by Larry Brown
Mack walked back to his table and removed his jacket and hung it on the back of his chair. He then walked to one end of the jury box and walked slowly to the other end and back to the center.
“I want to apologize to y’all cause I’m gonna have to get ugly to make my point. Now, I know children are precious to their mamas, but when those two men turned the lights off in their van and came down the Blake’s driveway, they were pure savages. They were animals. They blew the front door open and didn’t warn or instruct the Blakes in any way, shape, or form. No, they murdered Maggie Blake in cold blood. They blew the blouse off her body, opening up her chest, revealing blood and bone. There was nothing precious about these savages. And then they came after Harry to do the same to him. But we all know exactly what happened after that.”
Tears were flowing from Mack’s face. He turned to Harry, “I’m sorry, Harry, that you have had to relive this horrible night.” Mack turned back to the jury removed his handkerchief, dried his eyes, and blew his nose.
"My humble apologies to the jury. But things like this upset me. I get mad as hell! The audacity that Harry Blake should compensate savages and animals, for crying out loud. Harry Blake should be compensated for his loss.
“You folks are part of our Polk County family, and we are good people for the most part in this county. I know full well you will not, I say again, will not add insult to injury to Harry Blake by having him pay one red cent for the deeds of savages. Folks I trust you to do the right thing.”
Roscoe watched Mack walk back to his table and wink at Harry. Roscoe knew in his heart he had been done in again by the little redhead.
The jury was out for two hours and the verdict was no compensation. One juror said that they needed only 20 minutes to reach a verdict, but they stayed only for appearance sake.
When the trial was over, Roscoe actually made the first move and came over to Mack, offered his hand, and congratulations. Roscoe turned to Harry, extended his hand, and said, “No hard feelings. I only did it to get a little cash for the mamas. I was correct, it would not hurt you.”
Harry did not offer his hand; he looked Roscoe in the eyes, “Get away from me, you are truly one pathetic person.”
Roscoe started to respond, but Mack stepped in and said, “Best be on your way Roscoe, nothing to be gained here. Go lick your wounds.” Roscoe turned and silently left the court.
The courtroom was now empty except for four people. Harry and Mack still at their table and Clay and Andy making their way to congratulate them. Andy walked straight to Harry embraced him, kissed him on the cheek, and put her arm in his.
“Congrats gents, Mack you were great again and old Harry was pretty damn good support,” Clay said looking at his sister holding on to Harry.
“Thanks, Clay and you are correct, Harry was superb,” Mack said also looking at Harry and Andy.
Harry said, “Thank y’all, I’m glad it’s over. Let’s go celebrate. I have some very expensive bubbly already chilled in my office.”
Chapter 31
The four left through the private back entrance to the court to avoid the press who were being held captive by Roscoe. Roscoe was explaining he knew he would probably lose but he felt an obligation to try to help these poor women. He had made sure they knew he had done the work pro bono and he had hinted about expanding his role as a public servant.
The four drove separately to Mack’s office, and since it was now almost 6:00 pm the office had closed, and Mack took out his keys to unlock the door only to find out it was not locked. Mack stood there momentarily shaking his head. Clay’s mind went law enforcement way and immediately thought foul play. Mack turned to the others and said, “My sweet niece didn’t lock up when she left. God bless her, she’s clueless.”
Clay said, “Maybe she’s still here waiting on you.”
“I wish, but no car out here,” Mack said opening the door and turning on lights which were all off. “Let’s go into the conference room, my office is a mess.”
He directed them down a hallway to a big, plush conference room. He went to the other side of the room through a door to a fully equipped kitchen. He removed a bottle of champagne and got four crystal champagne flutes from a cabinet. Mack poured four glasses, and Clay insisted he make two toasts. “First, to Mack Peters, for keeping his streak alive by taking old Roscoe apart again. May the streak never end. And then to my friend, Harry Blake, until today I always wondered how a guy from a three-piece suit background could have done what you have, but now I understand. To my friend, the former special ops guy.”
They all added their cheers and Harry spoke, “Come on Clay, that was 50 years ago. I don’t ever like to think about those days.”
“Some things, Harry, are like learning to ride a bicycle. Once you learn, you never forget,” Mack added.
“Well, my thought is you were both terrific today,” Andy said, and she placed her hand on Harry’s arm which did not go unnoticed by Clay and Mack.
“Andy, I didn’t realize you were acquainted with Harry,” Mack said.
“Oh yes, Clay introduced us, and we are becoming good friends,” she answered.
“I can see that,” Mack looked at Harry and finished. “You are a fortunate man Harry Blake to have such good friends as Clay and Andy.”
“As usual, you are right, sir,” Harry replied and tipped his glass toward Mack.
They emptied the bottle of bubbly and Harry suggested they go to The Lighthouse for dinner and finish the celebration.
Clay said, “I wish I could, but I have to go fill in for one of my men who has a family issue to deal with, but y’all go ahead.”
Mack said, “I, too, am committed to a client dinner at my home tonight. Sorry, I know I would have more fun with y’all.”
“Well, Harry, I guess you are stuck with me,” Andy said with a mischievous smile.
Mack grinned, “Poor ol’ Harry, stuck with Andy.”
Clay didn’t smile, just turned and said, “I gotta go. See y’all later.”
The other three sets of eyes exchanged glances, but nobody spoke except to say goodbye.
Harry and Andy were standing at the hostess desk of The Lighthouse waiting to be seated when who should walk straight to them as they were leaving, Pastor Ray Andrews and his wife, Pam.
“Harry, we already heard the good news, congratulations,” Pam said while Ray could not or did not take his eyes off Andy.
“Thanks, Pam and let me introduce y’all. Ray and Pam Andrews this is Andrea Wilson. She is Clay Hardaway’s sister.”
Andy spoke next, “Harry, nobody calls me Andrea, Andy please.”
Ray spoke next, “Well, it’s easy to see who got all the looks in the family and you sure were right, Harry.”
Pam gave Ray the ‘look’ and he was silenced. The ladies exchanged words, and Ray just stood silently smiling at Harry. Ray invited Harry to bring Andy to church with him, and the two couples parted company.
When Harry and Andy were seated, she said, “What was that about, Harry?”
“Oh, as a pastor, Ray is always inviting folks to church.”
“No, no, you know what I mean. The ‘you were right’ comment.”
“Oh, that,” he said.
“Yes, Harry, that,” she said.
“Well, I told you I talked to Ray about my grieving or the end of it. In the course of that conversation, he asked me if I had met someone and I said yes. Then he asked if she was attractive. And I said more than attractive, she’s gorgeous.”
Andy blushed and said, “Do all writers exaggerate?”
“Actually Andy, good writers have a keen eye for the truth,” Harry said this with a straight face.
“Harry, you are terrible, but you know that already, don’t you?”
They finished dinner, and Harry walked her to her car where she promptly embraced him and kissed him on the lips. Not a long kiss but a kiss on the mouth nonetheless. Harry drove home thinking dating when you’re older was much more comfor
table than he thought it was going to be.
Chapter 32
Harry was a happy man driving home, a great day in court and a genuine sense of progress in his relationship with Andy. As he turned into his driveway, it was lit like daylight which would make Clay and his team happy. Then he stopped in the middle of his driveway. There was a black two-seater Mercedes parked, and then he noticed a suitcase on his front porch.
None of his kids drove Mercedes; he couldn’t imagine who would be here without notice. He saw the front door of the Mercedes open, and someone exited the car. When the light revealed their identity, his heart sank to his groin. Oh no, he thought. What in the world is she doing here?
Zelda Mintz was a friend and neighbor of him and Maggie where they had moved from on the coast. Her husband Jim had been a good friend of Harry’s and had died of cancer three years earlier. Zelda had visited him and Maggie about a year ago. Zelda and others from the old neighborhood had come to Maggie’s funeral. She had called a couple of times to check on him and the last call, which was a few weeks ago, she said she would like to come by for a visit when she went to the mountains to see her sister. He thought she meant for lunch or a cup of coffee or something. Goodness, her suitcase was on his front steps. What was he supposed to do?
She was standing behind her car waving and waiting for him to finish coming down the driveway. Harry was frozen, how the hell he was going to handle this. He needed time to think. Then Harry had an idea. He grabbed his cell phone, put it to his ear, and eased the car down next to her, stopped, and got out. He spoke into the phone, “Hold on just a minute; Zelda what a surprise. You’ll have to excuse me, I’m on a conference call with the west coast. They are still working out there.”
She was already putting her arms around him. He half-heartedly hugged her back and gently pushed her back saying, “Let me open the front door for you. Make yourself at home, I’ll try not to be too long.” He opened the door trying not to notice her suitcase. He eased her in and immediately went back out to his car and pulled into his garage.
He called Andy, and she was halfway to the farm. “Andy, it’s Harry, I’m in trouble, and I need your help.”
Andy swerved off the road and to a complete stop. She could sense the desperation in his voice, “Harry what’s happened, it’s not another attack is it?”
Harry realized he had probably just scared her badly, “Andy no, I’m so sorry; I didn’t mean to sound so desperate. But I do need your help, I’m in a mess.”
She breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Okay Harry, what’s happened, my goodness, have you had a wreck?”
“No, no, nothing like that, but I got home, turned into my driveway, and there was a car parked there and a suitcase on my front porch. It was a Mercedes, so I knew it was not one of my kids. Then out steps one of our old neighbors from when we lived on the coast. She and her husband were good friends. We played golf and spent time together.”
“Harry, was her husband not with her?” Andy inquired.
“No, no, Jim died over three years ago. She’s called since Maggie was killed and said she was going to come by and see me. She has a sister who lives in the mountains which she visits, and I thought she meant to stop by for lunch or coffee but my gracious, her suitcase is on my front porch.”
“Harry, it probably got late, and she got tired and decided to see you and get a free overnight. She’ll probably be out by mid-morning, relax.”
“Andy, you don’t know Zelda. She’s very aggressive and she’s made it quite clear that she wants a husband. I don’t ever want a conversation about that.”
“Is she ugly, Harry?”
“Well, no, but that’s not the point.”
“Harry, I think you are taking a lot for granted. Don’t you think you could just be imagining this?”
“Well, maybe but I know Zelda, and I think I’m probably correct.”
“Where are you and where is she?”
“I’m in my car in the garage, and she’s in the house. I told her I was on a conference call with the west coast on the mini-series.”
“Harry, I think you need to go in, have a conversation with her, and let her spend the night and move on. My goodness, Harry, you fight off armed gunmen and don’t flinch, and you sound frightened to death of a 60 something harmless female.”
“Andy, there is no such thing, and I have said that before.”
Andy laughed, “And Harry how in the world was I supposed to help you with this situation?”
Now what Harry had thought in his mind seemed much harder to put into words, “Um, well I, I thought that maybe you could come to my house and pretend you were late in coming to spend the night with me. This would then let her know, you know, send the message I’m not available, and I’m committed, you know. I mean Andy, I could sleep in the bathroom or on the floor, she would never know, and I swear you would not be compromised. I know it’s a lot to ask and I know I have panicked a bit and I am sorry, but I am desperate.”
“Harry, I don’t know whether I should be mad or sad. I can’t imagine my first time we would spend the night together would be under such devious circumstances.”
Harry realized he had screwed up. He didn’t know what to say, so he said, “Oh Andy, I’m sorry, I tried to drag you into my problem. I hope you will forgive me. Drive carefully.” Harry hung up without waiting for a reply.
Harry left the garage and entered through the kitchen hoping maybe Andy was correct. Maybe his imagination had run amuck.
“Harry, I’m starting to feel like you are not happy to see me. And I didn’t think you would mind; I opened us some wine. So, Harry, are you not happy to see me?”
“No, no, Zelda it’s these calls on the mini-series. Remember it’s still early in L.A. No, Zelda, you really caught me by surprise, you should have called to let me know you were coming.”
“Harry, have some of your wine and sit next to me. We need to talk.”
Harry’s antenna went up, and he tried to put this off as long as possible. First, he washed his hands, then he suggested some cheese and crackers with the wine. Zelda passed, but Harry said he wanted to fix a few, so he stepped into the pantry for crackers. He loitered there until she called.
“Harry, what’s taking so long, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, just trying to decide what kind of crackers for the cheese.”
He came back, selected the cheese and slowly began to cut slices and match them with the crackers. He made it a tedious process. Running out of things to do, he sat down next to her.
“Harry, are you through with everything because I have some things to say and I don’t want to be interrupted.”
Harry groaned inside and said, “No, I’m fine. Zelda, I hope you are not going to be too serious.” He smiled and tipped his wine glass toward her.
“Well, I am going to be serious, very serious.”
Harry felt his stomach turn. “Ever since we talked a few months ago and you said you were no longer in mourning and moving on, I was so happy for you. And, I just couldn’t stop thinking about you. Now, this part is very important. I know how religious you are, and I realized it was God sending me a message. He wanted you and me to be together.”
“Zelda.”
“Don’t interrupt Harry, let me finish. You were happy, I was happy for you, and we were both happy together. Then I knew Jim and Maggie were in heaven together and everybody is happy in heaven right. So, when I thought about it, I knew they would want you and me to be happy and together.”
Harry was starting to feel light headed. “I was so sure of this. Listen, Harry, I have been looking for a man for well over a year, and there are no good prospects. But Harry, in your case, I already know you very well. I mean we both know each other well. And I like you. You are kind, considerate, charming, good looking, and to tell the truth, I can’t wait to have sex with you. Hey, I’m sorry, it’s the truth. If we are going to be together, we should have no secrets, right?”
Harry stood up, “Zelda, please!”
“Well, Harry, I wanted you to know how I feel.”
“Zelda, you can’t just come in here and drop a bomb like this!”
“Harry, neither of us is getting any younger. We don’t need to waste time, we already know each other, we just need to start enjoying each other, and I say let’s start tonight.”
“Zelda, please!”
“Harry don’t plead, I’m ready. Harry, please let me lead. You just follow, and I’ll make you happy. Okay, here’s what we are going to do. First, we take a shower, together, of course, you wash me, I’ll wash you, and we go to bed and have sex. And if you don’t like it, I’ll go home in the morning. I can make you happy, Harry.”
“Zelda, you have got to stop this!”
“Harry, do you think I’m ugly?”
“No, of course not.”
“So, what’s the problem.”
“Zelda, I have a life here at the lake.”
“Harry, I know that. We will live here. I’ll sell my place. Harry, Jim left me so much money, you and I will never spend it all. We can travel first class anywhere we want to go.”
Harry had to stop this, but good Lord, she was so determined. So he decided on a different approach.
“Zelda, I can’t tell you how flattered I am that you would consider me with such regard. It’s just overwhelming. I think we should go to bed and talk again in the morning.”
“Sounds good, I’m ready.”
“Zelda, I mean separately. You can have the room you had last time you were here, if that’s okay.”
“Harry, don’t you think tomorrow morning would be easier if we shared your bed?”
“No, Zelda, I need time to think, okay?”
Harry finally got Zelda settled in one of the downstairs bedrooms and was back upstairs. He was now exhausted. A full day in court and now this, but he couldn’t imagine sleeping. Good Lord, the woman had the rest of his life planned. Plus sex; is this the way older single people acted? He decided he needed a drink. He poured one and went to his office to check emails and try to compose himself and find a way to handle this without hurting her feelings. Maybe she would have a less aggressive attitude in the morning.
