Passage 52
Christopher face grew white in concern. He knew that license plate and the make and color of the minivan. He even knew the brown hair hazel eyes woman she spoke of. Panic filled his heart as he knew this could go very badly if he knew anything about this person of interest.
" Again why haven't you went to the police over this information?" Christopher tried to sound calm.
" Because I lost our baby over this. A child we created with our love." Regina said sternly .
" It would be a conflict of interest on my part of the knew that child was mine." He said trying to apply the law to reason.
" Don't you want to know who killed our child. Don't you want to see justice served?" She said not flinching as she said the words condemning him to chose between her and Sarah .
" But at what cost , Regina ? I understand you are hurt. You are grieving. But I am a married man. I have a family. What good will it do if it destroys my entirity in the end. I am truly sorry for what happened to our child but I see it as divine intervention as we had our moment. Neither one of us was serious in commiting to anything . A baby wasn't part of the plan. I got in a lot of trouble with my wife over you and our little affair. That's exactly what it was an affair not even that a fling. I had to start over to keep her from divorcing me. Do you understand all of this is the result of my envelopment with you?" He said thinking of an old wise tale his mother use to say to him .
" Christopher darling Never get involved with someone who has more to lose than you have to gain. If the woman is worth more trouble than she worth then let it go. Prioritize your peace over all things ." He heard his mother's words echoed in his mind .Regina was playing with Christopher's life. His marriage . His honor.
" I told you I didn't care if you kept your damn wife. Even those brats you gave her. I need you on my side Christopher. I still need you on my side." She recited forcefully.
" You said need me on your side not by your side. What do you hope to accomplish with me ?" He said as he picked apart the words she said.
" Love. Respect. Understanding. My love we can try again for another baby. I want to try to redo what we have." She said now tears demanding.
" What we had." Clarified Christopher.
" What?" She stammered.
" It's not what we have it's what we had. Your a past tense not a present. Did everything I said earlier go in one ear and out the other. The last thing we need is another baby. I'm still paying for the first baby." Said Christopher coldly . He had seen this woman in full force with James and he was roped into it all but he wasn't about to hand over his wife to be with someone like her. She was going to be his downfall if he kept entertaining her. Sarah may have did some things to ensure he didn't leave her ,but jumping out of one fire pit into another just to get burned wasn't smart on his part.
If she sleep with him because she could . She could just as easily screw him over because she can. He knew that her eyes were for Roger the way sheoved around him. He was not getting mixed up in their little war.
" Christopher. I don't give a damn what your paying for i said I want another baby and you owe me another baby since your wife made me lose it. She took what was mine and I want another baby to make all this go away. If you want to keep me from singing what I know than you will comply with my demands." She said tired of his excuses.
" You are missing one part of this arrangement?" He said coldly not exhausted by her demands.
" Which is?" Said Regina annoyed.
" Free will. I'm not willing to give you another child . Well not from me. Don't pretend you can't reproduce with anyone else . " He said cold and cut off as if it was finalized.
" But I want you. I want your baby. I don't want another man's baby." She pleaded as she saw he plan to tie her to him falling out of her grasp. Her plans to use him against Roger falling apart. He was part of her plans .
" But I don't want to give you my baby. Not anymore. Regina I tire of this conversation. No matter how many times you explain it to me it's not going to happen. So save your breath ." Said Christopher calmly looking at her.
Regina realizing she was losing the argument had to think fast as she slammed her hands on the desk trying to knock off his items as he stood up to stop her from destroying his office as she desperately grabbed his face and kissed him as she bit his lip drawing blood. Christopher pushed her off of him as she fell to the floor laughing. He touched his lip as he thought you crazy demon.
" Try explaining that to your precious little wife now?" She said snuggly at her handy work.
" Harper! Harper !" yelled Christopher as Harper opened the door and saw the scene before her.
" Get her out of here. " Screamed Christopher nursing his lip with a tissue from his desk .
Regina sat on the floor laughing her mouth stained with the blood she caused . This woman was insane . Harper tried to help her up as Regina pushed her away.
" I can see myself out. I don't need help out." Screamed Regina.
" You do that and don't come back. Damn crazy woman . You both men you need some help . Get out!" Yelled Christopher.
Regina walked out of the office as she went to her car . The real reason she was by his desk was to grap his personalized business card with his email and phone number on it. She was going to find Sarah and drive her crazy . Sarah made her lose her only bargaining chip with Christopher . She needed him to take Roger down. This would be payback for all Roger did to her . If she couldn't have him no one could.
Christopher was the only lawyer Roger feared to be pitted against and she needed him to knock Roger down a peg. Regina was going to get her power back from him.
Meanwhile Avery waited for her arrignment for assault against Paul. Axel had to put a restraining order on her because of how unhinged she was at the gym. Avery stayed to herself as she maggie watch her and Beatrice sitting on the bench . She heard stories about her but Avery wasn't scared more cautious . Beatrice broke a court date and was in for failure to appear. Maggie smiled at Avery and Avery looked away not wanted to interact with either of these ladies now.
" How's that brother of yours. Still losing ?" Chimed Maggie .
" Well he isn't winning . " Replied Avery short answered.
Maggie began to laugh at the comment. Avery was in her own thoughts as she thought about how she went about handling Axel not answering her phone call . She might have overreacted just a little bit but what was done was done no coming back from it now .
Avery knew this looked bad for the custody of Caden the way she went about with Axel. She hated her mother just took it lying down when Bethany offered a living facility and an allowance. She should have known her mother would give up the house over promise of money . Something Avery was lacking taking care of all the house .
Now Bethany had to show off and buy the house out of her hands for the sake of Caden. That was her son not Bethany's. She hated how everyone bowed to queen Bethany and she got what she wanted. But what about her. What about what Avery wanted?
Avery showed up to court without a lawyer . She didn't need one to represent herself. She stood at the table alone as the proceedings were started. She felt it was stupid to be dragged in court over one fight. She glared at Axel at allowing Paul to do this to her.
" I see you took it apon yourself miss Jing to not only enter a place of business but insult an employee there then vandalized a vehicle belonging to one Axel Jing when they kicked you out of the building." Read off the judge from his paperwork.
" If my brother had answered his phone I wouldn't have to track him down and go to his employer to find him. He has my son ." Explained Avery.
" A son you abandoned during a deliberation. There were two lawyers there hear you give up claim to this said child. " The judge explained pushing his glasses on his face annoyed at the circumstances.
" I didn't mean it. I was mad at the time. He gave a nine year old a house that belonged to our father. It was ridiculous to do that. He is a child what is he going to do with a house at nine years old." She said mad she had to explain logic in a court room.
" You were mad at that moment. What about the next moment you lose your temper . Are you going to give him up then too. It seems to me you do things that makes sense to you at the present time which benifits no one but you. Did you think of the child or how he felt having to be taken by his uncle because his mom list her temper." Fussed the just tired of this woman now and her non sence.
" That's all it was I lost my temper. I know I shouldn't have hit Paul or damaged my brothers car but all he had to do is answer his damn phone when I call." She said a pitch too high for the judge to tolerate any longer.
" I've heard enough." He said now tired of the proceedings.
" But your honor I haven't finished ." Protested Avery .
" But I have. This is my court room if I say I've heard enough I don't want to hear another word." Said the judge aggervated with her incolence .
" You need professional help. I'm sentencing you to a ward for your own protection miss Jing. In that time Axel Jing will retain full custody over Caden until you serve your length of your restraining order. If you so as ever breath his direction I will send you to five years for the remainder of the sentence to be served in a woman's prison instead of a ward. What you did what unstable behavior. That serves no interest for the child. I don't give a damn if he is a minor of the house is in his name it's in his name." He said glaring at Avery directly.
" But. I said I am not done!" Avery demanded now angry he wouldn't listen to her.
" That's it. Didn't I say not another word. You are now in contemt of court . Bailiff take her away . Court is dismissed." Said the judge leaving the room as Avery was dragged out of the room.
" I will get you Bethany and Axel if it's the last thing I do. Count your days down." She said spitting at them as she was pulled away.
Bethany didn't understand why Avery was so hell bent in destroying her. She was taking care of her son. Keeping him safe. Axel moved Bethany out of the court room as the went to the clerks desk to get their papers signed and notarized about the verdict. Axel shook his head at his sister's foolishness.
Caden sat in the hallway as he and Sunny waited with Wanda and Sandra until the court was released. Avery saw Caden and struggled today him trying to free herself to get to him.
" Caden! Caden! Come and see momma ." She yelled frantically . Wanda dropped a protective hand over Caden.
" Don't you touch my son . Leave my son alone " she screamed and thrashed . Axel came out and glared at his sister and opened his arms. Caden ran into them and turned his back to walk away from his mother.
" Axel. You treacherous bastard." Screamed Avery as she was pulled away. " He is my son not yours. I want my son " she screamed angry . Avery would never forget watching all she loved walking away from her. Roger still hasn't contacted her since the deliberation. Avery was truly alone.
Bobby-Joe sat in the interegation room as he was growing impatient with waiting. They said the lawyer was on the way and the room was becoming incredibly hot and he was sweating bullets. A medium built man walked in as he reached over and hurryly shook his hand and speaking in rapid shot tone.
"Hello Mr. Baker I am Joel Winston. I am from the Dayo law firm. " He said abruptly sitting down. He opened the file up and started reading making noises in clicks and hmmms and ahhh as he reviewed the file.
The way Mr. Winston acted it reminded Bobby-Joe how phsycologist would make noises during a session. Minutes went by like this before it started to get on his ever loving nerves .
" Enough with the clicking and noises." Bobby-Joe snapped not being able to take it anymore.
" Mr. Baker you want the good news or the bad news first?" Said Mr. Winston as he now looked up at his client.
" The bad news . Bobby-Joe had always been a passivdist .
" Well with all these charges and the new ones that have occured you will never see the light of day . Well not in your life time anyways." He said as Bobby-Joe became angry to Bobby Joe this wasn't something he wanted to hear from a guy meant to represent him . It was like he was giving up on him before they even got started.
" Then what the hell is the good news" demanded Bobby -Joe. He looked at his lawyer as he sized him up as a newbie fresh out of law school and not a notch on his belt . The guy seemed to relaxed for a lawyer. Most lawyers were stiff and uptight. Cocky and proud.
" You get to live your entire life until ripe old age of a natural death if you don't get knocked off by a cell mate." He said as he watched Bobby -Joe reaction. Bobby-joe thought great I'm dealing with an imbisole .
" You call that good news." Snipped Bobby -Joe." Where did you get your law degree at k-mart on a blue light special day?" Snapped Bobby-Joe at how screwed he felt at this moment.
"I actually got it at Vanderbilt. Graduated top three of my class and take it easy man it could be worse . It's not the death penalty your going to keep your head a little longer but not much can be said about your freedom." Replied Mr. Winston.
" Look. You've been on the most wanted list for a while. While you've been pulling these scams you've been padding a very big file. What did you think that all your past crimes wouldn't catch up to you. It just so happens the worst of it is the four dead bodies ." Mr. Winston explained.
" You mean five bodies ." He repeated what he was told.
" Oh no. The other one was on someone else's. Your only responsible for the ones that died in the recent fire. I looked into the other three bodies . They were there before you came in." He said like it was no big deal that there were three extra bodies found.
Bobby -Joe didn't know how to make out this lawyer. He told it like it was but was chill about it. Not a ball buster lawyer. It might be perceived as a weak lawyer . He needed someone who would fight for him and not just stand there doing nothing.
" Look what I said earlier is worse case scenario. I like to throw that out so you get used to the initial shock of it all. I'm not a butter you up kind of lawyer. I'm a rip off the bandaid and get it over with type of lawyer. Now we know the worst case scenario let look at the best case scenario." Said Mr. Watson. As he pulled out his legal pad and pen ready to start .
Bobby -Joe now knew this lawyer was insane. This was who was sent to represent him. Bobby-Joe thought I'm so screwed if this ever makes it to court. What did Ruth -Anne say to make it where they found out about all the scenes he ran. Then he thought of it . Damn it Ruth-Anne she told them about the safety deposit box with all his documents.
" Can I speak to my sister Ruth -Anne?" Bobby-Joe tried to see what exactly that big mouth said .
" No can do. She got a deal for turning you in. I don't know what you did to her, but she sang and here we are." Said Mr. Walton in a layed back manner.
" I left her to take the fall." He said as he realized how bad it sounded out loud now.
" Yeah I would say that would do it. Okay so I have to look like I'm doing my job and not just cutting the rug here. So let's say we get started." Suggested Mr. Winston.
Meanwhile Christopher returned home . He sat in the car looking in his vizor mirror at what Regina did to him. He thought that crazy woman did that on purpose. If he had known she be so much trouble after the fact he would have steer cleared of her period. He kicked himself because he knew Rogers baby momma and still did it . He felt really stupid putting himself in this situation.
Now she was showing up at his place of business asking to have another baby. After today he wasn't going to touch her. But he had a bigger dilemma. Regina accused Sarah for the accident. She did get in a crash the same day Regina lost the baby. The wheels in his head was clicking.
He came home with the items she requested but really didn't want to explain his lip. He sighed and went inside before the ice cream melted and a nothing this went wrong today .
Christopher came in as Florence was listening to her music and cleaning up the kitchen . Sarah sat in her room trying to ignore the off tune singing from Florence that was getting on her nerves.
" I got your items ." He said as he handed it to her and doubled back to the kitchen for a spoon for the tub of ice cream.
" What happened to your lip?" She said as he returned with the spoon.
" A client bit me today. " He said being vague .
" You got bit." She asked trying to confirm she heard it correctly.
" Yes. Not a pretty scene either. Had to have them escorted out ." He said listening to how ridiculous he sounded.
" What pocesses a person to bite a lawyer?" She said trying her hardest to be serious about the conversation.
" It's not funny." Said Christopher defeated .
" It's a little funny but more on the disturbing side." Smirked Sarah. She missed her and Christopher being like this with each other. Sarah loved her had a sense of humor it was his main selling point for her . That and his work ethic. Christopher worked two jobs putting himself through law school . Christopher's parent weren't the plan for the future type more like live by the moment type.
When Christopher graduated high school they were out of town enjoying life. So them saving up for college was wishful thinking. She dipped into her Jerry Garcia ice cream as she ate too fast and got a brain freeze. She always did that and you would think she would learn by now.
" You do that every time. The ice cream isn't going to melt in ten minutes." He poked fun at her.
Christopher thought Sarah is acting like her old self with ice cream as he smiled at her. Then he thought of she can act this way with icecream is she faking her memory loss? He wanted to simply dismiss his thoughts but she did do a few things like before the accident. He knew Florence didn't care where the dishes went but somehow always in perfect order.
Christopher wanted to test the waters to see if his theory was right. He leaned against the wall as he removed his tie and began to unbutton his suit top as he was wearing a tank top underneath. Sarah used to love watching him undress like a mini entertainment for her. He bent over taking off his shoes purposely kicking his sock off inside the shoes. He knew that drove Sarah crazy when he put used socks in his shoes.
" What are you doing?" Sarah said looking at Christopher as she watched him shove old socked in his shoes and leave it in the middle of the floor.
" Well I figured we can watch a movie while you eat your ice cream. Dont you need to change your things before you bleed on yourself." He said as she lost focus him now down in his boxers.
"No. I changed it earlier ". She said watching him crawl into bed with her as she looked at the clothes drapes over the end of the bed post. She hated when he hung his pants there instead of hanging it back up in the closet .
She looked ahead trying to stay in character. She was trying not to flip out about the mess he was making. Then he grabbed the remote and changed it with our asking trying to tick her off now .
Sarah shoved the ice cream in her mouth trying to disguise her anger now as she hated him changing her show in the middle of it .Sarah grabbed the remote and changed it back . Christopher smirked as he knew he was getting under her skin. He watched her carefully trying to stay in character.
" Did I tell you I sold my car today and now I'm using the city transit to get around?" He baited her as she glared at him like he was an idiot.
" Why would you do that ? The transit is home for sketchy people waiting to be mugged. Why don't you ever discuss anything with me before you do things " he snapped.
" Like how you lied to me about your memory loss and what really happened that day in the hospital." He said now staring at her now she broke character.
" I have no idea what you are talking about?" She tried to act ignorant.
" Sarah I know you. I know when your pretending,and when you are lying to me . I'm a lawyer . I went to school to point that bull crap out." He said now disappointed that his suspicions were true . He got off the bed and gathered his items he deliberately took off to aggervate her and headed to the door.
" Christopher." She pleaded.
" No . Just stop. Lie to your parents don't ever lie to me or the kids. Christ Sarah did you honestly think I wouldn't figure it out. You must think I'm dumb as a rock ." He said now leaving the room slamming the door shut .
Sarah sat there in shock. Oh shit. I messed up she thought to herself.
Christopher walked past Florence in his boxers as she froze looking at his cut physique. He went to the guest room and slammed the door shut .