“For what may I ask?”

  “It’s all spelled out in the legal documents contained in the envelope I have provided to you.”

  She could see by the look on his face that he was embarrassed about having to hand over the envelope and the message he was delivering. Kristin also knew that all of this could have been handled by certified mail. This was Clarence’s way of trying to remind her of how important he thought that he was.

  “Howard, we have known each other a long time, what is this all about?”

  “I believe it concerns a very public incident that occurred this last Saturday night at a fund raiser for the University of Washington Foundation.”

  “Howard, what does Clarence want?”

  “Mr. Palmer has petitioned is asking the courts for twenty million in punitive damages for personal and professional damages as a result of the attack on him last Saturday night.

  The suit states that as a result of the incident Mr. Palmer has suffered public humiliation and professional disgrace; diminished standing in the community, mental anguish, emotional distress, extensive dental work, some reconstructive surgery, as well as pain and suffering.”

  “I don't know if Clarence’s pride is worth twenty million?” Kristin mused.

  She noticed that Howard almost erupted into laughter before he caught himself.

  Jack spoke for the first time since Howard had entered her office,

  “Mr. Sands, what can I do?”

  Howard turned his full attention to Jack and offered an explanation that shocked both Jack and Kristin.

  “Mr. Evans, since the police could not or rather would not press criminal charges in this case Mr. Palmer's civil lawsuit has relegated you to merely a body guard acting on Miss Palmer's behalf.

  He closed his briefcase thanked them for their time and turned to go. When he reached the door he heard Kristin's gentle voice say from behind him.

  “Howard, it was good to see you again.”

  The man that had once been one of her closest allies when she was married to Clarence stopped at the door with his fingers touching the polished chrome handle. He seemed to be frozen in thought. After several long moments he turned back toward the two of them. His entire demeanor had changed from a strictly business posture to a relaxed casual attitude. The expression on his face was now friendly and open; he looked like a completely different man that had been facing them two minutes ago. When he spoke his voice had a tone of informal good will and sympathy.

  “It was good to see you again Kristin, good luck and take care of yourself , he looked at Jack with genuine respect and offered with what Jack thought was a slight bow of his head, “Mr. Evans it was a pleasure to meet you.”

  As Howard Sands crossed the lobby and exited the building Kristin turned to Jack and said with a quavering sigh,

  “It looks like you are going to get a chance to prove your theory about right versus the Law.”

  Jack gave her a confident smile that did not have a shred of doubt in it. Kristin held his gaze as she grabbed the phone and buzzed Vicky.

  “Vicky would you please get Robert Anderson on the phone, “Clarence is being a Jackass, again.”

  After Kristin hung up the phone she went back to examining the photos form Saturday night like nothing had happened. Jack walked around the desk and sat down across from her. He was studying her very closely, he could not tell if she was upset, annoyed, or just distracted. Jack started to apologize for causing the trouble,

  Kristin interrupted, “Jack, I would be lying if I said that I totally agreed with what you did, but it happened and now we are going to deal with it.”

  “Would it do any good for me to go over to Clarence’s office and apologize to him in person?” Jack asked.

  “I don’t think so Jack.” She paused and continued,

  “You may find this hard to believe but this, she lifted up the envelope, has nothing to do with you, Clarence has been looking for a fight for a long time and now he is going to get one. And I think I am finally ready to take a few swings at him myself, legally speaking.”

  Just then the phone rang and Kristin pushed the speaker button without even hesitating, she knew that it would be her incensed attorney on the other end of the line,

  “Don’t bother explaining Kris I got a copy of the court documents this morning via messenger. What the hell does that cheap ambulance chaser hope to get out of this pile of legal lunacy?”

  Kristin laughed, “Bobby, don’t you think cheap ambulance chaser is a little strong?”

  “Your right, Clarence always gets there before the ambulance.” He added.

  Kristin laughed and told Bobby that they could come to his office that afternoon to discuss what they were going to do and how they were going to proceed.

  When Jack and Kristin entered Robert Andersen’s office, Bobby almost came over his desk trying to get to shake the hand of the man that had punched out the famous Clarence Palmer.

  “Mr. Evans, it is a real pleasure to meet you.” Bobby said will sincere enthusiasm.

  After the introductions and greetings they all sat down and Kristin asked,

  “What are we looking at Bobby?”

  “Well, the good news is that he is suing you in civil court because even though that there was a police report filed, the district attorney isn’t pursuing the case in criminal court because he could not find one person that would swear under oath to what they saw.”

  Kristin asked, “What about his latest girlfriend?”

  “She claims she was in the ladies room.” The lawyer responded with a devious smile.

  Jack asked, “Mr. Anderson, do you think it would do any good to request a meeting with Mr. Palmer so I can apologize to him in person?”

  “NO,” Was what Jack heard from both Bobby and Kristin.

  “Mr. Evans…”Began the Attorney

  “Please call me Jack.”

  “Alright, Jack there are as many types of lawyers as there are types of law to be practiced, but there is one very unusual type of lawyer that we all try to avoid being and I’m afraid that Clarence Palmer is that type.”

  Jack asked, “What type is that?”

  “Clarence Palmer practices Law not as a profession but as a blood sport, he enjoys the carnage associated with destroying an opponent in a court of law. He loves trying to dig up dirt on innocent people and shocking jury boxes filled with regular people just trying to do their civic duty. If manipulation and deceit were Olympic events, Clarence Palmer would be a gold medalist.

  Kristin asked, “What do we do first, Bobby?”

  “Unfortunately we wait, Clarence is a master of frivolous lawsuits, it’s his bread and butter and he knows just how far he can bend the law in his favor.”

  The three of them sat and discussed the case for another twenty minutes before Bobby cleared his throat and said in a reticent tone,

  “Kristin, I would be derelict in my duties as your attorney if I didn’t suggest that you and Mr. Evans have as little contact as possible in case this thing makes it to trial.”

  Kristin did not hesitate, “Bobby isn’t that what Clarence wants?”

  They could see the lines next to Bobby’s eyes crease into a smile before it reached his lips as he continued, “I just want to warn you that if this does go to trial it will become a very public and very nasty fight.”

  “I understand fully, Thank you Bobby.” She responded without any hesitation.

  “Very well, I will be in touch, Jack would you let my secretary know where I can reach you?” Bobby said as he stood up and extended his hand to Jack, he came around the desk to give Kristin a hug to let her know that he was totally and completely on her side.

  As they walked out of the Lawyers office Jack started to apologize again for causing her so much trouble, she cut him off in mid-sentence as she stepped right in front of him so they were face to face with only inches between them. Kristin looked straight up into his eyes and said defiantly,

  “You’re not going to let that bastard win, are you?”

  Jack could tell be the look on her face that this was more than a simple case of defending him against a vindictive ex-husband, this was about closing an open wound that was still bleeding.

  Jack leaned down a little closer and said without any reservation, “May the best man win.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Tuesday morning the three of them, Kristin, Jack and Sam pulled up in front of the Palmer Agency in Kristin’s car. Jack threw their gear in the back of the truck and opened the door for Sam to jump in. After he closed the door he leaned against the Drivers side of the old truck. Kristin heisted herself up on the hood of her car and waited for the inevitable goodbye.

  Jack looked across at her sitting on the hood and said,

  “Hell of a weekend, you really know how to show a fella a good time.”

  “You know how us city girls are.” they both laughed and a distant smile crept across Jack's face,

  “You know, that is exactly where you were sitting the first time I saw you?”

  “I know, I’m trying to make it as difficult as I can for you to leave.”

  “You’re succeeding.” He admitted.

  Jack nodded his head toward the building and said,

  “You know we have an audience?”

  “I know, I guess we better give them a good show.” She added with a devious smirk.

  Every pair of eyes in the building were watching them, the models and the photographers had opened the louvers’ on the second floor and were staring down, the staff and clients were watching from every available window they could find and trying not to be seen. There wasn’t a single bit of work getting done at that moment inside the Palmer Agency. They stared at each other for another minute before Kristin said,

  “I guess its show time.” She was the one that made the first move as she jumped off the hood of the car closed the distance between them in a heartbeat and pinned Jack against the door of his truck. She planted a kiss on him that had every prying eye in the building smiling, even the grizzled pair of body guards were grinning from ear to ear. When they finally parted Kristin knew that it would be a long while before they would see each other again and the thing that would bring them back together would not be pleasant. She also knew that it would either make them stronger or destroy them forever. Jack could see moisture forming in the corners of her eyes and he could tell that it was more than tears of sadness, it was uncertainty.

  Jack eased the old pickup onto I-5 he was thinking about everything that Kristin and Bobby had said about not going to see Clarence in person. He weighed all the reasons in his mind why he should not go see Clarence face to face. Jack could tell from his brief encounter with Kristin’s ex-husband that he still wanted to own Kristin. He understood better than anyone why people acted the way they did against someone they still loved, he recognized that sometimes a person that still cared for someone committed egregious acts against them. Jack thought that if there was still a part of Clarence that cared anything at all for Kristin, he could be convinced not to proceed with the ridiculous lawsuit he had filed. Jack had always had the ability to communicate with anyone he met from a CEO to a college professor to the old men that played checkers at Ruby’s on Saturday afternoon. He didn’t consider it a gift he just understood that most people wanted more than anything in life to be heard. And if you listened long enough to someone you would eventually hear what they really wanted. Jack had to take the chance and try and find out what Clarence really wanted as he turned off I-5 in the direction of Clarence’s office.

  Jack walked into the plush waiting room of Clarence A. Palmer, Attorney at Law offices. He noticed immediately that there were no other attorney’s listed on the masthead of the office. Jack thought to himself clearly Clarence doesn’t play well with others. The secretary looked up at Jack from painting her finger nails like he was a lost delivery man. And her first words confirmed her opinion of him, the

  “May I help you.” sounded more like, “What the hell are you doing here.”

  Jack took his hat off and asked, “Is Mr. Palmer in?” The secretary did not confirm or deny if Clarence was in the office she simply asked with the tone of a watchdog, “Who may I say is asking?”

  “Would you kindly tell Mr. Palmer that Jack Evans would like to speak with him for a moment?”

  The secretary almost knocked over her finger nail polish coming to her feet,

  “You’re Jack Evans?” She rushed around the desk to offer Jack a seat and a cup of coffee. When Jack was settled into the thick leather couch with a cup of gourmet coffee in his hand the secretary asked,

  “Is there anything else I can get you Mr. Evans before I see if Mr. Palmer is available?”

  Jack thanked her for her hospitality and told her he was fine, he just needed a moment of Mr. Palmer’s time. The secretary hurried off down the hall and was gone a good five minutes before she came back and told Jack that Mr. Palmer was in a meeting but he would be out in a few minutes. Jack looked around the waiting room and spotted a closed circuit camera mounted in the upper corner of the waiting room. He suspected that Clarence was watching him right now and deciding whether or not to come out and talk to him. Jack was fairly certain that he would not be invited into his private office, for a couple of reasons.

  Clarence appeared in the hallway that led into the waiting room as if he had snuck down the hall without wanting to be seen or heard. As Jack stood up Clarence took a step backward and held up his hand for Jack not to come any closer. Jack could still see the swelling on his face and Clarence was wearing a neck brace that Jack was sure was just for show.

  “I’m surprised that you would be so bold Mr. Evans.” Clarence said in a wavering tone.

  “I came to apologize for my actions the other night.” Jack offered humbly.

  The offer of an apology seemed to embolden Clarence as he took a single step in Jack’s direction and asked, “Does Kristin know that you’re here?”

  “No, and I would prefer that she didn’t.” Jack answered deliberately.

  “I didn’t think she would.” Clarence said with just a little more audacity in his voice. His lawyer instincts were boiling to the surface and he launched into one of his cross-examinations like he was in front a packed courtroom with all eyes on him,

  “Mr. Evans, my guess is that Kristin and her attorney tried to dissuade you from coming to see me?”

  “They did.” Jack responded.

  “And I’m sure that you realize that there is nothing you could possibly say that would make me drop the law suit I have filed.”

  “I realize that fully.” Jack said in the tone of a man patiently waiting for an opponent to run out of steam.

  “Then what possible reason could you have for coming here today?” Clarence asked.

  “I told you earlier, I just came to apologize. I’m sorry for what happened.” Jack extended his hand even though he was sure Clarence would not accept his apology. He let his hand hang in midair for a few seconds then he dropped it to his side. He looked over at Clarence’s secretary thanked her for the coffee and her hospitality and turned to go. He was halfway to the door when he heard Clarence in a desperate voice call after him, “This doesn’t change a thing.”

  Jack stopped and turned slowly back toward Clarence. He smiled politely at the secretary then he looked thoughtfully at Clarence and said,

  “Clarence, there is an old saying in the Military, Sicus Pacus Parabellum, If you want peace, Prepare for war.”

  As Jack turned to go he heard the secretary’s nervous laughter and Clarence snarl at her something about getting back to work. Jack walked out the front door climbed into the pickup with Sam and headed for home.

  PART III

  Fear and Courage

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  The River was higher and more violent than anyone could remember seeing it in years. The boulders that usually protruded above the water line like smooth granite islands were now just indentations in the river that the strong current flowed over. The grass reeds that lined the river had disappeared under the surface and dead fall trees that had lined the shores for years were struggling to remain upright. Although it appeared to be a gently flowing mountain stream the current could be deceptively powerful. To the thousands of tourists that drove by the river each year it looked like a peaceful stream that someone could just take off their shoes and socks and simply wade across. The deception lay under the surface of the water. The calm backwater that swirled around behind a boulder in the middle of the river could be hiding a drop off that could swallow a full grown man before he knew what happened. The rocks that protruded out of the water and appeared to be stepping stones across the surface could be as slick as if they were coated with motor oil. Even the shallowest sections of the river sustained a current that could knock a man off his feet if his footing was not sure and solid.

  The first lesson every fly fisherman learned was not how to place a fly exactly where you thought the fish were or how to coax a five pound trout into your net without breaking your line. The first lesson was balance, if you do not maintain your balance you could wind up floating face down in the river until Search and Rescue pulled your bloated body out from under a tree stump. Balance wasn’t just about avoiding slippery rocks and finding a secure place in the current to stand, it was watching everything around you. That is why Jack came to the river with his fly rod and Samantha in tow, for balance.

  Jack stood at the edge of the river throwing the his line back and forth with the tempo of a man discontented with what he was doing. The first fly that he had tied on had snapped off the end of the leader as if the sheer force of his motion could not hold the fly in place. The fly he was using now had spent more time in the air than on the surface of the water. Everything about his visit to the river tonight was restless and uneasy. He had lost his balance descending the river bank and almost tumbled down the embankment and come to rest at to the edge of the river. The wind had kicked up and Jack was having trouble guiding the line and the fly exactly where he wanted it to go. He had not had so much as a nibble and to make matters worse it looked like a storm was coming over the top of the mountain Sam barked at him like it was time to go.