during the dog case, with regular and sometimes contradictory broadcasts, such as: (3) I kept his name because I never fell out of love with him (false), and (4) I recently had sex with him at my condo, with my mother in the next room (falseâit wasnât Joe, it was the vet).
And then thereâs: (5) I visit him in his chambers on a regular basis and we âdo itâ behind closed doors. False, of course. Though weâve met in his office many times since our divorce, itâs almost always with the door open. Yes, things did get messy during the dog case, but now that the case is over and Joeâs back with Susan, Iâm especially careful not to do or say anything he might misinterpret.
Which is why, when he motions for me to come in and close the door, Iâm on guard.
âThanks for coming,â he says.
âI have a deposition at ten thirty.â
âThis wonât take long. RelaxâIâm not going to jump across the desk and grab you. This has nothing to do with you and me.â
âGood!â
âYou donât have to sound so relieved,â he says. Weâre like two people fencingâlots of guarded dancing around each other, and then, when I least expect it, a lunge. âI had a strange call this morning,â he continues. âfrom a guy I used to do some hunting with. Randall Mackay.â
âHe mentioned he knew you.â
âI havenât seen him in yearsâwhich is why itâs odd that he just calls me out of the blue, asks how Iâm doing, lots of chitchat, then he finally gets around to the point, which is you.â
âHeâs involved in one of my cases.â
âThe cat case.â
âRight. But what was he calling you for?â
âFishing.â
âFor what?â
âFeeling his way around, said he wanted my take on how you operate. I told him youâre straightforward, honest. Tough but fair. I told him I hold you in the highest regard despite our divorce.â
âThanks.â
âIt happens to be true,â Joe says. âBut just after I said that, he says, âWell, if you feel that way about her, you might want to tell her sheâd be wise not to make this case any more difficult than it has to be.ââ
âDonât worry, Iâve got it under control.â
âYou need to be careful around this guy, Sally.â
âHeâs just angry because the catâs got his inheritance.â
âHe has a bad reputation. His first wife divorced him on physical cruelty. The second one disappeared.â
âWhat do you mean, âdisappearedâ?â
âThe story was, he was teaching her how to shoot, they were doing target practice, she got hurt. Luckily the bullet just grazed her. She told everybody it was her fault, but a couple weeks later she left town and hasnât been heard from since.â
âYou think he shot her on purpose?â
âWord was, theyâd both been drinking. She was some floozy who ran a roadhouse out on Edisto and heâat least he used to beâis a big boozer. Imagines himself quite the lady-killer.â
âWell, Iâm not going to fall for him, if thatâs what youâre getting at.â
âOkay, joke around if you want to. Just be careful.â
âWarning accepted. Everything going okay with you?â This is a dangerous question.
He shrugs. âLivinâ the dream: nice house, nice wife, kids in expensive prep schools, Yacht Club. And a great job, of course!â Some people might miss the hint of sarcasm in his voice, but I donât.
âYouâre frustrated in Family Court.â
âYou could say that.â
âYou still want a Circuit Court judgeship?â
âIâm thinking about it.â
âIf you want it, youâll get it. Your family can help you with the politicking.â
âItâs not as easy as it used to be.â Heâs
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