（外文电子版资料）George, Catherine - Lorenzos Reward.doc

Lorenzo’s Reward By Catherine George Chapter One The crowded pub was hot, smoke-filled, and full of men in suits talking business over lunch. Jess eyed her watch impatiently, willing Simon to hurry, then looked up to find a complete stranger watching her intently from the far end of the bar. Jess felt an odd plummeting sensation in the pit of her stomach when dark, heavy-lidded eyes lit with incredulous recognition as they met hers. She glanced over her shoulder, sure he must be looking at some other woman, but there was no other female in sight. Jess looked back again, which was a mistake. This time she couldnt look away. Heat rose in her face. Irritably she ordered herself to stop sitting there like a hypnotized rabbit, her pulse suddenly erratic as the man put down his drink and with purpose began to push his way through the crowd towards her. But before he could reach her two other men joined him, barring his way. The stranger shrugged expressively, signaling regret, and Jess finally broke eye contact. Then it dawned on her that one of his companions was Mr. Jeremy Lonsdale, unrecognizable for a moment minus his barristers wig and gown. But when the third member of the trio turned his head she gasped in utter consternation. He was all too familiar, with eyes which blazed in incredulous affront when Jess panicked at the sight of him, spun around and fled from the pub, with Simon Hollister, her astonished lunch companion, in hot pursuit. Jess dodged through honking traffic, and ran like a deer up the road to the courthouse, to subject herself to the usual security process inside. She was still gasping for breath when Simon caught up with her in the jury restaurant. What the hell was all that about? he panted. Prosecuting—Counsel—was there. With chums. Jess heaved in a lungful of air. One of them was Roberto Forli, my sisters ex-boyfriend, she finished in a rush. Simon whistled. And we jurors are forbidden connection to anyone at all on the case. Exactly. How well