Cracks in the Sidewalk(72)

“Oh.” Before Elizabeth could say anything, someone hung up the telephone.

There were no more telephone calls that week, and Elizabeth’s calls went unanswered. On Sunday, Jeffrey didn’t come at nine o’clock despite Dudley’s warning. By noon, Elizabeth accepted that neither Jeffrey nor the children would come.

At twelve-thirty Charlie got behind the wheel of his car and drove to Jeffrey’s house. He parked in the driveway, walked to the front door, and rang the doorbell. No one answered. He stood there for almost fifteen minutes and then followed Claire’s footsteps and walked around to look in the garage window. Two cars sat parked side by side—Jeffrey’s and a red Nissan.

Charlie returned to the front door and began ringing the bell, this time with a vengeance. Still no answer. Suddenly Charlie could think of nothing but the hurt, the heartache, and the pain his daughter had suffered, and he angrily raised a fist to pound on the door.

Something made him hesitate, and in that split second he realized the foolishness of such an act. It was the very thing Jeffrey was hoping for. Another act of violence, he’d claim, and try to convince the court that it was right to keep Liz’s children from her.

“Not this time,” Charlie grumbled. “Not this time.” He climbed back into his car and returned home.

Elizabeth spent most of the afternoon in tears. Claire spent most of the afternoon trying to comfort her daughter. Charlie had a lengthy telephone conversation with Dudley.



The envelope from Simmons and Grimm waited for Judge Brill when he arrived at the Union County Courthouse on Monday morning. Sam Brill groaned as he slit the envelope open.

“I knew it,” he grumbled as he read the petition for sanctions citing the numerous occasions on which Jeffrey T. Caruthers had deliberately and willfully defied the court.

His first telephone call was to Noreen Sarnoff. “Have you seen this petition yet?” he asked.

“What can I say, he’s an odd duck, that’s for sure.”

“Does he realize that I can have him incarcerated for failure to obey the court order?”

“I’ve explained it any number of times, so either he’s too dense to understand or too contrary to care.”

“Well, Counselor,” Judge Brill said, “I want to see you and your client in chambers tomorrow morning at nine-thirty.”

“Let me call and make sure he’s available.”

“I didn’t say I want you to try to be here. If either you or Jeffrey Caruthers fail to show, I’ll send a squad car to bring you in!”

Noreen already regretted her decision to defend JT, but now she was stuck with him. She dialed Jeffrey’s telephone number and listened to it ring for at least five minutes. Then she got in her car and headed for his house.

~

Jeffrey had learned to ignore the sound of the doorbell since it was generally somebody looking for money or one of the McDermotts trying to make his life miserable. Bill collectors never waited longer than five minutes. Liz’s parents might stay for twenty. But the person bonging the bell had been there for a half-hour, which is why Jeffrey finally looked out the window and saw Noreen standing on the stoop. He opened the door.

“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t hear the bell.”

“You’ve got to be kidding!” Noreen pushed past Jeffrey into the living room. “I warned you! I said keep it up and you’ll land in jail, but you’re too bullheaded to listen!”

“I don’t know what—”

“Don’t give me any of that crap! You violated the court order, and Judge Brill is pissed! He wants us there tomorrow morning at nine-thirty. Don’t show this time, and there’ll be a cop on your doorstep!” Noreen jabbed her finger into Jeffrey’s chest. “And trust me, he’s not gonna stand there ringing the damn doorbell!”

“I missed one lousy Sunday,” Jeffrey said. “For that they’re gonna crucify me?”

Noreen turned and leaned into his face. “Shut up! I may have to defend your stupidity, but don’t for one minute think I believe your lies. It’s all here.” She waved the petition in his face. “Twenty-seven counts of failure to comply with court ordered visitation. Twenty-seven counts!”

“I couldn’t possibly—”

“Oh, but you did!” Noreen snapped. “Now we’ve both got to answer for it. I’m tempted to tell Judge Brill you were thinking of kidnapping those kids and let him toss your miserable ass in jail!”

“You can’t do that, you’re my lawyer.”

“Don’t remind me.”

“There were extenuating circumstances—”

“I’ll bet.”

“I was sick.”

“Unless you had two broken legs and were in the critical care ward at the hospital, nobody, including Judge Brill, is gonna believe you.”

For the first time Jeffrey sounded concerned. “Okay, okay. So what do we do to fix this?”

“Not we,” Noreen replied, “you. Judge Brill isn’t going to send me to jail, but he’s likely to send you.”

“I can’t go to jail. I’ve got kids to take care of.”

“You should’ve thought of that sooner.”

“You’re my lawyer, you’ve gotta do something!”