Damaged Souls (Broken Man)

chapter Eighteen


“It’s still a very flimsy case,” the District Attorney said the words Jack didn’t want to hear. “Even if it gets that far, any jury is going to know we strong armed the witness. You should know better, Mike.”

“Look, Rick, I know what you’re saying,” Mike took responsibility for Jack’s actions. “But, it is a unique situation. We all know Mr. Caldwell is hindering the investigation and that we didn’t have any other choice. He would have buried this thing.”

“I understand, but that is a separate matter altogether,” Rick maintained his point of view. “You had no right to make a deal on behalf of my office. This is a criminal case, the prosecution of which is beyond your realm of responsibility. Do not proceed any further on this.”

This is not going well, Jack thought of how to save his plan from ruin as he studied the District Attorney. “What if we agree that this is not a criminal case, what if we leave you out of it,” Jack attempted to regroup as he realized how quickly the 4:00 deadline was approaching.

“That would be fine, but you would lose any leverage you may have,” Rick explained the fallacy of Jack’s plan as he took a sip of coffee. “Without the cooperation of my office, you don’t have an agreement with Mr. Gross and you don’t have a witness against the younger Mr. Caldwell. As I said, you don’t have a case.”

“I don’t think we need a case,” Jack altered his plan mid-course. “We just need to create the illusion of a case.”

“What do you mean,” Mike interjected.

“Mr. Caldwell has a ton to lose here, as does his son,” Jack explained what the two attorneys already knew. “And both of them are all about appearances, about their public persona. They both have a lot of secrets that they would rather keep quiet.”

“Where are you going with this, Jack,” Rick questioned him.

“I understand that we don’t really have a leg to stand on, at least not in the court of law,” Jack paused as he considered his options and his opponents. “I also understand that you can’t really involve yourself in a legal way, that you have to appear impartial even though we all know what happened. Basically, the dominoes fall together. If you charge Mitch, you have to charge Greg and you have to charge Jeff.”

“That is correct.”

“What if we agree there is no criminal case here,” Jack understood his need to compromise. “What if we agree there are no charges to be filed.”

“What would that accomplish,” Rick still didn’t quite understand where Jack was going.

“It takes away their leverage. Mitch knows I’m not about to let Greg get charged with anything.”

“That is a slippery slope, Jack, one I might not be ready to take on.”

“I understand,” Jack appealed to Rick as a person rather than as an attorney. “But, what if it was your daughter, how would you feel.”

“I would want that bastard to pay for what he did. I would want him prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” Rick stated the obvious.

“But short of that, if that wasn’t an option,” Jack led his witness. “What would you want.”

“I get it, Jack,” Rick understood Jack’s line of reasoning as he spoke like the father of a teenage daughter he was. “But, how are we going to prevent this from happening again in the future.”

“I have a plan,” Jack improvised as he realized the District Attorney was still on their side. “I’m just going to need a little help from you.”

* * *

“Good morning, Amanda,” Delaney was pleased that morning coffee was becoming part of their routine as she sat down at the table.

“Good morning, Delaney,” she responded with a smile. “Did you sleep better last night.”

“I did, how about you.”

“I slept great, thanks for taking Logan last night.”

“You are welcome, I’m glad it worked out for you,” Delaney teased her.

“Me too,” Amanda replied, nearly impossible to embarrass about anything. “So, is it going better with Greg.”

“It was,” Delaney blushed, still susceptible to embarrassment. “Until Jack came home.”

“I know, he told me.”

“Oh my God,” Delaney exhaled as she leaned her head back. “I knew he could tell what was going on. What did he say.”

“Don’t worry. He was also young once, believe it or not. He understands, and fortunately, he likes Greg.”

“That’s good,” Delaney was relieved. “We were so close yesterday, and it was perfect until Jack came home. You are not going to believe it, Amanda, but Greg is still a virgin.”

“That doesn’t really shock me,” Amanda surprised Delaney with her response.

“Why not.”

“I’m pretty sure Greg has known what he wanted all along, and he is not one to fool around. I’m also pretty sure he hasn’t had too much time to think about things like that. I think it’s nice that he saved himself for you.”

“I think it’s sweet,” Delaney agreed as she remembered his nervousness. “But I also think he nearly had a heart attack when Jack came home yesterday.”

“That’s funny,” Amanda smiled as she considered what to say. “We’ve decided we’re going to make it less uncomfortable for you guys. Jack and I talked last night, and we don’t want the two of you having to sneak around. So, we are going to go out of town after graduation.”

“Really,” Delaney replied, still surprised at Jack and Amanda’s progressiveness even after all these years. “What about Logan.”

“Logan is sleeping over at Michael’s. The two of you will have the house to yourselves.”

“Well thanks, Amanda,” she paused and then smiled. “That might make it a little easier for Greg, especially after yesterday,”

“I hope it does. Are you nervous.”

“Just a little, but I think everything worked out for the best,” Delaney wasn’t quite sure what she meant. “It’s almost like all of these near misses served as dress rehearsals.”

“That makes sense,” Amanda replied wistfully. “I wish I had taken the opportunity to practice, but I just jumped in. I always regretted not taking it more slowly and that my first time wasn’t with someone I loved. You are very lucky, Delaney.”

“And I have you to thank for that,” Delaney suddenly became emotional as she thought about Amanda’s troubled teenage years and about their own wonderful relationship over the last half decade. “I was lucky to have you just as I was lucky to have my mother for as long as I did.”

“Yes, you were lucky to have her,” Amanda replied as she started to cry. “Come here, honey.”

They hugged as Delaney cried on her shoulder, grateful for her advice and guidance, thankful that Amanda had been there for her.

Always her best friend, forever her surrogate mother.

* * *

“Are you sure about this, Jack,” Mike questioned him as they finished up with lunch.

“As sure as I can be,” he replied before taking the final bite of his sandwich. “We really don’t have any other alternative.”

“I guess not,” Mike conceded the point. “So, what’s your strategy.”

“It’s definitely not set in stone, it’s kind of fluid,” Jack said as he realized he was going to have to trust his reads. “We just have to count on Mitch’s overinflated ego and arrogance clouding his judgment. It’s really just going to be a well run bluff.”

“And you think he’s going to bite.”

“I hope so. I’m not sure he has any other choice. I guess it comes down to how far I want to take it. I don’t want to push too hard, but I am determined to make this right.”

“Jack, you missed your calling,” Mike admired his gift for strategy. “You should have been an attorney.”

“But then I wouldn’t need you,” Jack replied as he teased his friend.

“I don’t think you need me anyway,” Mike scoffed as he stood up to leave. “I’ve got to get going. Thanks for lunch. I’ll see you at four o’clock.”

“I’ll see you then,” Jack appreciated Mike being there for him as he stood up and shook his hand. “And thanks for all of your help.”

* * *

“This is nice,” Amanda seemed to relax as they settled down for lunch on the porch. “It’s a gorgeous day.”

I sure do wish Jack was here, Greg thought to himself as he wondered where this conversation was headed and he looked across the table at Amanda and Delaney cornering him. “It is nice, a little cooler than usual,” he made small talk as he took a sip of iced tea.

“So, where’s Jack today,” Delaney asked before taking a bite of salad.

“He’s meeting with the attorneys again,” Amanda replied and then changed the subject. “I wanted to talk to you guys about something.”

Please not that, Greg prepared for the inevitable. I can’t believe Jack told her about yesterday. This is my worst nightmare.

“Jack and I had a chance to talk last night,” Amanda confirmed Greg’s worst case scenario as he tried not to cringe. “And we both agreed that the two of you are adults now and should be treated as such.”

I can’t believe we are going talk about this, Greg could no longer hide his embarrassment as he tried to apologize. “Look, Amanda, I am so sorry about yesterday. I promise it won’t happen again.”

“It’s not that,” Amanda replied as both she and Delaney seemed to enjoy his public humiliation. “We all know it’s going to happen again, that’s not the issue.”

Oh no, we’re not going to talk about that, are we. Amanda doesn’t know I’m a virgin, does she. Please can we change the subject, Greg looked at the two of them with pleading eyes as he wondered what Delaney told her.

“Don’t worry, Greg,” Delaney reassured him as she took his hand and smiled. “You’re not in trouble.”

“Everything is fine,” Amanda echoed Delaney’s sentiments. “We just want the two of you to be careful and to take your time and enjoy the experience. With that in mind, Jack and I are going out of town after graduation Friday night, and we both feel comfortable leaving the two of you alone in the house. We trust you to act responsibly as adults.”

That is a relief, Greg realized he might get out of this conversation alive and didn’t know whether to thank Amanda or beg for her forgiveness before deciding on the former. “Thanks, Amanda, that means a lot to us.”

“You are welcome,” Amanda replied and smiled at his awkwardness. “And you know if either of you need anything or just want to talk, you can always come to me or Jack. You understand that, right.”

“Of course we do,” Greg replied as he realized that wasn’t going to happen, at least not on this subject.

At least not with him anyway.

* * *

This is not going to be easy, Jack thought to himself as he took a few final minutes to prepare for his meeting with Mitch and his attorney.

I think that will be adequate, he went over his list for what must have been the tenth time that afternoon. Timing is everything, Jack reminded himself as he visualized what he was going to say. You need to isolate him, you need to keep the attorneys out of it. It’s just an old fashioned street fight, just you and that fat piece of shit.

Jack was ready to hear the bell ring as he looked at his watch and realized he still had thirty minutes. Is everything in the room perfect, he questioned himself once again as he surveyed his surroundings. Chairs in proper spots, check. Water pitcher ready, check. Telephone within reach, check. The proper legal documents in order, check. Their backs against the wall, check.

Yes, Mitch was going to find out his back was against the wall, that his deal was falling apart, that his precious son was going to face consequences for his crime. No, maybe not the consequences he deserved, but consequences nevertheless. Consequences that were going to hurt him and his father.

This is all about my family, Jack realized as he prepared for battle. I will not let Greg and Delaney down again, I will not have my wife look at me as a failure. I will beat him and I will get what I want.

Or at the very least, I will go down swinging.

* * *

“Hey Greg, come on in,” Amanda was surprised to see him as she looked up from her notes. “Where’s Delaney.”

“She’s taking a nap with Logan,” Greg replied as he took a seat in front of her. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

“No, my appointment isn’t until 4:30, I was just reviewing a file,” Amanda made sure he felt welcome as she put the file aside. “Is everything okay.”

“Yeah, I was just thinking about earlier,” he paused as he seemed to consider what to say. “I think it’s really nice that you and Delaney talk about everything.”

“I think it is too,” she replied and tried to figure out what he was trying to say. “We’ve always been that way, I think it’s probably because I’m not quite old enough to be her mother.”

“That might be part of it, but she really is just comfortable with you.”

Where is this going, Amanda tried to figure it out as she watched his facial expressions. “Don’t you feel comfortable talking to Jack.”

“Well sure,” Greg hesitated as he tried to explain. “We actually had a really good conversation the other night.”

“That’s good,” Amanda realized Jack wasn’t the easiest guy to talk to and that Greg rightfully wasn’t going to talk to him about Delaney. “Is there something you want to talk to me about.”

“I don’t know,” Greg reminded her of Logan as he looked down at his shoes.

“Greg, is it about Delaney.”

“Well, yeah,” he didn’t seem to believe she would have to state the obvious. “I know she already told you, but I have never been with a girl before, not like that.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that, Greg. Does it bother you.”

“No, not really,” he seemed very uncomfortable as he replied with an awkward smile. “It’s just that I want it to be special for her. And I really don’t know what I’m doing.”

He is so sweet, Amanda thought to herself as she enjoyed his honesty and tried not to smile. “Don’t worry, Greg, you guys will figure it out. Just be yourself. I know how much the two of you love each other and that is the first step.”

“You think so, what if I screw it up, what if I get too excited.”

“That is just natural,” Amanda replied as she again hid a smile. “You two will be fine, Delaney is trying to figure things out just like you. Just take your time and express the love you feel for one another. Trust me, Greg, it’s not rocket science.”

“I hope not,” he seemed relieved as he stood up. “Thanks for talking to me, Amanda.”

“You are welcome,” she managed to answer before he quickly escaped the room.

He is so funny, Amanda thought to herself as she smiled. He’s always been that way, refreshingly honest yet so shy. Delaney really is a lucky girl.

Both of them seem so young and innocent. I was nothing like that at their age and neither was Jack. Perhaps we sheltered them too much, Amanda considered that maybe they should have done things differently, maybe exposed them to the real world a little bit more. Who knows, maybe we didn’t shelter them enough, Amanda remembered everything that happened the weekend before and realized they had been right to protect them as they had.

But, they are going to be okay. Greg and Delaney are never going to have to go what Jack and I went through, having to figure everything out on our own, no one there to talk to or guide us through our young adult years. No, they are going to have all the support and love they need, Amanda decided as she reopened the file and prepared for her appointment.

Jack and I will make sure of that.