She gave Grace a sheepish glance. “The old ones are stored at my parents’ home.”
“Do you have pictures of them on disk?”
“No, only the finished portraits. Those disks are at my apartment.”
“I see. Tell your mother to bring the drawings too. When you get back to your apartment, burn the new ones!” she fired.
Rainey could weep for the sketches she’d done of him in cowboy gear as recently as three days ago. Sketches that would never appear on another book cover.
“Use my phone while I have a talk with Cynthia who’s trying to track down Bonnie Wrigley. I’ll be back in a minute to depose you.”
As soon as Grace left the room, Rainey hurried around the desk to call home. It was only quarter after eight in Grand Junction. Her father was a dentist and had probably left for his office already. He would have to get his partner to cover for him so he could drive her mom to the Denver airport with the requested items.
Later in the year, after all his little patients were back in school, her folks had plans to fly out to New York. They were going to spend time taking in the sights, then rent a car and drive Rainey through New England to see the turning of the leaves.
As it stood, her mom, and possibly her brother, were going to get an unexpected sneak preview of New York from the inside of a courtroom.
“Good news,” Grace announced ten minutes later. “Bonnie Wrigley will be at our office in the morning. How are things on your end?”
“Mom will fly in tonight with the items we need. The company Craig works for knows where he is and will get back to my father. Dad will call your office to let us know what’s happening.”
“Excellent. What do you want for lunch? They have great goulash and cheesecake at the deli down the street.”
“That sounds good.”
“Are you a coffee drinker?”
“No. Water or juice is fine.”
She nodded before buzzing her secretary.
“All right.” Grace sat forward with her fingers interlinked on top of the desk. “What Mr. Wallace will do is try to show that Red Rose Publishers willfully broke the law by using his client’s likeness on the covers for monetary gain without obtaining his permission.
“He’s asked us to bring the figures on the sales of those books to show that revenues went up when his client appeared on the covers.”
“This is all my fault,” Rainey whispered, feeling more and more ill by the moment. “He should be taking me to court, not the company.”
“We’re a family here at Red Rose. We defend our own, and we’ll prove it was an honest mistake. The worst to happen will be that we’re barred from using Mr. Sterling’s likeness on any more covers.
“It’s a shame, really,” she added. “Though he’s responsible for developing a whole new world-wide infrastructure, ninety-nine percent of our romance readership has no idea that Mr. Payne Sterling exists. All they care about is the man on those covers who is drop-dead gorgeous.”
Rainey averted her eyes. “He is that.”
“And you’re the remarkable artist who brought him to breathtaking life. Manhattan Merger ranks among the ten bestselling novels ever put out at Red Rose. That speaks highly for you and Bonnie Wrigley who wrote the terrific story in the first place. Red Rose is lucky to have both of you on the team.”
“Thank you. I hope you’ll still be saying that when the hearing is over.”
“I’m not worried. The truth will set us free, my dear. Why don’t you start by telling me the process you went through from the moment Don phoned you about Manhattan Merger until you shipped off your painting to New York. Don’t worry about dates. He has already supplied me with everything I need in that regard.”
Without preamble Rainey explained how she worked up a project. Grace interjected a question here and there. Lunch came and went. Still they talked. At three the phone rang through to Grace’s office.
It was Rainey’s father on the phone to tell her Craig’s company had flown him to Las Vegas by helicopter and he would be arriving at JFK airport before midnight.
Grace’s eyes lit up at that news. “Your brother will be one of the key witnesses in your defense. I couldn’t be more pleased to know he’s coming. This is going even better than I expected.”
“If you say so,” Rainey murmured.
“I do. Tomorrow morning we’ll assemble here at eight-thirty in the conference room down the hall. I’ll rehearse what’s going to happen and prepare your mother and brother for the kinds of questions Mr. Wallace will ask during cross-examination. Your job will be to perform for Mr. Wallace.”
Rainey frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I have a hunch he’ll show you a picture of a man or woman you’ve never seen before, then ask you to sketch them from memory. He’ll supply you with a sketch pad and pencils.”
“That won’t be a problem.”
“Of course not.”
“What should I wear?”
“The outfit you have on is fine.”
Rainey got up from the chair. “Thank you so much for your help. I’ll never be able to pay you back.”
“This is part of my job.”
“I’m still grateful to you. See you in the morning.”
On the way back to her apartment, Rainey stopped to buy food and flowers before hurrying home to clean and get things ready for her family.
Her mother arrived by taxi at seven p.m., her brother at eleven. He’d come with his backpack and bed roll which turned out to be a blessing. Her mom could use the hide-a-bed and Rainey would sleep on the futon.
She would have given anything if their reunion could have happened under different circumstances. The idea that a New York billionaire was suing her and Red Rose Publishers was like her worst nightmare.
Before they all went to bed, Rainey sorted through the pile of photographs to find the one that had gotten her into so much trouble. When she finally came across it and showed it to her brother, he remembered the man, but not the name.
“What was he like, Craig?”
“He was in a group of twenty people. I do recall he was congenial, fascinated by everything and seemed totally at home on the water.”
“Nothing else?”
“There is one thing that stood out,” her brother murmured. “When I take people on a float trip, I mentally pick someone in the group I could count on to help in an emergency. He was the one I chose. Most people panic a little at some point on the river, but he never did.”
After hearing Craig’s testimonial, Rainey couldn’t equate the man she’d painted with the person who could bring financial ruin to so many lives.
Grace had done her best to reassure Rainey things would be all right, but she had a hard time believing it. During the night she’d broken down sobbing. So, apparently, had Bonnie Wrigley who’d shown up in the conference room the next morning with drawn features and puffy eyes.
This was the first time they’d met each other. The minute the two women saw each other, they went out in the hall to commiserate in private.
At this point Rainey’s guilt had increased a hundredfold. If it hadn’t been for her cover, there would be no suit. Now poor Bonnie was going to have to explain how she dreamed up Manhattan Merger, where she got her ideas.
Before long Grace summoned them back to the conference room. The morning flew by while she coached everyone. After lunch was served, their entourage of twenty people left in taxis for the courthouse on Broadway.
When Rainey arrived with her family, it seemed to her there were an inordinate amount of security guards stationed outside the building. To her surprise, even more were positioned inside.
Several guards escorted her and her family to the designated courtroom where she saw more guards in place.
Though she might not be wearing handcuffs or leg chains, Rainey felt like a criminal. By the time they were seated down in front on the right side of the courtroom, she thought she would lose her lunch right there.
Grace came in with Cynthia Taft, the other attorney. They brought a look of calm as they took their places at the table in front of Rainey. Still she wasn’t comforted. When she glanced at Bonnie, the other woman shook her head as if to say she couldn’t believe this was happening.
Rainey couldn’t fathom it either. There was an air of unreality about the entire situation.
Yesterday she’d gotten up motivated and happy, then received a phone call that had changed her whole life in an instant.
Immersed in pain, Rainey didn’t notice the arrival of the opposition until Craig whispered to her.
She turned her head to see two men in dark business suits walking down the left aisle toward the table. Her gaze fell helplessly on the man from the photograph. The one whose looks and vitality had caught her artist’s eye as no other man had done before.
He was tall and powerfully built, just as she’d remembered from the photograph. Yet he moved with careless male grace. It was one of those intangible traits you had to be born with.
The pool of genes that had come together to form the gorgeous man known as Payne Sterling was remarkable enough. When combined with the spirit that lived inside his body, he radiated a dynamism that made him much more attractive to her in person.
Afraid to be caught staring, she averted her eyes. It galled her to realize she could still be having these kinds of thoughts about him when he was the reason they were in court now.
“All rise.”
Shocked to hear the bailiff’s voice, Rainey lifted her head in time to see the judge enter the courtroom and take his seat.
“The court of New York County, New York, is now in session. The Honorable James E. Faulkner, Supervising Judge of New York City, is presiding.
Supervising judge of New York? Rainey’s legs trembled.
“You may be seated.”
CHAPTER THREE
THE judge adjusted his glasses.
“The case of Sterling versus Red Rose Romance Publishers et al has come before the court in an emergency show causing hearing. All who testify will be sworn in.
“Mr. Drew Wallace, Counsel for the Plaintiff, will make opening remarks, followed by opening remarks from Ms. Grace Carlow, Chief Counsel for the Defendants.”
Long ago Payne had learned the trick of staying focused. Never look at the opposition when inside the courtroom, but stare them down outside of it. That strategy had served him well in his business dealings. It would serve him even better in this particular circumstance.
The possibility that there might be a stalker within these walls never left his mind. After the experience of tackling that lunatic too late to protect Diane, he had no desire to look into the face of another psychotic woman with the potential to do harm.
This moment hadn’t come soon enough for him or his family. He exchanged a private glance with Drew before his attorney got to his feet.
“Your Honor—Ms. Carlow—my client wouldn’t have pushed for an emergency hearing without just cause. Six months ago he and his fiancée were entering his parents’ home when a stalker shot at them. His fiancée is now in a wheelchair and may never walk again.
“Besides this tragic event, there have been half a dozen other stalking incidences in my client’s past where police had to be called in and people arrested and prosecuted. It’s all a matter of public record which I’ve submitted to the court.
“Two days ago my client discovered he was the man on the cover of a Red Rose Romance entitled Manhattan Merger, which I shall enter here in evidence as Exhibit One. The painting was done without his knowledge or permission.” He handed it to the bailiff who took it to the judge.
“Apparently eight covers have been created with his likeness, all without his knowledge or permission. As you can see by the title of this particular story, it takes place in New York City. If you’ll read the blurb on the back, it mentions a New York Billionaire who has an accident in the Canyonlands of the American West.
“In reading the novel, my client became alarmed by the amount of similarities to his life and that of the protagonist’s.
“I have never been the victim of a stalker, but my client and his loved ones have already paid an enormous price because of the behavior of some crazed people in our society.
“My client has asked for a hearing to determine if this is a case of art imitating life to an uncanny degree, or if there is something more sinister behind so many incredible coincidences.
“Should today’s hearing prove the latter, he wants this dealt with before anyone else gets hurt or killed. On that note I defer to Ms. Carlow.”
Payne gave Drew a satisfied nod.
“Your Honor, I speak for myself and everyone present when I say that we deeply regret Mr. Sterling’s pain and suffering. The legal department at Red Rose Romance should have caught the problem when the first painting for The Star Grazer was shipped to our office.
“I noticed a likeness to Mr. Sterling in his facial structure and body type then, but the hero came from the future. He had red hair and brown eyes. I assumed it was a coincidence. It wouldn’t be the first time a hero or heroine on one of our covers happened to resemble a real person.
“When the second painting of Her Prince of Dreams arrived, I again saw similarities though the hero had black eyes and black hair. However I still didn’t feel concerned enough to say anything.
“It wasn’t until Ms. Bennett had painted Manhattan Merger, that I could see the hero did indeed personify Mr. Payne Sterling. I believed it was because she’d placed him in a contemporary New York setting with the kinds of clothes a man in his position would wear to his corporate office.
“At this point I brought it to the head of the company’s attention. Mr. Finauer said not to worry about it because there’d been no problem with the other covers.
“Though I can understand and sympathize with Mr. Sterling’s alarm, as the attorney for Red Rose Romance Publishers, may I assure the court and Mr. Sterling that there is no stalker in this room as will be borne out in testimony.
“To save the court’s time I’ve already supplied a list of witnesses in the order in which they will appear in this court. I’ve given the same list to Mr. Wallace, and have indicated home addresses, phone numbers and job descriptions.”
The judge nodded. “Then this court will proceed. Ms. Farr, please take the witness stand.”
While the bailiff administered the oath, Payne could see that a sizable group from the opposition had assembled. Red Rose’s attorney had come prepared. He would give them that much credit.
“Ms. Farr,” Ms. Carlow began, “state your full name and job description.”
“My name is Margaret Farr. I’m the head editor for the Touch of Romance line at Red Rose Publishers.”
“How long have you been at Red Rose?”
“Fifteen years.”
“Tell us about your relationship with Bonnie Wrigley, the author of Manhattan Merger. Give the court an idea of the process.”
“Bonnie’s first manuscript came through the slush pile ten years ago. It was a wonderful book and I phoned her to tell her we were going to publish it. Since then she has written twenty-seven novels for us. Manhattan Merger was her twenty-fourth book. It was written for a promotion called ‘Urban Tycoons.’”
Urban tycoons?
“Will you explain what you mean by a promotion?”
“Every month we put out six books in the Touch of Romance line. One or two of these books are usually part of a promotion or theme that has particular appeal for readers around the world. I made the suggestion to Bonnie that she write to the Urban Tycoon theme. She came up with Manhattan Merger.”
“Thank you, Ms. Farr. You can step down. I’d like to call Bonnie Wrigley to the stand.”
To Payne’s surprise the woman who was the next witness looked to be in her late fifties. Somehow he couldn’t see her as a stalker, but he didn’t suppose age mattered if a person were that unstable.
“Ms. Wrigley?
Tell the court where you live.”
“Spokane, Washington.”
“Is writing a full-time career for you?”
“No. I’m a full-time Spanish teacher and write on the side.”
“How long have you been a teacher?”
“Twenty-six years.”
“How long have you been a writer?”
“Since I was twelve, but I didn’t get published until ten years ago.”
“Tell the court how you came up with your idea for Manhattan Merger.”
“When Margaret asked me if I’d like to write a book about a big tycoon, I decided he would have to be a billionaire because millionaires are too common these days.
“Since I’d already done several millionaire stories with European heroes who’d come from titled backgrounds, I thought I’d feature an American with ties to the English aristocracy. Someone whose family had amassed a fortune in real estate and shipping on the East Coast and had created a world bank.
“I decided he would have to be plagued by a problem that his billions couldn’t fix.
“I thought, what if this billionaire has been diagnosed with leukemia? What if he decides to take a two week trip away from his fiancée and family to get his head on straight before he tells them what he found out during a routine physical exam? They think he’s gone on another of his business ventures.
“As the blurb says, he has an accident in Canyonlands and is flown to a Las Vegas hospital where his secret is discovered by the attending physician who falls in love with him.
“I pictured her as a hardworking, dedicated young doctor who hasn’t had time for men until now. Realizing the hero needs a bone marrow transplant, she asks everyone on the staff to give blood to find him a donor.
“When it turns out she could be a donor, the transplant takes place. It isn’t until he returns to New York that he learns she helped save his life. When he confronts her, she tells him she did it because she loves him, but never wanted him to know because he’s engaged to someone else.
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