Sidney Sheldon's After the Darkness by Sidney Sheldon Page B

around Connie. “I’m so sorry, honey. Is there anything I can do?”
    Connie shook her head. “What can anyone do, Mike? Obviously, Lenny and Grace were not who we thought they were.”
    Michael Gray looked surprised. “You don’t seriously think Grace is guilty of these charges, do you?”
    Connie shrugged. “I don’t know what to think anymore. The world’s gone mad.”
    â€œYes, but money laundering ? Grace? ”
    â€œI 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.
    â€œWe all know Grace was obsessed with Lenny. Who knows what she might have done to protect him, or to help him?”
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    M ARIA P RESTON TREATED G RACE’S ARREST LIKE an exciting episode in one of her soap operas.
    â€œThe police are saying that Grace stole John Merrivale’s partnership. 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,’ that’s what it says here. ‘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!
    â€œI think I’ll wear my new Dior to the trial. The fuchsia one.”
    â€œWe’re not going to the trial.”
    â€œNot going? But, Andy, everyone will be there.”
    â€œJesus, Maria, it’s not a fucking 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.”
    â€œWell, 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 butter-wouldn’t-melt Gracie is going to jail.”
    Andrew thought, I hope so, 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?
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    â€œY OU’RE NOT GOING TO JAIL , G RACE. 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.
    â€œAs 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.”
    â€œBut I never even knew I was 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