Thanks for all of the very nice reviews, and congrats to those of you who figured it out. I wassurprised thatmore of you didn't.
"Kate," he warned, "what are you talking about?"

"I'm not lying, Jack. Think about it."

She was looking at him pleadingly, but he was at a loss. He shook his head and raked his hands through his hair. "What the Hell?" he thought. She had to be lying, of course, but she didn't look like she was.And why would she make up a lie as absurd as this? Then, suddenly, he knew. Kate saw the moment of realization in his eyes.

"The Marshall." It was somewhere between a question and a statement, but he knew he was right. He had to be.

She nodded and let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She lowered her eyes, not wanting to see the look on his face when he made his next realization.

"God, Kate," he hesitated, hoping it wasn't true, but knowing it was, "he raped you, didn't he?"

For what seemed like a long time, she didn't respond, and Jack began to wonder if she'd heard him at all. Then, slowly, she raised her head and looked at him. "Yeah, he did."

"That son of a bitch!" Jack whispered angrily. "I should have let him suffer".

Kate reached for his hand. "No, Jack. You did the right thing. I, I couldn't do it, but you did the right thing."

He squeezed her hand and looked at her questioningly. "Why didn't you? After what he did to you, a lot of people wouldn't blame you".

"I would have. As much as part of me wanted to do it, I just couldn't. I can't say I was sad that you did, though. I don't know if I could have taken it if he'd lived. Seeing him everyday . . ." She shuddered.

He placed a tentative hand on her shoulder. "He's gone now. You never have to see him again".

"Hmmph" Kate chuckled sadly. "That's what I thought after you buried him, but . . ." He knew what she meant. Together, they had dug up the Marshall to get the key to the silver briefcase. She had seen him again.

"I guess getting into that briefcase must have been pretty important to you, huh?" Although phrased as a question, Kate recognized that he wasn't asking for an explanation. She'd shared a lot with him tonight, and he wouldn't push her any further.

"Yes."

He smiled slightly, nodding, and gave her shoulder a gentle pat before reaching for his cards. "You're up".