The Ties That Bind

by Warren Adler

"You don't have to..."

  "For going along. For believing. For being a friend."

  Gail did not respond. Fiona looked into her yellow-flecked eyes. Their gaze held for a few moments.

  "I did find some excitement in it, Fiona," Gail said. "It does get one in touch with one's darker side."

  "We all have that, Gail."

  "I don't think I could ever be in it, but I did understand it."

  Fiona nodded. They embraced for a moment, then Harrison appeared with her dressing gown and Gail ran up the stairs. Harrison held open the dressing gown and Fiona put her arms through the sleeves, conscious of the lingering pain as she moved.

  "The bastard," Harrison muttered.

  Fiona looked toward Farley.

  "You're in deep shit, Farley," she said.

  The dazed look gave way to feral alertness. He seemed fully aware of his situation now.

  "You can't do this, Fiona," he muttered. He apparently was still unaware of his confession.

  "Yes, we can," Fiona said.

  "I'm a Supreme Court justice," he whispered, still believing in his power and credibility.

  "It's over, Farley."

  What lay ahead for him was reasonably predictable. His lawyers would advise him to plead temporary insanity. It was highly unlikely that he would ever be incarcerated. Undoubtedly, he would have to resign from the Court. A long program of therapy would certainly be recommended.

  The media would have a field day. Few people had any real knowledge of the B and D phenomena. Most would call it perversion. Practitioners and number of psychiatrists would have another opinion. There were, she had learned through her research, many sides to human sexuality.

  But she did know that these practices often got out of hand and had dangerous consequences.

  After a while, Fiona speculated, Farley's public humiliation would fade from collective memory. And Farley, forever known as Justice Lipscomb, would resume a lucrative private practice.

  "It was only a game, Fiona," he said, half believing it himself.

  "Not to me, Farley. It was a horrible experience. I'm sure you wanted to kill me."

  "Kill? Death? That was the furthest thing from my mind."

  "Like Phyla?"

  "Phyla?"

  "Let's not go through the routine again, Farley. You've admitted it."

  "Did I?" Was it a ploy or had he really forgotten?

  "We have it on videotape."

  He seemed confused by the statement.

  "You do?"

  He looked stunned, but she couldn't be sure.

  "If we need it, we'll use it. My advice to you would be to save yourself and Letitia any further embarrassment. Let your lawyers work it out. You need therapy, Farley. You're dangerous. Believe me, you wouldn't want that tape to be shown."

  "Must I tell Letitia?" he asked, still vague, almost childlike.

  "I'm afraid so. Unfortunately, she's a passenger on your shipwreck."

  He shrugged and bowed his head.

  Gail came down the stairs in street clothes.

  "The Chief has been alerted. He had mixed feelings about it. First he chewed me out."

  "Can you blame him?" Fiona said. "Think of all the hassle he's in for. Everybody, except the media, will be wishing for a quick end to the whole affair."

  "Especially me," Gail said. "That tape..."

  "Might open up a whole new career"—Fiona smiled—"as an actress."

  Gail smiled thinly. She went over to Farley, detached him from the pipe and cuffed his hands behind his back. He looked forlorn and Fiona had to tamp down a brief shiver of compassion.

  "I'll bring him in," Gail said. Her glance moved from Fiona to Harrison.

  "Be gentle," Gail said. "She's had a rough time."

  She grabbed Farley by the cuffs, moved him across the room and started up the stairs. Halfway up, she turned.

  "My father died," she said.

  "When?"

  "A few minutes ago. I just called."

  "How awful," Fiona said. "I'm so sorry you weren't with him."

  "So am I." She sucked in a deep breath, her nostrils quivering. "He would have understood."

  She moved up the stairs, pushing Farley in front of her.

  After they had gone, Harrison led Fiona to the second floor. He ran a warm bath for her. She soaked in it for a long time. Gently, Harrison helped her remove the ugly graffiti Farley had written on her. After a while she felt the pain flee her body.

  After the bath, Harrison gently patted her dry and powdered her.

  "It's over now, Fiona," he said as he held the covers open for her to get in the bed. She got in and he pulled the covers up to her chin and kissed her deeply.

  "Sleep now, darling," he told her.

  She nodded and he started toward the door.

  "See you in the morning, Harrison," Fiona said.

  He turned and looked at her.

  "And tell your office you're taking a few days off," she said.

  He looked confused.

  "I've got a lot of things in mind to keep you busy around here."

  She smiled and started to drift off to sleep. Must remind myself to call in tomorrow, she thought.