I had intended that this would be the last part of this story. However, after reading the feedback from all those kind enough to comment and to email me I have decided to move directly into what I saw as a sequel. It also avoids my having to put what I am my editor saw as a weak end on the tale of Patrick and Laura. So what follows is just chapter three.
Two definitions for the non-lawyers:
Certiorari is a writ or order by which a higher court reviews a decision of a lower court. However, it is actually the actions of the lower court that are being reviewed. It is not an appeal.
The black queen is the queen of spades and she is the worst card you can draw in the game of hearts which is a favorite of law students and I do not know why law students favor this game.
Also I do not mind if you one bomb me, but if you do I believe you owe me an explanation. If you do not want to explain in public then please email me.
Finally a disclaimer. There are strong references to violence in this story and there are not willing cuckolds. If this offends you do not read this.
Thank you tchr for the help.
*****
Patrick
I am Patrick Sullivan, husband of Laura Parker. I guess the fact that she doesn't use my name says something about our relationship. Trouble was, until recently, I have been rather blind and deaf when it came to 'she who is soon to be my ex-wife'. Consider me one of the poor saps who get blinded by a real beauty only to wake up realizing he has made a big mistake.
Currently I am sitting in a courtroom, usually my favorite kind of place, but not today, since I am the client not the attorney. My attorney, Geoffrey Davis (call me Jeff), is explaining my case to Judge Roxanne Clearmont known affectionately throughout the Van Patten Courthouse as Rocky. Not after the fictional boxer, but the cartoon squirrel. I cannot say precisely why she has this nick name. Maybe it is that high grating voice she has.
Rocky is not listening to good old Jeff, whose principle qualities are that he is competent and reasonably priced. My wife's lawyer is another creature altogether. Angela Zink is a tall, cool blond in her mid-forties who could and is definitely trying to pass for thirty. She is not wearing the typical female lawyer uniform of dark pinstripes and black hose. Angela is dressed in a champagne-colored dress that falls to just below the knees and has a high lace collar. She is elegant and feminine and just by the by RUTHLESS.
I have been in enough courtrooms to know when I have been ambushed. So take my word, this is an ambush. It should have been simple enough. The separation agreement was signed. It was an unfair settlement, but at the time it was signed I was in a very angry mood and I did hold all the cards. I was threatening to put her boyfriend into the slammer. Yes I am a cuckold. Nonetheless, I expected to have to deal with my wife's people, and my temper had cooled, so Jeff was empowered to negotiate.
Laura had another plan. I knew that when she showed up in a new dress. It was not that it was new. It was what can best be described as a Suzie Homemaker dress. An 'Oh I bake cookies for the holidays as presents' kind of look. Her hair was back in a ponytail and she was sniffling into a tissue. Angela was kind enough to provide a box of tissues. Laura does not bake. Before we started living together, I am not sure she knew what a kitchen was. Her family joked about her lack of domestic abilities. She has three sister and they all make fun of her household skills. She is one high-powered bond attorney and not the least bit ashamed that she is no housewife.
I grabbed Jeff, "Put her on the stand, I guarantee she won't last five minutes."
Jeff could only look at me with frustration. He was getting his clock cleaned as it was.
"You have something to add here Mr. Sullivan?" Rocky asked.
"Your honor I was just asking my attorney to show the court that despite the way my wife appears today she is a very competent attorney not an abandoned housewife."
"The court is well aware of the parties' occupations. So let me remind you Mr. Sullivan this is not a criminal trial. There is not guilt or innocence here, there is only a troubled marriage," Rocky paused and then lowered the boom on me.
"I am persuaded that the parties may have separated in haste. The current law allows me to order counseling in appropriate cases. Since counseling is something that Mrs. Sullivan has already begun with, I might add, a nationally recognized counselor, and since she has agreed to cover the entire expense, I will order counseling here," she said and then mumbled something.
Jeff jumped up and was fool enough to ask what the judge had said that he had not heard.
"I said counseling once a week until such time as the court is satisfied."
Jeff was going to protest that he had never heard of such a thing, but I grabbed his elbow and stopped him.
"We've been hosed. The fix was in," I said, "No use crying." Then I nodded at Laura and her attorney and gave my best 'it isn't over yet smile.'
It took me two weeks to get a written order and then only after I threaten not complying unless I received it in writing. My friend Steven Fitzgerald looked over the order from Judge Rocky Clearmont with me.
"Well you have to admire Saul Solomon. He is one hell of a smart lawyer," Steve said shaking his head.
"You will forgive me if I find him a little less than admirable at this moment."
"Hey-Hey! Are you forgetting we're the bad guys here-he has truth, justice and the American way of life on his side not to mention most of the judges in this state."
"I don't see why he had to get involved." We were under no illusions that Laura had finessed the order for marriage counseling on her own. The logical opponent was the Zink bitch, but it had taken only a little asking around in the Courthouse grapevine to find out that Judge Clearmont had lunch with the Chief Administrative Judge the day before the hearing. Pull on that level had to come from a very powerful person indeed.
"You humiliated your wife and her lover both of whom are partners in his firm. People know you fucked them. The fact that no one can prove anything as long as Laura and Frank keep their mouths shut doesn't make what you did any less humiliating," Steve said.
"But this order is ridiculous it could never be sustained," I said.
"Patrick please tell me all this time you've spent in the DA's office hasn't rotted your brain?"
"No. I realize he does not need to win. He is playing for time, but how long can this hold things up," I said pointing to the order.
"Depends on what you do. The order says marriage counseling paid for by the other side with a report back in a month. It also selects the counselor who is well known and highly qualified. But it sets no end date and requires extensive travel. It further selected a counselor acceptable to your wife, but not you-all excellent appeal issues. Interesting issues designed to give a Court justification for spend time writing.
"Ok so how do I fight the big law firm with all the influence?"
"We play along. In six months I move the case back onto the calendar before good old Rocky."
"What makes her act then?"
