Read Online The Reform Artists: A Legal Suspense, Spy Thriller (The Reform Artists Series Book 1) by Jon Reisfeld - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jon Reisfeld
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you, Denny Crane?”
Esther stared at her daughter and waited.
“OK, yes. He didn’t object.”
“—even though he had to store all of his clothes in the spare bedroom closet down the hall?”
“Yes.”
“He shares the household chores with you?”
“More or less,” she sighed, rolling her eyes.
“He lets you manage the joint checking accounts, too?”
“Uh huh.”
“He never asks you to return anything you buy for yourself—no matter how expensive, frivolous or extravagant?”
“That’s right.”
“He adores the children and dotes on them?”
“Yes.”
“Well, no wonder you want a divorce. The man’s a freak, a total monster! And just like all the abusive husbands that I’ve ever read about, his personality profile sounds so controlling and demanding, too.”
“I guess we won’t be calling you to testify on my behalf at the trial.”
“Not if the truth would hurt your case, dear, as it appears it would.”
“Mother, you don’t know what the truth is in this matter. You think you do, but you are only here a fraction of the time.”
“Well, since we’re discussing ‘the truth’ dear, how much of this has to do with ‘Uncle Eddie?’”
Katie went to the sink and poured herself a glass of water. “Who?” she asked over her shoulder.
“Uncle Eddie, dear. Your friend. The one your children have told me about.”
Katie remained at the sink but now turned around to face Esther. “Oh, Eddie. He’s just a friend. A concerned friend. That’s all.”
“A concerned friend who takes you and the kids out to dinner and to the movies and spends his evenings here with you?”
“Where are you getting all this information?”
“From the children, dear. They see what’s going on, even if they don’t fully understand it. Have you lost your mind, Katie? This is madness!”
“Mother, please stay out of my personal affairs. And if you can’t be on my side, please keep your opinions to yourself. I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you?”
“Yes. My marriage to Martin is over. Over. We’ve been in a rut for some time now, and yes, if you must know, I finally have a chance to be happy...with Eddie. I’ve hired a great attorney, who comes highly recommended. She says she can help me end the marriage, come out on top, and begin a new life. So far, she’s helped me get a restraining order, sole custody of the kids, and exclusive use of the house; and that is just the beginning.
“Beverly says Martin has an enormous amount to lose, professionally, if he were to fight me on this, far more than I do. We worked up a reasonable settlement offer for him—one Beverly says he would have to be crazy to refuse. She expects to have everything wrapped up in just a few days’ time. OK?”
“No, it’s not OK. Are you now comfortable lying to get your way? I raised you better than that. You’re perjuring yourself, dear, and that has consequences.”
“Oh, my God , Mother,” Katie said, laughing and shaking her head. “Do you really think anyone’s going to send me ‘up the river’ for this? I’m the battered spouse, here, the injured party. Marty is the abuser. Besides, Beverly says perjury is extremely hard to prove. The courts rarely, if ever, even pursue perjury convictions in these kinds of cases. Did you know that?”
Esther shook her head, “No, I didn’t.”
“Of course not! Well, those are the facts, Mom. Beverly West has represented hundreds of women like me, in similar cases, for more than twenty years, and do you know how many of her clients have ever been charged with perjury?”
“No.”
“Zero. And do you know why?” Katie asked, without waiting for a reply. “Because, Beverly says, in these cases, the victims actually determine whether or not they have been assaulted.
“As long as the victim can honestly say that she felt scared or threatened by her husband’s actions, then he has committed assault.
Esther stared at her daughter and waited.
“OK, yes. He didn’t object.”
“—even though he had to store all of his clothes in the spare bedroom closet down the hall?”
“Yes.”
“He shares the household chores with you?”
“More or less,” she sighed, rolling her eyes.
“He lets you manage the joint checking accounts, too?”
“Uh huh.”
“He never asks you to return anything you buy for yourself—no matter how expensive, frivolous or extravagant?”
“That’s right.”
“He adores the children and dotes on them?”
“Yes.”
“Well, no wonder you want a divorce. The man’s a freak, a total monster! And just like all the abusive husbands that I’ve ever read about, his personality profile sounds so controlling and demanding, too.”
“I guess we won’t be calling you to testify on my behalf at the trial.”
“Not if the truth would hurt your case, dear, as it appears it would.”
“Mother, you don’t know what the truth is in this matter. You think you do, but you are only here a fraction of the time.”
“Well, since we’re discussing ‘the truth’ dear, how much of this has to do with ‘Uncle Eddie?’”
Katie went to the sink and poured herself a glass of water. “Who?” she asked over her shoulder.
“Uncle Eddie, dear. Your friend. The one your children have told me about.”
Katie remained at the sink but now turned around to face Esther. “Oh, Eddie. He’s just a friend. A concerned friend. That’s all.”
“A concerned friend who takes you and the kids out to dinner and to the movies and spends his evenings here with you?”
“Where are you getting all this information?”
“From the children, dear. They see what’s going on, even if they don’t fully understand it. Have you lost your mind, Katie? This is madness!”
“Mother, please stay out of my personal affairs. And if you can’t be on my side, please keep your opinions to yourself. I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you?”
“Yes. My marriage to Martin is over. Over. We’ve been in a rut for some time now, and yes, if you must know, I finally have a chance to be happy...with Eddie. I’ve hired a great attorney, who comes highly recommended. She says she can help me end the marriage, come out on top, and begin a new life. So far, she’s helped me get a restraining order, sole custody of the kids, and exclusive use of the house; and that is just the beginning.
“Beverly says Martin has an enormous amount to lose, professionally, if he were to fight me on this, far more than I do. We worked up a reasonable settlement offer for him—one Beverly says he would have to be crazy to refuse. She expects to have everything wrapped up in just a few days’ time. OK?”
“No, it’s not OK. Are you now comfortable lying to get your way? I raised you better than that. You’re perjuring yourself, dear, and that has consequences.”
“Oh, my God , Mother,” Katie said, laughing and shaking her head. “Do you really think anyone’s going to send me ‘up the river’ for this? I’m the battered spouse, here, the injured party. Marty is the abuser. Besides, Beverly says perjury is extremely hard to prove. The courts rarely, if ever, even pursue perjury convictions in these kinds of cases. Did you know that?”
Esther shook her head, “No, I didn’t.”
“Of course not! Well, those are the facts, Mom. Beverly West has represented hundreds of women like me, in similar cases, for more than twenty years, and do you know how many of her clients have ever been charged with perjury?”
“No.”
“Zero. And do you know why?” Katie asked, without waiting for a reply. “Because, Beverly says, in these cases, the victims actually determine whether or not they have been assaulted.
“As long as the victim can honestly say that she felt scared or threatened by her husband’s actions, then he has committed assault.
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