Will Drew Peterson Bounce Brodsky?

The nasty bickering between Drew Peterson's lawyers took a suprise twist Thursday when an attorney he supposedly fired managed to stick around.

And not only that, but Peterson lawyer Steve Greenberg appears to have launched a counterattack to knock "lead attorney" Joel Brodsky off the case.

Greenberg simply smiled when asked if he told Peterson the only way he'd stay on the case is if Brodsky was gone.

Peterson "asked me not to comment, so I'm not going to comment," said Greenberg, who bit his lower lip and added, "See me biting my lip?"

Greenberg and Peterson were in court Thursday so Greenberg could file a motion to withdraw from the case. But prior to the hearing, Greenberg and Peterson engaged in a lengthy conversation in a courtroom jury box, then retired to a back room to talk even more.

When they emerged, Judge Edward Burmila postponed Greenberg's motion to withdraw until Nov. 16.

In spite of Greenberg and Peterson's extensive, apparently amicable courtroom discussion, Brodsky, through a statement read by his receptionist, claimed the delay was only so Peterson could confront Greenberg.

"I just spoke with Mr. Peterson. The reason for the continuance of Mr. Greenberg's motion is so Mr. Peterson can have a confrontation with Mr. Greenberg where all attorney-client privileges are in place," Brodsky said in the statement. "Nothing else has changed."

Brodsky and Greenberg have been embroiled in a month-long, bitter battle of words since Peterson was found guilty of murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio.

Peterson first sent a letter to Greenberg telling him he was fired. Brodsky then took to Facebook and penned a bizarre attack on Greenberg. In his 404-word rant, Brodsky blamed Greenberg for losing the case.

Greenberg responded with a 15-page, footnoted letter to Brodsky in which he claimed the guilty verdict was essentially based on evidence presented by a witness Brodsky chose to call and question himself.

The move backfired, as the witness, Wheaton attorney Harry Smith, recalled the time Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, told him how Peterson killed Savio. After the trial ended, jurors said the guilty verdict hinged on Smith's testimony.

After Thursday's hearing, Greenberg broke his Peterson-imposed silence to confirm he and the convicted wife-killer remain tight.

"I love Drew, Drew loves me," Greenberg said. Come on, it's a love fest."