Junior Year Box Set

“Would you please find the copier in this office and make three copies of this? And Kendall, would you please go with him to witness that’s exactly what he did and that this is the document being copied?”

She didn’t even look at Kendall as she handed the page to Dad, who gathered up Kendall with his eyes as he made for the door.

“Now, just a minute!” Cal yelled.

He started to come around the table again. Ms. Dixon whirled to face him.

“You’ll stop right there unless you want my second call after the one to the police to be to the State Bar Association to start disbarment proceedings against you!”

Cal reluctantly shuffled back to his seat and sat down heavily while attempting a glare at Ms. Dixon. It seemed to bounce off her like she was bulletproof. She sat there serenely until Dad and Kendall came back with the copies. Ms. Dixon asked Dad which was the original and had both Dad and Kendall initial it in red ink and the copies in blue ink, and then pulled an empty manila folder out and placed the original in it. Then she turned and handed it back to Don Rigby, and not to Cal.

“Mr. Rigby, I am returning to you a confidential financial document belonging to my client and maintained by your firm, Rigby, Thompson and Associates, in my client’s confidential records, which has been produced by the attorney for an individual with your firm who should not have had any access to it whatsoever. Moreover, it was produced in connection with a legal proceeding against your own client. I trust you’ll keep this document separate, maintain it, and not lose it or alter it in any way.

“I also formally demand a full investigation into how our opponent’s lawyer had it in his possession. I demand that all notes and documents generated in the course of that investigation be maintained unaltered and that the results of that investigation be presented to my client in written form as soon as possible, and in no event later than one week from today. I will present you with a written demand to that effect by five o’clock today.

“I am also informing you I intend to file a Grievance with the State Bar Association against both Calvin Bell and Rigby, Thompson and Associates, requesting disciplinary action, up to and including disbarment, against that firm and every member of the firm even remotely involved in this case or in David’s activities. I plan to drive to the state capitol this afternoon to personally deliver that Grievance and to discuss these events with colleagues who work for the Association. Don’t worry about what will be in it; I will enclose a courtesy copy with my formal demand for an investigation. They’ll be couriered to you this afternoon after I’ve left for the state capitol.

“Oh, and finally, just so we understand each other: these actions will be the first steps I take in light of these events, but I assure you they won’t be the last,” Ms. Dixon said with a flourish.

Tom and Kendal’s heads turned to Don and Roy, and they both blanched. Cal’s face turned bright red. We had them! Cal was a fighter, though, and came out swinging.

“I’ll tell you right now that little pissant will regret defiling my daughter,” Cal roared as he pointed at me. “I warned you to stay away from her, but you had to go and get her pregnant. I plan to destroy you, and it’ll be a cold day in hell before you ever get to see your baby. If I have to, I’ll put it up for adoption where you’ll never find it.”

“You shut the hell up!” Mom shouted.

Cal stood up to leave.

“Sit down,” I hissed, which caught everyone by surprise.

Cal glared at me, but he reluctantly did so.

“I’ve heard just about enough bullshit for one day, and I want some answers before we move forward. You,” I said, pointing at the Rigby, Thompson and Associates end of the table. “You’ve played enough games. If I remember correctly, Ms. Dixon already

asked for an internal investigation as to whether Cal had accessed my records or not. I agree completely with her. I expect a full accounting and explanation as to how Mr. Fox had my financials.”

Don and Roy began to both talk at once.

“Quiet!” Ms. Dixon said. “This has just gotten very ugly for you, and you all know it.”

Wow, she was scary when she went into full attack mode. I smiled when I realized mine was the scariest lawyer in the room. She stared down Cal, and he looked away first.

“I will give you until one tomorrow to come up with something along the lines we’ve been discussing. In the meantime, I will also be in contact with Children and Family Services, and they will interview Pam without either of you present to see who has abused her. It’s apparent that she’s afraid,” Ms. Dixon said.

Cal’s body language suddenly changed. He was no longer the raging bully. Something had finally broken through his thick attack-mode skull, and he actually looked worried. Ms. Dixon continued.