Fractured Bonds

7 -Emma

Contd from Three Years Ago.

"Contact Mrs. Williams and her lawyer and ask if they can meet us at a neutral location for a settlement negotiation," I instructed my secretary. The trial date was nearing, and sometimes these cases could be settled out of court. Alex came into my office.

"So, they were reluctant to accept the invitation for settlement. I think they want to take it to court and revoke Mike's license to practice."

I leaned back in my chair. "When you said reluctant, I hope you meant that you convinced them to come for the negotiations and booked a conference room at the hotel."

"I did, but I doubt they'll be very cooperative in the negotiation. I did a little background check on Mr. and Mrs. Williams. Do you want me to brief you?" she asked.

Alex is an efficient secretary. She joined me after my previous secretary quit. She was a paralegal and wanted to gain more experience under a lawyer with a skill set that matched hers and was close to her in age. When my secretary quit, I requested interviews for eligible candidates to work under me. I had just been named Junior Partner and was called "a force to be reckoned with," so not many people could keep up with my cases. Alex heard about my request and came directly to me, asking what the job would entail and how it might benefit someone preparing for the LSAT. I told her she would need to stay up to date on my cases and find information about my clients and their adversaries. She studied for the LSAT but didn't pass it three times. There was a time when she gave up on becoming a lawyer, but she helped me with a case two years ago and discovered she was exceptional at tracking and finding things people wanted to keep hidden. Her skills as a paralegal and her talent for digging up information made her an invaluable secretary with a clear goal to focus on. She is now a part-time Private Investigator and owner of her very successful PI Company.

"Yes, please." I say.

"They were more than comfortable financially. Both were successful with stable incomes. He had a prior arrest for drunk and disorderly conduct. She was arrested last year for trespassing in a closed-off section of a park, claiming she wanted to 'see what the government was hiding.' Her charges, aside from trespassing, included resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer. They have two sons, both adults. One works in a research lab for diseases in San Diego, while the other is a detective recently transferred to Hawaii from Baltimore. According to my information, neither son wants their mother to continue with this case. They recently met in San Diego before the second son left for Hawaii. He was overheard saying that their mother's lawyer should plead insanity to prevent her from spending all of their family's money. That's all we've found so far. They promised to keep me updated if they discover anything else about her."

"Oh, wow. Insanity, huh? Do you think I can use this as leverage, or for lack of a better word, blackmail, during the settlement negotiations? I could subpoena the sons and question them about this. But if they can't make it, or I decide not to serve them, I can present the arrest records and let the jury decide. However, she's a woman in grief, and I don't want to hurt her."

Alex replies, "I would say that if she doesn't settle, then go for the arrest record tactic."

"Mhmm. Okay! Let me think about it. I'll tell you either way what I decide. Thanks, Alex. You're the best!"

"I know I am", she smirks.

I shoot out a text to Michael, informing him of these new developments, and wait for him to get back while I decide what to do with Mrs. Williams' situation.

Emma: Hey Mike! So we found out a couple of things about Mrs. Williams. Turns out she was arrested a year ago for trespassing a closed off section of a park while going on about how she wanted to see what the government was hiding. She resisted arrest and assaulted a police officer. Her sons were overheard by a source saying that, "She was insane". I wanted to use this as leverage in our upcoming settlement negotiation. I had to run it by you, in case you wouldn't agree with me.

Mike: Hey Emmy, as much as I don't want to hurt her more than she was already hurt. But, according to my mom, I have to listen to the best option my lawyers provide me with. So I'm giving you free rein over this negotiation.

Emma: Okay! I'll keep you updated. Also, your brother requested for copies of your case files. I hope he asked your permission for taking the copies.

Mike: Yeah. He wants to keep a back-up lawyer if anything goes wrong from your end. Which, I honestly don't believe will happen because I trust you.

Emma: Thanks for letting me know. Okay, I've gotta go. Bye!

Mike: Bye!

Follow @daisiesonthecover on Instagram for character introductions and spoilers <33

Please vote for each chapter after you read, it'll really help my book's rating and stats.

Share the book if you like it!

TYSM <3