Part 24 (1/2)
”Well, what?” He reached into his pocket and took a cigarette from the gold Cartier case Katherine had given him.
”Were taxes allowed to lapse on some of the real estate? Did certain kamaaina haoles buy the properties up for next to nothing? Were sweetheart deals made on sugar and pineapple field leases? Most importantly, how complicit are you in this matter?”
Sean flicked the ashes into a ceramic dish. ”I thought we made a pact never to discuss business.”
”This is different.” Diana leaned forward. ”This goes to the heart of our relations.h.i.+p. It says a lot about who you are. Despite our differences, I always believed you were basically ethical and wouldn't knowingly hurt anyone, or do anything illegal or immoral.”
”Nothing malicious or illegal was involved.” Sean said. He rested his cigarette on the lip of the dish.
”A young man named Mendoza came to see me today and told me about Land Court Transfers to friendly parties for a fraction of the value of properties managed by your organization. Was he lying?” The green points in Diana's eyes lit up.
”I've rarely seen a case that can be summed up in one sentence.”
”Did Sandwich Isles deliberately let real estate taxes lapse on some of the Mendoza properties? Did the family you so proudly married into purchase valuable real estate for pennies on the dollar at auctions? Did you lease thousands of agriculture acres for $100 a year for a hundred years with no step-ups? Were you directly involved in cheating the Mendoza heirs of their properties?” Diana lit a cigarette and glared.
Sean clenched an arm of the chair he sat in, then placed his winegla.s.s on a nearby low table, fearful he would snap the stem in half. ”The Mendoza leases and the transfer of properties occurred before I took over the Sandwich Isles Trust company.”
”But you knew about it.”
”That's privileged information and you know it.” Sean retrieved the gla.s.s and toyed with the stem.
They were both silent for awhile. Sean stubbed out the cigarette and absently lit another.
Diana knelt in front of him and put her hands on his lap. ”Don't you care, Sean? Isn't there a little part of you that cares what happens to other people?”
Sean grabbed her hands so tightly she winced. ”I care about the people who matter to me.”
Diana struggled out of his grip and stood before him. ”I thought somewhere in there was a heart.”
”The trouble with you, Diana, is you care too much about everyone and everything.” He drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. ”Even people who don't matter.”
”Is there such a thing as people who don't matter?”
”Why do you have to take up everyone's cause?”
”Maybe it's my Jewish guilt.” Diana flopped back into the sofa.
”Are you planning to sue us?”
She looked away, then back. ”What if I did?”
”Be careful. Some of the dirt might fall on you.” Sean crushed his cigarette into the ashtray.
”Think I'm not tough enough?” Diana put her chin up like she always did when she was being combative.
”I didn't say that. It's just that you'd better make sure your house is in order.”
”Will you try to recuse me from the case?” Diana's eyes narrowed.
Sean knew this meant she was not just mad, she was furious.
”No, but let me warn you.” Sean held her eyes hostage. ”First, with your high ethical standards, you must see the impropriety of your handling of the case. Secondly, the kamaainas expected to lose the last crusade you led against them. They knew they were victims of time and the changes brought on by the war. This is different. They're proud of their missionary background and consider themselves moral people. This would be considered a personal strike.”
”Good.” Diana pounded the armchair with her fist. ”I want those high and mighty Puritans to pay for what they did.”
”They'll use everything in their power to try and destroy you.”
Diana frowned. ”I suppose you'll help them?”
Sean shook his head. ”You mean more to me than that. But I can't help you if you pursue this litigation.”
”Obviously. You know if I don't take this case, no one else will. That in itself rises above the question of ethics in my opinion.”
”Diana.” Sean put a hand out.
”So, of course, you understand why I'm compelled to take it.” Diana ignored his peace offering.
Sean's hand dropped to his lap. ”Yes.”
Diana bowed her head, closed her eyes, and pressed her fingertips to her temples.
”Sean, it's over. We're over.” Diana's voice was raw with emotion. ”It's the only way I know to take care of the conflict.”
”Are you saying this case is more important than what we have together?”
”And just what is it we have together? We have nothing but an illicit, immoral affair no civilization would condone.”
”When did you get so moral?” Sean picked up his gla.s.s of wine and drained it.
Diana leaned forward. ”Don't you see how important this case is? It goes to the heart of everything I believe in and everything you want to preserve. This is where our worlds converge. We are complete opposites trying to pretend we can have some kind of relations.h.i.+p.”
”You know I love you.” Sean put out his hand again.
Diana stared at his proffered palm and bit her lip. ”I guess I do. But it means so much more to me now you've said it. ”Oh Sean!” She jumped up. ”Why does it have to be this way? Why can't you join me? Together we could make a difference.”
”I can't. Diana, you ask too much. Turn it around-could you drop this case and others like it for me?”
”Of course not.”
Sean went to her and held her.
Pus.h.i.+ng him away, she choked as she spoke. ”Please leave, Sean.”
”Di?”
”Please.” she turned from him.