Chapter 45: Feeling SketchyMichael sat back and watched as Maggie interviewed the alleged victim in the LeRoi case. They'd decided that this particular deposition required a gentle touch. Seated at a conference table in the offices of the District Attorney, Maggie smiled kindly at Rebecca Savage, a slight young woman with dark hair and brown eyes. "I'm Maggie Flynn. Michael and I represent Jean-Luc LeRoi. I need to ask a few questions. May I call you Rebecca?"The young woman blinked and looked to Rance Stockwell who was representing the citizens of the city in the high-profile case. Rance patted her hand and she nodded slightly, crossing her arms to hold herself around the middle. Maggie quietly continued. "Tell me how you came to meet Jean-Luc, Rebecca."Rebecca cleared her throat. "I went to a hockey game with some friends. I don't really follow sports, it was just something to do." Maggie nodded encouragingly. "After the game, we went down to the ice. One of my fri
Chapter 46: Winning?It was two weeks into the trial, the morning of the second Friday. "We've got to finish this thing," Michael said. The delay in the start of the trial had created a time crunch. His vacation was supposed to start Monday and he had a late Saturday flight to the Maldives for a two-week stay in paradise. Maggie had no idea who would be accompanying him on this trip and she hadn't asked. She'd come to ignore what she couldn't control."We can finish today, don't you think?" she asked him."Yeah, we'll question our last witnesses this morning. If we play it right, we could do closing before lunch. You and Stan can be on verdict watch, right?" he told them. "I'm going to be sunning my ass in the Indian Ocean." Michael grinned in anticipation.Whatever, Maggie thought, sighing. For her last vacation, she'd visited Casey in Rhode Island. She frowned. They had business at hand anyway. She settled in at the defense table and got ready.Michael started with the c
Chapter 47: A Really Bad IdeaThis is probably a bad idea. Maggie stood on the terrace of Michael's apartment looking out over the city. It looked magical after dark, all dotted with twinkling lights. Even the traffic sounds were muted from this height. Lost in thought as she was, Michael's voice startled her. "That's better. Can I get you something?"She turned to see that he'd exchanged his suit for jeans and a faded forest green t-shirt. His feet were bare. "Come on in, I'll pour you something." Wordlessly, she followed him back inside the apartment. Baseball was playing on the huge flat-screen television; the sound was low. Michael turned to her. "Relax," he said, eyes sparkling with amusement. "We're not at work anymore." He continued on to the bar. Maggie stopped by the kitchen counter where she'd dropped her purse, stepping out of her black pumps and removing the jacket of her black skirt suit, folding it carefully and laying it over the back of the couch.She
Chapter 48: The Next RoundGently, Michael helped her down from the kitchen counter. When her knees threatened to buckle, he pulled her close. "Oh, Michael," she breathed.He chuckled indulgently, lightly brushing his lips against her temple. Maggie responded by finding his lips with her own, kissing him fiercely as she ran her hand down his body to the place where his arousal was still evident. She gripped him, stroking him through the cotton of his jeans and he groaned into her kiss. She stepped back and cocked her eyebrow impishly before sinking to her knees between his bare feet. He watched as she unbuttoned his fly, reached into the top of his grey boxer briefs, and released his massive erection. She gazed up at him, a wry smile on her face. Her open grey blouse framed the globes of her tits, still pushed out of the top of her bra. The sight made him even harder. Michael reached down to stroke her hair. "Jesus, Mags…" he sighed.Maggie leaned forward to lick upward fr
Chapter 49: Cold RealizationMichael eased out of bed, pausing to slip into his jeans before he headed to the living room to refill their empty glasses. "Be right back," he said over his shoulder.Maggie grinned and rolled onto her back, gazing up at the modern silver chandelier hanging over the bed. Unbelievable. After all this time… Of course, he's leaving tomorrow. She grimaced slightly. He'll be in the Maldives for two weeks. With Vivian. She sighed deeply, wondering if she remembered exactly which one was Vivian. They were all fairly interchangeable. Stop analyzing it. Just enjoy the moment. We're adults here. She could hear him putting ice in the glasses. The cold clink of ice cubes was replaced by the ringing of the doorbell. Frowning, she glanced at the bedside clock and saw that it was 11:30. Then she heard voices."What are you doing here?" she heard Michael ask. "It's nearly midnight.""You called me, remember?" replied a female voice."That was hours ago.
Chapter 50: Michael's HolidayVOLUME 2: RUNNING ROGUEMichael Rannigan reclined on a chaise on the private deck of the over-water bungalow and watched as Vivian snorkeled a few yards away. He reclined. But he didn't relax. He had too much on his mind. Memories of his last night in New York before he left for vacation swirled through his thoughts. Initially, he'd worked to downplay it in his own mind. It's no big deal. I fuck around all the time. Maggie's just another piece of ass. Deep down, he knew better.Vivian disrupted his thoughts as she tossed her snorkel gear onto the deck before climbing up and stretching out on the chaise beside him. "God, that water's great!" she said, smoothing back her soaked blonde hair. "You really should try it."Michael smiled his best self-deprecating grin, grateful for the mirrored Ray-Ban aviators that shielded his eyes from view. "I will. I'm just relaxing now, soaking up the rays."Vivian frowned at him skeptically. "We've been here
Chapter 51: So Now What?The following day, Michael left his sanctuary to relax on the beach. He chose a chaise far down the beach and away from the other sunbathers. Thoughts of Maggie still swirled through his mind like dry leaves in a brisk fall breeze. I can just go about my business like nothing out of the ordinary happened. I'm sure she's not spending time obsessing over it. He shook his head. That wasn't true. He knew Maggie well enough to know that she was bound to be thinking it over, considering how best to handle the situation. Besides, she'd been upset when she left, thanks to Gwen. She'd been in such a hurry, she'd forgotten her bracelet on the bathroom counter. After Maggie left, he'd asked Gwen to leave and eventually had to threaten to call security before she would go. She'd had some choice words for him, too. It was stupid to call Gwen anyway. I'd gone through all my usual dates and couldn't find anyone. Better no date than Gwen.He'd tried to call M
Chapter 52: Words You Can't Take BackHer last day at Murphy, Rannigan was harder than Maggie had imagined. There was a surprise going-away party that afternoon in the conference room and she'd had to fight back tears. She knew she'd miss her colleagues on the 50th floor. She was grateful that Michael was still away. I don't think I could deal with him as well. After the cake was cut, she slipped back to her office to pack up her personal things. She looked lovingly at each photo as she put it into the small box she'd pilfered from the supply closet. She had very good memories from her time here. Mostly. The thought of Jean-Luc LeRoi caused her to wince. Well, no more of that kind of thing. On Friday afternoon, Michael took the elevator to the 50th floor. He'd ended his vacation a couple of days early. Two weeks is really too long to be gone, he reflected. He figured he'd check up on what had happened in his absence then join the gang at Docs. He had Maggie's bracelet
Chapter 131: EpilogueIt was a crisp fall day as the new black Range Rover made its way carefully through the narrow lanes, coming to a stop at the base of a hill. The deep cerulean sky was accented by the vibrant scarlets, pumpkins, and golds of autumn leaves. Bobby shifted into 'Park' and looked over at Maggie.She chewed her lip anxiously. "I won't be long.""Take your time, cher." He smiled at her reassuringly. "We're not in any hurry."Maggie sighed deeply and unfastened her seat belt. She stepped out of the car and opened the door to the backseat, leaning in to retrieve a small bundle before closing the door again. "I won't be long," she repeated.Bobby watched as she carefully picked her way up the hill. "Daddy, can I go, too?" Savannah chirped from the back seat."No, June bug, let Mommy have a minute. Then we'll go to the country. Are you ready to pick some apples?""Yes! Apples!" she responded, and she began to sing a song about picking apples.At nearly the crest
Chapter 130: So Typically MichaelBrian smiled warmly as he welcomed Maggie and Bobby into his office. "I'm happy to have you here," he said, "I only wish it were under different circumstances."Maggie nodded mutely as she took in her surroundings. The law offices of Brian Murphy & Associates occupied a converted three-story building on W. 79th. The building had once been residential. The outer walls were exposed brick, and Maggie found that along with wood accents and details, everything worked together to create a comfortable, relaxed feel. Brian himself was casually dressed in khaki slacks and a white button-down shirt topped by a forest green V-neck cardigan. "This is a nice place," she murmured thoughtfully.Brian gave her a curious look and smiled again. "Well, it's not Murphy, Rannigan, but I think I actually like it better. We don't stand on formality around here. We're a small firm, and we like to think of ourselves as the friendly neighborhood lawyers. You know, whe
Chapter 129: HeartbrokenSean Michael Rannigan was buried on a cold morning in late March. The frozen ground was bare of snow, but flurries swirled through the air on a biting breeze. Maggie found the grey day fitting for a funeral. As she watched the assortment of mourners gathered around the grave, her thoughts went back four days earlier to the day Michael had died.There had been a blur of activity. Rosalie had made the necessary calls to the necessary parties. Attendants from the funeral home had come and discreetly ushered his body away. Maggie had been disconsolate. Bobby had held her until she'd run out of tears.By the time they'd left to pick up Savannah from school, the apartment had been restored to normal, the medical equipment packed up and hauled away. Maggie had sensed the emptiness of the place and insisted that they pack up their things and return to her apartment.She'd forced a smile when Savannah came running up to the two of them in front of the school. "
Chapter 128: Michael's JourneyMaggie clasped and unclasped her hands as she sat anxiously beside the hospital bed in Michael's bedroom. Michael lay propped up against a mountain of pillows, his grey t-shirt showing above the crisp white cotton blanket that covered the rest of him. He'd insisted that the bed be placed beside the window and the drapes be left open so he could look out over the city. He drifted off now and again, but he seemed determined to be awake.It had been a rough night. Maggie and Bobby, along with the overnight nurse, had tag-teamed sitting up with Michael, who had alternated between sleeping fitfully and waking to spells of deep coughing and ragged wheezing.Bobby went to shower and get Savannah ready for school while Maggie and Michael watched the sun come up over the city. The colors were extraordinary, washing the sky in shades of pink, orange, purple, and blue. Maggie couldn't recall the last time she'd watched the sunrise. Michael watched the scene a
Chapter 127: Michael's Family By ChoiceSavannah's clear blue eyes were huge as Bobby introduced her to Michael. "Savannah, you remember Mr. Michael. We met him at the airport that time. He's invited us to stay here with him for a while until we find our own house."When the doctor had released Michael from the hospital, he'd given him a timeline of a few weeks. Maggie had approached Michael, asking if she and Bobby could bring Savannah and stay with him for a while, and Michael had balked. "I don't want a bunch of people waiting around for me to die."She'd convinced him that he'd be doing them a favor, buying them time to find the right place. The truth was, she couldn't bear to think of being all the way in the East Village when he might need her.Now, the little girl regarded Michael solemnly, taking in his gaunt appearance, his grey sunken cheeks and his eyes with their dark circles. Her little brow wrinkled. "What's wrong with your face?" she asked."Savannah!" Bobby excl
Chapter 126: FamilymoonMaggie sat up on her beach blanket and hugged her knees, wriggling her toes and burying them in the cooler sand below the surface. Further down the beach, Bobby dutifully carried a small pink plastic pail as Savannah gathered shells. Maggie gazed past them to the sailboat anchored a few hundred yards offshore. It was their home for the week, and they'd sailed it to remote coves and empty beaches, relishing the quiet and the opportunity to bond as a family. Her gaze returned to Bobby and his daughter, and she smiled contentedly. It wasn't conventional, but it was just right.As if he felt her eyes on him, Bobby turned and smiled knowingly. He bent and said something to Savannah who looked to Maggie and waved. Maggie smiled and waved back as the pair returned to where she sat, Savannah scampering along while Bobby strolled purposefully, dropping his tall frame to the empty space beside her on the blanket."You've worn me out, June bug. Let me sit here by M
Chapter 125: Michael, Back in the SaddleMichael sat back in his chair at the large oak conference table and relished the feeling of being in control. It had been too long since he'd done real casework. He'd forgotten how it felt, the rush of knowing that he held all the right cards. His charcoal grey suit hung a little loose due to the weight he'd lost, but he still knew how to project a confident presence. Figuring it would negatively impact his intimidation factor, he'd left his oxygen in the rental car.Bobby sat quietly beside him, tension radiating from his body. Michael had thoroughly prepped him. "Don't say anything. If they speak to you, look at me. Above all, don't let them bait you."Across the table, Deanna, in her white blouse and navy-blue knee-length skirt with her honey blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, looked more the sad abandoned single mother than the scheming opportunistic gold-digger that she was. Her gaze flitted nervously between Michael and Bobb
Chapter 124: Custody IssuesThe deceptively bright sun and cloudless blue sky seemed at odds with the brisk cold day. But it made for a perfect afternoon spent skating at Wellman Rink in Central Park. Savannah squealed in delight as she struggled along on her ice skates. She was in no real danger of falling, safely tucked between her father and Maggie who each held a hand. She looked up, and Maggie could see the child's pink cheeks and sparkling eyes. "Are you having fun?" she asked the little girl."Yeah! This is awesome!"Bobby looked at Maggie over his daughter's head and winked, smiling. He was beyond grateful to Maggie for taking the unscheduled visit in stride. She'd even taken off work on Friday afternoon so that she could stay with Savannah when he'd had to leave for the studio. He'd arrived home late that night to find the little girl fast asleep in a makeshift tent constructed out of a blanket draped over a card table. "We decided to pretend we were camping," Mag
Chapter 123: EngagedBobby's eyes twinkled with mischief. "How's that?"Illuminated only by the handful of candles scattered about the room, Maggie pulled against the restraints that bound her wrists to the bars of her iron headboard and giggled softly. "It's fine.""No, you're fine," he murmured as his hand lightly traced along the side of her body. He continued down her leg to bind first one ankle then the other to the corners of the bed. He stood at the end gazing over her nude body spread out before him, candlelight bathing her skin in a soft glow. "Aiee, cher, how did I get so lucky?"Slowly, keeping his eyes on hers, he removed his shirt, jeans, and boxer briefs. His impressive erection stood at attention. "Where do I even start?" he whispered, and she giggled again.Bobby crawled onto the bed between her open legs, moving up over her body until he reached her face. Leaning down, he kissed her deeply. "Oh, Bobby," she whispered against his lips.He lightly nipped down t