Sidney Sheldon's After The Darkness Part 8

Michael Gray looked surprised. "You don't seriously think Grace is guilty guilty of these charges, do you?" of these charges, do you?"

Connie shrugged. "I don't know what to think anymore. The world's gone mad."

"Yes, but money laundering money laundering? Grace? Grace?"

"I don't see what's so impossible about that. After all, look at Lenny. We all loved and respected him. But it turns out he was nothing but a thief and a coward."

There was a venom in Connie's voice that Michael had never heard before. It frightened him.

"We all know Grace was obsessed with Lenny. Who knows what she might have done to protect him, or to help him?"

MARIA P PRESTON TREATED G GRACE'S ARREST LIKE an exciting episode in one of her soap operas. an exciting episode in one of her soap operas.

"The police are saying that Grace stole John Merrivale's partners.h.i.+p. That she and Lenny were planning to rip him off as well as the investors and run off with all the money! 'Grace Brookstein is the Quorum Fund's only living partner,' 'Grace Brookstein is the Quorum Fund's only living partner,' that's what it says here. that's what it says here. 'That makes her legally responsible for all of Quorum's losses 'That makes her legally responsible for all of Quorum's losses.' Can you believe that?"

Andrew couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe any of it. Since that fateful trip to Nantucket, he'd barely slept.

I've been lucky so far. The FBI has bigger fish to fry. But the knock on the door will come eventually. I know it will.

It wasn't exposure itself that scared him, or even prison. It was losing Maria. Everything he'd done, he'd done for her. And she thinks the whole thing's a game! And she thinks the whole thing's a game!

"I think I'll wear my new Dior to the trial. The fuchsia one."

"We're not going to the trial."

"Not going? But, Andy, everyone will be there."

"Jesus, Maria, it's not a f.u.c.king Broadway show!" It was so rare for Andrew to lose his temper, Maria just stared at him. She rather liked this new, macho Andrew. "Billions of dollars are missing. The feds are all over us like a rash. Everyone at Quorum's under suspicion."

"Well, they won't be anymore," said Maria cheerfully, cutting herself another slice of panettone. "It looks like the FBI has found its sacrificial lamb. Sweet little b.u.t.ter-wouldn't-melt Gracie is going to jail."

Andrew thought, I hope so, I hope so, then realized what a terrible thought that was. then realized what a terrible thought that was.

When had he become so callous, so coldhearted?

I don't recognize myself anymore. Oh, Maria! What have you done to me?

"YOU'RE NOT GOING TO JAIL, GRACE. Let's get that straight from the get-go. You're innocent, and you're going to plead innocent. Okay?" Let's get that straight from the get-go. You're innocent, and you're going to plead innocent. Okay?"

Grace nodded weakly. It was all so confusing.

Frank Hammond seemed so upbeat. Not like her first lawyer, Kevin McGuire. Kevin was an old friend of Grace's parents from East Hampton. Grace called him the day she was arrested. She wanted him to rescue her from the bullying agent with the dead eyes, and he had. But once they were alone, he didn't pull his punches.

"As a full partner in Quorum, you're legally liable for Lenny's actions, whether you actually made any decisions or not," Kevin told her. "You have to plead guilty."

"But I never even knew I was was a partner." a partner."

Kevin McGuire was sympathetic, but firm. Ignorance might be a moral defense, but it wasn't a legal one. "You signed the contract, Grace. If you don't take responsibility, the judge may be even harsher at sentencing." He was firm about bail, too. "My advice is not to seek it."

Grace couldn't believe it. "You mean...you want me to stay in jail? But it could be months before the case gets to court."

"It will be months. And I know it's tough. But believe me, Grace, you're safer in there. I don't think you fully appreciate the anger people feel toward you and Lenny."

He was right. Grace didn't. Apart from the small crowd who heckled her when she left her apartment to stay with the Merrivales, she'd had little or no direct contact with the outside world since she returned to New York. John refused to let her watch the TV reports, and did not allow newspapers in the house. The day after the coroner officially ruled Lenny's death a suicide, Kevin McGuire had shown Grace some of the headlines she'd been s.h.i.+elded from.

BROOKSTEIN TOOK COWARD'S WAY OUT "DESPICABLE" CON MAN COMMITS SUICIDE, CHEATS JUSTICE BROOKSTEINS "MOST HATED COUPLE IN AMERICA"

A week ago, the headlines would have shocked her. Now, having been through the horror of identifying Lenny's body, Grace doubted anything would have the power to shock her ever again. Instead she felt numb. Dissociated.

Are they talking about Lenny? About me? How can people hate us? We haven't done anything wrong.

As for the idea of Lenny committing suicide, well, that was just ludicrous. Anyone who had ever met him knew that Lenny loved life. He would have clung to life to the bitter end, no matter what. It was an accident, a freak storm. No one could have predicted what happened that day. It was an accident, a freak storm. No one could have predicted what happened that day.

Kevin McGuire kept trying to get her to focus on the present, to acknowledge the fact that she may well be sent to prison. But Kevin didn't understand. Prison didn't frighten Grace. It didn't matter what happened to her. Without Lenny, nothing mattered anymore. The world could hold no joy for Grace, no hope. They may as well lock me up. My life's already over. They may as well lock me up. My life's already over.

Once again, it was John Merrivale who had ridden to her rescue and made her see sense. The whole world was accusing Grace of betraying him, of conspiring with Lenny to "steal" his stake in Quorum, but John's loyalty remained unwavering. "It's a mistake, Grace, all right? A mistake. I don't know why Lenny d-did it, but he must have had his reasons."

"You know he would never have tried to cheat you John. Neither of us would."

"Of c-course I do, sweetheart. Of course I do."

When John heard the advice Kevin McGuire was giving Grace, he forced her to fire him on the spot.

"But Kevin's an old friend," Grace protested.

"I daresay. But he's talking nonsense. P-plead guilty indeed! That's insanity. We need to get you Frank Hammond. He's the best."

John was right, as usual. Frank Hammond burst into Grace's life like a cyclone. From the moment she met him, Grace felt her hope returning. She began to see light at the end of the tunnel. Here, at last, was her champion, a strong man, an advocate, someone who believed her and would fight for her. Just being in Frank Hammond's presence made Grace feel better.

She asked shyly, "What about bail? Do you think there's any chance...?"

"I've already applied. The hearing's tomorrow. I'm going to get you out of here."

"You do realize I...I don't have any money. I can't pay you."

Grace was embarra.s.sed, but Frank Hammond was unfazed.

"Forget it. It's taken care of. Now I want you to listen to me. Can you do that?"

Grace nodded.

"Forget about the charges against you. Forget about the trial, forget about what people out there are saying. It's my my job to straighten all that out. Understood?" job to straighten all that out. Understood?"

"Understood." He's so rea.s.suring. I feel like I'm talking to Lenny. He's so rea.s.suring. I feel like I'm talking to Lenny.

"Your job is to hold on tight to the truth. You did not steal any money. Lenny did not steal any money. The fact that a whole bunch of money has gone missing means that job is to hold on tight to the truth. You did not steal any money. Lenny did not steal any money. The fact that a whole bunch of money has gone missing means that someone someone must have stolen it. Whoever that person is must have stolen it. Whoever that person is framed framed you and your husband. That's our case." you and your husband. That's our case."

"But who would do that?"

Frank Hammond smiled, revealing a row of jagged, yellowing, old man's teeth. Clearly he did not spend any of his astronomical fees at the dentist's office.

"Who would steal seventy billion dollars? Ninety-nine percent of Americans, if they thought they could get away with it."

"All right, then. Who did did steal it?" steal it?"

"I have no idea. It doesn't matter. All we need to do is establish reasonable doubt. The D.A. has to prove prove that you and your husband were responsible." that you and your husband were responsible."

Grace was silent. After a few moments, she asked, "Mr. Hammond, do you believe my husband killed himself?"

Frank Hammond looked his client directly in the eye. "No, Mrs. Brookstein. I do not."

From that moment on, Grace knew she could trust Frank Hammond implicitly. He's going to win the case. He's going to set me free. And when he does, I'm going to find out who stole that money and clear Lenny's name. He's going to win the case. He's going to set me free. And when he does, I'm going to find out who stole that money and clear Lenny's name.

NINE.

GRACE B BROOKSTEIN PLAYED WITH THE b.u.t.tONS on her Chanel boucle jacket as the jury filed back into Court 14. She was nervous, but not about the verdict. She knew she would be found innocent. Frank Hammond had told her so. on her Chanel boucle jacket as the jury filed back into Court 14. She was nervous, but not about the verdict. She knew she would be found innocent. Frank Hammond had told her so.

"Just do exactly what I tell you, Grace, and leave the rest to me. The jury will acquit you."

When Frank spoke, it was like listening to the voice of the prophet. Grace had followed his instructions to the letter, even down to her courtroom attire.

"It's not your job to look contrite. You're innocent. I want you to walk into that courtroom proudly, with your head held high. Remember, you're representing Lenny as well as yourself."

Lenny. Darling, Lenny. Are you watching, sweetheart? Are you proud of me?

No, Grace's nerves were not about the verdict. They were about what would happen once the case was over. How am I going to find out who framed Lenny? How am I going to find out who framed Lenny? So far the FBI had conspicuously failed to track down more than a few million of the missing Quorum money. So far the FBI had conspicuously failed to track down more than a few million of the missing Quorum money. If they can't find that money, what hope do I have? If they can't find that money, what hope do I have? But she had to do it. She had to clear Lenny's name. He'd been gone six months now. It was already December, almost Christmas. But she had to do it. She had to clear Lenny's name. He'd been gone six months now. It was already December, almost Christmas. My first Christmas as a widow. My first Christmas as a widow. Despite being Jewish, Lenny had always loved Christmas, the present giving, the parties. Despite being Jewish, Lenny had always loved Christmas, the present giving, the parties. He had such a generous spirit. He had such a generous spirit.

The judge's voice sounded distant, unreal. He addressed the foreman of the jury.

"Have you reached your verdict?"

I suppose I'll spend Christmas with the Merrivales.

Christmas was a time for family, but both Grace's sisters had let her down badly. Neither of them had called or visited since she'd been arrested. Grace had half hoped, half expected to see them in the public gallery when the trial started, but Connie and Honor were both conspicuous by their absence.

Once I'm found innocent, I'm sure they'll come back to me. When they do, I'll forgive them. I'm going to need their support if I'm going to put things right. If I'm going to find out who really stole that money. Who framed my darling Lenny.

The foreman looked at Grace and smiled. Grace smiled back. He seemed like a nice man.

"How do you find the defendant, on the charge of securities fraud?"

"Guilty."

District Attorney Angelo Michele punched the air. So there wasn't a strategy! Big Frank Hammond just screwed this thing up. He's not so invincible after all. So there wasn't a strategy! Big Frank Hammond just screwed this thing up. He's not so invincible after all.

Grace started to feel the first stirrings of panic. She looked at Frank Hammond, but his eyes were fixed on the judge.

"And on the charge of money laundering?"

"Guilty."

No! I'm not guilty. This is a mistake! I did everything Frank told me to.

"On the charge of perjury...wire fraud...mail fraud..."

The words tore into Grace like razor blades.

"Guilty...guilty...guilty."

"This is wrong! Please, Your Honor. This is all a mistake. I'm innocent and so is my husband! We were framed!"

The boos and catcalls from the public gallery were so deafening, Grace could barely hear her own words. It took a full minute for the judge to restore order. When he did, he turned to Grace with chilling anger.

"Grace Brookstein. Between you, you and your husband robbed your investors of an almost unimaginable sum of money. The human suffering brought about by your actions has been profound. Yet at no point have you shown the slightest remorse. You seem to have taken a view that because of your privileged position in society, the laws of this great nation do not apply to you. They do."

The gallery roared their approval. Grace could hear the m.u.f.fled cheers from the crowds gathered outside, watching the proceedings on specially erected screens.

"Your decision to plead not guilty in this courtroom, knowing the overwhelming evidence against you, compounds an already despicable crime. It is this utter disregard for the law, as well as for the pain your victims have suffered, that has informed my decision with regard to your sentence. I do not doubt that your denial of any knowledge of your husband's business practices is a lie, a lie you have shamelessly repeated both to this court and to the authorities struggling to repay your husband's victims. For this, I intend to see to it that you spend the remainder of natural life deprived of your freedom."

The judge was still speaking, pa.s.sing sentence, but Grace no longer heard him. What the h.e.l.l happened? What went wrong? What the h.e.l.l happened? What went wrong?

Frank Hammond sat beside her slumped over the table, his head in his hands.

As she felt the bailiff's grip tighten on her arm, Grace looked up at John Merrivale. He mouthed the words "Don't worry," but his stricken face said it all. Even Caroline, who'd been cold and unsupportive in the run-up to the trial, looked shocked.

Grace felt sick, not for herself but for Lenny.

I've failed him. I've let him down.

How am I ever going to prove his innocence now?