Family Man

“Yes, he seems reasonably intelligent,” she admitted dryly.
    “Intelligent, hell. The Bastard's a damn genius. I'll tell you one thing, I sure learned something from this mess.” Darren's mouth curved ruefully. “Of course, I could have done without lesson number one. But I guess I deserved that, too.”
    Katy looked at him curiously. “What was lesson number one?”
    “That was the one where Luke dragged me into an alley at Pike Place Market and beat the shit out of me.”
    Katy was dumbstruck. “He did what ?”
    “He was kind of pissed that I had approached you to help me get the money,” Darren explained cheerfully. Then his smile faded as he took in the expression on her face. “Hey, it's okay, Katy. Luke had a point.”
    Katy shot to her feet. “I don't believe this. Luke never told me that he attacked you.”
    “Take it easy,” Darren said soothingly. “He didn't do any permanent damage.”
    “But he beat you up because of me. I'm the one who asked him to help you, and instead he assaulted you.”
    “Hell, I'm sorry I even mentioned it. I didn't mean to get you upset. I figured he'd probably told you about it.” Darren broke off at the sound of footsteps in the hall. “That must be Luke. I'll let him know I'm here.”
    Katy squared her shoulders and marched around the edge of the desk. “You will wait right here in my office. I want to talk to him first.”
    Darren's eyes widened as he realized her intention. “Hold on a second. I don't want you getting any more involved in this. What happened in that alley was between me and Luke.”
    “It was not just between you and Luke. I am also involved. I asked Luke to help you out of that mess.”
    “He did.” Darren scrambled to his feet and hurried after her. “Katy, wait…”
    But Katy was already out of her office. She sailed straight past a curious Liz and stepped into the hall. Luke's office door stood open. He was standing at his desk, examining a fax that had just arrived on his machine.
    “I want to talk to you, Luke.”
    He looked up, taking in her militant expression in a single glance. “What's with the flaming sword this time, angel?”
    “Don't call me angel.” Katy started to slam his office door, but she was forestalled by Darren's foot, which was firmly lodged in the opening.
    “Sorry about this, Luke,” Darren said over the top of Katy's head. “She's a little upset. I didn't realize she didn't know about our scene in the alley.”
    Comprehension dawned in Luke's eyes. He tossed aside the fax, leaned back against the edge of the desk, and folded his arms. “It's all right, Darren. I'll handle this. Close the door, will you? I want to talk to Katy alone for a while. You can wait in her office.”
    Darren looked doubtful. “You're sure?”
    Luke nodded. “I'm sure. Go on, get out of here.”
    “Right. I'll be next door.” Darren grinned. “I've got a lot to tell you about Milo Nyle.”
    “Somehow that doesn't surprise me. Take off.”
    “I'm out of here.” Darren closed the door firmly.
    “First,” Katy announced in ringing tones as she faced Luke with her hands on her hips, “I want some answers and an explanation, Luke Gilchrist. Is it true that you assaulted Darren?”
    “Is that what he said?”
    “His exact words were that you beat the you-know-what out of him.”
    “Shit?”
    “Yes,” Katy shot back. “Exactly. Luke, that is utterly appalling. How could you do such a thing?”
    “It wasn't easy. Darren's had some fairly decent karate training. He can handle himself, I'll say that much for him.”
    “That's not what I mean, and you know it,” Katy said through her teeth. “I asked you to help him.”
    “I did.”
    “After you beat him up?” she demanded incredulously.
    “We had to get that part out of the way first,” Luke explained gently.
    Katy threw up her hands in a gesture of complete frustration. “Luke, that is no way to handle things.” She started to pace back and forth across the small office. “What kind of an example does that set?”
    “One he'll remember, with any luck.”
    “Violence is never a proper approach to problem solving.”
    “Think of it as aggressive intervention.” Luke watched her as she stalked past him. “Calm down, Katy. The matter has been resolved. Darren appears to be satisfied with the way things turned out, so there's no call for you to be upset.”
    “Why did you beat him up?” Katy demanded.
    “Because he tried to use you.”
    Katy