The Sandler Inquiry Part 62

"Where are we going to stay tonight?" she asked, two hours out from Woods Hole. She sat beside a large plate-gla.s.s window that looked out on gray sky and water.

He shrugged.

"It won't be a problem," he said.

"There are a few places open year round' She snuggled close to him, her softness and warmth a comfort on a genuinely unpleasant voyage.

"Let's find an inn for the night" she said.

"The least we can do is have some fun." She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek, then, noting his sleepiness, disappeared for a few moments.

When she returned and again filled the empty s.p.a.ce next to him, he was looking out the window, lost in thought about Sandlers, forgers, and claimants to unfound wills.

"I brought you something," she said. He looked at her.

She pushed toward him a steaming white styrofoam cup.

"Tea" she said.

"I got one for each of us' He took it, the tag to the tea bag hanging out as the steam rose aggressively.

He smiled.

"Tea, huh?" he said amiably.

"Even in North America you can't take the English out of an Englishwoman" She shook her head and sipped.

"What's inside someone, what he or she is born with, doesn't get scrubbed out," she said. She sipped again

"My mother used to tell me that when I was small. I didn't understand it then "But now?"

She looked at him as if to nod, her eyes soft and more relaxed than he'd seen them before. Some of the tension was gone from her face, even on a nerve-wrackin journey like this, even when about to face Zenger. Maybe a voyage on salt water, however short or rough, did that for someone. Maybe in the future, he caught himself thinking, they could take a voyage together. just off somewhere. No destination to speak of.

He caught himself What the h.e.l.l was he thinking about?

"What would you do with it?" he asked.

"Do with what?"

"The money," he said.

"All that Sandler money."

She smiled.

"Even if we win, it's years away."

"But eventually if you got it. Even if you got a small portion of it.

That's still a lot of dollars " She appeared pensive. Go off somewhere, I suppose' she said.

"Stop worrying about my father. Never worry about money again She let a few more seconds go by.

"Maybe continue my education She looked at him with a sly smile.

"Want to hear something even funnier?"

"What?"

"I might even want to have a family someday," she said.

"Who knows?"

He returned her smile, then was abruptly aware that her smile had vanished and the tension had returned to her face.

"I'll never have any of it while my father's alive' she said.

"Never. This can only end in one of two ways. Him or me He placed his hand on hers, which were fidgeting in her lap.

"We're doing all right," he said.

"So far. The machinery of justice moves slowly, but it does move' "

She glanced up at him, looking him squarely in the eyes.

"I want to ask you something," she said.

"And I want an absolutely honest answer. I won't be hurt, no matter what it is."

"Go ahead."

"Do you believe my story?" Several seconds pa.s.sed.

"As you sit there she said, 'looking back at me, can you honestly say that you believe that everything I've told you is the truth."

"The honest answer?"

"Yes He hesitated slightly, choosing his words with an attorney's care.

"At first I believed you maybe because I merely wanted to believe you.

But when you first told me your story, that day back in January, I accepted it. Then I began to doubt and question. I couldn't help it.

I was trying to examine your-case rationally. I've trained myself to question, not to accept what isn't readily provable

I.

"I've come to grips with my doubts. I believe you're who you say you are. I believe you completely."

Her eyes fell to her lap for a moment. He studied her and watched her lips move nervously for a moment. He was aware that she was huddled near him for warmth, her legs folded beneath her against the dampness.