her seat, her heart pounding, wondering desperately what was happening.

“All rise,” the clerk called as Judge Lasky made his entrance.

Marisa stared at Jack as the clerk announced the case and docket number.

“Mr. Brady?” Judge Lasky said, rattling papers on the bench.

“Your honor, I would petition the court to grant a summary judgment for my client, the organization known as Natives for Nature.”

Marisa stared at him, thunderstruck. What the hell was this?

Lasky raised his brows wearily. “Mr. Brady, I warn you. This had better be good.”

“Your honor, this past Friday, a representative from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, a Mr. Randall Block, attempted to bribe me.”

There was a stir in the courtroom. Marisa stared at Jack’s back, which was ramrod straight.

Lasky banged his gavel.

“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 passed 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. Hancock, 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.