Part 6 (2/2)
”No.”
”No what?”
”No, I won't jump up and yell at him.”
Becky exhaled. ”Good.”
”I might shoot him.”
CHAPTER.
10.
Melvin wasn't there. By ten o'clock Monday morning the only one at the plaintiff's table was a rather smarmy-looking lawyer, a short, balding, sweating man with sideburns much too long for his age and furtive, darting eyes. He was, Cora saw at a glance, someone she would never marry. Considering her current lack of male companions.h.i.+p, that was saying something.
Cora, seated next to Becky Baldwin, was dressed in her most conservative, respectable outfit. Becky, on the other hand, was dressed like a million bucks. Her outfit seemed to scream that here was the femme fatale who lured men to their financial ruin, as opposed to her prim and proper client. Cora understood the strategy but didn't appreciate it.
Judge Hobbs banged the court to order. He reviewed the next case on the docket, then stared skeptically down at the plaintiff's attorney. ”Let me be sure I understand this. This is a pet.i.tion for annulment?”
”That's right.”
”The plaintiff is seeking to annul a marriage that took place over fifteen years ago?”
”Yes, Your Honor.”
”On what grounds?”
”At the time of the marriage, the defendant already had a husband living.”
”Is the former husband living now?”
”No, Your Honor.”
”Then he can't testify. And the plaintiff isn't here.”
”No, Your Honor.”
”So he can't testify either. Your pet.i.tion would seem to have no grounds. Do you have witnesses to the marriage?”
”I don't need witnesses, Your Honor. I expect to prove the marriage by the defendant herself.”
”The defendant herself? I find that hard to believe. Ms. Baldwin, is your client prepared to concede the marriage?”
”Absolutely not, Your Honor.”
”Is your client prepared to testify that she had a husband living at the time she entered into marriage with the plaintiff?”
”No, Your Honor.”
”There you are. It would appear, Mr. Fleckstein, that no one is prepared to testify to your contention.”
”Not so, Your Honor. I have evidence.”
”What kind of evidence?”
”Physical evidence.”
”You have a marriage license?”
”Yes, Your Honor.”
”Between the defendant and her previous husband?”
”No, Your Honor. Between the defendant and the plaintiff.”
”What about her prior husband?”
”He's dead, Your Honor.”
”I mean the marriage license.”
”Well, I can't ask him to produce it if he's dead. And I doubt if the defendant will produce one.”
”The defendant will not,” Becky Baldwin said.
”In which case I would be inclined to dismiss the pet.i.tion.”
Cora beamed like a contented cat.
”I have other evidence, Your Honor.”
”What evidence?”
”Evidence the defendant admitted to her marriage with her prior husband.”
”That would be hearsay,” Judge Hobbs said.
”Actually, I believe it would be an admission against interest. However, I am not talking about a verbal admission. I have physical evidence that the defendant acknowledged the relations.h.i.+p. If I may be allowed to present it.”
”You have the evidence in court?”
”Yes, Your Honor.”
”Very well. Make your showing.”
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