Authors: M.Z. Kelly
I called Noah when I got home and learned that Bernie was resting comfortably. I promised to stop by the hospital in the morning and went straight to bed. I slept like a dead woman, not waking up until I heard someone pounding on my door the next morning.
I stumbled out of bed and found Natalie, Mo, and Hermes Krump on my porch. “What gives?” I mumbled.
Mo looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Our eviction hearing on the
Judge Rita
show is this morning. We gotta be there in an hour.”
“I’ve got our lawyer primed and ready,” Natalie added.
I saw that Krump was swaying back and forth. He smelled like a combination of mouthwash and cheap aftershave.
“He’s drunk,” I said.
“Objection,” our attorney said. “The witness is full of hearsay, or maybe just bullshit.” He burst out laughing.
I looked at my friends. “He can’t go to court like this.”
They barged their way inside, before Mo pushed me toward the bedroom. “Get dressed. We got us a little fine tuning to get our attorney ready.”
Their fine tuning involved having Krump drink coffee, while Natalie read some inspirational quotes to him that she’d download from the Internet. Forty minutes later, we’d all made our way to the studio where Judge Rita’s show was filmed. We were met outside the courtroom by Lulu Beak, the show’s producer, who told us how the filming would proceed.
“The courtroom is already filled with most of the residents from the Starlight Mobile Home Park,” Lulu said. “I’m afraid they aren’t going to be in your favor.”
“That’s no surprise,” Mo said. She looked at me. “We got us a cop on our side and she’s dealt with lots of hostile witnesses before.”
“And, we got us the world’s greatest attorney,” Natalie said. “This here is Hermes Krump.”
Our attorney looked pale, like he might faint. “Is there a restroom nearby?” he asked Lulu.
“Yes. Down the hall.” She checked her watch. “But we start filming in ten minutes. You’d better hurry.”
“We spent the next ten minutes in what can only be described as pretrial hell. Our lawyer spent the time throwing up, wetting his pants, and telling us that he had chest pains. “I think I’m having a heart attack. Somebody call 911.”
Natalie shook her head in disgust. “I don’t think Izzy’s hypnosis worked on him.”
Mo agreed, reminding me of what the cartoon character Lucy might say to Charlie Brown. “He’s the world’s biggest idiot. We’re doomed.”
A man came into the restroom. He saw what was happening, turned around, and left. After he was gone, I said to my friends, “You two go block the door.” I glanced at our lawyer. “Let me talk to him alone.”
When they were gone, I grabbed Krump by his tie and pushed him up against the wall. After yesterday’s events I was in no mood to mince words. “You need to get a grip.”
“I can’t…I’m a loser, and...”
“STOP.” I’d screamed it loud enough that Mo poked her head back inside the restroom and asked if everything was okay. I nodded and turned back to Krump, taking on the persona of a high school football coach. “You listen to me. No one has it easy in this life. Each of us has to go to battle for anything that matters. We do it minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. Some of us fight with our hands, some with our hearts, and others with our words. And do you know why we fight?” Krump lowered his eyes and shook his head. “We do it because it’s the difference between being a whining, simpering coward, or living a life that fucking matters. Now, you have a decision to make. What will it be? What kind of life will you choose?”
Krump’s big head slowly came up. He looked at me and farted.
I don’t know if it was my inspirational speech, the alcohol, or the fact that Mo threatened to sit on Hermes Krump until he was nothing but a big grease spot on the sidewalk, but our attorney managed to pull himself together and walk into the courtroom.
As I took a seat at the front of the courtroom with Mo and Natalie, I saw that the room was indeed packed with the Starlight residents, and Maude Finch sitting right behind us. The president of the residents’ council leaned forward and said to us, “I hope you have your belongings packed because I expect you will be out by tomorrow morning.”
Natalie looked back at her and said, “The only thing that’s packed are those bags under your eyes.”
Mo added her thoughts. “Hope you got the Neptune Society on speed dial. You look like you could drop dead at any moment.”
“All rise,” the bailiff announced as Judge Rita entered the courtroom. The judge was a heavyset black woman who looked to be about forty. She had a take-charge attitude that told me she wouldn’t stand for any nonsense in her courtroom. I knew that meant we were in big trouble.
The proceedings began with Mean Gene laying out their case, explaining how Natalie had violated the Starlight Code of Ethics by, what he termed, exposing her assets to the world. His argument went on for several minutes. By the time he was finished, he’d made it sound like Natalie, Mo, and I were nudists at best, and prostitutes, at worst.
“Okay, I think we all got the picture,” Judge Rita said to Mean Gene, with a scowl. She looked at our attorney. “What do you have to say about all this…” She looked at her paperwork and chuckled. “Mr. Klump.”
“It’s…my name is Krump…Your Honor,” our lawyer stammered.
Laughter erupted in the gallery. I heard someone use the word
buffoon
.
“Whatever,” the judge growled, pounding her gavel down to restore order. She looked at Krump. “Let’s hear it.”
“I’m…I think…” Krump turned red and seemed unable to continue, like someone had hit an off switch and he’d lost power.
“Speak up,” Judge Rita demanded.
“It’s just that I…I don’t believe…what the opposing counsel said is tt…true.”
Mean Gene stood and objected. “He’s calling me a liar.”
Judge Rita looked at the attorney. “Silence.” She turned back to Krump, “Go on.”
Our attorney stood up and made his way to the front of the courtroom. I said a silent prayer that he wouldn’t fart, throw up, or faint.
“Let’s get to the heart of this matter,” Krump said, with surprising confidence. “My clients, have followed the terms of their lease to the letter of the law. What has been described as acts of carnal exposure and prurient exploitation are, in fact, the actions of someone who innocently chose to sunbathe by the Starlight swimming pool. This case is really about discrimination.”
A collective gasp came from the gallery and Judge Rita pounded her gavel on her bench again. Her brows came together like a couple of angry spiders as she stared down at Krump. “You’d better explain what you mean by that, counselor. We don’t take that term lightly in this courtroom.”
Krump gave a little bow toward the judge, now apparently brimming with confidence. “What I mean is that this is a case of reverse age discrimination rather than any code of ethics violation. My clients are several decades younger than the average age of the other residents of their mobile home park. That is the de facto basis of the action that has been brought against them. I hereby make a motion that this matter be summarily dismissed.”
My mouth fell open in disbelief as I looked at my friends, amazed by our attorney’s performance.
“Bravo!” Natalie yelled.
“Case closed,” Mo added.
Krump came over and did a fist bump with me as shouting erupted from the gallery. Mean Gene stood up and claimed our attorney was trying to incite public hysteria and was pandering to the TV audience.
After restoring order, Judge Rita’s gavel came down several times and she announced her verdict. “The defendants have demonstrated they have followed the terms of their lease. There is no basis to the claim they violated the Starlight Code of Ethics. This action is dismissed.”
We were in the hallway, making our way past a throng of unhappy Starlight residents, when a reporter for the TV show called our attorney over for an interview. Krump was surprisingly candid and confident as he answered questions. The reporter then asked him about his future plans.
Krump smiled and looked into the TV camera. “I’ll continue to practice law until my appointment to the Supreme Court eventually comes through.”
Mo turned to me and said, “I think you just created a monster.”
I agreed to go to lunch with my friends at the Denny’s Restaurant on Sunset to celebrate our victory after we all went by the hospital to check on Bernie. My furry partner had perked up and was especially happy to see Natalie. While I knew he had weeks of recovery ahead, Noah felt that with lots of physical therapy, he’d be able to eventually work again.
After settling in at the restaurant and ordering lunch, I told my friends that we should have invited our attorney to join us.
“Last I heard, he was meetin’ with Mean Gene,” Mo said. “He said something ‘bout maybe becoming a partner in his law firm.”
“Maybe Krump will become one of them mad dog attorneys,” Natalie suggested. “He might even end up on TV, if he doesn’t wet his pants.”
“I can’t imagine Hermes Krump working for Mean Gene,” I said. “But then I’m still in a state of shock that he won our case.”
“I think I’m gonna celebrate by sunbathing by the pool in the nude this afternoon,” Natalie said.
Mo smiled. “Maybe you wanna invite Maude Finch to join you, baby sis.”
I warned Natalie against talking to Finch, adding, “I think we’ve had enough drama for a while. Let’s try and keep a low profile and our pants on.”
Natalie then changed the subject, asking me how things were going with Noah. My friends knew all about the earlier conversation I’d had with him. “I think Noah’s been deeply impacted by almost losing his life during the war and then losing his fiancée. I’m not sure where that leaves us.”
“Maybe he’s still in love with the girl,” Natalie suggested. “It could be on some level he’s hoping someday they’ll get back together.”
“I doubt that. From what he knows, she’s married and has a daughter.”
“Doesn’t mean he’s gotten past it,” Mo said. “I seen girls that continued to chase after guys who kicked them to the curb years ago. Same thing can happen to guys.”
I thought about what she’d said and knew it was possible, especially given the trauma of Noah’s injuries and breakup. I sighed. “All I know is our relationship is in limbo. I’m not sure how, or if, we’re going to move forward.”
Natalie sipped her iced tea, then said, “Maybe it’s time to take another ride in the cowboy’s saddle.”
I laughed. “That relationship has ridden off into the sunset. We’re just friends, and I never date coworkers.”
Mo exchanged glances with Natalie. “Famous last words.”
I felt the need to move the conversation in a different direction and asked them about their recent visit to the Platinum Theater.
“We saw that billionaire bloke who tried to shoot you,” Natalie said. “He met up with a bunch of people and went inside.”
“Are you sure it was Collin Russell?”
Mo nodded. “I think it was some kinda secret meeting.” She regarded me with one eye. “You still gonna talk to Oz ‘bout what he knows?”
“I’m going by the station later and asking him for a few days off. I thought I would talk to him then.”
Natalie clapped her hands. “Speakin’ of that. Mo and me think we got our trip worked out.”
Mo brushed a hand through her red wig and said, “I thought we could spend a week over at the Mission Bell.”
“Never heard of it.”
“It’s in the hills above Malibu. They used to send the celebs there to detox years ago. It’s been revamped and they’re gettin’ ready to reopen the place as an upscale hotel and spa.”
“I probably can’t afford it.”
“Mo and me got us a deal on rooms,” Natalie said, “‘cause we did some security work for one of the owners. It’s just a few minutes from Hollywood, so you can still go by and check on Bernie while he recovers.”
My phone was ringing as I agreed to what they proposed. I saw the call was from Leo and told him we won our case, before he could say anything.
“That’s nice,” Leo said. “But, I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news. I just got a call that Oz suffered a heart attack. He’s in the hospital.”
***
I ran half a dozen red lights and broke every speed limit making my way to the hospital in downtown Los Angeles. When I got there, I met up with Leo in the parking lot.
“It doesn’t sound good,” Leo said. “Apparently, he was in full cardiac arrest when the ambulance arrived. Not sure if he’s going to make it.”
“Damn,” I said, as we rushed into the building. There were tears in my eyes as I said, “I had no idea he had heart problems.”
“Ozzie always wanted people to think he was healthy as an ox, kept it to himself.”
We checked in with the desk staff and learned that Oz was in intensive care. Leo used some influence, telling the nurse that we were family. We were sent up to the seventh floor, where the on duty nurse told us Oz was resting comfortably and gave us five minutes.
Before we got to his room, Leo took me aside. “I think you need to ask him about the photograph.”
“I don’t want to upset him, make things any worse.”
“I understand, but you might not have another chance. You need to talk to him.”
I nodded. “Okay. Let’s see how it goes.”
We found the lieutenant hooked up to a half dozen machines. He looked small and fragile, but immediately recognized us. His voice was weak as he held out a hand and said, “Hell of a way…to spend…your day, huh?”
We made small talk for several minutes, holding Oz’s hand and talking about how our case in Arizona had ended. I also mentioned Bernie, telling him that he was doing better.
Leo then reached over and hugged his old friend. There were tears in his eyes as he said, “I’m just going down the hall for a few, Ozzie. Be right back.” He nodded at me as he left.
I took a breath, released Oz’s hand, and removed the photo from my purse. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this.” I showed him the photograph. “I found it in Jean Winslow’s house. From what Winslow’s niece knows about it, the photo was taken…”
“It was a few days before…before Jean’s thirtieth…birthday. Your dad asked me…” He took a moment, trying to catch his breath. “…to come along with him.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
His eyes held on me for a long moment as he drew in a couple of ragged breaths. “I made…I made a promise to your dad…if anything happened…he didn’t want me to say anything…to anyone.”
“You mean, about the photo?”
He nodded. “That, and…” His gaze drifted off and he didn’t go on. I had the impression he was in pain.
I gave him some time, then said, “And what else?”
His eyes rolled back in his head, but he went on. “There was a guy. His name was Dallas Walberg.”
I remembered the name because Brie had told me she’d done his autopsy. He had jumped from a three story building a few years back, but she’d felt his death might not have been a suicide, something that Leo had also suggested.
“He was the financial controller for Wallace Studios,” I said. “He worked for Donald Regis.”
“He knew too much and was…your dad thought Ryland…and some of the others had him killed.”
I remembered that Regis had also recently committed suicide, but under suspicious circumstances. “The others?”
“Ryland and…maybe Russell. I’m not sure. It was all about the money.”
“You mean, they had him killed because he knew they were skimming from the studios.”
“Probably, but we’ll…we’ll never know for sure.”
The nurse came in and told me my time was up. “Can I have just one more minute?” I asked her. She nodded and left.
I turned back to Oz. “What else? What else haven’t you told me?”
Oz drew in a ragged breath and shook his head. “I’m not the person…to say.”
“What does that mean?”
“Your dad…he wanted all this kept quiet. He was afraid the truth could…it could get you killed.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I can take care of myself. And, my dad was murdered by Ryan Cooper and the others. I need to know who else was involved.”
“All I know is…there was money involved…a lot of money. A decision was made…to protect you from that.”
“Who made that decision? Was it my father?”
He moaned and his words became more ragged. “There…it was a cover-up…but it was done...” He gasped for air. “To save a life—your life.”
“And my father. He ordered the cover-up?”
“Yes…but I’m…not talking about John…I’m talking about your biological father. He’s the one…”
An alarm sounded and he didn’t go on. Medical staff came rushing into the room and asked me to leave. I waited in the hallway, hearing someone say, “We’ve got a code blue.”
“What’s going on?” Leo asked, coming over to me.
“I think he went into cardiac arrest.”
Leo brushed tears from his eyes. He and Oz had been friends, going back over thirty years, and I knew this was devastating for both of us. Tears sprang from my own eyes as I said, “I’m sorry.”
He nodded, trying to regain some control. “What…what did he say?”
More hospital staff rushed into Oz’s room as I said, “Just that I need to talk to my dad about everything.”
“Did he…did he tell you who…?”
I shook my head and took a breath. “No.”
Twenty minutes later, a nurse came over and gave us the news that we’d dreaded hearing. “I’m sorry. Your friend didn’t make it.”
Leo and I broke down crying. We held onto one another, feeling the loss of a good man who was not only our friend, but our colleague.
Several minutes later, when we’d managed to regain some control, the nurse came back over to us, asking how we were doing. After we assured her that we would be okay, she said, “I don’t know what, if anything, it means, but your friend—I think he said someone’s name before he died.”
I brushed my tears, trying to focus. “A name?”
“Yes. I hope this makes some sense. He said something about someone…I think the name was Pearl.”
THE END