Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 15:52:34 +0000 From: Jacob Latson Subject: Agony & Ecstasy Chapter 5 Disclaimer: This story will describe the life of John Miller from his time as a divorced man who has been devastated by the divorce and turned it into a new life of wealth. This story will include descriptions of male sex, including M/M, M/T, M/b, T/b and b/b. If stories involving sex between consenting males of all ages, including mainly gay sex, offends you, go back to the Archives and pick a different story for your reading pleasure. There has been minimal research for this story therefore, names, places, and events are mostly fictitious and similarities to real life are coincidental. Some companies and organizations mentioned actually exist, but references to the activities, policies, programs and procedures are fictitious. This story will include references to the United States government, the FBI, CIA and other agencies. Any references are purely fictional, and only used to develop the plot and characters. Thanks Bill for your editing skills!!! Agony & Ecstasy Chapter 5 Life Goes On John felt guilty for living with Bobby's family and needed something to do to occupy his time. Each fall for the past 18 years he had officiated for high school football games, and he couldn't wait for the season to start. He loved football and become one of the favorite referees in the State of Michigan with the coaches, players and fans. He gave special attention to the junior varsity games when young boys were just learning the basics of football. He was now the head official and knew that his crew of officials could call a penalty on every play where the boys were making obvious errors. To the delight of the coaches, John and his crew would talk to the players and explain their errors instead of throwing the penalty flag. Most of the boys and coaches appreciated the special attention and corrected their mistakes, but when a player or coach defied John's status, they were penalized. For the past five years, John's crew of officials had been selected for the State Championship games hosted in the Pontiac Silverdome. John had updated his resume` and had posted it on several Internet sites in his search for a new job. Michigan was experiencing major job losses in the automobile industry, and General Motors, Ford and Chrysler were closing plants and "outsourcing" operations that were uncompetitive. The "downsizing" of the auto industry was hitting Michigan harder than any other state in the United States, and job opportunities had evaporated. Bobby had developed an aggressive action plan to deal with Margaret, and put his plan in motion. Margaret realized that she was living beyond her means, and unleashed her anger on everyone and everything. John's job searches had been futile, and he needed something to occupy his time and provide some income, so he accepted a part-time job at Taylor Paint, a store that he always used for paint and wallpaper supplies when he was working on his home. Jim Taylor had inherited the business from his father, and had always respected John when they did business. John was surprised when he learned that Jim Taylor was volunteering at a soup kitchen on the east side of Detroit and was also refurbishing shelters for the homeless. John started working in his spare time to help Jim at the shelters, and soon realized that his own situation was minor compared to the homeless. Some of the homeless were drug addicts who were using the welfare systems to continue their drug habits, but many of the homeless were good people who had fallen on hard times. John also volunteered at the soup kitchens where he helped prepare meals and serve them to the unfortunate of Detroit. He saw the gratitude in the faces of the adults and children when he served them what was probably their only meal of the day, and he vowed that if his financial condition ever improved, he would help the homeless. John had sold his Dodge Ram pickup truck to get rid of the monthly payments and had bought a five-year old Chevrolet Silverado pickup for transportation. He was determined to never own another Chrysler product after he learned that the son of one of Chrysler's Vice Presidents had been promoted to take John's old job in charge of engineering. He knew that his financial status was getting worse, even with the employment at the paint store. Bobby was livid when he learned that the plant manager at John's former plant had lied to John about combining engineering and production under one manager. He was ready to file a lawsuit against Chrysler, but John convinced him to focus on the divorce proceedings. John knew that salaried workers at Chrysler had no protection against management decisions like the UAW members, and that a lawsuit would be futile. The divorce proceedings were delayed twice when Margaret changed attorneys. She was furious with Trevor Robinson, her 1st lawyer, because he was unable to get the assault and battery charges dismissed. She was put on probation for 6 months and took her anger out on her lawyer. Trevor Robinson was relieved when Margaret fired him, but he demanded compensation for his legal efforts. Margaret refused to pay and was livid when her wages were garnished by a court order. She was forced to return to working 40 hours a week to pay her living expenses, and finally realized that she would have to move out of the home on the lake. "Margaret's new lawyer, Sidney Ashton, just gave us official notification that she will be vacating your home on June 1st," Bobby said to John. "It looks like you can move back home if you want, but you know that you're welcome to stay here with us." "I've imposed on you long enough!" John replied. "I can't wait to get back home and plant my garden and go fishing! I've only seen my dog, Barney, a few times, and I really miss him!" "You painted almost every room in our house, and Justin loves the wallpaper and decorations that you picked out for him," Bobby said. "You saved me a bunch of money and I've finally started repaying you for what you did for me when we were in college. Taylor Coleman is still tailing Margaret, and she's got some new credit cards that she's using for some very suspicious purchases. She's deep in debt and Sidney Ashton will never be paid until the divorce is settled. My sources tell me that Margaret's sisters are refusing to lend her any more money for legal fees, so the time is right for the divorce hearing." John wanted to pack to return to his home and dog, but had to wait two more weeks until June 1st. He was talking to Bobby about his plans for a new garden and spending time on the lake with Barney when Mary came into Bobby's home office. "You have a call from Mike Smith," Mary said while handing the cordless phone to John. "Hello," John said. "John you need to get home fast!" Mike said excitedly. "We've heard loud noises and glass breaking at your house and we called the police. We think Margaret has gone postal on your home!" John quickly told Bobby what Mike had said and the two men ran out of the Goldman home and jumped in Bobby's Mercedes. John wanted to drive his truck to his home, but Bobby was worried that John was too upset to drive without getting a ticket or causing an accident. When they got to the home on the lake, the police cruiser had just arrived and two officers were approaching the front door. The sounds of glass breaking and Margaret screaming met everyone when they opened the door to look inside. "POLICE!" the first officer yelled with his gun drawn. "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Margaret screamed at the two officers. When she saw John and Bobby, she grabbed a table lamp and threw it at John. She ran to attack John but the two police officers stopped her and wrestled her to the floor before handcuffing her. John looked around his home and saw the destruction. Margaret had broken out all of the windows and had smashed all of the framed pictures on the walls. Upholstered furniture had been slashed and gasoline had been dumped on the floor. It was obvious that she intended to burn the house to the ground, and John was devastated. Bobby had gone into the kitchen, and ran out to get the two police officers. "I need one of you in the kitchen right now!" Bobby said. "John, don't go in there! You don't need to see what she did!" John felt like vomiting from seeing the destruction in his home and wanted to beat Margaret to a pulp. The police officer saw the anger in John's eyes and ordered him to "get back!" "You're under arrest for assault and battery!" the first officer said to Margaret. "Read her her rights!" Bobby ran up to John and hugged his best friend. He didn't know how to break the bad news to John, and knew that he would need both police officers to keep John away from Margaret. "How could you do that to a dog?" the first police officer said when he returned to the living room. "I'm adding cruelty to animals to your charges, and I hope you rot in jail! Throw her ass in the cruiser and get the digital camera to document what happened here!" "BARNEY!" John screamed. "WHERE'S MY DOG?" "Barney's dead," Bobby said softly. "I don't want you to see him. Margaret killed him with a butcher knife!" John nearly fainted and collapsed on the slashed living room couch. The tears poured down his face when he thought about his dog and how affectionate Barney had been with everyone. He fought to stay conscious and listened to Bobby take control of the situation with the police officers. Mike Smith, his wife Amber and their two children, Tim and Amanda came into the living room and ran to comfort John. They were all appalled at the destruction of the house and contents, but didn't know about Barney until Bobby told them. Amanda and Tim burst into tears at the loss of their beloved pet. They both adored the playful beagle, and often argued over where Barney would sleep when he was visiting their home. They couldn't believe that Barney was dead, and wanted to see him. "Mike you can go in the kitchen, but I don't want Amber or the kids to see what Margaret did," Bobby said. "Amber, if you and the children will stay with John, I'll take some digital pictures for evidence. We'll need to get some plywood to cover the broken windows but I don't want anyone to start cleaning up this mess until my investigators get here. I've already called them, and they'll be here in about 30 minutes. I also called the Humane Society so they can witness what Margaret did to Barney. Please let me handle this!" Bobby knew the two police officers and went outside to talk to them. He was livid that Margaret had damaged the house and was ready to burn it to the ground, but he also knew the law. Margaret was part owner of the home and couldn't be charged with destruction of property for destroying her own home. "Throwing the lamp at John and killing the dog are both crimes that we want her charged with," Bobby said. "She's on probation for assault and battery, and this should put her in jail. That dog was the most lovable dog in the world, and I want her ass fried!" "I've never seen anything like this in my 10 years on the force," the first police officer said. "If we hadn't got here when we did, she would have dumped the rest of that gasoline can in the living room and the evidence would have been destroyed. What the fuck is wrong with her? She kicked the window out of the cruiser, and we had to put shackles on her!" "She has anger problems over a pending divorce," Bobby replied. "John's my best friend, and I need to help him calm down and accept what happened here. I'll call the Prosecuting Attorney at his home to get him ready for her arraignment. Again, I want her ass fried!" Mary and Justin came to John's house, but Bobby wouldn't let them go inside. Bobby insisted that his wife and son take John back to their home and try to calm him down. Bobby was busy on his cell phone making calls to secure the damaged home and get the legal issues handled. It was midnight before Bobby returned to his own home where his wife was waiting for him. Mary hugged her husband and told him that John was sleeping in the guest room after taking one of her Valium pills. Bobby looked into the guest room and wasn't surprised to see his son, Justin, snuggled up next to John. "Justin was a basket case when he heard that Barney was dead," Mary said to her husband. "Why did Margaret do that to the house and Barney?" "I'm going to insist that she have a psychiatric evaluation," Bobby replied. "Hormonal changes can cause personality changes, but her violent behavior has escalated. I'm sure that the judge will revoke her probation and throw her in jail and she'll probably lose her job. I want every issue covered to protect John." John woke up the next morning to the sounds of a sobbing 7-year old boy. He felt the wetness in the bedding and quickly realized that Justin had wet the bed during the night. "It's okay," John said softly to the shattered little boy. "Let's just get cleaned up and have breakfast. I'll take care of the bedding." Mary had heard Justin crying and felt guilty for letting the boy sleep with John. Normally Justin wore absorbent "Pull-Ups" when he went to bed, but with all of the turmoil in the house, he was only wearing his regular underwear. She tried to apologize to John, but he said, "I needed Justin with me last night to hold. You help him get cleaned up while I take the bedding to the laundry room. I'll shower downstairs." Mary loved John and knew that he was being honest with her. She took Justin to the bathroom and tried to calm him down. The little boy was ashamed and embarrassed about wetting the bed, especially because he knew that he had peed on John. After his shower, John walked into the kitchen where Mary was serving pancakes and sausages to Justin. He looked at the cute little boy and saw Justin hang his head in shame. He knew that he had to say something to restore normality, so he said, "We were both upset when we fell asleep last night. Some boys wet the bed until they are 16 or 17, so please don't be embarrassed. My son, Johnny, wet the bed until he was 13, so it doesn't bother me at all. Can I have a hug?" Justin ran to hug John and cried tears of relief. John was his Godfather, and he loved having John living with him and his parents, but he was still upset. He finally calmed down and sat on John's lap while they ate breakfast. John was surprised to hear that Bobby had already left for his office. He knew that his buddy was up late making so many important phone calls, and felt guilty for keeping Bobby from getting a decent night of sleep. He thought about his dog and tears flowed down his face. "Bobby called your veterinarian so they could document the injuries to Barney," Mary said. Do you want Dr. Lincoln to take care of Barney?" "He's my dog and I'll build a box to bury him in," John said while trying to control his tears. I know where I want to bury him right down by the garden and lake." "Can I help you bury Barney?" Justin asked. "He's my dog too." "Legally I can't bury an animal on my property, but I want Barney to always be with me, and I'd really like some help." John said with tears flowing down his face. "I have an antique crate that has a metal lining that should work for a casket." Mary knew that it would be a very emotional experience for John and her son, but she knew that their bond was strong and that they needed each other for support. She left the kitchen to call Dr. Lincoln and asked his advice. She told the vet what preparations she wanted for the dog's body, and was pleased when he agreed. Mary drove John and Justin to the veterinary clinic after John retrieved the metal lined box from the garage. He was relieved to see that the equipment in his workshop was intact, and knew that the crate would make a suitable casket for his beloved dog. He carried the crate inside the clinic and was professionally greeted with expressions of condolences by the staff. "Can I at least see Barney to say goodbye to him?" John asked Dr. Lincoln. "We documented everything and he's wrapped with a soft towel with only his head showing," Dr. Lincoln replied. "After you say goodbye to him, we'll cover his head so he can rest in peace. I'm appalled at what happened to him, and I'll testify in any trial of your wife for what she did." John saw the assistant carrying the crate into one of the examination rooms, and took a deep breath before following her into the room. He waited while she opened the hinged lid and then looked inside. When he saw his dead dog, he broke down sobbing and nearly collapsed. Mary and Dr. Lincoln held John up until he composed himself enough to look at his dog for the last time. Justin was too short to see inside the crate, and asked John to lift him up so he could see Barney. His eyes were filled with tears when he asked if he could pet the dog. "You can touch him but immediately after you need to wash your hands with disinfectant in the sink," Dr. Lincoln said. "Please don't move the towel. Say goodbye to him and try to remember him when he was running around the yard and enjoying life with you, not the way he is right now." Justin had tears flowing down his face when he ran his little hand over Barney's head and said, "Goodbye Barney, I love you!" Mary immediately took Justin out of John's arms and helped her son wash his hands. "Let's give John a few moments alone with Barney," Dr. Lincoln offered. He knew that pet owners were devastated when their pet died, and he led everyone but John out of the room and closed the door. John leaned over and petted Barney's head. "You're the best dog in the world, and I love you!" John sobbed. "I should have taken you with me when I moved out! I'll never forget you!" John covered Barney's head with the towel, closed the lid on the crate and washed his hands in the sink. He took a deep breath and opened the door so he could carry the crate out to Mary's van. When the van arrived at John's home, John was surprised to see his son and daughter-in- law waiting for his arrival. Johnny ran up and hugged his father and shed tears at what had happened the previous night. He and Kirsty had driven to the home after Bobby called them, and they were shocked at what Margaret had done. "We've been making a cross for Barney's grave," Johnny said when his father calmed down. He showed the wooden cross to his father and was proud of his craftsmanship. "It's perfect," John said when he saw that the cross had "Barney" painted on it and was made out of pressure treated wood. Justin had found the tennis ball that Barney always chased around the yard, and the little boy wanted to put it in the crate. John drilled the holes to hold the lid closed and let Justin drive the nails in the holes. After digging the grave and placing the crate at the bottom of the hole, each person said goodbye to the special dog. When the grave was filled, Justin put the cross in the ground and the tearful group walked up to the house. John was surprised that three trucks were in the driveway, with a group of workers getting ready to put plywood over the broken windows. Another crew was waiting with video equipment to document the damage, and a third crew was wearing uniforms that identified them as "Remediation Experts, Inc." "I sure can't pay to have all of these people repair my home," John said to his son and Mary. "Abe found out what happened and he demanded that he be involved," Mary replied. "Abe loves you like another son, and he's furious at what happened here! He's got a lot of influence with the judges in Detroit, and I'm sure that he's joining Bobby in making important phone calls. Abe insisted that he pay for the construction repairs!" John loved Abe Goldman for many reasons. Abe had been the lawyer who had sued the construction company after John's father was killed in a construction accident, and Abe knew that John had helped Bobby recover from illness when they were college roommates. Abe and Sarah Goldman had always welcomed John into their home and treated him like he was part of their family. John walked into his home and was appalled at the destruction. When he had first seen the damages, it was dark, but now the daylight showed the extent of Margaret's anger. An axe had been used to destroy the framed photographs on the walls, including the ones of John with his parents. He was sick when he realized that the mementos of his childhood had been destroyed along with most of the furniture in the home. "Dad, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but she busted up your boat and motor," Johnny said. "I know that it was Grandpa's boat and motor." John ran out of the house and down to the edge of the lake where the boat and motor were stored. He was sick when he saw that Margaret had used an axe to chop holes in the aluminum boat and had smashed the outboard motor into pieces. He had cherished the boat and motor and always said a prayer for his father when he went out on the lake in the boat. He was furious, and paced back and forth in front of the destruction. "Someday, I'll get even with her for this!" he promised. Margaret knew exactly what he valued in remembrance of his parents, and she had done everything she could to destroy his memories. Abe and Bobby worked wonders with the court system, and Margaret was in the city jail without chance for bail. Her probation was revoked because of the repeat offense of assault and battery, and more charges were pending for killing Barney. When the divorce trial began, Margaret was led into the courtroom in jail clothing. She was furious that her lawyer hadn't been able to get her released from jail, and she was embarrassed to face the judge like a common criminal. Bobby had tried to settle the divorce out of court with Sidney Ashton, but despite his best efforts, Bobby was unsuccessful. Sidney was a sleazy attorney who wanted to run up the legal fees by refusing to bargain with Bobby. Judge Carrie Matney was angry with both attorneys for wasting the time of the court system by not settling the divorce out of court. When she listened to the opening arguments from Sidney Ashton, she quickly realized that the defendant, Margaret Miller, was totally out of line with her demands. Judge Matney's challenge for the attorneys to meet one last time to negotiate a settlement was immediately rejected by Sidney Ashton. John was shaking with fear when the opening comments began. He looked around the courtroom and saw his son and Kirsty sitting in the few seats in the small courtroom. Across the aisle were Margaret's two sisters, Mary Ann and Liz, along with some people that John didn't recognize. John was the plaintiff, and his lawyer would begin the proceedings. He wished that he had accepted the Valium that Mary had offered him before he left for the court date. Bobby called John to the stand to testify, and was ready to build a strong case against Margaret. He first had to get the basics of the marriage breakdown on the record and then show how Margaret was at fault. Bobby was precise in the way he asked questions of John that laid the groundwork for his case against Margaret. Johnny had been removed from the courtroom because he was scheduled to testify on behalf of his father, and Kirsty had left with him to wait outside the courtroom. Twice during John's testimony, Margaret lost control and screamed obscenities. Both times, Judge Matney ordered Sidney Ashton to control his client. After the second outburst by Margaret, Judge Matney threatened Margaret with Contempt of Court for another display of disrespect. Bobby was masterful in asking John questions that gave a history of the marriage and how things had deteriorated. John explained how Margaret had run up the credit cards and had experienced major emotional changes when she reached menopause. Before Sidney Ashton had a chance to cross-examine John, the judge called for a recess for lunch. During the lunch break, Bobby reminded John how to respond to questions from Margaret's lawyer. "He'll try to bait you to lose your temper," Bobby said. "He knows that he's in deep shit, and the only way he can win any favor with the judge is to get you to lose control. He's a sleaze bag, and he's going to try and stretch out this trial to get more legal fees out of Margaret. Of course, he will demand that you pay her legal fees, but that won't happen!" "I want to kill the bitch for what she did to Barney and my home," John admitted. "She'll pay for what she did," Bobby promised. "Just don't lose control! When he asks you a question, pause before answering so I can jump in to object if the question is `over the line'. I'm your attorney, and it's my job to protect you!" "What can I do when the pornography issue comes up?" John asked. "I'll handle it!" Bobby replied. "Trust me!" After the recess for lunch, John was still on the stand and Sidney Ashton began his questioning. "So you testified under oath that your wife supported you and put you through college and graduate school," Sidney began. "I said that we both had part-time jobs when we were in college," John replied. "So you got a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's in Business Administration because Margaret Miller put you through college?" Sidney continued. "I had a football scholarship that was converted to an academic scholarship after I got injured," John replied. "My parents paid for my education." "Your parents were dead, so Margaret Miller is the only reason that you graduated and got a job with Chrysler Corporation?" Sidney continued. "My wife was taking 12 credits each semester, and I was taking 16 or 18," John replied. "We both had part-time jobs to pay a portion of our tuition and living expenses. She was making six dollars an hour for 12 hours a week, and I was making eight dollars an hour for 20 hours a week. My mother paid for most of our expenses, and I got an academic scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania based on my grade point at the University of Michigan." "So she sacrificed her own chances for getting a Master's Degree to put you through graduate school!" Sidney added. "Margaret had a 2.1 grade point average for her undergraduate education, and I had a 3.9 grade point average in mine," John replied. He realized that Sidney was trying to prove that Margaret was the only reason that he was accepted to graduate school, and was ready to reply. "A 2.1 grade point average wouldn't qualify anyone for graduate school, unless they were trying to become a lawyer like you!" Sidney was enraged! He decided to intensify his attack of the witness to bait John into losing control in front of the judge. "Your Honor, I object to the disrespect from this witness!" Sidney yelled. "Mr. Miller, please exclude your personal comments about attorneys in general and Mr. Shelton in particular from your answers," Judge Matney said. Secretly, she wanted to laugh out loud at what John had said, but she had to appear impartial and professional. "Mr. Ashton, maybe you should move on for the sake of time!" Bobby was in heaven! John was in total control of his emotions, and Sidney was obviously agitated that he wasn't able to rattle John. "So, how did you get a Master's Degree in Business Administration if it wasn't by the sweat and sacrifice of Margaret Miller?" Sidney asked. "My mother got a substantial settlement after my father died, and she sacrificed everything to pay for our living expenses and my tuition," John replied. "My mother even paid off the student loans that Margaret and I used to pay our tuition when we were at the University of Michigan. Without my mother's sacrifice, neither of us would have graduated from college, and I wouldn't have completed graduate school." Bobby was thrilled! He knew that John was a talented man who had deserved to be an executive with Chrysler Corporation, and now he was a witness to how his buddy could react to a shithead lawyer. Sidney decided to change direction in his questioning. "Margaret Miller was denied the physical intimacy that a wife deserves," Sidney began. "Is that a question?" John asked. "OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR!" Bobby exclaimed. "Counsel is trying to intimidate my client!" "Counselor Ashton, you must direct questions to the witness, not statements of your beliefs!" Judge Matney ordered. "I will not tolerate that in my court!" "I'd like to answer that comment," John said. This was working exactly the way Bobby wanted the testimony to go. He only objected to give John time to prepare his answer, and was pleased to see that John was very composed. "Even before my wife started her changes of life, she lost interest in sex," John began. "Before we were married, she was a tiger! She loved giving me oral sex, and was a willing partner for regular and anal sex! After our child was born, she turned cold. When her changes started, she started gaining weight and lost all interest in sex. She demanded two weeks notice before we had regular sex, and came to the marital bed and farted repeatedly. Maybe that would excite you, but it turned me off!" "OBJECTION! YOUR HONOR!" Sidney Ashton exclaimed. "The witness is not answering my question!" "I think Mr. Miller gave you a very detailed answer to your question, counselor!" Judge Matney replied. She tried to hold back her smile at how the witness had turned the tables on the lawyer who she despised. Sidney Ashton demanded a ten-minute recess so he could compose himself. He was livid that John Miller had turned the tables on him, and he wanted to collect his thoughts before continuing the questions. During the recess, Bobby expressed his pleasure at how John was handling the questions from the jerk. "You were fantastic!" Bobby said to John. "I never dreamed that you would handle questions like his under pressure so very well! He's a shithead, and he'll still bait you to lose control! Stay focused! You're hitting his hot buttons, and he's furious!" "Will he drop the bomb about the pornography?" John asked. "I don't have any defense for that!" "You'll plead the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution if he tries," Bobby advised. "I don't expect that issue to come up until Margaret's on the stand. Timing's everything, and you're doing great!" After the recess, Sidney Ashton tried to trap John with leading questions about the lack of intimacy in the marital home. His efforts were futile, mainly because of the responses from John and the objections from Bobby. The judge finally ended the day of testimony and the trial was adjourned until the next morning. John went back to Bobby's home and drank a few beers with his buddy while they talked about the courtroom antics of Sidney Ashton. John would still be on the witness stand the following day, but Bobby was convinced that Sidney was running out of ways to incite John to blow up. John watched television with Bobby and Mary, and was calm when Justin crawled up on his lap for attention. John went to bed early, and spent a restless night in the guest room. When the trial resumed the next day, Sidney Ashton gave up and let John be excused from the witness box. He had tried his best, but he was pissed that John had never lost control in front of the judge. He knew that he would have to take a different path to salvage Margaret's case. Bobby was in total control of the trial, and had prepared John for what would happen next. Streams of witnesses were called to discredit Margaret even before she was scheduled to testify. Remediation experts showed photographs and videotapes of the destruction of the marital home and the boat and motor, and Margaret was livid! The most damaging photos showed Barney, and how the loveable dog had been butchered. John wasn't prepared for seeing the images of how his favorite pet had been murdered. He had to turn away from the photographs to keep from bursting into tears, and the judge noticed his obvious revulsion. Judge Carrie Matney was a pet lover, and she couldn't imagine how anyone could repeatedly stab a beagle dog in an act of vengeance. She was appalled, and tried to control any obvious displays of her emotions in the courtroom. She listened to Dr. Lincoln describe the multiple stab wounds on the unfortunate dog, and was nauseated. "IT WAS MY HOUSE AND MY FUCKING DOG!" Margaret screamed at the judge. She had tried to control her emotions like her lawyer had insisted, but after hearing her own son testify about her lack of affection and the proof that she had vandalized the marital home, she lost control. Margaret had threatened to disown her own son, and the outburst had pushed the judge to the limit. "Counselor, control your client!" Judge Matney ordered. "I warned you before about vulgar outbursts, and now I hold her in Contempt of Court! That will be 30 days in jail for Margaret Miller, and any further outbursts will result in your client being sentenced to addition jail time and possible removal from this courtroom!" Sidney Ashton was pissed at his client, and tried to control Margaret's temper in front of the judge and the courtroom witnesses. He knew that he was losing control of the trial, and asked for a recess. "We're recessed until tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m." Judge Matney ordered. "I will not tolerate any further disrespect for this court!" Bobby was thrilled, but John was still upset. John knew that his interest in child pornography was going to be revealed, and he was still very afraid of the consequences. When John and Bobby got home, Mary was waiting for them with a pitcher of Manhattans made with John's special recipe. She knew that the men needed to talk in private and unwind from the tension in the trial, and kept Justin out of the office. "I'm afraid of what Margaret will say when she testifies," John admitted. "She'll try to blame you for everything, but don't worry," Bobby replied. "Sidney is a shithead, and he knows that the judge is furious with Margaret. I told you before what my dad said about the judges. When a woman plays the trump card of child abuse or pornography, the judges know that she's got nothing in her case." "I sure didn't like having Johnny testify," John admitted. "Margaret is still his mother." "Johnny was a key witness for us," Bobby replied. "During a divorce, it's common for the husband and wife to blame each other for the breakdown of the marital bond, but the testimony of an adult child holds a great deal of weight with the judge. I prepared Johnny for the questions from Sidney, and your son was fantastic! With Margaret facing 30 days for Contempt of Court, Judge Matney has already taken our side. Let's finish our drinks and enjoy supper with Mary and Justin." "Margaret threatened to disown Johnny after his testimony," John said. "I never wanted to cause problems between them." "Johnny told me about how Margaret never gave him any affection," Bobby replied. "You've always been the nurturing parent, just like you are with my son, Justin. Margaret has alienated everyone in her life, and Johnny will get some closure if she makes good on her promise. Your son knows both of you, and he made his choice crystal clear to the judge." John barely ate anything before heading to bed. He was tossing and turning in the guestroom until Justin snuck in and climbed in bed with him. He was going to object, but the cuddly boy was exactly what he needed to finally get some quality sleep. The next day in court was filled with more testimony from witnesses who had seen the destruction of the home and murder of the beloved pet. Then the financial aspects were revealed, and Sidney Shelton was livid! Through examination of the credit card statements, it was clear that Margaret had spent thousands of dollars on her hairdresser, clothing, restaurant meals, and travel for herself. Bobby left out any reference to the charges for the Kitten Klub because he was going to drop that bomb when Margaret was on the stand. It was the beginning of the third day of the trial when Sidney Shelton was ready to begin his assault on John Miller. His first witness was Margaret Miller, and John shook with fear at what Margaret would say. Sidney began with leading questions to allow Margaret to lie that she was the person who sacrificed her personal life to put John through college and graduate school. She continued her lies by saying that John had refused to have sex with her and that she suspected that he had had several affairs during their marriage. Bobby was ready, and objected at the allegations of the affairs and demanded evidence to support the serious charges. Sidney was pleased, and continued to portray John as the reason for the breakdown of the marriage. Margaret said that she wanted affection, but John had refused to have sex with her. The stage was set when Margaret grabbed some papers and held them up to the judge. "I have proof that he's a pervert! I've showed these pictures to my sisters and my lawyers, and these are copies of child pornography that he had on his computer! He's addicted to boy pornography!" John thought that he would vomit when his addiction to boy pornography was revealed. His son and daughter-in-law were in the courtroom, and he had been dreading this moment. "OBJECTION!" Bobby screamed. "In a sworn deposition in February, Margaret Miller made a similar accusation, and I asked her, under oath, if she had any evidence of any child pornography. I have the deposition here right now, and I enter it into the record! Under oath, she said that she had destroyed any evidence!" "I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE!" Margaret screamed, while waving the papers and computer discs at the judge. "If we can believe this hostile witness, she either lied under oath during her deposition or is lying right now!" Bobby stated emphatically. "She just admitted to possession and distribution of child pornography, if that is what she is waving at this court, and I want her charged with a felony! It's obvious that she has fabricated the evidence that she wants you to view, and I want her charged with perjury!" Sidney Ashton was livid! He had bet everything on the use of the child pornography to discredit John Miller, and Robert Goldman had just turned the tables on him. Judge Carrie Matney stopped all testimony while she reviewed the written record of the deposition. She tried to hold back her emotions and said, "It's obvious that Margaret Miller has committed perjury either in her sworn testimony during the deposition or today in my court! I will not waste any more time on this issue, but will inform the prosecuting attorney of the charges against Margaret Miller! Move on, counselor!" Bobby tried to conceal his pleasure at how Margaret had been trapped. His father had trained him in the way to handle allegations of pornography, and the training had worked! Sidney Ashton was furious! The judge had rejected his trump card, and now his client was facing felony charges for possession and distribution of child pornography. He quickly asked that any reference to charges of possession of child pornography by John Miller were retracted. He walked up to the witness box and took the evidence away from his livid client. He tried to build his case on lack of affection from John, but he was losing any ground with the judge. Margaret lost control of her emotions and screamed obscenities at her attorney, Bobby, John and finally, the judge. "Another 30 days for Contempt of Court!" Judge Matney yelled at Margaret. "We'll break for lunch, and counselor Ashton, I suggest that you control your client or I'll throw her out of this courtroom!" During the recess for lunch, Bobby sat with John, Johnny and Kirsty in a local restaurant. He told them that Margaret was in deep trouble with the judge, and that he was ready to drop a bomb when the trial resumed. He refused to explain his plans, and only told his friends that it was "show time!" When the trial resumed, Margaret was still on the stand and Bobby began cross- examining her. He started with mundane questions to get Margaret to relax, and then he hit her with both barrels of his legal shotgun! "I have three questions for you," Bobby began. "What is your favorite flavor of candy, what size bras do you wear, and what size panties do you have on?" "OBJECTION!" Sidney Ashton screamed. "Counselor Goldman!" Judge Matney yelled. "What possible connection to this divorce exists with your questions? The objection is sustained!" "I assure you that my questions are completely within the scope of previous testimony from this witness, and I'll prove it later" Bobby replied. "Mrs. Miller, do you recognize the names of Angel, Brittany and Missy?" Margaret recognized the names, but hoped that Bobby wouldn't know her connection. "Those are common names, but I don't know anyone by those names," Margaret replied. "Interesting!" Bobby said. "I'd like you to look at these credit card statements for a Chase MasterCard account with the last four digits 4597. Would you please explain to this court what the charges on this credit card were for?" "I bought clothes for myself and food" Margaret replied. She had concealed the account from her attorney, but it was obvious that Bobby was extremely thorough. Bobby smiled, and Margaret was shaking with fear. Now he had her right where he wanted her. "I'd like you to examine these statements that show purchases from Victoria's Secret Intimate Apparel, the Velvet Touch, Sin City Erotic Toys, and the Kitten Klub" Bobby said. "What were those charges for, and how can you explain a credit card balance of over $10,000 that you failed to list with your attorney?" "OBJECTION!" Sidney Ashton blurted out. "Attorney Goldman is out of line with his questions!" "Your Honor, my questions are completely within the scope of my cross-examination!" Bobby replied. "This witness has testified that she used four credit cards, when in fact she used six! She further stated that she used credit ONLY for food and clothing for herself, and I can prove that she perjured herself, AGAIN!" "Objection over-ruled!" Judge Matney said. "Mr. Goldman, you may proceed!" Carrie Matney had always respected Abe Goldman and his son, Robert, and now she was going to witness the talent of one of the best lawyers in the country. She couldn't wait to hear more about the secret credit card and the purchases. "I asked three questions earlier that I never got answers to," Bobby began. "I'd like the witness to examine these copies of purchases for size 34B brassieres and size 4 panties! I know that all of the women in this courtroom realize that those intimate items would never fit you! Who were they for?" Margaret was trapped, and she was livid! She refused to look at the copies of the receipts and lied when she said; "Those were for my niece for her birthday!" "When is your niece's birthday?" Bobby asked. "I don't remember," Margaret replied. "It must have been in January," Bobby stated. "Then again, it might be in February, March, April, May or any of the other months of the year, because these statements show purchases in every month of several different years. Now, would you please explain to the court why you would buy edible panties in cherry, strawberry and licorice flavors for your niece? And while you're at it, please explain why your niece needs `peek a boo' bras and crotch less panties!" "KISS MY ASS!" Margaret screamed. "I'M NOT ANSWERING ANY MORE OF YOUR FUCKING QUESTIONS!" "That's another 30 days in jail for contempt of court!" Judge Matney ordered. "We'll take a 15 minute recess to allow Attorney Ashton to get control of his client!" Johnny and his wife, Kirsty, were shocked at what had been revealed! They both were the targets of abuse from Margaret's two sisters who were blaming the divorce on John. The two sisters both screamed at Johnny, and the Bailiff had to step in to separate the arguing parties. John ran to the restroom and vomited what little food was left in his stomach. He remembered that Bobby had said that he was going to nail Margaret in front of the judge, but the testimony was shocking! He never knew about the sixth credit card, or what it was used for. Bobby and Johnny came into the restroom and tried to calm John down. John rinsed out his mouth and splashed water on his face to try and calm down. "Maybe I should have told you what Taylor Coleman uncovered before blasting Margaret, but I was afraid to let anyone know until I was sure of the information," Bobby said. "Taylor got some of the information within the last two days, and I was busy putting together a strategy on how to use it." When the trial resumed, Judge Matney admonished Margaret and her attorney. "I will not tolerate any further outbursts of profanity in my court!" the judge said. "Mrs. Miller is already facing 90 days in jail for Contempt of Court, and another outburst will get her dragged out of this courtroom and directly to the County Jail! Mr. Goldman, you may continue with your questioning of this witness." "I asked you earlier if you recognized the names of Angel, Brittany and Missy, and you said that you didn't know any persons by those names" Bobby began. "We also found numerous credit card charges for a business by the name of the Kitten Klub. Would you please explain how those charges were for food and clothing for yourself?" "I don't have to answer that question!" Margaret replied. "My lawyer said the Fifth Amendment protects me from having to answer!" Bobby wasn't surprised when Margaret invoked the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, so he continued with his grilling of the nasty bitch. "It's interesting that you refuse to answer, but I have here sworn statements from three young women that you might find interesting," Bobby began. "Angel, Brittany and Missy all gave us notarized statements that you paid them for lesbian sexual activities and that you showered them with gifts of jewelry and intimate apparel. Would you like to comment on their statements?" "I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY!" Margaret screamed. She was trapped, and she was livid. "Your Honor, I submit that Margaret Miller broke the bonds of matrimony during the past four years when she ran up charges of over $10,000 for sexual favors!" Bobby stated emphatically. "I believe by the previous testimony and these documents, that everyone in this courtroom should understand that Margaret Miller destroyed this marriage by her infidelity and her obvious disregard for financial responsibility!" "I'LL KILL YOU!" Margaret screamed at Bobby. "I'LL KILL YOU TOO, YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" she screamed at John. "Bailiff, take her out of my courtroom!" Judge Matney yelled. "I find you in Contempt of Court for the fourth time, and you will serve 120 days in the County Jail for your outbursts!" "YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Margaret screamed at the judge. "I'LL KILL YOU TOO!" During the time that the Bailiff was dragging Margaret out of the courtroom, Margaret's sisters, Mary Ann and Liz were screaming obscenities at everyone in the courtroom. Judge Carrie Matney pushed the emergency buzzer and was relieved to see two police officers rushing into the courtroom. She watched while the two officers dragged Mary Ann and Liz out of the courtroom before she banged her gavel to bring the court to order. "I've heard enough!" Judge Matney stated emphatically. "Forget any closing arguments in this case! Both attorneys have until tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. to present me with their pleadings for dissolution to this troubled marriage. We're adjourned!" John was wiped out! He needed help from Bobby and Johnny to walk out of the courtroom and down to Bobby's car. Johnny rode in the back seat with his father, and hugged his dad and tried to comfort him. It broke Johnny's heart to hear his dad crying, and he hated his mother more than ever! Mary was waiting with a pitcher of Manhattans for her husband and John. Johnny refused any alcohol, but held his father's hand while Bobby explained what he would put in his pleadings to the judge for resolution of the divorce. "We're going to ask that the marital assets be split on the basis of relative contribution during the marriage" Bobby began. "That means that you contributed 75% of the income, so you should be entitled to 75% of the value of the home. Of course, we will reduce her share by the estimate for repair of the damages. Unfortunately, she's entitled to half of your buyout from Chrysler, but most of that money has been used to make the monthly payments for the mortgage, utilities and credit cards. Those are marital debts, and she never contributed anything when she was living in your home. An actuary will calculate the value of your retirement and bring the value back to present day dollars. I'm going to insist that Margaret pay 80% of the credit card bills, since she obviously abused them. I'm also going to ask for punitive damages for what she did to Barney and your dad's boat and motor." "Will the judge listen to us?" Johnny asked. "Doesn't she have to split everything 50- 50?" "The judge has flexibility when there are special circumstances in a divorce," Bobby replied. "If we hadn't paid for the psychiatric evaluation of Margaret, the judge might have believed that your mother is mentally ill. The psychiatrist diagnosed two different personality disorders, but stated that she is sane but very disturbed." "What will she ask for?" John asked his friend. "If I know Sidney, I know he will ask for the world!" Bobby replied. "Don't worry! Sidney has no credibility with the judge, especially after Margaret's outbursts. It will probably take the judge a week before she hands down her verdict. I suggest that you stay here with us until the divorce is final." "I want to get home and do some painting and see if I can salvage any of my family pictures," John replied. "I want to plant the garden, and maybe that'll take my mind off this mess!" John would spend an agonizing time of sorting through his damaged household furnishings while he waited for the judge's verdict. 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