Damaged Souls (Broken Man)

chapter Nineteen


Are you ready, Jack,” Mike questioned him as he sat down at the conference table.

“As ready as I’m going to be,” he answered in the affirmative. “Your assistant knows exactly what to say, right.”

“Don’t worry, we went over it several times.”

“Good,” Jack replied as he checked his watch. “Timing is going to be critical. I just need you to go over what we reviewed and then just follow my lead, okay”

“I got it, Jack. Try to calm down a little before we get started.”

That’s probably a good idea, Jack thought to himself as he closed his eyes and tried to relax. Don’t get too excited, don’t show your hand too soon, he reminded himself as he visualized the process.

“Mr. Leach,” the sound of the intercom interrupted his thoughts. “Mr. Caldwell is here for his 4:00 appointment.”

“Have them take a seat for a minute,” Mike followed the carefully prepared script and smiled at Jack.

That will annoy him, Jack pictured Mitch having to wait for once as he tried to suppress the adrenaline rush for which he had prepared. You’ve got this, he closed his eyes and gave himself a pep talk as he went over the script one last time in his head. “I’m ready,” he opened his eyes and gave Mike the go ahead.

“Send them in please,” Mike instructed his assistant as they stood up for the greeting.

“Mitch, good to see you,” Jack welcomed him as he gave no indication of what was to come. “Steve, how are you,” he also welcomed Mitch’s attorney as they shook hands and he carefully directed them to their seats.

“Thanks for putting this meeting together,” Mitch tried to be civil while attempting to take over the proceedings as Jack hoped he would. “I’m glad we could come up with a suitable compromise on this matter.”

“I’ve provided a copy of the police report that documents the incident that occurred in the early morning hours of June 1st at the Caldwell residence,” Mike ignored Mitch and went throughout the formalities as he handed their adversaries a pair of manila folders. “The report finds that Jeffrey Gross acted in a criminal manner when he assaulted Gregory Leonard by kicking him in the head.”

“We already know that,” Mitch rudely interrupted. “We are familiar with the report.”

Of course you are, you practically wrote the thing, Jack thought to himself as he tried to control his anger. Just keep going Mike, stick with the plan.

“The report also finds that approximately fifty minors were illegally served alcohol at said party and that the alleged assault occurred during an altercation between Gregory Leonard and James Mitchell Caldwell, Jr.,” Mike obliged Jack by stretching out the proceedings.

“Where are you going with this,” Mitch interrupted again as Jack could sense his annoyance. “We have an agreement already. This other stuff is irrelevant.”

“Just a formality, Mitch,” his attorney attempted to calm him. “We have to review all information. Go ahead and proceed Mike.”

Mike pretended to be flustered as he bumbled to find his place and remember what he was saying. He’s pretty good at this, Jack almost smiled as he could tell Mike’s make believe incompetence was annoying Mitch.

“Umm, let me see,” Mike finally continued. “We have an agreement here, to be signed by both parties, that states that neither party will hold the other side criminally or civilly liable in this matter and that all claims, legal or otherwise, will be rendered meaningless and without merit from this day forward.”

“There you go,” Mitch treated Mike like a buffoon as he reached for the file. “Let me see that.”

“One second, Mitch,” Jack finally spoke up as he intercepted the file. “I want to take a look at it.”

Jack purposely took his time as he pretended to read the file and captured Mitch’s reaction out of the corner of his eye. That is priceless, he enjoyed Mitch growing impatience as he furrowed his brow and began tapping his pen on the table. He can’t stand it, not being in control.

“Do you think we can get another copy,” Mitch couldn’t wait any longer as his face started to turn red.

“Oh, I’m so sorry Mitch,” Jack answered as he poured a glass of water and didn’t offer him any. “We only have one copy.”

“What is this,” Mitch showed his annoyance. “We have an agreement, Jack. Let’s get this thing signed and be on our way.”

“Not so fast,” Jack replied before taking a sip of water. “I wanted to tell you about a very interesting conversation I had with Jeff Gross yesterday. It was really eye opening.”

“What are you talking about. We had an agreement.”

“Now you’ve got it right, Mitch. We had an agreement,” Jack stressed the had as he stood up and circled his prey. “But fortunately, my conversation with Jeff enlightened me. It kind of brought me to my senses, if you know what I mean.”

“I have no idea what you mean,” Mitch stood up and tried to intimidate Jack.

“Have a seat, Mitch,” Steve was a calm voice of reason. “You may want to hear what he has to say.”

“I have no interest in what he has to say. We had a deal and he broke it,” Mitch raised his voice like a child who was about to take his ball and go home. “I’ll see you in court.”

“Mitch, sit down,” Steve repeated himself more firmly.

Jack was surprised with how quickly Mitch complied with his attorney’s order. I’ve got him now, he thought to himself as he decided to go for the whole ball of wax. “Are you done, Mitch,” Jack antagonized him further.

“F*ck you, Jack,” Mitch replied with daggers in his eyes.

“I have three depositions here,” Jack ignored Mitch and continued. “The first one is from Delaney Boyd. I’m not going to go into detail, but in it, she asserts that Mitch Caldwell, Jr. sexually assaulted her during the early morning hours of June 1st at the residence of James Mitchell Caldwell, Sr. Photographs backing up her claim are included.”

Jack paused as he walked behind his opponents and dropped off a file before walking back around the table and taking a sip of water. “The second deposition is from Gregory Leonard. Mr. Leonard was the first one on the scene and he backs up Ms. Boyd’s story and also relates a pithy little comment made by your son with regard to his assault of Ms. Boyd. Quite a charmer, your son, and fortunately his quote was memorable enough to be recalled by Mr. Gross, which brings us to the third deposition.”

“Alright, we get it,” Mitch’s attorney interrupted the proceedings. “What do you want.”

It’s not going to be that easy, Jack thought to himself as he felt sorry for Steve, just an attorney doing his job. No, they are going to hear everything.

“I’m not quite done,” he again paused as he dropped off the second file and continued his story. “Mr. Gross is quite the conversationalist, and apparently, your son shares his love of words,” Jack took his time and enjoyed watching Mitch as he seemed ready to jump across the table at him. “Unfortunately for you, it seems Mitch Jr. might have shared a little too much with Mr. Gross, and I have here a sworn statement that not only documents their conversation but also backs up the stories of Ms. Boyd and Mr. Leonard.”

“That will never hold up in the court of law and you know it,” Mitch sensed an opening and went on a counterattack. “You’ve got nothing.”

“You might be right,” Jack didn’t miss a beat as he reached into his pocket and found the right button to push. “But, how is it going to look to have your star quarterback son up on charges of sexual assault. I would have to think it might affect that scholarship and it certainly can’t be good for business. You think times are tough now, you just wait.”

His speech was interrupted by the voice on the intercom, the timing perfect as planned. “Mr. Leach, the District Attorney is on line one.”

“Let him know I’ll call him back,” Mike answered as he pressed the intercom button.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Jack drove the final nail into Mitch’s coffin. “We had a nice breakfast meeting this morning with Mike’s old law school buddy, Rick Cooper. We call him Coop, but you might know him as the District Attorney. Turns out he in very interested in our case and he was also fascinated by your close relationship with the Sheriff. Funny how that works. Anyway, he hoped we could work this out as adults, but assured us he would welcome the chance to assist as needed.”

Silence. Not a peep. Nothing.

Their response told Jack all he needed to know. He had won, and now it was just a matter of working out the details. As he looked across the table at Mitch, Jack took pleasure in watching him sweat, in looking like he was about to have a heart attack.

“Do you have anything to add,” he gave his opponents a chance to defend themselves.

“Just tell us what you want,” Steve realized they were defeated.

“First, Mitch Jr. will attend weekly group counseling sessions with other sex offenders for a period of one year,” Jack was sure to label Mitch as he began his list of demands and opened up another file. “Second, he will also agree to go nowhere near Delaney from this point forward. We have filed a restraining order and Mitch will not be allowed within one hundred yards of her for a period of six months and this agreement stipulates the order continue ad infinitum. Love those legal terms, but it basically means that Mitch stays the hell away from Delaney until the day he dies. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like either Mitch or Jeff will be able to attend graduation ceremonies this year.”

“Fine,” Mitch finally spoke as he stood up from the table. “Give me the goddamn papers to sign.”

“Mitch, don’t be so hasty, I’m not finished yet,” Jack gave him a taste of his own medicine. “The final part of the agreement outlines a scholarship Mr. Caldwell will be generously and anonymously endowing in the name of his late attorney and supposed friend, Robert Leonard. The scholarship will be in the amount of $100,000 and the first and likely only recipient will be Gregory Leonard,”

“F*ck you,” Mitch finally sprung into action, assisted in large part by his lighter wallet and his uncontrollable temper. “You are not going to blackmail me. Go f*ck yourself. I’m not signing a goddamn thing.”

“But you are wrong, Mitch,” Jack walked right in front of him and dared him to do something as his attorney tried to hold him back. “You are going to sign it. Because if you don’t, these documents I have had prepared are going straight to the District Attorney. There goes Mitch’s scholarship, there goes any hope of a pro career, and there goes your family’s reputation, not that there was much of one to begin with. Now, sit down and sign it.”

“F*ck you, Jack,” Mitch couldn’t find many words as he looked like he was ready to kill someone.

“Shut up, Mitch,” Steve managed to hold him back. “This is over, now sit down.”

Jack turned his back and walked away as he prepared his final piece of business. That went even better than planned, he thought to himself as he watched Mike hand Steve the final file and all three of them returned to their seats. I guess I could leave this last piece of business alone, but I’m not going to, Jack realized as he watched the signing process get underway.

“We are ready for you,” Mike interrupted his thoughts as he extended him a pen.

Jack glanced at the document one more time before signing his name. You’re not getting out of here quite yet, he thought to himself as Mitch stood up from his chair to leave. No, it’s not going to be that easy, Jack decided as he stepped in front of him and stopped his progress.

“How dare you,” Jack looked at Mitch with disdain in his eyes. “Take advantage of your best friend’s wife just a few months after his death. You are a disgusting piece of shit. Now get the hell out of my office.”

Jack smiled as Mitch said nothing and slowly slinked away from the room. He had not only won, but he had also accomplished something very few before him had managed to do.

He had left J. Mitchell Caldwell speechless.