One Summer (25 page)

Jack realized what was going on about the same time Sammy did.

“Trap,” Jack said.

“And we just ran into it like a couple of high school knuckleheads.”

They looked behind them as five large men holding baseball bats came out of hiding behind a Dumpster. Jack could see that the man in the lead was the same one he’d thrown
headfirst into the side of the pickup truck shortly after they’d arrived in Channing.

The men moved forward as Jack and Sammy fell back until they were against the brick wall. Jack slipped off his belt, coiled it partially around his hand, and stood ready. Sammy rolled up the sleeves of his work shirt and assumed a defensive stance. He beckoned them on with a wave of his hand.

“Okay, who wants to go to the hospital first?” he said.

With a yell, the biggest man ran forward and raised his bat. Jack whipped his belt, and the metal tip caught the man right on the arm, cutting it open. He screamed and dropped the bat. Sammy drilled a foot into his gut, sending him to his knees. Next, Sammy clamped an iron grip around the big man’s neck.

“I don’t waste my A game on the JV.” Sammy crushed the man’s jaw with a sledgehammer right hand that sent him to the asphalt. Sammy looked back up. “One down, four to go. Who’s the next victim?”

Two more men, including the one whom Jack had beaten up before, yelled and ran forward. Jack grabbed the man’s bat, pivoted his hips, and pulled hard. The man sailed past him and hit the wall, bouncing off. Groggy, he rose in time to be put back down by Jack’s fist slamming into his face.

The other guy had his feet kicked out from under him by Sammy. He ripped the bat out of the guy’s hands and bopped him on the head with it, knocking him out. When Jack and Sammy looked up, the other men had disappeared.

“Okay, that was fun,” said Sammy.

His smile vanished a minute later when Sheriff Tammie hustled into the alley with a skinny deputy in tow. Tammie took one look at the men lying on the ground and Jack and
Sammy holding bats, and he pulled his gun, his face dark and furious.

“Put those bats down now. You’re both under arrest.”

“They attacked us!” exclaimed Jack as he and Sammy dropped the bats.

“Then how come they’re knocked out and you two had the bats?”

“Because they were crappy fighters,” said Sammy. “Is that our fault?”

Jack pointed at one of the men on the pavement. “Look, he’s the same one I fought with before. He and a bunch of his guys came after us to settle the score. We were just defending ourselves.”

“That’s for a court to decide.”

“You’re really charging us?” said Jack. “What about the other guys?”

“Their butts are going to jail too.”

“Well, at least that’s some justice,” snapped Sammy.

“And we got to let the wheels of justice do their thing. Just the way it has to be,” said Tammie.

Jack and Sammy were cuffed, loaded into the sheriff’s cruiser, and transported to the jail. Jack slumped down on a bench at the back of the cell, but Sammy said, “Hey, we get a lawyer, right?”

“That’s what I said when I read you the Miranda card,” replied Tammie.

Tammie let Jack make a call.

He said, “Jenna, it’s Jack. Uh, I’m in a little bit of trouble.”

Ten minutes later, Jenna and Charles Pinckney hurried into the sheriff’s office and were escorted back to see the prisoners.

“My God, Jack, what happened?” she said.

He explained everything that had happened in the alleyway.

“I’ve talked the sheriff into releasing you on your own recognizance,” she said.

“So we can go?”

“For now, yes, but it looks like the men are pressing charges, at least according to Tammie.”

“But isn’t it our word against theirs?” said Sammy.

“Still have to go to court.”

“But we didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I’m sorry, Jack,” said Jenna. “I’m doing the best I can.”

His anger faded. “I know. And I appreciate you getting down here so fast. Didn’t know anyone else to call.”

“Well, for now, you’re free to go. I’ll get the sheriff.”

Two days later, a man in a suit knocked on the door of the Palace.

Jack answered it.

“Jack Armstrong?”

“Yeah. Who are you?”

The man stuffed some papers into Jack’s hand. “Consider yourself served.”

The man walked off as Sammy joined Jack at the door.

“What is it?” he asked him. “Served with what? Those jerks from the alley really suing us?”

Jack read quickly through the legal documents.

When he looked up, his eyes held both anger and fear.

“No, it’s a lot worse. Bonnie is suing for custody of the kids.”

“I can’t believe Grandma is doing this,” said Mikki. “Why would she?”

The Armstrongs were arrayed on the couch and floor at the Palace. Sammy was there, and so were Liam and Jenna. Jack had shown Jenna the documents, and she had read them carefully with her lawyer’s eye.

“I don’t know,” said Jack, though he actually had a pretty good idea.

Jenna looked up from the papers. “She’s requested an expedited hearing to get temporary custody pending a full hearing. In non-legalese, that means she wants to get in front of a judge fast to get the kids now and then worry about the rest later.”

“She can do that?” said Sammy.

“The courthouse is open to everyone. But she has to prove her case. It’s difficult to have children taken away from a parent.”

Jack asked, “Exactly when and where is all this going to happen?”

“In two days. In family court in Charleston.”

“But we live in Ohio.”

“But you have property in South Carolina and you’re living here now, if only for the summer. However, I can argue that the South Carolina court lacks jurisdiction.”

“
You
can argue?” said Jack.

“Do you have anyone else in mind to represent you? I’ve got a license to practice in South Carolina, and I’ve kept everything current.”

“Did you practice family law?” asked Mikki.

“I’ve done some of it, yes. And I know my way around a courtroom.” She held up the documents. “But we don’t have much time to prepare.”

“Jenna, you don’t have time to do this. You’ve got a business to run.”

Before she could respond, Liam said, “I can do that. Mom taught me everything about the business. It’ll be fine.”

Jenna smiled. “See?”

“Are you sure?”

“Heck, nice change of pace. You can only bake so many pies before you feel the need to punch somebody. Going to court gives me a chance to whack some idiots—not literally, of course, but you get the point.”

“All right, but you’re going to bill me for your time.”

“We’ll work something out.”

Mikki said, “What exactly is she saying that would make a court take us from Dad?”

Jenna’s face grew serious and she looked at Jack questioningly. He nodded, “You can tell them.”

“Basically that your father is unfit to be your guardian. That he’s a danger to himself and others.”

“That’s stupid,” said Cory, jumping to his feet.

“Yeah, stupid,” said Jackie, though, in an act of surprising independence from his brother, he remained seated, his arms folded defiantly over his little chest.

“I’m not agreeing with her, just telling you what she’s alleging.”

“Does she have any proof of that?” said Mikki heatedly. “Of course not, because it’s not true.”

“She’ll be able to show any proof she has at the hearing,” Jenna explained. She looked at Jack again. “And we have to show proof that you are fit.”

“How do we do that?”

“You can testify. So can Mikki and Cory. Jackie’s too young, of course. I can get Charles to be a character witness. And Sammy here. They can all attest to your fitness. I have no idea what angle she’s using, but I can’t imagine she’ll be able to show the level of proof required to take children away from their surviving parent.”

Later, Jack walked Jenna out to her car.

“Jack, there is one thing I didn’t want to say in front of the kids.”

“What?”

“I don’t think the timing on Bonnie’s action is coincidence. I think it’s tied to your arrest for assault. She could’ve easily found out. And I can guarantee they’ll use that to prove their case.

“But I’m innocent.”

“Doesn’t matter. It’s all perception. And if they can convince the judge you’re violent? Not good.”

“Great. Guilty until proven innocent.”

“Jack, if there’s anything to tell me about this, now would be a good time.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean why you think your mother-in-law is doing this.”

“She blames me for Lizzie’s death. She came here pretending to want to reconcile, but I turned down her offer of moving in with her in Arizona. And she only came by
once
to see the kids this summer. Some grandparent she is.”

“Uh, that’s actually not right, Dad.”

They turned to see Mikki standing behind them.

“What?” said Jack.

“Grandma came by like six times while you were out working.”

“You never told me that.”

“She asked us not to. Said you might get mad.”

“I told her to come and visit. I wouldn’t have gotten mad.”

“Well, that’s not what she said.”

Jenna looked at her. “What did you talk about?”

Mikki shrugged. “Stuff.”

“Did she ever ask about your dad?”

“Yeah,” Mikki said nervously.

“Mikki, you need to tell us everything. We can’t be surprised in court.”

Mikki started to tear up. “It was when Dad was working so hard and he was out in the lighthouse all the time.”

Jack said gently, “It’s okay, sweetie; I understand. Just tell us what you told her.”

Mikki calmed. “She asked what your mood was, if you were doing anything strange. If you didn’t seem to be feeling well.”

“And you told her about the lighthouse and… things?” said Jack.

Mikki nodded, a miserable expression on her face. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I didn’t know she was going to sue you.”

“It’s not your fault. It’ll be okay.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.” He looked at Jenna. “I’ve got a great lawyer. Now, go back in the house, Mik. Jackie’s probably attempting somersaults from one of the ceiling fans.”

After she left, Jack looked at Jenna. “I lost the kids once. I can’t lose them again.”

She put her hand over his. “Listen to me, Jack. You’re not going to lose them, okay? Now, I’ve got to go. Lots of stuff to prepare.”

She drove off, leaving Jack standing in the front yard of the Palace, looking at the ground and wondering if his second chance was coming to a premature end.

The kids were scrubbed and dressed in their best clothes. Jack and Sammy had bought jackets and dress slacks for the courtroom appearance. Jenna was dressed in a black skirt and jacket, heels and hose. Liam had taken time off work to join them for moral support. He and Mikki sat holding hands in the front row.

The courtroom was surprisingly small, and Jack felt immediately claustrophobic as he stepped inside. And it was very quiet. Jack didn’t like such quiet. He had sensed it on the battlefield many times. It usually heralded an ambush.

The judge was not on the bench yet, but the uniformed bailiff was standing ready. Bonnie’s lawyer was already seated at his table. Jack jerked when he saw Bonnie and Fred sitting behind him. Fred was studying his hands, while Bonnie was actively engaged in discussion with her lawyer, and also with another man in a suit. Other than that, the courtroom was empty.

As Jack looked at the young man, he suddenly remembered where he’d seen him before. In a car with Bonnie parked on the streets of Channing.

Jenna walked over and spoke with the bailiff for a minute or so before approaching Bonnie’s lawyer. They went off to a corner to speak in private, while Bonnie stayed sitting and talking to the other man, who was showing her something on a laptop computer.

Jack watched as Bonnie’s lawyer handed Jenna a packet of documents. She frowned and asked him something, but he shook his head. She said something else to him that Jack couldn’t hear, but it made the other man turn red and scowl. She whipped around and marched back over to Jack. She sat down and pulled her chair closer to him and the kids.

At that moment, Sammy walked in with Charles Pinckney. Pinckney greeted Jack, Jenna, and the kids. Then he eyed Bonnie. He surprised Jack by walking over to her.

“Fred,” he said. “How are you?”

Fred O’Toole looked up and seemed surprised to see Pinckney standing there. He took the other man’s extended hand. “Fine, Charles, you?”

“I’ve been better, actually, but thank you for asking.” He turned to Bonnie, who was gazing steadily at him. “Hello, Bonnie.”

She nodded curtly. “Charles.”

“Let’s just be thankful Lizzie and Cee aren’t alive to see this god-awful spectacle,” he said in a tight voice.

Bonnie looked like she had been slapped. But Charles had already turned away.

Jenna held up the stack of documents and whispered to Jack. “Opposing counsel just now gave me these documents. I asked him if he would not contest an extension on the hearing date, but he refused.”

“What’s in those documents?” Jack asked.

“I haven’t had a chance to read them, but I’ve glanced at a few pages. Your mother-in-law apparently has had a private
detective follow you this summer.” She pointed to the other man holding the laptop. “That guy.”

“What?” said a shocked Jack.

“That is, like, totally insane,” added Mikki.

Jack gazed nervously at him. “What’s he got on the laptop?”

“Apparently some video they intend to show the judge.”

“Video? Of what?”

“I don’t know.”

“I didn’t think they could do stuff like this,” said Sammy. “Surprise the other side with crap.”

“Normally they can’t. But this is family court. The rules are different. Everything is supposed to be done with the best interests of the children in mind. That sometimes trumps official procedures. And they’re alleging that the children are in an unsafe and even dangerous environment.”

“That’s poppycock,” said Charles.

“And we’ll show it,” promised Jenna. She had previously gone over with them the questions she would ask and what questions to expect the other side to throw at them.