Page 43 of Inside the Maelstrom: Part Two
“Anything else, Alexis?”
“I once saw Hendrick Kenley fucking his best friend Otto at a party. I’m pretty sure he still does, even though he’s married.”
Roger’s nose flared. “Plaintiff rests, Your Honor.”
Tobias stood. “Miss Schumaker, can you tell me what happened on the sixteenth of June last year?”
Her face went red. “I don’t remember.”
“You don’t remember being pulled over by the LAPD on a night out in Los Angeles, blowing three times the legal limit and having two types of banned narcotics in your bloodstream?”
“Your Honor, relevance?”
Tobias looked over at the judge. “The Plaintiff called Miss Schumaker as a character witness. Should we not ascertain her character as well?”
“Overruled, but keep it relevant, Mr. Lecter.”
“Mr. Kenley’s every traffic violation has been paraded as evidence, but while he was regrettably under the influence of alcohol in some instances, there were never any drugs in his system. Hendrick himself vehemently denies taking drugs, Miss Schumaker, so we have to come to the conclusion that if you did indeed see Mr. Kenley take drugs ‘all the time’”—Tobias did air quotes—“they might very well be delusions of your own drug habit.”
“I don’t have a drug habit!”
“Your own stints in rehab would say otherwise, Miss Schumaker.” Tobias leaned forward. “I would go as far as to say that your whole testimony was done in bad faith, because you are angry that Mr. Sampson Rubio is no longer interested in relations with you. That you have a vendetta against Mrs. Aviva Kenley for taking what you considered yours.”
“I—”
“You saw Aviva kissing Sampson and felt nothing but jealousy, so you thought you could lie to this court to punish them both. To ensure that someone they love ends up in a facility they don’t require, all because you were scorned.” Tobias turned to the rest of the courtroom. “I’m afraid your little dig about Otto Guyer came too late, Alexis. Hendrick himself explained to the court the nature of his marriage and his relationship. This isn’t reality television. Sensationalism isn’t necessary.” He looked at the judge, a clear dismissal on his face. “Nothing further, Your Honor.”
The rest of the hearing wrapped up pretty quickly after that, the judge retiring to his chambers to deliberate. Tobias hustled us to a conference room, his face serious. He kicked out his associates again, and I wondered if I should be worried about what was going on at his firm.
He straightened his tie. “I’m quietly confident, but you never know in cases like this.” Cases where corruption was a way of life. “Are you ready for the next step?”
Hendrick nodded. We would secure him his freedom, and then we would smash this old fuck into oblivion. The senator thought this was over, but this wasn’t even close to done.
“Aviva and Evan?”
I shrugged. “Safe and out of reach for now.”
We didn’t elaborate, didn’t tell Tobias that we thought that the accident yesterday was actually an attack. The lawyer needed plausible deniability with his partners. But the wily lawyer wasn’t an idiot, and he was just as cynical and jaded as the rest of us. He knew it was no accident.
There was a knock at the door, and one of the associates appeared. “Verdict is ready.”
We all moved back to the courtroom. My heart was pounding. I couldn’t lose Hendrick—none of us could. Especially not Aviva.
We entered the courtroom, taking our usual seats, and the judge cleared his throat. “This case has been a difficult one, as I must determine if this individual does indeed require conservatorship. Compared to an average young man his age, the answer is a resounding yes. His risk-taking behavior is well-documented. That being said, an average young man isn’t an equitable peer for someone of Hendrick Kenley’s status. There is irrefutable proof that the children of the wealthy live by their own standards, and if I had a sample of young men in Hendrick Kenley’s financial situation, would the same actions be considered extreme? It becomes less definitive in this situation.”
His face turned cold. “Whatiscertain is that Senator Theodore Kenley is not a suitable conservator for Hendrick, or any person for that matter. Senator, I not only believe that you do not deserve that title, but that you should be thanking your lucky stars that your son isn’t pursuing criminal charges against you. Because if this had been a criminal trial, I would have no doubt that a jury would have convicted you, regardless of your standing within our society.” His jaw ticked. “I understand that you managed to put injunctions in place regarding the evidence presented yesterday by the defense. It is regrettable that our great legal system can be manipulated in such a way.”
He turned from the senator, dismissing him entirely. “Hendrick Kenley, I see that you have a decent system in place regarding the management of your money. I am requesting that you have any purchases of one million dollars or higher approved by two financial advisors until you turn twenty-eight. I am also assigning your general practitioner, Dr. Letitia Guyer, as medical power of attorney in conjunction with your wife, until you turn twenty-eight, as per the request of Dr. Guyer and your lawyers. Court dismissed.”
I couldn’t help the grin on my face. Otto hissed, “Yes!” beside me, before launching himself toward Hendrick, wrapping him in his arms.
I looked over my shoulder at Otto’s parents. “Thank you,” I mouthed, and his mom waved a hand like it was nothing. To her, it probably was nothing.
Tobias caught my eye. “She said you guys would never suggest her as medical power of attorney, would never want to put her in harm's way like that. That’s why she had me put in the counter-suggestion in secret.”
She was right; we’d tried to keep the Guyers out of it as much as possible. It was enough that they loved us even when they didn’t have to—we didn’t want them to take any extra risks with their lives or their careers.
I nodded, and pulled Tobias into a tight hug. “Thank you. I can never repay you.”
