Motion to Dismiss by Jonnie Jacobs Page B

his pocket and jingled his keys. The tension he'd kept in check all morning had exploded now that we were no longer in the courtroom.
    "You didn't even touch on the outfit she was wearing that night," he said. "I told you the skirt was skintight, and that little crop top was so flimsy she might as well not have been wearing anything."
    I looked at him in disgust. "You're out of touch with the times if you think the she-was-asking-for-it defense still works."
    "Well, she was." He caught my expression. "Not asking to be raped, but asking for a good time. Her story is nothing but a pack of lies."
    "Except that you did have sex with her." It angered me that Grady took no responsibility for his role in setting events in motion.
    Grady's expression was tight. "I told you, I don't want to use that."
    "So what do we say about the bruises on her arm?"
    "I was not the cause of those bruises, okay?" His voice was low and urgent. "I had nothing to do with that. Or the scrape on her cheek."
    "What about the raised voices the neighbor heard?"
    He shrugged. "Lots of people raise their voices. She's out to get me for some reason. That's what you should have focused on."
    My mouth tasted bitter. "If you'd been home with your wife, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
    "You trying to rub my nose in it?"
    "I'm just trying to interject a little reality."
    Grady sighed heavily. "Believe it or not, I know all too well what's real." He shoved a hand into his pocket and was silent a moment. "You really think it will go to trial?"
    I nodded. I'd explained at the outset that the judge wasn't a trier of fact.
    "I can't have this shit dragging on. I've got a business to run. A public offering in the works. A wife who is facing chemo and God knows what else. I don't want my name dragged through the mud on every goddamn front page and news hour for the foreseeable future."
    "I'm afraid that's something you don't have a lot of control over at this point."
    He stepped closer. "That's why you needed to pulverize her in there."
    I turned away in disgust. "I've got to run to the ladies' room," I told him.
    "Fine." His tone was as clipped as mine. "I have some phone calls to make. I'll meet you back here when court reconvenes." Grady turned to go.
    "Don't forget to call Nina. I know she's waiting to hear how it's going."
    He looked at me with reproach. "I don't think she needs more bad news."
    It was clear he considered the bad news my fault.
    I pushed open the heavy wooden door of the women's rest room and was glad to find it empty. After a day of being constantly onstage, even a moment's solitude was welcome.
    I used the facilities, washed the afternoon's buildup of grime from my hands, and began to repair the damage to my makeup. I was dabbing a blush of color on my cheeks when the door opened and Deirdre Nichols entered.
    "Hi." She gave a self-conscious laugh.
    I nodded in response. "I'll be through here in a minute." I figured Deirdre might be in need of some solitude herself. I've always found these rest room encounters somewhat awkward.
    She didn't seem at all surprised to find me there, however. She glanced at the stalls, making sure we were alone. "I wanted to talk to you," she said, rubbing her hands over her upper arms as though to warm herself.
    "I can't -- "
    "If you're busy, maybe later." She reached into her purse and pulled out one of those multipurpose calendar and address books.
    I shook my head. "I meant, it's not a good idea. Not without your attorney present."
    "You mean Madelaine Rivera?"
    I nodded.
    "She's not really my attorney."
    "Not technically, but she's working on your behalf."
    Her expression was skeptical. "Madelaine is part of the problem."
    I wasn't sure I wanted to be a party to this. Both legally and ethically it was only asking for trouble. "You shouldn't be talking to me in any case," I told her.
    Deirdre didn't appear particularly interested in what she should or shouldn't be doing. She sucked on her bottom lip a