Teddy Bear Heir (20 page)

"Right after the trial," Cameron answered without missing a beat.

Julian didn't miss the startled look Michaela threw Cameron's way.

"Catch him before he changes his stubborn mind," the old man advised. He directed his attention back to Cameron. "Did you bring back Mary's journals like Mrs. Monahan asked you to?"

"We did."

He smiled at Michaela. "I want you to have them as part of my wedding present to you."

"Oh, but I couldn't..."

"Nonsense. You're family now and I have a feeling that Mary would want you to have them."

She felt totally overwhelmed by the generosity of his gift and for a moment simply couldn't reply.

"Thank you, Julian. I'll treasure them."

* * *

With just a week before the trial, she spent it preparing. Each day she worked on her case, much harder than she would've normally, for she hadn't been in a courtroom for a long time.

Cameron came by every evening after work and took her out to dinner. Both of them avoided discussing the field day various tabloid papers were having at Julian's expense.

They concentrated on each other.

"What did Dr. Mallory say?" he asked that evening. She'd been to her doctor for her monthly checkup and found that she liked the fact that Cameron was so deeply involved in her pregnancy.

"He said I was remarkably fit for a woman who’d survived a tropical monsoon, the bridge from hell, and various assorted poisonous flora and fauna."

He started to laugh. "No, seriously, Mike."

"He said I was fine, healthy as the proverbial horse. But I have to start thinking about a Lamaze class."

"Would you mind if I attended class with you?"

She wagged a breadstick at him before breaking it in two. "I thought you'd never ask."

* * *

The days passed quickly. Before Michaela knew it she was sitting at her desk the night before the trial. She'd gone over her notes until she was in danger of going stale.

Needing to distract herself, she finally gave in to temptation and opened one of Mary's journals.

Later that night she thanked the fates profusely. Not only had they had a hand in getting her together with Cameron, they’d given her two more gifts, both found in Mary’s journal.

The first was the key to Cameron's heart.

The second was the evidence she needed to blow Coleman, Watts and Burrell out of the water.

The trial began amid a blaze of publicity.

Michaela was almost blinded by flashbulbs as she stepped out of the low, sleek limousine that pulled up to the courthouse steps. Cameron was right behind her the entire way, watching out for her. But he couldn't field the questions.

"Do you really think Julian Black stole the logo from that poor woman?"

"How has that man gotten away with fooling us for so many years?"

"How could he have done that to a helpless, eight-year-old-girl? She was only trying to win a contest and help her family!"

Joshua Burrell's publicity department had been working overtime to spin the facts in the direction they wanted them to go. Michaela hated looking at all the social media and seeing what was being done to Julian's good name with sly innuendo and speculation. Everyone had their own opinion and, worse, thought everyone should know what it was.

A real mob mentality had developed, and it was ugly.

But she waded through all the muck because she had to be prepared for the public's perception of this particular case.

It was going to be tough finding an impartial jury.

Once inside, she realized that even in the courtroom they weren't to be spared from the sight of various reporters. She approached the front, Cameron by her side, and nodded coolly to Carl Thompson, one of Burrell's yes-men.

Carl was a good lawyer, but a man utterly content to let someone else make all his decisions for him.

The judge was a woman she'd heard of and respected. Diane Cole. She was older and had a stern but fair manner of working. Michaela set her briefcase on her table and opened it, then began arranging various papers and articles. Once she was satisfied she had everything she needed at hand, she set her briefcase on the floor next to her chair and quietly sat down.

The noise was deafening and only rose when Julian was escorted into the courtroom, Mrs. Monahan at his side. He looked tired. Michaela could see he was exerting considerable strength of will. Only a few days ago he'd privately signed the toy company over to Cameron, claiming that whatever the outcome of this trial, he was going to spend the rest of his life doing exactly what he wanted to do. And if that included skipping a couple of days at the office, then that was that.

Julian was a proud man. It had cost him to let go of his company. But he'd wanted to do what was best for everyone involved. Michaela knew the old man wouldn't go down without a fight.

She was determined to make sure it was a fair one.

She kept all of her senses alert, especially when the woman who had accused Julian of this crucial theft entered the room. Carl, obsequious as always, rose to meet her and escort her to his table.

Michaela glanced at her watch. Within minutes, the first day of the trial would begin.

Cameron came and sat down next to her. As the acting head of Teddy's Toys, he was the individual who'd hired her to defend the firm. Here in the courtroom he was completely formal with her. Michaela was grateful for that professional courtesy.

She was also grateful for the suit she'd chosen for the first day. A beautifully cut, charcoal gray pantsuit. She looked chunky, not pregnant.

Chunky, she could live with.

Unmarried and pregnant could be detrimental to the case.

Judge Cole swept into the courtroom, the folds of her robe billowing around her as she walked. A black woman, she had a regal, queenly air. Michaela felt a sudden surge of hope.

Surely this woman would see that justice was served.

Then the gavel came down with a resounding crack, and the trial of
Sally Browning vs. Teddy's Toys
began.

* * *

The morning was largely spent giving the jury a complete and thorough background of the case.

Michaela's strategy was to show Julian and Mary building their business together, the passion of their vision, and how hard they'd worked – a perfect example of the American Dream.

She pulled out every stop, including injecting her courtroom personality with a considerable amount of warmth. Several of the jury members were older and she was counting on the fact that they could relate to Julian's lifelong struggle, how hard he and his wife had worked.

The plaintiff's lawyer took a different tactic, emphasizing how much money Julian possessed, how wealthy Teddy's Toys had made him. How he’d totally lost touch with the average person and was simply a wealthy old man.

Michaela had expected this and retaliated by noting how many millions Julian had consistently given to various charities over the years, especially charities that dealt with animals and children.

It was an exhausting morning. By the time they broke for lunch, Michaela was feeling the strain.

Cameron ducked outside the courthouse to make a call without Michaela finding out.

Dr. Mallory wasn't worried.

"She's healthy. She's a strong woman." He laughed. "If she can walk miles through a Caribbean jungle, fighting it out in the courtroom should be the proverbial piece of cake. She loves a good battle, you know that, Cameron."

He sighed. Watching Michaela in court had been a complete revelation. He'd realized he was in for a number of highly stimulating arguments once they were married.

"Is there anything I should watch out for?"

There was a short silence on the other end of the line before Dr. Mallory replied. "The only thing that's worried me about her pregnancy were those two times she fainted. No, I remember it was only once. The other time she said you helped her sit down and she felt better. If she starts to feel dizzy, make her take it easy."

"Will do."

* * *

The first day of the trial finished with the jury brought up to date. Tomorrow, opening arguments would begin. Michaela felt exhausted. When she reached the safety and shelter of the corporate limousine, she leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes.

"You were brilliant," Cameron said.

His quiet admiration warmed her. She reached for his hand.

"Thank you for being there for me."

"I didn't even think you knew I was there." She hadn't looked at him once while she'd been making her various arguments.

"I knew. Just having you there was more of a support than you'll ever know."

* * *

The following day the battle for Julian’s reputation began in earnest.

Carl Thompson went after Julian with a subtle viciousness. He painted a picture of a man who, while possessing absolutely no creativity of his own, exploited and manipulated the creative gifts of others to build his wealthy empire.

Michaela retaliated by showing example after example of Julian's generosity toward his employees, even asking a few who had been with the company for more than two decades to take the stand.

Their comments about Julian Black moved the jury emotionally, she could tell.

Then Sally Browning took the stand.

She'd been advised brilliantly by the collective legal mind of Coleman, Watts and Burrell. Even Michaela had to admit they’d served their client well.

She was outfitted very conservatively but in a manner that conveyed she didn't have a lot of money. In a subtle print dress, with her soft gray hair pulled back in a bun, she looked like everyone's imaginary grandma.

That meant trouble. The jury would be predisposed to be sympathetic toward her.

But she was also nervous – too nervous. In fact, she looked frightened.

Michaela had a sudden hunch that someone else was behind this dirty little accusation, someone who was going to profit if Sally won her lawsuit.

The press had a field day speculating as to why Julian hadn't simply paid her off out of court. Shut her up with hush money.

Now, as Sally took the stand, Michaela watched her lawyer as he questioned her and she tried to find a loophole, an inconsistency – anything.

Finally it was her turn to question the witness.

"Mrs. Browning, have you ever purchased any of the toys Julian Black manufactures?"

Sally hesitated. But she was under oath.

"I just bought my granddaughter another teddy bear for her birthday. She collects them."

"And would you say you received quality for your money?"

"Yes. She loves the bear...and the others I've bought her have... lasted."

"So it would be safe to say that you don't consider Teddy's Toys to be a cheap sort of outfit."

She hesitated, looking to her lawyer as if asking for guidance. But Sally was clearly nearsighted and had chosen not to wear her glasses on the stand.

She hesitated a moment longer, clearly flustered.

"Mrs. Browning?" Michaela asked softly.

"Objection! The defense is harassing the witness!" Carl Thompson barked, jumping up from his seat.

"I'd hardly call that harassment," Judge Cole said dryly. She turned to Michaela. "You may continue."

"Mrs. Browning?"

"They’re excellent toys," Sally Browning said softly. Michaela sensed the woman was quietly miserable.

She changed her line of questioning.

"How many children do you have, Mrs. Browning?"

"Five."

"And grandchildren?"

She hesitated again, clearly upset by the question.

"Seven."

Michaela smiled at the woman, trying to capture that elusive feeling of trust. "What sorts of toys did you buy your children when they were little?"

Sally Browning flushed, then admitted, "The bears were their favorites."

"Did it hurt you, when you first saw the bear known as Bandit Bear?"

Sally looked puzzled.

"Exhibit A, please."

A medium sized stuffed bear with distinctive facial markings was brought to Michaela. She placed the toy in Sally's hands.

"Do you recognize this bear as Bandit Bear?"

Sally nodded her head.

Michaela felt a sudden rush of sympathy for the older woman. She didn't belong here, she didn't want to be here, and she felt with overwhelming certainty that this woman was someone's pawn.

But whose?

"I need you to answer the question with a yes or a no. Mrs. Browning, do you recognize this bear as Bandit Bear?"

"Yes."

"And did you ever give any of your five children one of the bears that Teddy's Toys makes known as Bandit Bear?"

"Y-yes."

"Did you feel a sense of anger?"

"What do you mean?"

"When you recognized the design as your own?"

"Objection, Your Honor!" Carl Thompson called. "The defense is leading the witness."

"Objection overruled," Judge Cole said evenly. "Please continue."

"Did you feel a sense of anger or loss when you recognized the design as your own?"

"No, not then... later."

"And that was why you chose to bring this matter to court almost fifty years later?"

Sally Browning seemed confused.

"Mrs. Browning? What made you decide to finally bring this matter before a court of law?"

''I needed... I thought that I... I didn't think Julian Black should be the only one to...profit through my design."

"Thank you, Mrs. Browning, I have no other questions for you at this time."

They broke for lunch.

* * *

"Something doesn't smell right about this," Michaela said as she finished up lunch with Cameron and Julian. Cameron was peeling an orange and handing her sections of the citrus fruit, while Julian barely ate a thing.

"I was thinking the same thing myself," Julian mused. "She looks scared to death up on the stand."

"I'm going to call Chuck," Cameron said, referring to his employee who was also something of a private detective when he wanted to be. But more important, Chuck knew a few genuinely good ones.