Chapter Thirty-One #3
She held out the certified letter. “This was waiting at the post office today.”
He took it, slipped it out of the envelope and read the damning information. “Does my cousin know?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know how to break it to him. He’s going to be worried, and with him taking Daisy to her dance tomorrow, I don’t want to upset him.”
Tyler said nothing, paced, as he read the letter again. Then scooted his legal pad to the center of his desk and began jotting quick bullet points. Then he swiped his cell to unlock it, tapping in a number and bringing the phone to his ear.
“Shelly, hey.” He mouthed to Charlie, My paralegal.
“Yeah, Shelly, I’m sending over a change of appearance.
” He listened, gesturing for Charlie to sign the agreement.
She did, and he whipped it away and pulled out a second cell, scanning it, flipping it, scanning it, emailing it, all while on the phone.
“Got it? Good. Run this and an appeal to the twelfth circuit stat. Need them filed today. Yup, before they close … type fast, then…” There was a lull as the woman spoke on the other end.
“We need an immediate petition to appeal a dismissed restraining order from Nacogdoches County Civil Court, judge presiding Calvin Mitchell … yup, two Ls. I wanna hearing for tomorrow…” More pacing, so calm as he absorbed whatever was being argued on the other end.
“Nope. We’ll get the hearing. I can almost guarantee it …
how do I know?” At this, a sly grin hinted across Tyler’s firm lips.
“Oh, I got some hot buttons to press. They’re gonna see my name on the docket and my implications and ain’t gonna let it go.
” He glanced at Charlie, nodding to her for confidence, but only nerves chewed through her.
Was Tyler as cutthroat as everyone said? Or was he about to open a huge can of worms?
“Yeah. Right at the top. Grounds for appeal and I want ’em in bold font. Error of Law. Error of Fact. Misinterpretation of Law. And the kicker … Abuse of Discretion.” Silence. “I sure as hell am talking about Mitchell on every single one of ’em.”
Charlie held her breath. She gnawed her thumb nail now. The person on the other end was typing fast, the clicking a soft patter through the phone. Then they said something, as Charlie’s pulse roared in her ears.
“Nope. Ain’t accusin’ him of misconduct yet.
Too soon. But yeah, when Mitchell finds out, he’s gonna know that’s where we’re headed, and he knows I don’t play.
And I want him to know hell’s followin’ me if he’s been weaponizing his position against someone who can’t fight back.
” Tyler nodded at whatever Shelly was saying.
Checked the time again. “Good. Hit the road. Text confirmation when it’s filed. ” He tapped off the phone.
Charlie exhaled, then shook her head and gazed out toward the stable where the trio had vanished. “I don’t want to put her out. It’s already four.”
“Naw, Shelly’s the best at what she does. She’s my appeals paralegal, based down the road from the court in Tyler, Texas, and I don’t pay her generous for no reason. She’ll get it done.”
Charlie willed her pulse to relax, but it wouldn’t. Because she’d never fought back like this before. Never had the means to do it, and Jason wasn’t used to her increasing the stakes.
“This ups the ante,” she finally muttered. “He’s going to be pissed.”
“Who? Jason? Or Thaddeus, for you not tellin’ him first?”
“I never wanted him to become embroiled in this mess.” She sighed. “All it does is puts a target on his back, and it doesn’t feel fair to force someone who’d never lift a fingernail in anger, to face down someone who would.”
A laugh actually burst out of Ty’s throat as he shook his head. “Oh, man, Thaddeus…” Tyler was scrutinizing her, then also glanced out the window at Thad walking Unicorn around the yard next to Daisy, who held the lead.
“Heart’s comin’ back tomorrow, so I want you to bring Daisy here first thing. Keep your calendar clear and your suit jacket by the door and be prepared to drive to the twelfth circuit with me. Got it?”
“Do you think you can build a case for judicial misconduct?”
He nodded. “Yup. Let’s see how Jason reacts to our appeal and if Mitchell has anything to say about it.
But we need a smoking gun, undeniable proof.
And now we gotta find it. Go home tonight and start sorting through everything you know about Jason’s past.” He finally settled a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it.
“Don’t keep secrets from him, okay? Even if it’s for a good reason. He trusts you, and he’d want to know.”
She nodded yet gestured to the real estate paperwork.
“Seems you’ve been holding out on him too.
He wishes he owned this farm, you know. It’s the only place he’s ever seen himself living.
” She pointed out the office door at the photo of him fishing with the cousins.
“It’s where all his happy memories are.”
His mouth quirked at her tongue-lashing with … amusement? “Noted.”