Ride Steady(197)

I blinked.

She kept talking.

“He also volunteers at a hospice here in Denver. He’s in charge of their small childcare facility. He supervises six other volunteers and he and his volunteers look after youngsters while the families of patients are visiting. Though, he mostly does the supervision as he offers the bulk of his time to my client to care for her son while she’s working, as well as taking care of Kane and Tyra Allen’s two boys, Mr. Allen being the operating manager of a well-known local business. Big Petey further sometimes looks after the young son of Hopper and Elaine Kincaid. Ms. Kincaid, you probably don’t know, owns her own advertising agency. It’s young, but regardless, it was recently declared by a glossy Denver magazine as Denver’s top agency.”

My eyes got big.

Wow.

Go Lanie!

“I would assume that Mr. and Mrs. Allen and Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid, not to mention the director of the hospice, would stand as character witness as to Mr. Waite’s abilities to provide childcare,” Angie stated.

I tried not to smile.

“And it’s true,” Angie went on. “Seventeen years ago, Big Petey was arrested for grand theft auto. However, he was released before trial due to lack of evidence. Although that would appear on his arrest record, it would be doubtful a judge would take that into account during a custody hearing considering the case was thrown out.”

She lifted her hand but didn’t quit talking.

“And, before you mention it, I understand he did some community service for a drunk and disorderly he pled guilty to. However, this occurred only weeks after his daughter’s funeral service, so I do believe his behavior would be understood. Oh, and, of course, the judge allowed this service to be done at the hospice where, after, they took him on in a volunteer capacity.”

“That does not negate the fact that my ex-daughter-in-law is consorting with a biker gang,” Mr. Neiland retorted. “And I do believe you, and she, understand precisely what I mean by consorting.”

“I would be very careful of any public disparagement of the Chaos Motorcycle Club, Judge Neiland,” Angie said quietly.

“Is that a threat?” Aaron’s dad asked snidely.

Angie looked to Aaron’s attorney and offered, “Steven, perhaps you need a moment to confer with your client.”

“He hardly does,” Mr. Neiland sniped, and I looked at him to see him turning his attention to me. “We have a witness who will attest that they observed your boyfriend assaulting a man at an illegal underground fight, several of his gang members with him, and he did this brutally. The man was left bloodied, battered, unconscious, and barely breathing. And you are allowing this man to be around my grandson.”

My body stopped functioning.

Luckily, Angie’s didn’t.

“Were charges filed?”

“What?” Aaron’s dad snapped.

“Judge Neiland, were charges filed?” she repeated slowly.

“No, but—”

“No,” she cut him off sharply. “And this man you speak of that Mr. Steele allegedly assaulted, is he not currently incarcerated without bail for ordering the murder of a young pregnant woman?” Angie asked.

My back went straight.

“That’s beside the point,” Mr. Neiland hissed.

“So he is,” Angie stated.

“It’s beside the point,” Mr. Neiland bit out.

“You’re right. It is,” she conceded but didn’t let it go. “Now, this witness you say you have, they were at an illegal underground fight?”

Aaron’s father pressed his lips together.

Angie didn’t let up.

“Did this witness, say, happen by this illegal underground fight while they were taking an evening stroll, then, perchance, they immediately phoned it in to the police, considering it was an illegal underground fight where an assault allegedly occurred?”

I watched Aaron’s father glare at Angie.

I heard Angie address Aaron’s attorney. “Steven, again, would you like a moment to confer with your client?”

I looked to Aaron.

He was staring at the table.

Sitting there, listening to this nastiness, not participating, and staring at the stupid table!

“I love him,” I announced.

Aaron’s head came up.

“Carissa,” Angie said quietly, her hand back to my arm on the table.