The Divine Appointment (2 page)

Although Eli knew well that the air outside was brisk, the park scene revealed that spring was, little by little, bringing life back to the vegetation that had hibernated through the winter. It was Tuesday, the second week of May, and the cold April showers had surrendered to warmer days. Buds covered the trees that lined the perimeter of the park, and sprouts of green were scattered throughout the otherwise dormant turf. He chuckled to himself at the irony. After years of virtual death at the hands of Merrick’s ruthless client, his own client might begin to get his life back today as well.

“Mr. Faulkner,” interrupted a young female voice. Eli pivoted toward the sound and saw a slender, attractive young woman standing in the doorway of the conference room. She was midtwenties, he guessed, with long blond hair and even longer legs that extended from a skirt that ended just above her knees. She presented herself in such a way that it was obvious she thought her likeness more fitting for the cover of
Vogue
than the inside of a law office. But there she was, at Chandler & Spivey, waiting to be discovered.

“Would you care for a cup of coffee or a soft drink while you wait for Mr. Armstrong?” she said with a warm smile.

“A cup of coffee would be great,” he said patronizingly, and she dashed away to retrieve it.

After the model-in-waiting left, Eli sat down at the end of the conference-room table and spread the contents of his file in front of him. Soon the cup of coffee was delivered with a flirtatious flair.

His client, George Thornton, arrived shortly thereafter. He was several years older than Eli and was short and overweight. He had a large nose, long chin, and bushy eyebrows that matched his salt-and-pepper hair.

Eli had liked George Thornton from the instant he’d met him. He’d immediately seen in George the qualities he admired in a man—a hard worker, honest, and determined. They were the same traits Eli tried to emulate in his own life and legal career.

And there was something else that drew Eli to George. George was dedicated to his family. Eli had seen that loyalty clearly as he and George had become good friends over the last couple of years. The more their friendship had evolved, the more resolute Eli had become in attempting to right the injustice George and his family had suffered.

George joined Eli at the conference-room table and sat down in the chair to Eli’s right. “Eli, where do you think this is going to end up?”

“Like I told you when I agreed to take this case,” Eli responded, catching George’s dark eyes with his own, “I’m a lawyer, not a magician. I can’t magically put everything back the way it was before all of this started. But we’ve done a good job in building your case, and Armstrong is smart enough to realize that a jury could get excited and hit his client with a negative verdict and large punitive damages.”

“Well, I want Rory Driscoll to pay dearly for what he has put my family and me through during these last three years. We’ve lived our entire lives in Jackson. I built Thornton Sportswear from the ground up, and Driscoll stole it from me. The people in town have looked down on us since my wife and I had to file for bankruptcy.” George took a breath.

Eli saw the familiar rage begin to build. He couldn’t blame the man, but he needed George to be levelheaded during the meeting.

“I want him to
pay
,” George continued through clenched teeth.

“I’m on your side, George. But you’ve got to be realistic. I hear Driscoll’s having a difficult time of it financially, and may be about out of money. If they offer anywhere north of a million, you better think very seriously about it.”

“A million dollars?”

Eli saw the disappointment on his client’s face and heard it in his voice.

“I’m not taking a million dollars,” George replied. “That’s nowhere close to enough to compensate my family and me for what we’ve been through.”

“From what I understand, there’s not much left, George. I suspect that Armstrong has billed Driscoll for at least five hundred thousand dollars. The only reason they’re talking to us now about a settlement is because Driscoll wants to avoid prosecution by the U.S. attorney’s office. Otherwise, Armstrong would just keep on billing him. Our problem is that proving a violation of the RICO Act is only part of the game. Collecting the money from Driscoll is the other part. If Driscoll is in jail, I can’t get you a dime.” Eli studied George closely to make sure he understood. “So as I said, if they get to a million, we better take it.”

Just then Merrick Armstrong and Rory Driscoll strolled into the conference room. Merrick was the older and led the two as they made their grand entrance. He wore a starched white shirt and a striped bow tie. He was slightly overweight, and it was more noticeable in his jowls than anywhere else. Aside from some graying black hair above his ears, he was completely bald. Rory was dressed in a tailored suit purchased, Eli assumed, with money he’d swindled from George Thornton. His black hair was neatly parted and slicked down close to his scalp.

Everything about Rory’s appearance—and particularly his swagger—irritated Eli. The man was as slick as his hair. Eli had learned during the course of this case that George Thornton wasn’t the first person Rory had swindled. It was just that, this time, he’d been caught. Helping a victim like George Thornton get justice against a swindler like Rory Driscoll was one of the reasons Eli enjoyed being a lawyer.

“Eli, Mr. Thornton,” Merrick said crisply as he entered and sat at the end of the table opposite Eli. He didn’t shake hands with either man.

Eli and George nodded in the direction of the enemy to acknowledge its presence.

Rory didn’t speak.

“I suppose you know why I asked you to come to this meeting,” Merrick continued. “Mr. Driscoll and I would like to discuss a possible settlement.”

Eli and Merrick haggled for the better part of the afternoon. Offers, counteroffers, and coy gamesmanship were all part of the negotiations. Two hours after the meeting began, Merrick said the words Eli had waited to hear.

“We can pay one million dollars,” Merrick said. His face was rigid and firm. “And that’s our final offer.”

Eli relaxed back into his chair, stroked his chin thoughtfully, and exhaled. “Let me speak with my client in private.”

He and George excused themselves from the room. Once they were safely where Merrick and Rory couldn’t hear them, Eli spoke to George in a tone that was barely above a whisper, but forceful. “I think you should take it, George. My sources tell me that Rory is completely out of money, and may even file for bankruptcy. If he does that, then you can kiss good-bye all hope of recovering any money from him.”

“I know.” George looked dejected. “It’s not as much about the money anymore as it is about punishing Rory. You can’t imagine the times I’ve dreamed of my hands around his throat.”

“A million dollars is pretty good punishment.” Eli raised his eyebrows for effect. “I’ll bet he despises the day the two of you met about as much as you do. Because of you, the federal authorities are investigating some of Driscoll’s other businesses. And I can assure you that nobody likes having the FBI after them. Let’s take the million and call it a day.”

Eli could sense that George wasn’t quite convinced, so he leaned in closer. “I know Merrick Armstrong, George. He may not be the best lawyer in the state, but he didn’t get to be third on the letterhead at Chandler and Spivey because of his good looks. If we don’t take this offer, he’ll strike the best deal he can for Driscoll with the U.S. attorney, then Driscoll will file for bankruptcy. You’ll be left out in the cold.”

“All right,” George conceded reluctantly. “But I want the money wired to your office this afternoon, before we leave. I don’t want to risk his being able to renege on us.”

In agreement, Eli and George reentered the conference room and announced that a settlement had been reached. By 4:00 p.m. Eli had obtained confirmation that his bank had received the money and that it was deposited in his escrow account. He and George signed the necessary settlement papers prepared by Merrick’s office and departed.

As they left, George thanked Eli and genuinely appeared satisfied and relieved that the whole ordeal was finally over. Although Eli would receive a handsome fee for his efforts—one third of the total recovery—the appreciation from George meant as much or more to Eli.

En route to Jackson, Tennessee

Eli exited the parking garage behind the Omni Office Center in his charcoal gray BMW 760Li and merged into the westbound traffic on West End Avenue. Several cars and trucks and a handful of city buses cluttered his lane, so he zigzagged his way through the traffic. His BMW responded with little effort. Soon he was on the I-440 loop around Nashville, then headed west on I-40 toward his office and home in Jackson, Tennessee. Because he was slightly ahead of the afternoon rush-hour traffic, he hoped to be home by 6:00 or 6:30 p.m. at the latest.

As Eli drove, he loosened his necktie. His suit coat was already on the rear seat. He allowed his mind to relax. Finding a radio station that played songs from the 1980s, he sang along, off-key, with a few. After a couple of treasured minutes of solace, his wireless rang. The caller ID indicated that the call was coming from his office, and he activated the BMW’s hands-free device to answer it.

“This is Eli.”

“Eli, this is Barbara.”

Barbara Lewis had been Eli’s assistant for the last five years. In her midfifties, she was dependable, loyal, and a hard worker. She arrived at work on time, stayed late if Eli needed her to, and he paid her well to make sure she didn’t look for another job.

“Did Mr. Thornton’s case settle?” she asked.

Eli had spoken to Barbara on his way to Nashville that morning and had told her that a compromise was a real possibility. He knew she wouldn’t be surprised by the outcome.

“The money’s already in our escrow account. I’m on my way back to Jackson now.”

“That’s good news. I hoped it would be, and I bet Mr. Thornton is relieved.”

“He needed some coaxing,” Eli said. “But in the end he realized it was the best result we could hope for. Anything going on at the office?”

“Nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow.”

“What’s my calendar look like in the morning?”

“It’s clean. I scheduled an appointment for tomorrow afternoon with Ms. Hawkins about her case, but the morning is clear.”

“Good,” Eli responded. “I’ll be in later than usual.” He liked taking some time off after a successful day.

“I guessed as much. Have a good evening.”

The Faulkner residence, Jackson, Tennessee

Eli ended the call, and continued his trek toward Jackson. It was 6:15 p.m. when he pulled into the double garage and parked beside his wife’s XJ7 red Jaguar convertible. Their house was a stately colonial in a gated neighborhood in north Jackson.

Eli put the car in park and grabbed his suit coat from the rear seat. The garage was immaculately clean, as always, and the reflections of the two automobiles glistened off the glossy concrete floor.

The aromas of pasta, Alfredo sauce, and garlic bread met him when he entered the house.

“How was your day?” Sara asked as Eli entered the kitchen where she was preparing supper.

“It went well. Finally got George Thornton’s case settled.”

Eli draped his suit coat over one of the kitchen-table chairs and walked toward Sara. She rose up on her toes and gave him a welcome-home kiss, and the two embraced.

“I’m glad you’re home,” she said. There was love in her voice.

“Me, too. It’s been a long day.”

He smiled at her, and she returned the warm gesture. He took pleasure in holding her close. “You’re still as beautiful as you were the first time I saw you.” He brushed Sara’s blond hair away from her face and gazed into her blue eyes.

“You’re just saying that.”

“I mean it.” He held her for two or three seconds longer, until she gave him another kiss.

“You better let me go.” She pushed at his arms, which were locked around her narrow waist. “Or we might burn dinner again.”

Another quick kiss and Eli reluctantly released her. Sara resumed stirring the pasta noodles that were boiling on the stove while Eli began to set the table.

“George Thornton,” Sara said.

Eli could tell from her probing tone that she was searching for the name.

“Is that the man who had the clothing-manufacturing business?”

“One and the same.”

“You’ve been working on that case for some time, haven’t you?”

“Three years. I’m glad it’s over, and I know George is. He really needs the money with two kids in college…but enough about George Thornton. What did you do today?”

“I went to the gym this morning,” Sara replied, “and worked out until ten. I met Anne for lunch at the country club. After that I ran a few errands. I’ve been home most of the afternoon.”

“How are Anne and Tommy?”

“They’re doing fine. Anne was already lamenting how busy their spring will be with both Jack and Harry playing Dixie Youth baseball. And to top it off, Tommy is coaching both teams.”

Eli removed a glass pitcher from the refrigerator and poured some sweet tea into two glasses he had filled with ice. “Better him than me,” he commented honestly as he set the glasses at their appropriate places on the kitchen table.

Anne and Tommy Ferguson were the prototypical helicopter parents. They poured themselves into whatever their kids did. Baseball. Piano lessons. School plays. It didn’t matter. If Jack or Harry was involved, so was Anne, or Tommy, or both. Eli could never see himself in that kind of life.

“Anne says he enjoys it.” Sara shrugged. “I know she wouldn’t miss one of the boys’ games for anything in the world.”

Sara removed the pot of noodles from the stove top and poured them into a metal colander in the sink. “Can you get the bread from the oven? Dinner’s just about ready. The last thing is the tossed salad.”

Eli slipped on an insulated mitt and opened the oven. The heat blasted him in the face. He removed the pan containing a small toasted loaf of French bread and set it on the counter.

“Eli, when are we going to have kids?”

Sara talked to his back. Her voice sounded timid, as if she were afraid to broach the subject.

Eli understood her reticence. He hadn’t been very receptive in the past when the subject of children had been discussed.

“I’m ready for baseball games and parties at school and all those fun things Anne and Tommy do with their kids.”

It was a running discussion between Eli and Sara. She wanted to have children. He wasn’t ready. Sometimes the discussion was more intense than other times. They’d been married thirteen years, and she wasn’t getting any younger, she often reminded him. He was in the prime of his career, he retorted. And he liked being able to go anywhere they wanted to…whenever they wanted to. Children would tie them down too much, he argued each time the subject came up.

“Don’t start on that again, Sara.” Eli pivoted and held his palms up toward her. “I’ve had a hard day, and I’m tired.”

Sara abruptly turned her back to Eli and resumed preparing the tossed salad. “Why do you despise the thought of having children so much?” she demanded.

“I don’t despise the thought of having children,” he fired back. “I like kids. I’m just not ready to have any of our own right now.”

Sara spun to face him and glared at him piercingly. “I don’t think you’re
ever
going to be ready.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Our friends’ kids are already in elementary school. Some are even in middle school.”

Eli knew how much Sara wanted children. It was growing harder to look into her eyes and say no. But he did. Time after time, he did. Their marriage was nearly perfect in every other way. They were regular attenders and faithful supporters of their church. They had no financial concerns. This one issue—whether to have children and when—was practically the only one on which they disagreed. Any other differences had been minor and were resolved without difficulty. This issue lingered.

Sara didn’t bring it up often. It wasn’t as if she focused on it daily. But Eli knew how important having children was to her. Yet time and again he cut her off without fully discussing the issue…all the while knowing that his refusal to consider the possibility hurt her.

“I don’t want to talk about this right now,” he said firmly. “I’m hungry. Let’s eat supper, and talk about this later.”

Sara dejectedly spun away from Eli and placed the pasta Alfredo and the salad on the table. Eli had just closed the oven door when an image from the twenty-inch flat-screen television that sat on the kitchen counter caught his eye. He could barely hear the audio, but the image above the female news anchor’s right shoulder was that of Lady Justice. Below were the words
Supreme Court
. He took the remote control from the kitchen counter and increased the volume.

“We have sad news to report tonight,” the female anchor announced. “After a three-month battle with pancreatic cancer, Supreme Court Justice Martha Doyle Robinson has died. Justice Robinson was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Mitchell eight years ago and has been one of the most liberal justices to sit on the High Court…”

Eli decreased the volume and muttered, “That doesn’t happen very often.”

“What did you say?” Sara demanded from across the room.

“The news is reporting that Justice Robinson died today from cancer,” he said defensively. Then he softened his tone before replying further. He knew Sara was still in a combative mood, so why agitate her further? “And I said that it doesn’t happen very often that a new Supreme Court justice gets appointed.”

Eli sat down at the end of the table and Sara sat to his left. The pasta was delicious, the iced tea refreshing, but the conversation between the two of them was nonexistent during dinner.

After dinner Eli changed into blue jeans and a T-shirt. He sat in his leather recliner in the den, surfing between baseball games. Marlins versus Cubs. Twins versus Orioles. Nothing too interesting. His favorite team, the Atlanta Braves, had the night off. He switched to Fox News and viewed several minutes of a segment about Justice Robinson.

Sara gave Eli the silent treatment all evening and retired before he did. When he finally went to bed after the late news, she was asleep. Her back was to him, but he could see enough of her face through her sleek, shoulder-length hair to notice the redness around her eyes. She had cried herself to sleep, he realized.

He closed his eyes and sighed. A feeling of guilt washed over him.
Am I being too selfish?
They had argued over whether to have children on numerous occasions, but he had never known her to be this upset. He bent over and gently kissed her on the cheek.

“I love you,” he whispered. “Everything’s going to be all right.”

Avenue of the Americas, New York City

It was nearly 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Stella Hanover boarded the elevator and pressed the button for the twenty-seventh floor of the forty-floor building. The three other people on the elevator never made eye contact with her, and it was a good thing. She wasn’t in the mood to be courteous to anyone. She tapped her foot anxiously as the elevator made stops at five separate floors with people exiting and boarding before it reached her destination. When the elevator finally arrived at her floor, she stomped off in a huff even before the doors had fully opened. It was time to finalize battle preparations.

She knew it had to happen sometime. The justices on the Supreme Court were getting older, making a vacancy inevitable. She just hadn’t thought it would be Justice Martha Doyle Robinson’s seat. She was one of the younger members of the court, and one of Stella’s favorite jurists.