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besides. Undo it.”
    McCafferty smilingly shook his head. “Can’t undo it, Lass.
It’s on the record and I can’t have word get around that I’ve gone soft. Being
considered a lunatic has its benefits.” He leaned forward. “I thought I saw
something between the two of you on the field. You should have seen his face
after they untangled you. He couldn’t keep his eyes off you.”
    “Your Honor, it’s a good thing you weren’t umping the game,
because you’re seeing things. He was surprised that he didn’t get past me.”
    “I think he was even more surprised when you kissed him.” McCafferty
retorted calmly. “Yes, I saw that. I also saw a woman zealously defending a man
who wasn’t her client in my courtroom today.”
    “That’s because of the injustice of the contempt charge,
Your Honor,” Liz snapped. “I hate bullies.”
    McCafferty raised his eyebrows. “So I’m a bully?” he asked
softly.
    “If you abuse your power in that fashion, you sure as hell
are.” Liz couldn’t believe she’d said that.Surprisingly, he chuckled. Liz
braced herself for whatever came next.
    “May I call you Elizabeth? We’re not in session right now.” Liz
nodded. “You know, Elizabeth, you remind me of my wife.” A wistful smile
crossed McCafferty’s face. “She’d have stood here and read me the riot act just
like you did and for the same reasons. And, you know, in the end we were both
right. She just didn’t like my methodology.”
    Liz calmed somewhat. “I’m sorry, Sir. Did she pass away?” Here,
McCafferty shook his head sadly. “No. Worse. She’s in a nursing home with
Alzheimer’s. It’s been over two years since she’s recognized me.” He fell
silent for a couple of minutes, head bowed. Eventually, he looked up again. “Anyway,
go make your arrangements with Hadley for Saturday night. Stop,” he held up a
hand to stop Liz from arguing further. “The court has rendered judgment and it
shall be carried out or the two of you WILL have cells next to each other. Go.”
    Liz turned and left, quietly closing the door behind her. Ty
was still sitting on the plaintiff’s desk in the courtroom, curiosity all over
his face.
    “What happened?” he asked.
    Liz sighed. “The man wouldn’t listen to reason. I tried, but
you’re still on the hook. I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”
    Ty shrugged. “It could have been worse. Did you have plans
for Saturday?” He was watching her face closely.
    “I was just going to a jazz club for the second set. Diana
Krall’s playing. I have a ticket.”
    “Just one ticket?” Ty sounded surprised.
    Liz looked at him. “Well, yeah, since I’m the only one who
was going. I’d have gotten another, but my imaginary friend doesn’t like jazz.”
Keep it light, keep it light.
    Ty laughed. “You’ve got a comeback for everything, don’t you?”
    Liz smiled. “Just about. Sorry.”
    “Don’t apologize,” he was smiling. “I like wit.” Ty held out
a pad and pen. “Why don’t you jot down your address for me and directions. I
have to return a couple of phone calls. How’s the head?”
    It had stopped pounding, amazingly. Liz said, “It’s better.
Look, are you sure you wouldn’t rather have me meet you somewhere?”
    Ty stopped in the act of dialing a number, “Not if I want to
stay out of jail.” He continued what he was doing.
    As Liz wrote, she thought that maybe McCafferty was right
and there was some kind of spark there. There had been a warm, happy light in
his eyes as Ty talked with her. Just as Liz was beginning to think it was
possible that McCafferty was not a lunatic, she heard Ty saying, “Hey,” in a
soft, warm lover’s voice. She couldn’t see his end of the conversation because
he was on her blind side, so she focused on her task. McCafferty was a lunatic.
    Liz finished writing. She screwed the cap back onto the
expensive fountain pen, thankful she hadn’t gotten ink on herself. She waited
until Ty ended his conversation to