Anything You Can Do(63)
Stafford shook his head and crushed his cigar to splinters in the ashtray. "I don't see how you got mixed up in this thing in the first place. That case was assigned to—uh—"
"Margaret," Bailey supplied.
"Yeah, her. So I don't know what you're doing in the middle of it."
"Helping her," Bailey responded quickly.
He gave her a suspicious look. "Whatever," he finally said. "Tell Margaret to find out what's going on ASAP, and you get out of it just as fast."
For once, Bailey didn't feel inclined to argue. Nevertheless, she soon decided she couldn't follow Stafford's orders. When she went immediately to Margaret's office and tried to explain the situation, the girl's small eyes seemed to retreat back into her round face.
"What are you trying to do?" Margaret asked. "At first you acted like you wanted to help me. Now you want to mess up the whole deal."
Bailey stood just inside the closed door of Margaret's cubicle with her arms folded, glad she hadn't elected to take a seat. It looked like she was going to have to intimidate. "This doesn't involve messing up a deal. This involves a possibility—a probability—of fraud. This involves ethics, not to mention our firm's reputation. "
"Everything's going great," Margaret protested. "We're probably going to win. Why are you doing this to me? You don't even know for sure that something's wrong."
"And I'm not suggesting we do anything about it until we are sure, but I am saying we need to look into this immediately. This is an order from the top, Margaret." If logic didn't penetrate the dense layers, maybe force would.
"Okay," the girl agreed with a shrug, averting her eyes. "I'll go check it out as soon as I get a chance."
Which evasive reply certainly, Bailey felt, justified her trip to the courthouse to determine the truth for herself no matter what Stafford Morris said.
*~*~*
Austin knew he was in real trouble when he was disappointed to find that Candy Miller had been involved in another, very similar lawsuit a couple of years before. He walked down the courthouse hallway, clutching his copies of the incriminating papers, wondering exactly what he should do next. He should be thrilled to have more ammunition against Bailey, but he wasn't.
He'd thought a lot about her since leaving her Sunday afternoon and had come to a conclusion. It was vitally important to him to establish a relationship with her.
All other women were pale ghosts beside her. She made him feel vital and alive. Their lovemaking had been earthshaking, opened totally new dimensions. But he knew the weekend had been only a respite. For a little while they'd touched the possibilities, but they still had a way to go before they achieved an ongoing relationship.
It represented his biggest challenge to date, but he had no doubt it would be well worth the effort.
He paused to lean over a water fountain, not really thirsty but reluctant to leave the courthouse, as though taking the information from the premises would make it real, inescapable. When he straightened, he saw Bailey heading down the hallway he'd just come up. He watched until she turned into the doorway he'd recently vacated.
No need to speculate about what she was doing. She hadn't known the details. She was there to check and verify, just as he had been. And now, being the moral person she was, she'd admit her error and back out of the case. Which meant he wouldn't have to crush her. That would undoubtedly make their relationship a little smoother.
With a sigh he jabbed the elevator button. Which also meant he wouldn't be facing her in the courtroom. What a battle that would have been! Too bad, really. But some things had to be sacrificed.
He'd be magnanimous when she admitted defeat, comfort her. No, scratch that. Even in his fantasies, he couldn't imagine being allowed to comfort her.
He stepped into the elevator smiling so broadly a couple of people returned his smile.
Definitely not comfort her. Not even in defeat. Run from her, maybe! But not too fast. Let her catch him. Then when they worked up a good head of steam fighting…
The elevator opened and he sauntered out of the building, headed for his office.
It had taken him quite a while to dig out the information, but she would likely have more of a lead as to where to look than he did. He'd give her an hour then phone her at the office and make dinner plans. Something simple but elegant. Maybe fish or steak. No sauces. Nothing messy in case she decided to throw it.