It's Friday afternoon and I'm on my way home after winning a huge case against the County Sheriff. My client got an out of court settlement for pain and suffering and wrongful arrest.
It seems that the county cops made a huge mistake. The guy's son was a pothead and daddy wanted him out of his house. He paid for an apartment for him and gave him $1000 a month. A confidential informant saw the kid buy something from a drug dealer. He took a snapshot with his cell phone. He wanted to make some points so he told the cops that the kid was a coke dealer. They got a no knock warrant but got the fathers address instead of the kid's. It seems that the kid was a junior. The broke down daddy's door, roughed him up and arrested him. They broke three of his ribs. Instead of taking him to a doctor they just wrapped his ribs with some ace bandages and put him in a cell. It happened on a Friday night and he had to spend the weekend in jail. They also trashed his house looking for the coke. They ruined a lot of very valuable antiques the old man owned. They grilled him for hours trying to get him to give up where the coke was hidden. He tried to explain but they wouldn't listen. He finally told them he wanted a lawyer. They stopped the questioning. His lawyer showed up and they released him on Monday due to lack of evidence. Daddy was very rich and he went after them. They kid was arrested later and all they found was a half ounce of weed and some rolling papers. He was fined and released.
The cops settled out of court for a nice six figure amount and paid our fees. We got a percentage of the award and I got a nice bonus. I also found out that I'm up for a partnership in two months. One of the partners was about to retire and I'm next in line.
So I'm on my way home to take my wife and daughter out to dinner to celebrate.
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My wife of ten years is a true beauty. She is the love of my life. Our sex life is great when we have it. As with most lawyers I spend lots of time working late. Our weekends are for family and fucking. My daughter is eight years old and is a daddy's girl. She has me wrapped around her little finger and I love it.
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I pull into the garage and go in the house. My wife is gone, but my daughter is in the den watching TV.
"Hi, sweetie. Where's Mom?
"She went to the gym and grocery shopping. I don't know when she's coming back. She didn't say."
I go in the bathroom to take a leak. I see the toilet seat is up. "What the fuck." The seat is never up.
After being ragged on by my wife so many times I just decided to sit to urinate. That way I don't have to remember. My masculinity is not in question so I'm ok with it. It avoided lots of reminders about putting the seat down.
I think for a minute. Maybe she left it up after cleaning the bowl. I look and see a little blob of shit hanging on the side of the bowl. I look closer and see little droplets of liquid on the rim of the bowl. Someone stood and pissed in my toilet. Maybe one of my daughters boy friends used it.
"Sweetie. Did one of your boy friends come over today?"
"Daddy, I don't have a boyfriend. All boys are dirty booger eaters."
"No, I mean one of your friends that's a boy."
"No, daddy. I've been here all alone since Mom left."
I sit on the sofa beside her.
"Look at me. I need you to tell me. Has there been a man in the house? Someone I don't know about."
She looks down and doesn't answer me. I see tears start running down her cheeks. I take her in my arms.
"Why are you crying? What's the matter?"
"I don't want to live at the Foster's house. I want to stay here."
"What do you mean, live at the Foster's house?"
"Mon said if I tell you they'll take me away and I'll have to live at the Foster's house."
Then it hit me. She meant a foster home. How the fuck could she tell her something like that? I take her in my arms.
"Listen to me. I'm telling you that you will never have to go anywhere. I'll always be here for you. No one is taking you away. I'll be here with you forever and ever. OK? Now tell me."
"I'm not supposed to tell you about Uncle Tony."
"Tell me about it. What did you see?"
"I was playing next door with Jenny and I got some mud on my pants. I came home to change and I saw Uncle Tony on the bed with Mom. They were both naked. I think they were doing sex. Mom told me to go to my room. She came in and told me he was Uncle Tony and said that if I told you I would have to go live at the Fosters house."
"Don't worry, baby. No one is taking you away from me. Never never. What did he look like. Do I know him?"
"I don't think so."
"Did he do anything to you? Did he hurt you or anything like that?
"No, I stayed in my room and locked the door. I don't like him. He calls Mom bad names and his hair looks like snakes."
That cheating bitch. She is fucking someone in our bed and threatened our daughter with being taken away. Anger hit me like a freight train. How the fuck could she do this. That bitch is going to pay.
I decide to take Amy to my parents house. I don't want her around when the shit hits the fan.
"Hey, sweetie. How would you like to stay at Grandma's house this weekend."
"OK. I like staying with Grandma.
"She likes when you stay with her too."
"Are you mad at Mom?"
"Don't you worry, sweetheart. Everything will be fine."
I pack a little bag for her and take her to my Mom's house.
********************
"Hi, Mom. I need you to watch Amy for the weekend. Something is going on with Sarah."
"What do you mean, Eric? What's going on?"
"Amy. Why don't you go out and play with Buzz. He likes you to throw his ball for him."
"OK, Daddy."
I watch Amy go out to the back yard. It's explanation time.
"Sarah is cheating on me. She had her lover at the house and Amy saw them screwing. She told her that she would have to go to a foster home if she told me."
"Oh my god. Eric. How could she do that. That's terrible."
"It's worse than terrible. It's unforgivable. I'm going to make her pay. That's the worst thing a parent could do. She is going to pay and pay."
"It sounds like you aren't going to try to work it out."
"Not a chance. Not after she did that to Amy. If I have my way she will never see Amy again. I gotta go now. It's time to confront the bitch. I'm going to give her hell."
"Don't do anything stupid. She isn't worth going to jail for."
"Don't worry. I won't kill her."
"""""""""""""""""""""
I pull into the garage and notice that Sarah's car is not there. I go in the house. I fight back the anger and try to think. I don't want to tip her off yet, so I call the gym and check if she is still there.
"Hello, No Pain No Gain Gym. Jerry speaking. How may I help you?"
Jerry and I met a couple of years ago. We met at a sports bar. We are both Cowboys fans."
"Hey, Jerry. I'm glad you answered. This is Eric. Is Sarah still there?"
Jerry hesitates.
"No. She left a while ago."
"I need to ask you some questions."
He hesitates again.
"OK, ask away."
"Sarah is fucking around on me. Is she flirting with someone or seeing anyone there?"
"Damn it, Eric. I don't want to be in this position. I don't like getting in other peoples business."
"Fuck. She is, isn't she. Tell me about it."
"OK, just don't kill the messenger. She's been meeting up with a guy named Tony. The first time I saw them I was outside in my car taking a break. She came out first and he followed a while later. They kissed and took off. That was about two weeks ago. That's all I know."
"Is he a member there? I need his number and address."
He gives me his phone number and address.
"Thanks, buddy. I owe you one."
The anger hits me again. I decide to call a lawyer I know. She handles divorce cases.
"Hello. Johnson and Benson law offices. This is Mary. How may I help you?"
"Hi, Mary. This is Eric Larsen. Is Jan in. I need to talk to her."
"Let me check, Eric."
Ten seconds go by.