Jake Roland was almost laughing. He couldn't believe what Alex Lawrence had faxed him. He picked up the phone and dialed her number. "Hey,"

'Did you get them?'

"Did I ever." Jake chuckled.

'I know. I can't believe they don't realize that this is a moot point.' Alex said.

"I think we know that Tuesday we're going to have some fun. I can't believe that they're trying this after all this time. You're not playing a prank on me?" Jake was still on the verge of laughter.

'It's true. Some stuck up peacock lawyer waltzed in and handed us those subpoenas on a silver platter almost.'

"Ok just stop." Jake said laughing. "I'll arrive on Monday so I can get a good idea of what's going on, how are those two doing anyways?"

'Rick and Penny are good. They're doing good out here.'

"I look forward to seeing Rick again." Jake continued, "I'll see you on Monday."

'Thanks.' The phone went dead.

Rick opened his eyes to a tangle of soft blond hair. He took a deep breath and exhaled happily. Jessica stirred next to him and smiled. "Good morning Mr. Barnes," she murmured.

"Good morning Mrs. Barnes." He replied. Jess's brown eyes gleamed as she turned to face him. They shared a smile and then a kiss.

"It's already noon." Jess said looking at the digital clock next to the bed behind him.

"Noon?" Rick glanced back and rolled his eyes. "Of course it is."

"Guess we had more fun than we expected last night." She said waggling her eyebrows. Rick grinned at her in response.

Jessica sat up and ran a hand through her hair. "I need a shower." She said making a face. There was still a half a can of hairspray in her blond tresses. She started for the bathroom.

"What a coincidence." Rick called following her, "so do I." She giggled from the bathroom.

After a rather quick and less than productive shower they headed down to one of the restaurants in the hotel/casino for some food before checking out. Jessica smiled between bites as they ate.

"So, about that dog." She began.

"What about it?" Rick asked swallowing.

"I want us to go get one. I have a few breeds and breeders in mind already." She answered.

"What breeds?" He asked.

"I was thinking something big." She said with a smile. "Like a German Sheppard or a Great Dane."

"No Danes." Rick answered quickly. "That's too big for Penny."

"How about a German Sheppard then. They're good with kids, make good protectors, and are easily trained." Jessica continued.

"Guess we know who's done her homework." Rick commented. "When do you plan to go get this dog?"

"I was hoping we could do it next week. I do have to contact some local breeders and get prices and information."

"That sounds good. A week gives everybody time to prepare." Rick smiled slightly.

"I thought you didn't like dogs." Jess said.

"I never said that." Rick replied, "I just didn't have time for a dog."

"You being a hero and all." Jess said playfully.

"I ain't a hero." Rick returned a little agitated. "I'm jus a detective. I do my job."

"Yes, but you chose that profession because you wanted to protect people and save lives, you did want to be a hero sometime when you made that decision." Jess replied softly.

"In a way." Rick offered.

"Yes in a way." She replied.

Jake and Malcolm were looking at each other trying to figure out their best plan of attack. The judge sitting in his chair above was looking over the material. Jake didn't smile at his opponent the way Malcolm did. He kept a straight face with a gleam in his eyes that begged for the courtroom battle to begin.

Malcolm grinned casually with an air of arrogance so thick it was like an atmosphere that hovered around the lawyer.

The judge cleared his throat. Both lawyers and their clients looked up. Alex and Grant dared not look at the two scientists they had once worked with. Dr. Amanda Ferguson and Dr. Omar Velasquez had made a case against their former coworkers simply because they thought that the two had stolen FutureTech property.

"Now Mr. Bradley, do you have anything to say before we begin?" He was aging with a gruff raspy voice that fell heavily on everyone's ears.

Malcolm stood up and nodded to the Judge, "yes your Honor." He said with a pleasant smile.

"Proceed." The judge almost snapped. He was well aware of Malcolm's behavior and detested it.

"My clients are former employees of FutureTech. The research company was forced out of business when the FBI seized their entire facility and all of their research. However a few big projects were left behind and Dr.'s Lawrence and Jackson took these for themselves. Project Penultimate and Project Guardian were made possible by all the scientists at work there. Even if the two scientists in question were leading the work it was not theirs to take. In essence they stole research that did not belong to them."

The judge listened. He nodded at the end. "It sounds rather against your clients Mr. Roland."

Rick hadn't liked the way Malcolm had said 'stole research' it implied that the two had stolen science projects that weren't alive.

"Yes, it does." Jake stood up. "But what Mr. Bradley's clients do not know is that Calvin McDowell, the original owner of FutureTech added a clause in his will. When he was killed at the unveiling of his team's work the entire research facility and all subsequent possessions were transferred jointly to Dr. Lawrence and Dr. Jackson. These two were McDowell's oldest and most favored pupils. The clause was added in years before his death. Though Jackson and Lawrence had yet to meet." Jake said.

Amanda gasped in surprise at this. "What do you mean?" She asked loudly before covering her mouth with a hand.

"I'm saying that all property within FutureTech was transferred over to these two. What they chose to do with their research was their own business. After the company dissolved there was nothing left to fight over."

The judge looked at Jake in surprise. "You mean that McDowell willed the research facility and everything related to your clients?"

"Yes. I have a copy of the will, shall I give it to you?"

"Yes." The judge replied eagerly. He wanted to see this for himself. The bailiff handed the judge the paperwork. He read it for a few minutes his blue eyes moving quickly over the words behind his glasses.

"It's true. Did you know about this Mr. Bradley?" The judge looked up.

"No your honor. Such information was kept from my clients." Malcolm replied almost testily.

"Of course it was, it says here that such action was to remain a private matter between McDowell and his chosen heirs." The older man replied.

For the first time Malcolm looked worried briefly. He looked at his clients who both shrugged. The two scientists had never known about McDowell's will.

"Your Honor, may I request we take a half hour to gather our remaining evidence against Richard Barnes?" Malcolm asked.

The judge looked at him and knew that the lawyer was searching for a handhold. He was enjoying the way Malcolm was losing his battle. "Alright." He said striking his gavel down.

Everyone stood up and Malcolm and the two scientists left the room. Jake shook his head watching them. "They really think they've got something against you. Wait until they see the Supreme Court Ruling. That'll really rattle his cage." He whispered.

The entire time Jake had been calm and humble, not once had he seemed disinterested or behaved as though the battle had already been won. It wasn't his way of handling himself in court.

"I hope so." Rick replied.

"Yea, he needs a little trim on those feathers of his." Alex agreed. She was adamant that Malcolm was a peacock. His attitude and his behavior gave off that impression easily.

When everyone came back in Malcolm addressed the rather empty court room. To avoid media tainting there was no jury, audience, or trial. All they wanted was a single judge to make a ruling about the situation based solely on the facts. Which was their first mistake.

"Your Honor the defendant Richard Barnes is not only a thief, but the subsequent fruit of great labor. He is, by definition, research related to FutureTech which belongs to Jackson and Lawrence. He also has in his custody Project Penultimate." Rick winced. Who did Malcolm think he was? 'He is, by definition, research' I can't wait for Jake to drop his second bomb on you. The detective thought with a due amount of smugness.

"Your honor may I provide something else for my defense?" Jake broke in. The judge looked at him a moment and then nodded.

"But if you have anymore evidence in your possession that might shorten this hearing I expect you to provide it now."

"Yes sir." Jake replied.

The judge looked it over and almost smiled. "Mr. Roland please explain what this is."

"That is a Supreme Court Statement from nine years ago. The FBI pursued this very idea once already. They claimed that Barnes and Penny did not fit within the boundaries of humanity and fought to obtain them as property belonging to FutureTech. The Supreme Court ruled that while the two were of an unusual nature, they found no evidence that neither was human." Jake replied.

Malcolm almost made an outburst. He curbed his tongue just in time. "Your Honor, are you sure that that document is authentic?"

The judge looked down over his glasses at Malcolm. "This document is indeed an authentic ruling statement from the U.S. Supreme Court."

"Your Honor, are you saying that my case is invalid?" Malcolm was in disbelief.

"I have decided that the Plaintiffs Amanda Ferguson and Omar Velasquez have no valid case against the Defendants and that this case is resolved by evidence in the form of a Higher Court's Ruling." The gavel smacked down and the judge stood up.

Malcolm walked away as Jake offered to shake his hand. The two scientists looked at Alex and Grant and shook their heads in disappointment before leaving the room as well.

Alex grinned. "I didn't think Malcolm would be so shocked. You'd think he would have found those while preparing his case."

"Sometimes lawyers expect their opponents will give up easily or won't have any proof to back up their own argument. Bradley just didn't expect that I would be so ready. He obviously thought that you were all easy targets." Jake said.

"With that taken care of we can get to our normal everyday lives." Grant said. Everyone agreed.

"I'm going to go to the airport now and leave. I already checked out of my hotel. I need to get back to my other clients." Jake said shaking hands as he walked.

"Thanks." Rick said as he released the lawyer's hand.

"No prob Rick, I wouldn't leave some of my best clients hanging."

"Have a safe flight." Alex said.