A King's ransom

61

It was almost 10:00 P.M., and Jenna was still at my place. We’d filed an action in federal court that afternoon. An emergency hearing was set for two o’clock tomorrow afternoon, and we’d been preparing all day, even working through dinner. It was a long shot, but it was clearly my last chance.

“Ouch,” I said.

She was changing the bandage on my arm. Luckily I hadn’t needed stitches, but the knife wound was pretty ugly. And sensitive.

“Double ouch,” I said as she dabbed it with alcohol.

“Men are such wimps.”

“Give me a break, I was stabbed.”

“You were scratched. I’ve done more damage to myself with an eyelash curler.” She reapplied the butterfly bandages. “There. All set.”

I checked it out. “Nice work. Do you do back rubs?”

“I think you know everything I do and don’t do.”

It was one of those half-serious, half-flirtatious remarks in her Kathleen Turner voice that I hadn’t heard in a long time. It left me speechless.

“Sorry,” she said. “I think that crossed the line.”

“It’s okay. I’m not really sure where the line is anymore.” I sipped my beer. “You mind if I ask a personal question?”

“Depends on what it is.”

I took another drink, a longer one this time. “Have you dated anyone-you know, since we broke up?”

She smiled coyly, as if she’d been expecting that question for some time. “Actually, no.”

“Me neither.”

She gave me a serious look. “I didn’t see much point in getting to know anyone new here. I’m moving to Tampa.”

“You’re what?”

“I listed my town house a few weeks ago. As soon as it sells, I’ll be moving back.”

“Wow. That’s. . amazing.”

“It’s where I grew up. It still feels a little like home to me there.”

“Sure.”

“I talked to my partners. They’re all for opening a Tampa office.”

“Sounds like you have it all figured out.”

“It just seemed like the right thing to do. At the time.”

“Does it still seem like the right thing to do?”

She dropped her egg roll. Jenna was a natural with chopsticks, so my pointed question had made her nervous, clearly. “I don’t know.”

I wasn’t sure where to go from there, but she didn’t seem comfortable with the direction so far. “So how much are you asking for the town house?”

“Why? You want to buy it?”

“No, but I don’t want to see you get hurt in a fire sale. It’s a really nice place.”

“How much do you think I should ask for?”

“Just don’t grab the first offer. It might mean having to stay here a little longer, but I’d hold out for maybe. . six million.”

“You,” she said, smiling. She uncrossed her legs, rose from the floor and started clearing away the empty Chinese food cartons. I grabbed the empty bottles and followed her into the kitchen. The conversation seemed unfinished, but I sensed that she had enough on her mind already.

“Are you feeling any better about tomorrow’s hearing?” I asked, shifting gears.

“Honestly? No. We’re going to be bounced out of court so fast it’s not funny.”

“Just trust me, all right?’

The phone rang, which made me flinch. Lately every time it rang a part of me expected the worst. I placed the empty bottles in the recycling bin and grabbed the phone on the third ring.

“Hello?”

“Duncan Fitz here.”

He said it as if he were the president of the United States. “Nick Rey over here,” I replied with equal self-importance.

“What’s this crap you served on my client this afternoon?”

“It’s called a complaint and an emergency motion to prevent Quality Insurance Company from intimidating witnesses.”

“That’s preposterous. My client has done nothing improper.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about.”

“Look, you can’t just bounce around from state court to federal court.”

“I didn’t file in state court. You did. And that was nothing more than an action to enforce the confidentiality provisions of the agreement. That’s over.”

“We’ll still oppose this.”

“I’d expect no less from you. But once a federal judge hears our newly discovered evidence, we’ll have a whole new ball game.”

“What evidence?” he said, scoffing.

“You’ll hear it all at tomorrow’s hearing.”

“Are you planning to call witnesses?”

“Just one.”

“Who?”

“Me.”

He laughed, then it faded. “You’re not serious?”

“Here’s your chance to tear me to shreds.”

He paused, then said smugly, “I’ll look forward to it. Forget what I said about opposing the hearing. This is going to be fun.”

The line clicked, and he was gone.

“That’s what you think,” I said as I hung up the phone.