Free Word of Honor by Nelson DeMille

that took on the coloration of criminal cases.
    All sorts of muck is dragged up, the press reports it as though it were a murder trial instead of a lawsuit, and in the end, even if the plaintiff wins, he loses. - Tyson took a bottle of Aramis and splashed some on his palm. "Let the damned thing die. - He slapped the cologne on his face.
    "It won't die unless you kill it. If you don't sue and win, these allegations will hang over you for the rest of your life. Reviewers will quote from Picard's book, other authors will pick up bits and pieces, and this damned hospital incident will enter history as truth."
    Tyson didn't respond.
    "Actually, it may be better to sit tight for a few weeks and see what kind of media exposure this gets."
    Tyson tipped the attendant and looked at Sloan. "What does that have to do with it?"
    "Well, according to Beekman, considering the book is recently published, the damages to you are small as of now. The book could be recalled by the publisher, further limiting damages. However, we could wait and . . .
    pretend we had no knowledge of the book. Then, in time, as a result of, let's say, author interviews and book reviews, plus the book's circulation, advertising, promotion, and so forth, your good name and reputation will be further damaged."
    Tyson didn't reply.
    "Ut's say," continued Sloan carefully, "that you lose your job. That your son is harassed at school. That Marcy is . . . well, whatever. Then, wham!
    We sue. We go after not only Picard but the publisher, the distributor, maybe even the unnamed sources that Picard mentions. Assuming a jury finds for you, the award will be huge. You will be vindicated and rich."
    Tyson observed, "The flip side of every problem is an opportunity. -
    "Exactly.-
    Tyson was intrigued by Sloan's offhand manner in en-WORD OF HONOR 9 61

    gineenng a conspiracy. He'd probably be more ethical in a criminal case where the money was paid up front, and the only thing he could lose was his client's liberty.
    Sloan said, "Libel suits are very rare things. It's not often that a person gets libeled in print. Cases like this probably make up less than one percent of all civil suits. And the press covers them. So I understand you wanting to avoid further public exposure. But you're a fighter, Ben, and you won't let this blotch remain on your honor."
    "Cut the crap, Phil."
    Sloan pulled at his lip as though he were wrestling with a tough decision. He looked at Tyson and said, "You probably think no one is going to zero in on your small chapter in that big book. Well . . ." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "Beekman got this for me. There's a trade magazine called Publishers Weekly, and they get galley copies of books months before publication. This is a book review in that magazine published seven weeks ago. " He handed Tyson the photocopied page.
    Tyson looked at it. There were six short book reviews on the page. His eyes went to the one captioned Hue: Death of a City. Andrew Picard. There was some publishing information, followed by a short review of about 150
    words. He scanned it quickly and saw that the review was generally favorable. Halfway through he read:

    There is an account of a massacre by American troops at a French hospital filled with patients and European staff. Picard's writing vividly re-creates the massacre and leaves the reader wondering why no official inquiry ever grew out of this incident that ranks with My Lai in the annals of Vietnam atrocities.

    Tyson refolded the page and handed it back to Sloan.
    Sloan tapped the paper against his palm. "You see? Even in this little pr6cis, you see what sticks out?"
    "I see."
    "Imagine longer reviews in newspapers and magazines.
    Two men came into the rest room. Tyson walked out, and Sloan followed him into the anteroom. People were

    62 * NELSON DEMILLE

    wandering out of the ballroom and standing around talking, or heading for the lobby. Tyson noticed a few people glancing their