Hi, All - Thanx for bearing with me. I have taken a few extra 'hapy pills' -cuddled my puppies for a whole afternoon -composed, wrote and posted a fairly lenghty poison pen letter to my ex boydriend (he deserved it lieing tripehound!) -and I am now feeling a little better - MANY thanks for the kind messages - ON TO THE NEXT CHAPER..

Disclaimer as normal

Torres Triumphs

The 'Lightman Group' offices were buzzing.

The two founding partners had spent a lot of the morning announcing their engagement, and forthcoming wedding.

They had then spent the rest of the morning trying to answer, but in most cases fend off, the barrage of questions their announcement had evoked.

When?. Where?. Best man?. Dress?.Bridesmaid?. Gift list?.

At about the same time they both realised that they didn't have the answers to the questions, they decided they needed to do some serious 'Wedding' planning and left for the rest of the day leaving the favoured Torres/Loker pairing in charge.

Loker got straight on to starting the 'Book' on the various unanswered questions.

The rest of the staff were either already 'huddled' around Loker, money already in hand, or shuffling off to the coffee area to pick apart and re arrange the future for their employers.

Ria, realising that it would be a complete and utter waste of her time trying to persuade the excited crowd to behave like it was just another day, took refuge in her office.

At least she could try and catch up on her workload.

The silence of her sanctuary lasted a little over an hour before her door opened and Heidi poked her head in.

"Errr Ria"

Not bothering to turn towards her, Torres tried to sound professional, 'in charge'.

"Sorry Heidi but I am just not interested in the 'books', the guessing or the gossip"

"Nooo – it's not that"

Ria turned and saw the expression of 'impending trouble'on the receptionists face, she became instantly alert.

"What is it Heidi? Problem?"

"Possibly, I'm not sure – there's a 'visitor' here for Dr Lightman. No appointment, but.."

"Don't worry, I'll be out in just a minute"

Wondering what, or who, had rattled the normally calm Heidi, Torres checked in the mirror before walking out and down the corridor to the reception.

As she rounded the last corner her question was answered.

Straightening her back and pushing out her chest slightly, she fixed a polite smile on her face and continued walking.

"Good afternoon Ms Landau. I'm afraid Dr Lightman isn't in the office this afternoon. May I help you in any way?"

"I came here to see Cal, not his 'party piece protégée'"

Zoe was obviously in fight mode.

Using all her will power to resist the 'Latino Temper' that was climbing it's way up her body, Ria took a deep breath and held her ground.

" I have just told you, as did Heidi before me I believe, Dr Lightman is NOT in the office at present. If you want to leave a message, or make an appt with his PA…?" Torres waved her hand in the air trying to impart a 'I really don't care what you do' attitude.

"Well..you leave me little choice".

Tell Cal I was here and give him THIS for his Fiancee…." With a dramatic flourish Zoe thrust a swatch of papers on to the reception desk. She had (deliberately Ria thought) not put the papers in an envelope, nor even bothered to fold them. Face up the printed writing was easy to read:

Notice is hereby given that a private case has been brought against:

Dr. Gillian Foster

Citing the charge of Assault against:

Miss Zoe Landau.

It has been alleged that on the night of………

Torres didn't bother to read on much further. She placed the papers in a spare file that was on Heidi's desk then turned back to the vindictive smile Zoe was now displaying.

"Not happy about the wedding huh?"

"One has nothing to do with the other I can assure you Miss Torres"

"Oh Really! What else has got you so upset that you'd willing to risk your career by lying in an official document?"

"Oh, you seem to have picked up some of my ex husbands – less than admirable traits already haven't you dear"

Torres flashed her a quick fake smile.

"Really – What would they be?"

"Trying to talk your way through a situation that you know NOTHING about, being completely unaware of the events or facts"

Making her fake smile even larger, Ria pretended to re read a section of the paperwork in the file.

With total assurance she re-engaged Zoe feigning a look of -non comprehension.

"Well..unless you have your dates wrong…I would have to disagree with you Ms Landau. I remember the events of that evening very well.

Oh, I know you probably didn't realise it, but I was with Dr Foster that evening."

Clamping down hard Ria only just managed to suppress her 'Ha that gotcha didn't it bitch' flash by concentrating hard on the look of total horror and surprise that Zoe was trying to conceal.

"Now who's lying" Zoe spat.

"I appreciate that you probably just didn't see me. I stayed in the car when Dr Foster came to your door. I watched her have a brief conversation with you, and then return to the car.

She apologised to me for the slight delay – she was giving me a ride home you see – and then we left.

I guess, because you stayed just inside your doorway, and the street lighting isn't so great round there, that you just didn't see me in the car"

Torres finished with a flourish of her hand.

"You are not going to get away with this, you stupid girl – I am a damn good lawyer."

Ria was now positively revelling in the fact that Zoe was 'losing it'.

She took two slow, deliberate steps forward until she was face with the pinpoint pupils of her antaganist,.

"Zoe" she started in a low, conspiratorial way, "You might well be a damn good lawyer, but what you cannot do is read the faces and bodies of all the other people that would be involved in a case like this.

Other lawyers, the judge, a jury if it came to that.

You can't look at them and instantly know who is believing who.

Who has made up their minds already and in which direction.

Who are the ones that are sitting on the fence, just waiting to be given the right look, the right pitch of voice, the right things said in exactly the right way – that will allow them to make their decision in favour of the accused.

You can't do any of that Zoe – But I can. And so can Dr Lightman, and Dr Foster.

Do you REALLY wanna take that chance on your reputation? What with your new business just getting off the ground and everything?"

With that Ria retraced her steps backwards, and smiled, a real smile, no longer feeling that she needed to fake it.

As Zoe stood there, looking like someone had just taken her favourite dagger away from her and thrown in a deep river, Ria half turned and started to walk – no swagger – back down the corridor finally ending the meeting with –

"But I'll be sure to let Dr Lightman and Dr Foster see this as soon as they are next in"

Rounding the corner – out of sight, leaving Heidi to deal with the removal of the 'viper', Torres immediately opened the folder and

started to read the details…..