Page 27 of Feared

Bennie interjected, “John, how long are you planning on staying? A month? Two weeks?”

John hesitated. “No, I’d like to leave right away. Today. I have an interview across town. I think the next two weeks are going to be really uncomfortable. There’s no reason to put either side through that.”

Judy gasped. “Either side? What are you talking about? Aren’t we on the same side?”

“Of course we are,” John answered quickly. “I meant all parties.”

Bennie rose, surprised. “But what aboutLondon Technologies? This is the worst possible time, in the middle of discovery. We have twelve depositions to take and sixteen to defend. There’s even a dep to defend on Monday. How can you leave now? How is Anne going to handle that?”

“She’ll be fine,” John shot back, resentment edging his tone.

Bennie glowered. “And what about the client, Jim and Sanjay?Myclient. You have a responsibility to them, too. You’re here today, gone tomorrow?”

“They prefer Anne anyway. They won’t mind.” John took a step toward Bennie, extending a hand, then stopped, seeming to catch himself. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, all of you. I wish you the best. I’ll clean out my desk another time. I should go now.”

Judy stood up, upset. “John, really? You’re going to go, just like that?”

“Now?” Mary half-rose, not sure whether to hug him or let him go.

“Mary, don’t get up,” John said, waving her into her seat and flashing a sad smile at Judy as he headed toward the door. “Judy, sorry. I think I should just go now.”

“Good-bye, John,” Bennie called after him.

Roger broke the silence, clearing his throat primly. “Remain calm.”

“Oh shut up!” Bennie’s head snapped around, her face mottled with anger. “That he made the statement is bad enough. That he was interviewing with other firms is worse. That he’s leaving now is a death blow. And we’ll have to scramble to cover him onLondon Technologies. I have no idea how we’ll staff that case.”

Roger merely blinked. “I renew my recommendation that we initiate settlement negotiations.”

“I told you no.”

“I have your vote, but what about Mary and Judy? There are three partners here, not just one.”

Bennie turned to Mary and Judy, momentarily chastened. “He’s right. You guys get to say what you think. You have an equal vote. Do you want to settle with that jerk?”

“No settlement,” Mary heard herself answering, her heart speaking for her. She knew how she felt, despite the personal risk. Anthony might not agree, but luckily, he wasn’t here. “I love John, but he’s wrong. He didn’t deserve to be made partner yet, it was too soon. We don’t discriminate against men here. We’re in the right and we should fight.”

Judy nodded gravely. “Roger, I understand your recommendation, and in other circumstances, I would agree. But we can’t settle this. If you don’t fight when you’re right, whendoyou fight?”

Roger remained characteristically impassive. “I hear you three, for now. We can revisit the settlement question at any point. I am asking you to keep an open mind. We’ve been lawyers long enough to know that being ‘in the right’”—he made air quotes with his nimble fingers—“doesn’t guarantee a successful result, nor is it a very good reason to go forward in litigation. But for now, I’ll accept your judgment, as I must.”

“Good.” Bennie rubbed her hands together, taking her seat. “Now, what we need to do is finalize the Answer—”

“—I was going to say that,” Roger interrupted.

“—and go full steam ahead on the legal research we started—”

“—I was going to say that, too.” Roger shot Bennie a look. “Who’s running this case?”

“Who do you think?” Bennie shot back, with a cocky smile.

“Ha!” Roger laughed. “And I take it we agree on the need to utilize Isaac’s services. We need him, now more than ever. John’s departure raises questions we need to address in the media.”

“Fine,” Bennie said, reluctantly.

“Okay.” Judy nodded.

“Uh, sure,” Mary answered, but she was suddenly distracted. She didn’t want to say so out loud, but she felt a warm dampness in her underwear, which, during a pregnancy, could mean trouble.