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〃Thanks。〃
〃There's one other item；〃 Sandy said。 He handed J。 Murray a copy of the Monarch…Sierra settlement； equally as censored。 〃Look on page four； third paragraph。〃
J。 Murray read the sentences establishing a trust to be funded to the tune of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars； for the benefit of little Ashley Nicole Lanigan。 Sandy McDermott would act as trustee。 The money was to be used only for the health and education of the child； and any unused funds would be paid to the child upon her thirtieth birthday。
〃I don't know what to say。〃 But he was already thinking of how this might play back in his office。
Sandy waved him off as if it were nothing。
〃Anything else？〃 J。 Murray asked with a bright smile。 Any more goodies？
〃That's it。 The divorce is settled。 It's been a pleasure。〃
They shook hands and J。 Murray left； his step a bit quicker。 He rode the elevator alone； his mind racing wildly。 He'd tell her how he'd played hardball with the rascals； how he'd finally just had it up to here with their outrageous demands； how he had barged into the meeting and threatened a vicious trial unless they yielded and made concessions。 He had tried many such cases； was in fact known to be quite a courtroom brawler。
Damn the adultery charges！ Damn the nudie pictures！ His client was wrong but was still entitled to fairness。 There was a poor innocent child to protect here！
He'd tell her how they'd broken and run in full retreat。 He had demanded a trust fund for the child； and Patrick had collapsed under the weight of his own guilt。 Here； they insisted； take a quarter of a million dollars。
And he'd fight like hell； fight them forever to protect the assets of his client； who had done nothing wrong by taking the two point five million。 Out of fear； they had folded and scrambled to find a way to save Trudy's money。 These details were murky at the moment； but he had an hour's worth of driving to work on the story。
By the time he got to his office； it would be a magnificent victory。
EYEBROWS WERE RAISED at the Concorde counter at JFK because she had no luggage。 A supervisor was called and a huddle ensued as Eva fought to control her nerves。 She couldn't take another arrest。 She loved Patrick； but this was far above and beyond the call of romance。 Not long ago she'd had a promising career as a lawyer in a city she loved。 Then Patrick came along。
Suddenly there were warm British smiles everywhere。 She was directed to the Concorde lounge； where she had coffee and called Sandy's number in Biloxi。
〃Are you okay？〃 he asked when he heard her voice。
〃I'm fine； Sandy。 I'm at JFK； en route to London。 How's Patrick？〃
〃Wonderful。 We've cut the deal with the federal folks。〃
〃How much？〃
〃A hundred and thirteen million；〃 he replied； and waited to hear a response。 Patrick had been perfectly nonmittal when he'd been told the size of the repayment。 She followed the same script。
〃When？〃 was all she said。
〃I'll have instructions when you get to London。 There's a room at the Four Seasons in the name of Leah Pires。〃
〃That's me again。〃
〃Call me when you get there？〃
〃Tell Patrick I still love him； even after going to jail。〃
〃I'll see him tonight。 Be careful。〃
〃Thanks。〃
WITH SUCH HEAVYWEIGHTS in town； Mast couldn't resist the opportunity to impress them。 The evening before； after they had taken possession of the documents and tapes； he'd arranged for his staff to call every member of the sitting grand jury and inform them of an emergency session。 With five of his assistant U。S。 attorneys； he had worked with the FBI in scouring and indexing the documents。 He had left his office at three in the morning； and returned five hours later。
The federal grand jury meeting was at noon； with lunch provided。 Hamilton Jaynes decided to hang around long enough to sit through it； as did Sprawling from the Attorney General's office。 Patrick would be the only witness。
Pursuant to their agreement； he was not transported in handcuffs。 He was hidden in the back of an unmarked Bureau car； and sneaked through a side door of the federal courthouse in Biloxi。 Sandy was at his side。 Patrick wore large khakis； sneakers； a sweatshirt； clothing Sandy had purchased for him。 He was pale and thin； but walked with no visible impairment。 Actually； Patrick felt great。
The sixteen grand jurors sat around a long； square table； so that at least half of them had their back to the door when Patrick walked through with a smile。 Those not facing him quickly turned around。 Jaynes and Sprawling sat in a corner； intrigued by their first glimpse of Mr。 Lanigan。
Patrick sat at the end of the table； in a chair used by witnesses； and seized the moment。 He needed little prodding from Mast to tell his story； or at least some of it。 He was relaxed and lively； in part because this panel could no longer touch him。 He had managed to free himself of the tentacles of any federal law。
He started with the law firm； the partners； their personalities； clients； work habits； and slowly built his way to Aricia。
Mast stopped him； and handed over a document which Patrick identified as the contract between the firm and Aricia。 It was four pages long； but could be reduced to a basic agreement of the firm getting one third of anything Aricia got by filing his claim against Platt & Rockland Industries。
〃And how did you get this？〃 Mast asked。
〃Mr。 Bogan's secretary typed it。 Our puters were interfaced。 I simply pulled it off。〃
〃Is that why this copy is unsigned？〃
〃That's correct。 The original is probably in Mr。 Bogan's file。〃
〃Did you have access to Mr。 Bogan's office？〃
〃Limited；〃 Patrick answered； and explained Bogan's zealousness for secrecy。 That led to a digression about access to the other offices； then to the fascinating story of Patrick's adventures in the world of sophisticated surveillance。 Because he was very suspicious of Aricia； he set out to gather as much information as possible。 He educated himself on electronic surveillance。 He monitored the other PC's in the firm。 He listened for gossip。 He quizzed secretaries and paralegals。 He went through the wastepaper in the copy room。 He worked odd hours in hopes of finding open doors。
After two hours； Patrick asked for a soft drink。 Mast declared a fifteen…minute break。 The time had gone so fast because the audience was enthralled。
When the witness returned from the rest room； they settled in quickly； anxious to hear more。 Mast asked some questions about the claim against Platt & Rockland； and Patrick described it in general terms。 〃Mr。 Aricia was quite skillful。 He set up a scheme for double billing； yet was able to pass the blame on to people in the home office。 He was the secret moving force behind the cost overruns。〃
Mast placed a stack of documents at Patrick's side。 He took one； and with only a glance knew everything about it。 〃This is a sample of the fictitious labor New Coastal Shipyards was paid for。 It's a puterized labor summary for one week in June of 1988。 It lists eighty…four employees； all bogus names； and gives their wages for the week。 The total is seventy…one thousand dollars。〃
〃How were these names selected？〃 asked Mast。
〃At the time； the