Page 166 of A Dead End Wedding

By the time Langley and the BDC rep showed up at ten after seven (the "must show we're more important by being late" philosophy in action), we'd discussed the offer and consequences from every angle, and Charlie was leaning pretty heavily toward accepting. He'd mentioned how much research toward a cure could be funded with five million dollars, andthat seemed to outweigh what he called his "petty need for vengeance."

I'd told him it wasn't petty to want justice for Faith, but that I would support him one hundred percent in either decision. I hadn't brought up my suspicions about tampering and a coverup, because they were very serious allegations, and I didn't have any proof.

Yet.

After I brought Addison and Harold Punter, the BDC rep, back down the hall to my office with me, made the introductions, and poured coffee all around, Charlie seemed to be calmer. I sat down, pulled out a legal pad, and looked at Addison. "I'm surprised you don't have BDC's insurance rep here, if you're serious about this," I said.

Punter, who'd watched everything with his beady little eyes staring out of a floridly red face, started to speak, but Addison cut him off. "This is a pre-approved settlement offer. Trust me, we have a check ready to go, should Mr. Deaver accept our more than generous terms," he said smoothly.

"And what exactly are those terms?" I asked.

Addison pulled out a sheaf of forms. "All the details are here. Basically, we want full confidentiality. This will be a sealed settlement, with no admission of guilt on BDC's part. Furthermore, Ms. Vaughn must turn over all copies of all discovery documents to me, and agree that she will not use her knowledge of that discovery on any further case against BDC on this matter."

Charlie shifted in his chair and looked unhappy, but resigned. I'd told him that was going to be the deal.

I took the papers from Addison, not as resigned. "Of course I'll have to review these before we can give you an answer, you realize. We will have to talk about the provision as it regards me."

He waved his hand, looking impatient. "We want a preliminary answer now, and the papers signed and delivered to me by noon tomorrow. There is no flexibility in any of the provisions."

I dropped the papers on my desk and glared at him. "That's more than a little unreasonable. Do you expect us to stay up all night reviewing these?"

Punter finally spoke up. "If somebody was giving me five million dollars, and I didn't even have an ex-wife to support, I'd be working hard to get the job done, little lady."

I blinked. "Whatdid you?—"

Charlie cut me off. "What the hell does that mean? No ex-wife to support? My wifediedbecause you put bad insulin out there. We trusted you with herlife. Thousands of people trusted you with their lives. And now, you make stupid jokes at a time like this?"

He shoved his chair back and stood up. "And you want me to keep it a secret, on top of everything else? Why, so you can screw other people out of justice?"

I stood up, too. "Charlie?—"

"No! Forget it! What was I thinking? I'm not accepting five million dollars to keep quiet. Hell, I wouldn't accept twenty-five million. I'm going to tell everybody about you. You're going down!" he yelled, then he stormed out of my office.

I stood there, stunned, for a moment, then ran down the hall after him. But by the time I got to the door, he was slamming the door of his truck, then he squealed out of the parking lot. I closed my eyes and sent up a brief prayer for his safety. Driving while heartsick may not be illegal, but it's horribly dangerous.

When I turned around, Addison and his client were storming across my lobby. Punter got to me first. "Look here, you can't treat us like that?—"

Addison cut him off again. "Mr.Punter, why don't you wait out in the car? I'll handle this."

Punter glared at both of us, but then shoved the door open and went outside. Addison waited until the door swung shut behind him, then grabbed my arm. "This is your last chance to be reasonable, Ms. Vaughn. Convince your client to be reasonable and accept our offer, or I will crush you and your pathetic little firm."

I yanked my arm away from him. "Are you insane? Who do you think you are, anyway? This is litigation, not . . . notwar."

He glared at me, and whatever flickered in his eyes struck me as not a little insane. "You have no idea what war is, Ms. Vaughn. You think that bit we leaked from your Ohio bar app was bad? You have no idea what we can do to you. Surrender or prepare to be destroyed."

He knocked me out of the way on his way out my door, and I didn't know whether to laugh or call the loony bin. Surrender or prepare to be destroyed?

Melodramatic much?

Two more minutes, and he would have been threatening to tie me to the railroad tracks.

I locked the door, but just stood there staring out at the parking lot, as he got in his Lexus and drove off. About a minute later, Jake appeared out of nowhere in front of the door, and I let out a little screech.

I let him in. "Where did you come from?"

"I saw Langley's car, so I parked mine down at the end of the building. I figured a little discretion might be the better idea. After I saw him peel out of here, I walked over. What happened?"

Sighing, I shook my head. "I don't even know where to begin, but it ended with me nearly tied to the railroad tracks."

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