Junior Year Box Set

I can only speak generally here because I, like all of you, know nothing firsthand about this case. Something to keep in mind is that while it’s hardly unheard of for someone to make false allegations, the motivation is usually to gain the upper hand in a child custody proceeding or inflict revenge on the other party in a contentious relationship. The prosecutor isn’t stupid. He is going to look for independent evidence that can verify what happened outside the framework of he-said/she-said. Maybe an unbiased observer saw how the young woman was injured, or maybe the police can locate surveillance video. Give them the chance to do their job.’

◊◊◊

I rode to the hotel for the afternoon press conference with my mom and dad. As we pulled into the parking lot, there were a lot of reporters and a crowd milling around the entrance.

“Dad, just valet park. I’ll pay for it,” I said.

“I’m not spending money just so you don’t have to walk a hundred feet,” Dad griped.

Boy, was that a mistake! I am David Frickin’ Dawson. Girls like me. Not these! As soon as we stepped out of the car, a large group of women surrounded us.

“Rapist!”

That was probably the nicest thing said. Someone actually spit on me. Dad had to wrestle Mom back into the car. If he hadn’t, she would’ve been on the nightly news in a brawl. I pushed my way through the protesters to draw them away from my parents. I almost had my own Bernie Madoff moment when a photographer pushed me to keep me in the middle of the angry women. I had to cringe because this had national news lead written all over it, especially if I retaliated. I just walked around the jerk, and hotel security stopped the protesters and press from entering the lobby.

From the expression on the face of the hotel manager, we would have to move our next press conference. I wouldn’t blame him, because this had to be disruptive for his guests.

I hit the men’s room to wash my face and then went to find my parents. Dad had taken my mom in through the back door. She was seething when I found them.

“I have half a mind to go out there and wash all their mouths out with soap!”

I looked at Dad, and we couldn’t help ourselves, we started to laugh.

“You two idiots better watch yourselves,” Mom said, and then stormed off.

“I think I’m changing the code on my apartment door,” I said.

Dad just gave me a look that reminded me that every woman that I knew somehow had the code to get into my place. Mom would figure it out, and if she talked to Kendal, I would find my balls superglued to my thigh. I really was a ‘stupid boy’!

◊◊◊

Mom and Dad joined me with Frank Ingram, Ms. Dixon, and Tom in the small conference room.

“I wanted to pop in and give you an update on what the firm is doing,” Tom said. “Cal was confronted this morning, and he had evidence that he’d gotten all of David’s contacts through external sources, so we can lay to rest the idea he used company resources.”

I was about to call bullshit but restrained myself. Tom was in full lawyer mode, and what he said was to cover his firm’s ass. I knew because he was charged to deliver the message. If it had been Kendal here, red flags wouldn’t have gone up. Tom had been sent to manage the situation.

“Roy Thompson has ordered that while this is going on, Cal will be banned from the building. He will have no further access to company files, either electronic or hard copies. Cal will also have no contact with anyone in the firm. We want to assure you that Rigby, Thompson and Associates fully backs you as our client,” Tom said.

“That’s good to hear. I would ask that you not just take Cal’s word about how he obtained the contact information he used to harm our client. I expect you to launch an internal investigation to verify that David’s information hasn’t been viewed by Cal or anyone else who shouldn’t have access,” Ms. Dixon said.

“I think we’re satisfied with what Cal has told us,” Tom said.

“I’m not,” I said. “I don’t trust Cal, and I want you to verify that my information wasn’t used to do the mailings.”

Tom looked worried but nodded his agreement to look into it. I decided right then that if I ever found out that Rigby, Thompson and Associates helped Cal cover this up, heads would roll. I took a couple of deep breaths to calm myself. I didn’t need to open my mouth and confirm I suspected them of anything.