Caleb
The coffee shop on Elm is almost empty when I walk in, just an older couple by the window sharing a muffin and a kid behind the counter who looks like he'd rather be somewhere else.
I order a black coffee and carry it to a table in the back corner where I can spread out without anyone looking over my shoulder.
I've made a to-do list, and today I'm knocking out a few calls I need to make.
I pull the list out and smooth it flat on the table next to my coffee.
Helen's name is first, then Mrs. Finch at CPS.
I take a sip and stare at the two numbers for a minute, going over in my head what I need from each of them and how to ask for it.
Helen will be easy so I decide she comes first, which will give me a few more minutes to decide how to handle Mrs. Finch.
I don't know how to bring up to a CPS worker that I need her to testify, but her voice will be the strongest during the trial.
I pick up my phone and call Helen at the boutique. She picks up and I immediately hear the register beeping in the background.
"Hello?" she mumbles, half distracted.
"Mrs. Jones, this is Caleb Ward. We spoke last week about Olivia Bennett. I'd like a moment to talk to you about something important." Coming clean to her was a tad embarrassing, but she seemed to understand immediately and wanted to help. I hope that can-do attitude she had is the same today.
"Caleb, hi. What's going on?"
"I need to ask you for something." I take a sip of my coffee and set it down.
"Olivia has an emergency custody hearing coming up, and her attorney's going to need a formal written statement from you about those anonymous calls.
Do you think you can manage that?" I stare out across the street, watching a man walk his dog around the corner as Helen says something to her customer and then returns to me.
"I'll have it done today," she says without hesitating. "Anything else I can do for you?"
I think for a second. We're up against a giant in this one, and maybe a personal reference to demonstrate Olivia's character may help.
"Think you could write up a personal reference in that letter?
Tell what you honestly think about Olivia and her capabilities?
" I don't dare coach her what to say, but I think Helen understands what's at stake.
"I can do that too. I love that girl more than anything." I hear the smile through which she speaks and feel relieved that Olivia has this woman in her corner. "Her lawyer's name is David Kessler. He may reach out to you directly."
"Tell him I'll be ready." She pauses, and when she comes back she says, "Thank you for being in her corner. I know she probably appreciates that so much."
"Thank you, Mrs. Jones." We hang up, and I drink a few more slurps from my coffee mug, procrastinating since I'm not sure what to say to Mrs. Finch, but I can't put this off any longer.
She takes more work to reach. I call the main CPS line and get transferred around a bit before she picks up, sounding busy and slightly out of breath. "This is Finch."
"Hello, Mrs. Finch. My name is Caleb Ward. I have a few questions and perhaps a favor to ask of you." She doesn’t know me from Adam, so this is a long shot, but I hope her heart is as kind as Helen's.
"Mr. Ward, what can I help you with?"
"I'll keep it short… I have phone records showing that the complaint filed against Olivia Bennett came from the personal cell phone of her ex-husband, Derek Bennett.
The same number also made calls to her employer and her son's school, making identical claims about her mental stability. All within the same timeframe."
Mrs. Finch sighs and pauses for a second. I'm not sure if she's trying to remember or forget that interaction with Olivia. "I remember… But that's a serious allegation you've got. I can't divulge the credibility of that claim or the anonymous caller's name."
"I have the documentation to back it up," I tell her, " and I'd like to submit the phone records formally through your office.
I'd also like to ask whether you'd be willing to provide a written summary of your findings from the home visit for Olivia's attorney.
Or maybe you'd come to the trial to testify on her behalf. "
"My visit resulted in no concerns whatsoever, and I noted that in my report.
" I hear her typing and then she says, "If Ms. Bennett's attorney submits a formal request through our office, I can provide a summary.
And yes, please send those phone records.
If someone used our complaint system as a weapon in a custody dispute, we need to know about it. "
"As for being a witness?" I say, almost holding my breath as I wait for her to respond.
"I'd be happy to attend a hearing if a subpoena is issued. I have no problem doing my job as an expert witness."
I get a rush of adrenaline at her response and almost whoop in celebration. But I manage to wrangle my emotion into a smile and say, "Thank you. I'll pass that on to her lawyer, and I'm sure he'll be in touch."
I write down her direct number and the fax number, thank her again, and hang up.
Then I sit there for a minute finishing the last of my coffee, watching the morning crowd start to trickle in.
A few more people grab drinks at the counter and settle into tables, and the shop starts to fill up. That's my cue that it's time to leave.
I leave cash on the table and gather my notes into the folder, pushing through the front door into the sun.
The street was empty when I parked, and now it's full, including a delivery truck almost blocking my way.
I get in, toss the folder on the passenger seat, and start the engine, heading toward home.
I make it about two blocks before my phone buzzes, and I glance down at it where it lies on the center console. Reilly's name flashes on the screen and I tap the hands-free button on the steering wheel as I stop at a red light.
"Gunny. Got a minute?"
"Yeah, I do… And I have good news." The light turns green and I pull through the intersection, settling into the drive. "Helen's on board for a written statement with a personal reference, and Mrs. Finch said she'll testify as an expert witness if David subpoenas her."
"That's huge." I hear him shuffling papers and then he says, "I've got something too. Mick pulled Derek's records going back ten years and found a sealed complaint connected to a name you'll recognize—Matt Frasure."
I served with Frasure for two years and he was a good man, kept his head down.
"What's Frasure got to do with Derek?" The entire reason I got into this fiasco was because Derek helped Matt Frassure win his custody case.
We were all so grateful because of what Matt went through.
All he wanted was to see his kids, and Derek helped him.
"Derek helped him win by going after his ex-wife—ran the same kind of campaign he's running on Olivia right now.
And there's more… The woman filed complaints and they got dismissed.
On top of that, I found out he had a domestic charge which he tried to have erased too, probably so his reputation as a lawyer didn't get tarnished. "
The idea that Derek put his hands on anyone is enough to anger me, but the mental image of him hurting Olivia is what locks in my brain.
I'm not sure if she's the one who filed the charge, but it's infuriating enough that I can't shake it.
And to think he's made this a habit of smearing women's reputations to steal their children from them says enough. I've got to put an end to this.
"Have you talked to Frasure?" I ask, already half-knowing the answer.
"Mick reached out, but he won't get involved.
He got his kids and that's all he cares about.
Doesn't want to reopen any of it." Reilly pauses.
"But we don't need him. The complaint his ex-wife filed exists in the court system even though it's sealed, and David can petition to have it reviewed by the judge in chambers.
It shows Derek has a documented history of running this exact operation against mothers in custody disputes. "
I turn onto our street and slow down, pulling past Olivia's house where I see a dark blue BMW in her driveway behind her SUV. It has to be her lawyer. We haven't spoken much, but she did say the man was coming by this morning.
"Get me everything documented," I tell Reilly. "Her lawyer's at the house right now. I'm gonna try to catch them before he leaves."
"You'll have it tonight."
I hang up and park, then walk across the grass to Olivia's porch. She opens the door when I knock but glances over her shoulder cautiously. I don’t want to intrude, but I have more information for the lawyer.
"This isn't a great time," she says quietly.
"I know, but Mr. Kessler needs to see what I have."
Olivia sighs and purses her lips, but she steps aside and says, "Come in."
David Kessler stands from the couch when I walk into the living room. He's maybe early sixties, gray at the temples, with a legal pad on the arm of the couch and a pen tucked behind his ear. He shakes my hand and sits back down.
"Mr. Kessler, this is my neighbor, the one I've been telling you about." Olivia is polite enough, offering me the armchair as she takes a seat by the lawyer.
"Mr. Ward, have a seat," he says, gesturing. Olivia must've already told him about the work I'm doing to help her get out of this mess she's in.
I open the folder on the coffee table and lay the pages out.
David picks up the first page and leans back, reading while Olivia watches his face.
He flips to the phone records and traces the highlighted numbers with his pen, making a note in the margin before moving to the wire transfer.
He reads it twice, sets it down, and looks at me.
"This changes things considerably." He glances at Olivia, then back at me. "The phone records give us traction on their own, but a sealed complaint showing he's done this to another mother turns his entire filing into a pattern."
Olivia leans forward. "So we can beat this?"
"We can, but not in three weeks." David makes a note on his pad. "I want to file for a continuance and push the hearing past the Fourth of July. That gives me time to authenticate everything, subpoena Mrs. Finch, and petition the judge to review the sealed complaint."
"What about Ethan?" Olivia asks, and I hear the tightness in her throat.
"He stays with you. Nothing changes until a judge says otherwise." David caps his pen. "I know waiting feels impossible, but going in unprepared would cost us more than the delay."
Olivia rubs her temples and nods.
"What else can I do?" I ask, eager to keep fighting this thing. I'm not foolish enough to think Derek is going to back off. I have to keep the pressure on or he'll just end up walking all over her.
"Let me know if your friends find anything else, but don’t break any laws in the process." Mr. Kessler stands and straightens his tie, offering me his hand. "Thank you for putting these things together, Mr. Ward."
I take his hand, saying, "It's Caleb… and you're welcome."
We're going to beat this, and finally, Olivia is accepting that there are people in her corner and she doesn't have to do this alone.
Now to finish this thing so Derek will never mess with her again.