Southern Justice, Part 28

I’m Fixin’ To present part 28 of Southern Justice:

After the people from Pic-Ric Products had left B. Wendell’s law office, there were three very angry and frustrated people still sitting at the conference table. Jackie was furious over being called a disrespectful name and was contemplating various types of revenge. Ray McKinley had recovered from his initial fear and was trying to think of what he could say to save face.

They all three began to speak at once, but stopped short and looked toward the door when Patty came back in and said, “They’ve gone, B. W. Is there anything else you want me to do before I leave?”

“Yes,” B. Wendell angrily replied, “get on the phone to the courthouse and find out if another will has been filed. I want to know real quick!”

As Patty was exiting the room, in a much calmer tone of voice, B. Wendell turned to Jackie and asked if she was all right?

“No, B. W., I’m not all right!” Jackie responded with venom in her voice. “The nerve of him to call me that name right here in front of everybody. He’s going to pay! I want him gone, B. W.!”

Ray seized the opportunity and said, “One more word from any of those three punks and I would have been all over them.”

B. Wendell looked down the table towards Ray and condescendingly said, “I’m sure you would have Ray. I felt very secure the entire time. Now, you can have the rest of the day off. We’ll see you Monday.”

Ray walked out of the door in a puffed-up posture, completely forgetting his briefcase which was resting on the floor just underneath the edge of the table next to his chair.

After Ray had departed Patty returned to the conference room where B, Wendell immediately looked up at her and said, “Well?”

“As of today no other will has been filed,” Patty told him.

“Then they were bluffing?” Jackie asked.

B. Wendell sat in thought for a moment before he said, “Maybe. Probably, but not necessarily. There could be another will, but it would be obsolete. Ours is legal and airtight.”

“But can’t they contest it?” Jackie inquired.

“They have 30 days from today to do that. And I have a few tricks up my sleeve to see that they don’t make that deadline.”

“But, B. W., what if for some reason they do make it?”

“Then there’s always negotiation.”

“What does that mean?” Jackie asked.

It means that if we don’t get the entire company we might have to settle for half or even a third, either of which will be more money that you and I can imagine. Don’t worry your pretty head about it. That’s what you pay me to do. Now, what do you think about us taking off right now for the lake? A weekend of relaxation will be good for you.”

“I don’t know,” Jackie said, still with a little shrillness in her voice.

It became clear to B. Wendell that his client was stressed out to the limit, so he insisted. “Come on, it’s pretty clear that you need to get away and forget about everything for a while.”

“Oh, well, then okay. Why not. I guess I could use some down time,” Jackie relented.

B. Wendell stood up and noticed that Patty was still standing there. “I thought you left,” he said.

“Uh – no, I was just wondering if you wanted me to file everything away?”

“Hell no! It’s Friday. Just leave everything like it is and we’ll deal with it Monday.”

When they all walked out of the conference room the dark green legal folder with the coffee stain on it was left on the table in front of B. Wendell’s empty chair.

(tmdunagan@aol.com)