Rebecca Winters - Manhattan Merger

“A certain bone structure, smooth olive skin, the lines of experience around a compelling mouth, piercing black eyes, the shape of an eyebrow black as a raven’s wing-I find myself drawing this face weeks or even months later. Sometimes it ends up on the canvas.”

“Tell us what happened when you painted the cover for Manhattan Merger. ”

Payne’s gaze had been riveted on her classic features. There was a subtle change-a tension in her demeanor as soon as the attorney mentioned Manhattan Merger.

“The minute I read the novel, I knew who was going to be the male on the cover. I’d used him on seven other covers, but never as a contemporary American hero who is one of the powers that be in the corporate world.

“It was as if Bonnie Wrigley had written that novel with him in mind. Like the glass slipper that only fits Cinderella’s foot, the melding of the right words and art can be a spiritual experience. That’s how it was with Manhattan Merger. ”

“Did you use a model?”

“No. I’d seen the man in a photograph while I was helping my mother clean my brother’s room.”

“Did you know who he was?”

“No. But he had the spirit of a Renaissance man who could achieve anything. That’s what was needed for the cover of this story to make it throb with poignancy. Imagine the reader falling in love with this extraordinary man so far ahead of his time, so endowed with superb male attributes, only to find out he’s dying of a disease he’s powerless to stop.”

A stillness went out over the courtroom Payne could feel.

“Thank you, Ms. Bennett. You may be seated. If Mrs. Ellen Bennett will please come forward.”

Drew turned his head, eyeing Payne with an enigmatic expression. His attorney wasn’t the only one who’d been thrown a curve. Payne didn’t know what in the hell to think.

“Mrs. Bennett? Please tell the court who you are and where you live.”

“I’m Rainey’s mother. My husband and I live in Grand Junction, Colorado.”

“Do you work?”

“I’m a housewife, the hardest work I know.”

Payne covered his face with his hand to hide his amusement.

“What does your husband do for a living?”

“He’s a dentist.”

“Do you have more than one child?”

“Yes. A son, Craig.”

“How old is he?”

“Twenty-five.”

“And your daughter?”

“Twenty-seven.”

Twenty-seven -Payne couldn’t believe it.

“You heard your daughter testify she saw a man in a photograph, the same man who ended up on the covers of eight romances. Will you please tell the court the circumstances of that day?”

“Yes. Rainey had come over to the house from her apartment to help me spring houseclean Craig’s bedroom. He’s a packrat. While we were cleaning under his bed and straightening his closet, we found boxes of his memorabilia. Frankly, everything was in a mess.

“We decided to separate his belongings into piles and put them in separate baskets that could be stacked. Rainey found the photographs he’d been collecting over the years of his river running experiences.”

The Colorado River-

Was that where Payne had seen her face?

“As she was placing them in one of the baskets she said, ‘Oh mom-you’ve got to see the incredible man in this photograph!’

“I looked where she was pointing and had to admit he really was something. But knowing my daughter, I realized she was struck by things beneath the surface too. That’s what makes her such a remarkable artist.

“She studied the picture a little longer, then put it away with all the other pictures. I never heard her mention him again. To my knowledge, she never went near Craig’s closet again. In truth, neither of us would want to!”

In spite of the seriousness of the situation, Payne chuckled at the remark. He glanced at Drew. The other’s man lips were twitching.

“Thank you, Mrs. Bennett. You may be seated. We have one more witness, Your Honor. Will Mr. Bennett please come to the stand?”

The blond Colorado River guide who’d shown Payne such a fantastic time two summers ago was the last person he expected to see in this courtroom. But there he was, bigger than life, reaching the witness stand in a few athletic strides.

When he turned around, Payne found himself looking at the male version of Ms. Rainey Bennett. Now he had his answer. Payne couldn’t imagine a better looking brother and sister.

Unfortunately Craig Bennett’s appealing white smile was missing. Dressed in a suit rather than cutoffs and T-shirt, he looked older, less approachable as he took the oath and sat down.

“Mr. Bennett? Please tell the court where you live, what you do for a living.”

“When I’m in Grand Junction I live with my parents. During the summers I live in Las Vegas or on the Colorado River where I work for Horsehead Whitewater Expeditions.”

“Tell the court the nature of your work.”

“I’m a river guide for people who want to take a float trip down the Colorado River.”

“How many trips do you take a summer?”

“Dozens.”

“Does this involve individuals or groups of people?”

“I take as few as four, or as many as twenty at a time.”

“Do you see anyone in this courtroom who has taken a trip down the Colorado with you?”

“Yes. My mom, my sister and the man sitting over there.” He nodded in Payne’s direction.

“Do you know his name?”

“I do now. At the time he used another name which I don’t recall. Something like Vince or Vance.”

“Vince,” Payne whispered to Drew.

“Do you remember taking a picture of him?”

“I always snap a photo of my group where we put in the river.”

“Your Honor?” Ms. Carlow interjected. “I have that picture with me and would like to enter it in evidence as Exhibit Two.”

Payne watched the bailiff hand it to the judge. He studied it for a moment.

“Mr. Bennett?” opposing counsel continued. “Did you ever discuss this man with your sister?”

“Never.”

“Did she ever bring him up to you?”

“No.”

“Did you know she was making sketches of him from memory?”

“No.”

“Have you ever read any of the romance novels with her paintings on the covers?”

“I would never read a romance novel period.”

Strike two against the male of the species.

“Thank you, Mr. Bennett. You may step down. That’s all I have to present at this time, Your Honor.”

The judge’s gaze swerved to Drew. “Mr. Wallace? Do you wish to cross-examine?”

“I do, Your Honor.”

“May I remind the witnesses you are all still under oath. Go ahead, Mr. Wallace.”

“If Ms. Wrigley will come forward again please?” As soon as the older woman took her place he said, “How many times have you visited New York City?”

“This is my first time.”

“My client is curious to know why you picked English royalty, why the East Coast, why banking?”

“I’m a genealogist. I’ve researched most of my ancestors who came from England. They were all as poor as church mice. However when you dig back in those old English lines, you come across fascinating information about the families who descended from kings, lords, earls and the like to build new fortunes in America.

“Every time I come across information like that, I keep it in a special research file for my writing. Most of the wealthy arrivals had banking and shipping interests. Upon reaching our shores, it was common for them to buy large tracts of land on the East Coast.”

“I see,” Drew murmured. “When you filled out the art sheet, did you suggest Ms. Bennett put the picture of a ship and lighthouse on the wall of the hero’s office?”