Staring down at the marquis cut stone on her ring finger, Malinowski recalled the exchange, knowing belatedly exactly what she should have said.
Her response should have been a resounding."No, not until after we talk about what was going on with you last night."
She knew she had the opening she needed to not only press McCoy about his views on the Crawford case, but to learn more about the sketchy figures that had remained in the shadows during any conversation about Chicago and McCoy's childhood.
However, after the turbulent exchanges of the evening before, Malinowski relented. She opted to accept McCoy's offer, knowing to do so would give them a chance to spend the day enjoying each other instead of interrogating each other. Something she herself badly wanted two days before the start of a trial that was sure to bring the subject of McCoy's troubled childhood front and center, one way or another.
"Hey there girl. I thought you'd be fightin' in out with old Danielle down in Part 65."
Malinowski looked up from her newspaper and mocha at the lanky man in the three piece suit.
"Judge Bradley called for an early lunch. I think he's got motion hearing with one of Jack's Executives. If you're looking for Danielle-"
"Actually, I'm killin' time until Abbie Carmichael is available," Sam Prescott said as he pulled the chair across from his ex wife out. "May I join you or am I still in the dog house with you?"
Prescott smiled shyly as she nodded and set the paper aside.
"You've been replaced by a certain defense lawyer that made jury selection look like census taking for New York County yesterday."
Prescott chuckled and waited to reply until the counter girl had set his cup beside him and departed.
"Well, now that you mention it, I did here something about a prosecutor that made jury selection look like a Male Power convention."
Malinowski set her cup down with a start and fought to keep from gagging on her coffee.
"That woman just doesn't know when to quit does she?"
Prescott slowly shook his head and handed his ex-wife a napkin.
"Quitin's not a word I associate with Danielle Rose."
"Sounds like you two worked things out," she asked as she thoughtfully wiped her mouth."I have to tell you, Jack feels like hell letting it slip about Mark. He had no idea you two were friends."
"Jack wouldn't feel like hell if you had thought to mention it first," he replied evenly as he sipped his coffee.
"Come one Sam," she countered defensively. "What was I gonna say? 'Hey, Sam welcome home. While you were gone, one of your closest friends was hunted down and killed like a dog by some Neo-Nazi's you're girlfriend not only represented, but risked disbarment and prison for, by violating restrictions placed by the court?' I think my falling in love with another man was enough of a shock for you to deal with, don't you? Believe it or not I do want you to be happy."
"I know you do, darling," he said softly as he picked up her hand.
Prescott studied the stones at the center of the platinum band. A baguette on either side of the center stone, the trio accented by a platinum band that had a design engraved around it that he immediately recognized as Celtic.
"Looks like you've come another step closer to old Jack makin' an honest woman out of you," he said with a smile."Beats the hell out of the single solitaire I slipped on your finger way back when."
"It was your mother's ring," she said gently as she squeezed his fingers. "I still treasure that ring, Sam. I always will."
Prescott nodded. He knew by the way she reacted during the settlement proceedings that her statement was more than just polite words. When she had offered to return the engagement ring, Prescott had shaken his head, at once surprised by the offer and believing at the time he'd never find another woman he'd want to give the prized possession to again.
"It's lovely, Mal," he said still staring at her finger."A McCoy family heirloom?"
Malinowski shook her head. When they had gone to the diamond district they ended up spending the better part of the afternoon leisurely strolling through a collection of stores that started with Tiffany's and ended with Harry Winston. The stones were exquisite, pricey, and surprisingly similar in design.
At one point, Malinowski suggested simply using the ring McCoy had given her months before as an engagement ring and focusing instead on bands for both of them. McCoy vetoed the idea on the grounds that while the promise ring was attractive, it was more of a band than an engagement ring. That ring could be used as her wedding band, if she desired. As for himself, McCoy admitted it was all he could do not to lose the ring his sister had given him upon his graduation from NYU.
Just after they had taken an ice crème break to rest their feet, as well as Malinowski's achy back, McCoy had spotted an independent jeweler on one of the side streets between fifth and sixth avenues. The small shop was owned by the McDowell family and specialized in wedding sets with traditional Irish designs.
When Malinowski asked to see the ring they eventually settled on, McCoy's eyes widened and he carefully took the ring from the jeweler.
"Eternal life, nature, and love," he whispered.
"That's quite right, sir," the elderly gentleman behind the counter replied. "The trinity design does represent the past, present, and future – the larger stone representing the present, of course. But the traditional meanings were as you stated."
"Jack, did you come by this knowledge by chance or from your two previous trips to the diamond district," she asked playfully.
"Neither," he said slipping the ring on her finger. "It's almost an exact replica of my Grandma Mauve's – my mother's mothers- engagement ring."
While Malinowski wasn't sure how to react to the revelation, the clerk smiled with delight.
"Tis a sign, you can be sure of that," he said seriously. "You know Mauve was the name in Irish lore of the warrior queen."
"I remember," McCoy said a half smile on his lips. "I also means 'intoxicating' and I'd say that describes my future wife, as well."
"Mal, where did you go, girl," Prescott said obviously amused. "You have the goofiest look I've ever seen on your face. I just asked you if the damn thing was a family heirloom not.."
"Sorry," she stammered, "just thinking about something Jack said. No, it's not an heirloom. His sister has his grandmother's ring. This one is identical except the original was is set in silver."
"Well, as I said, it's lovely. Suits you."
"Thanks. Listen, about Mark..."
"Darlin' it's done. Danielle and I are still workin' things through, but you were right."
"About?"
"That day at the house, before I took you to the emergency room. You said a day would come where Danielle went over the line the way Jack did with my brother's case. You said somethin' about how I wouldn't pick up my marbles and run. Well, I did run, just not too far. After I had a chance to do a little research… well…let's just say I was never one to walk away without a fight."
"She really got to you, didn't she," his ex-wife said with a grin. "Are you sure you won't be needing that ring of your Mother's after all?"
Prescott face reddened as he smiled in spite of himself.
"Danielle's not the only one that doesn't know when to quit. By the by, I want you to know, I'm sorry I went overboard and helped Danielle with that emergency room business," he said suddenly somber. "You know I was just bein' my over protective ex-husband self, right? I would never deliberately interfere in one of your cases ...or one of Jack's... for that matter."
Malinowski leaned forward, grateful for the chance to learn once and for all, if she and McCoy had been right about Melnick's motives.
"Did you really think I was in trouble? I mean, don't you think I would have called the cops myself…"
"Darlin' I didn't know what to think when I saw those bruises," he said frankly."You and I both know the most unlikely people end up in these kinds of situations. Add that to that findin' out the hell McCoy went through as a kid…we both know the percentages on abusers being abused themselves…I just couldn't risk it."
"That explains your motives," she said nodding. "What were hers? Too try to get me off the case? Too raise Jack's consciousness as a preamble to the next abuse case Danielle handles in his jurisdiction? I mean, she could be disbarred when my investigators' are finished looking into this mess. I just don't get what would be worth that kind of risk."
Prescott shook his head just before his cell phone began to ring.
"Nope, not stirin' this pot up," he said firmly, as he opened his phone. "Abbie? You have some time for an old friend?... Works for me…See you soon."
"Well, if you won't tell me about Danielle and what makes her tick, the least you can do is tell me why you're going over to the States Attorney's office? I know it's too early for lunch and ..."
"I'm going back, Mal. I'm goin' back to bein' a federal prosecutor.I kind of used that fallin' out with Danielle to break the news to her."
Malinowski rested her head on her folded hands and waited. When Prescott had taken the position with Amnesty International she'd wondered how long it would be before the former federal prosecutor would become restless. It was one thing to make a few speeches or give a few seminars, but for a trial lawyer of Prescott's caliber to leave the courtroom permanently after having been away for so long already, seemed incomprehensible to his former wife and second chair.
"You knew it wouldn't last," he said humbly. "But I want you to know, I didn't do it solely for her, Mal."
"Hum hum."
"Listen, I believe defendants have rights. We are pretty damn lucky here, as opposed to some of the countries I've visited the last few months. But, I've been away from the courtroom too long. Now that I have a second chance, I want that part of my life back."
"I'm sure Danielle would be thrilled to take a former Fed on as a partner," she said with a smirk.
"You also know I'd rather eat worms than sit on the other side of the aisle," he said knowingly, as he stood. "Danielle knows you can't teach this old dog that new trick. Listen, I've got to run. Abbie is waitin' for me. Seriously, I'm miserable when we fight. Are we all right again?"
Malinowski nodded with a grin as moved to join him.
"You know I could never stay mad at you for very long," she as the embraced. "I do think you owe me at least a clue as to what your girlfriend was really up to with all that drama. You know I'm going to keep looking until I see it, so why don't you just save me the time and aggravation. Off the record – just for old time's sake – why did Danielle see that that emergency room report found its way to the 1 6?"