Page 73 of Sunshine
“Counselor, while your client was caught with his pants down, I do see your point.” She shoves her glasses high up on her nose and holds a finger up to David, who’s mouth is open to speak. “The private investigator did trespass onto private property.” She looks at me. “And this has nothing to do with the woman. Her conduct isn’t our concern right now.”
“Your honor, I’d like to know if this is how Mr. Callen plans to behave when he has custody of his daughter?” Greg asks pointedly.
“What I do, legally, when my child isn’t present, shouldn’t be anyone’s business,” I growl, and then swallow hard, knowing I’ve been too aggressive by the judge’s pinched expression.
“And yet here we are looking at your business.” Judge Hortense cocks her head staring at the photos, flicking through them, tossing them across the desk as she does. A wrinkle forms between her brows and her eyes flick to mine. “I’ll need to talk to her, make sure these acts were consensual.” She turns to Greg.
“Is there an official police report for the legal incident?”
“No, Your Honor. But it’s clear in the photos that he was detained.”
“Why is there no police report?”
“Because I’d done nothing wrong.”
“Or is it because you’re about to be the officer’s new lieutenant?” Greg asks, not even looking at me.
“Okay, okay. I’m done here today. There is enough evidence to proceed more formally. I’m going move this to the courtroom, where you’ll all have your chance to present evidence.” The judge holds her hand up, stopping my rebuttal.
“What is the name of the woman in these pictures?” She picks up a pen and poises it on the sticky note in the file. “Anna, we’ll keep the name out of the official notes for now.”
“With all due respect, we decline to answer that at this time, but we can forward the information directly to Your Honor. If the name is spoken aloud here today, it’s already too late to put the cat back in the bag.”
She sighs. “Would you rather she be subpoenaed?”
“No, Your Honor.”
“Approach.” She waves just her fingers to call David forward. She passes him the pen and he writes the name down.
Judge Hortense’s eyes go wide for a split second when she reads the name before she gains control of her expression, and it returns to its dour state. Shifting in her seat, she says, “I want to talk directly with her before I make any decisions on the admissibility of the picture evidence.”
“What?” I blurt. “Why?”
My brother-in-law puts a hand on my chest, stopping me from moving toward her in what I’m sure could be considered an aggressive move.
“What my client means, respectfully,” he interjects, shooting me a look that speaks volumes about my ignoring his ‘let me do all the talking’ rule, “is that he has no issues with your request. As long as opposing counsel is not privy to the conversation.”
“I’d like all pictures, and original files with no other copies made. If any remain outstanding, and leak, there will be consequences.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
The judge turns to Jeff suddenly. “You’re the child’s current guardian?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
She looks to a man near Jeff who I hadn’t even noticed in the room. “And you’re the child’s advocate?”
The man nods.
“Do either of you have anything to say?”
“I don’t know these people, Your Honor. And the fact that they didn’t even bother to show up today gives me pause on their ability to parent a child,” Jeff says.
“I agree, but we’re going to give them the benefit of the doubt a little longer, and let this play out.”
“Your Honor, my only concern right now is the scheduled visitation not being adhered to by the child’s grandparents. I feel it’s having a detrimental effect on the child.”
The judge looks down at her desk, glancing once again at the paperwork. “I see they’ve missed…” Her brows rise and she looks to Anna. “Is this correct?”
