Finally he said, “You have nothing to fear.”
“I know that.” She reached out and touched his shoulder. “A murderer doesn’t risk his life to save three children and a woman from a sinking ship.”
He looked at her hand on his shoulder with a confused and wary expression. She’d once seen the same look on a Chinese client who didn’t speak English. Then Hank slowly rose from the ground.
She let her hand fall away.
He watched her a long time as if making a decision about what it was he saw. He stepped closer, giving her the same direct look she gave him. She waited.
“You are a smart woman.” He paused, then turned and slowly walked away. After he’d gone a few feet, he turned around and said, “Another oxymoron.”
* * *
Margaret persisted.
He refused to compromise.
For the last hour he’d oxymoroned her to death. He wouldn’t listen to her suggestions, and he spent a wealth of time tossing off a plethora of rude comments about attorneys, judges, prison guards, and the law in general, all things he held in contempt.
“Look, sweetheart. I’m not going to agree with you. Give it up. I say we build the hut here and here is where we will build it. A smart woman would have figured that out by now.”
There were moments when she actually liked sparring with Hank. This was not one of them. She waited, then casually strolled past him. “Actually, I’m more than just a smart woman.”
“Yeah,” he said with a laugh, “I forgot. You have a profession.”
“Yes, I do.”
“And a brain,” he added as if it were another joke. “I think we need to work on your attitude.”
“You can do me a big favor, Smitty.”
“What?”
“Don’t think.”
“I’m paid to think.”
“Then don’t talk.”
She laughed and walked around him. “Actually, I’m paid to talk, too.”
He gave her another long look that said he didn’t believe anyone would pay her to do anything.
She refused to make this easy for him.
They played a waiting game. He raked her with a hot look she saw for exactly what it was. A look that reduced the two of them to a man and a woman. An elemental look that cast her into the weaker role.
“I don’t offend that easily.”
“I’m learning that, Smitty.”
And you’re going to learn another lesson, she thought, but she remained silent.
“So,” he said after a few moments, “what is this profession?” He stressed the last word as if it were a joke.
She crossed her arms and gave him a look that said he could figure it out.
“Ah, I get it.” He stepped closer and stared down at her. “You’re not going to tell me.”
