Macey Harold: Attorney at Law

Copyright © 2014 by Gwynn Braswell.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 08/07/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

Orders@Xlibris.com

122430

Contents

Jason and Mom

Camilla’s Rage

Office Drama

Macey in Hiding

The Big Escape

Planning, Planning, Planning

Surveillance Pays

Where is Macey?

Jason Becomes the Target

Playing With Camilla

Camilla’s Plans Fail

Going Home or Somewhere

Camilla, Want to Play Again?

Camilla’s Plan B

The Meeting

Meantime, Back at the Office

The Big Take-Down

Safe at Last

How Rich Am I?

Camilla, Mack, Ramon, and the Neighborhood Watch Leader

Let’s Recount

Trouble in Jakesville

Back to the Case and Bugged

The Meeting

Who Is Mitchell Dixon; Really

More Secrets

Where is Marge Ashford?

Answers or Questions

Marge is Found

Revelations

The Confession!!!

Here Comes the Judge

Moving Day

Message from a Dead Man

Finding the Truth

Let’s Plan

More Evidence and Court

Marge Gets Revenge

The Final Stage

Vegas to the Rescue

Home Sweet Home

Surprises

My Private Plans

The Monday Morning Meeting

A Final Look

Jason and Mom

Macey! Macey! The third Macey snapped me back to the here and now. I seemed to be daydreaming more and more these days. I couldn’t figure if it was because I was still trying to get over my break-up with my husband or the letter from my mother Mesha’s attorney: whom I had not heard a word from in over seven years. Mesha’s letter evidently was to ‘explain’ why she left me so many years ago and ‘make me understand’. The problem is that I don’t even care.

Macey, your Mom is on line two, Lysa my receptionist, informed me. Lysa, tell her I will call her back, please. Did that. She just keeps calling back. My mother, Ellen had become a real thorn in my side. She or Dad would not even try to talk to me about all those years ago when I was brought to them. It’s as if some big tabooed secret that people keep safely locked away and everyone knows but you. I decided to answer this call and give Lysa a little relief.

As I reached for my office phone, my private red phone started to ring. Okay, who first… Mom hi, hold on one second, my other phone is ringing. I could hear mom’s outraged ranting as I reached for my private phone. Macey Harold, I spoke into the phone with my second line close enough for mother to hear. She was still ranting.

Mae, damned Jason. My ex-husband had been calling a lot lately. All my refusals to talk to him just seemed to make him more persistent. Trying to remain the proverbial ‘cool cucumber’, I answered a little too sharply, What is it Jason? Mae, I really hate asking this of you, but I really need your help. You or your wife, I cut in much too quickly. Gosh, I hate this. Why do I still let this crap bother me? I tried unsuccessfully to smooth over that last statement. Ja, I’m sorry for that. What do you need my help with? It has been a long time since anyone has called me Ja… What do you need Jason? I got that in just before I started to soften up. I hated the way that Jason could get to me. I had always thought that we were ok in our marriage, until I caught him in bed with my much younger half sister. So much for family loyalty. Jason, make it quick please. Mom is on the other line raising cane. Mae, do you remember that prenuptial that your firm drew up for me? Uumm, trouble in paradise!!! Yes, I remember. What about it? It was pretty clear cut, as I recall. It was. That is not the problem… Jason, can you hold a minute while I talk to mom? Jason hesitantly said fine. Mom, what has got your panties all in a wad? Macey, I need you to come home… NOW Mom what is wrong? Tell me what has happened. It’s your Dad. Just get here now. Just like that, and then… dial tone. Mom hung up. Jason, I am sorry, but something is going on at mom’s and I need to get there quick. This will have to wait. And just like mom… dial tone.

I rushed out the door before Lysa could ask questions. I drove much to fast the two blocks to mom’s house. As I ran for the front door, I could hear Mom and someone yelling something fierce. I quickly made my way in the direction of the yelling, (the family room), just in time to witness my Dad slap Mom hard across the face. What the hell is going on here? They both stopped short just long enough to look my way. Mom answered, Ask your Dad. He has all the answers. Yeah, right. A few minutes ago you were the expert. Mom, Dad, I tried to intervene before this got worse, stop and tell me what this is all about? Dad was in a nasty way right now and he took me by total surprise, Oh, now you want to be HNIC. Dad, what is wrong? I just want to help. I could see that this was not going to be easy. Your Mom is going back to Jakesville to be with the rest of her uppity, rich, look down their noses, family. Dad what are you talking about? Mom isn’t going anywhere. Mom cut me short, Yes Macey, I am. Mom, what in God’s name is going on? Dad snatched up his jacket from the sofa and retorted a little too loudly, ‘I’m going out. You and your rich a… Mom talk. I was in shock. I had never seen Dad so upset. Mom turned away from me. A move I knew all too well. It was her ‘regain my composure’ move. I gave her that moment. When she turned back to me, she seemed calm and a little to composed.

Macey, your Dad is all upset because I won’t sell my family home in Jakesville. Mother gave it to me when she and Dad built the house down the street from Grandma Mamie. I remember the story and I do not blame her for not wanting to sell. What prompted that idea, mom? Well, your Dad seems to think that I keep to tight a rein on family money. I think that he has always resented the fact that I am the one with money and he had to really work for his. But mom, I don’t remember you ever holding that over his head… I never did, but he feels that he should have more control over the purse strings. Does he know about the stipulations in Grandma Mamie’s trust provisions? No, and I see no reason to tell him, as long as our family is not suffering. What do you think? Do we look as though we are hurting for money? Mom, you live in a twenty room mansion… no, I don’t think you are hurting for money. You do know that I had planned for you and Wesley to move here with your families. That was my hope anyway, and reason for such a large house. I don’t think that your Dad wanted the same thing, but who cares what he wants. One thing that I do know that he did not want. Macey, what are you talking about? Mom had a slightly disturbed look on her face. Mom, Dad has never made it a secret about how he felt about me. I do know that if it were not for you, I would have been gone a long time ago. Macey, I am so sorry. I never realized that you knew. Is that why you moved out at such a young age? That, plus the fact that I was accepted into Carter’s Law School, at sixteen. It was a great honor to be accepted so young. I still think that sixteen was a little young, but it paid off for you. You will never know how proud of you I am. Thanks mom. You were my guiding force. I am sure there were other reasons, but whatever, you made it work for you.

Now I had the task of resolving this thing with Mom and Dad, before it got any worse. Mom, what started all this? This was my first question. Mom was now looking straight into my eyes. This is how she reads people. I hate when she does this to me. Well, your Dad wants to start a new Community Center here and I don’t see the need for another one. Ok. What prompted that? Marshall, down at Star Point opened a Rec Center and your Dad wants to top that. It is all about competition and that is one of the reasons that I objected. Mom, what would be wrong with another outlet for the young kids? Absolutely nothing, Mom stated, But that is not what got your father motivated. With him, it is always about prestige, besting someone and looking like the biggest hotshot in town. Those things are not important to me, but he has never understood that. That’s where the money dispute comes in. He knows that I could fund that project with no problem. I just do not see the need.

Mom was right about one definite. Dad always wanted to be the wealthiest, biggest nameplate, kind of person. He did live well beyond ‘his’ means, but Mom would never let him suffer or be without anything. As long as yes was the answer, things were fine, but when she said no, it became a serious problem. I just could not understand why Dad was not satisfied. He lived in a twenty-room mansion, had six cars, three vintage, a driver, maid service and any other symbol of wealth that he could think of. He did work hard for what he had, but it always bothered him that moms money was old money and his money was hard money. I just could not see where it made a difference, but Dad was nothing like me.

Mom never spared anything when it came to Wesley and me. Wesley was one of those men that believed in making his own way, and he did a great job doing it. Wesley was wealthy in his own right and seldom asked Mom for help. When he moved away several years ago, Mom was devastated, but she understood that he had to find his own way. She eventually admitted that moving away had served him well. Going away to law school was one of the best decisions that I had ever made. Carter’s Law School recruited, accepted, and oriented me for their early acceptance program. I was fifteen at the time and due to graduate high school at sixteen. I was, according to Carter’s Dean, one of their best candidates.

Reverting to years long past, I slipped back into my daydreaming mode. High School here was a breeze. I reported to homeroom, turned in all my work for the week, and promptly left the school. I hung out with a friend that had dropped out of school as soon as she was old enough. There was nothing special about her except that we were best friends and neither Mom nor Dad would ever approve. I am not sure which took priority. When I first started school here, I met who I thought was going to be my first and last love. It didn’t bother me that he seldom came to school, or that he was so handsome that every six out of ten girls wanted him. I was just thrilled that he chose me, or so I thought. I was a little naive in the courting game, so it took me a while to realize that I was just another notch in his belt. Right then and there, I swore off men until I could, as Mom would say, Feel it in my bones. Right now, it was just in my chest. I’ll just attribute it to a bad diet.

Macey, where are you right now? What? Mom startled me back to the present. I seem to be doing a lot of daydreaming these day. I really should talk to someone. I think that I will give Rene’ a call. She is our local psychiatrist/psychologist. She may be able to help. I used her a lot for my law firm clients in need of help.

Sorry mom. I seem to be wandering off a lot lately. Mom sounded unperturbed and stated matter-of-factly, maybe you should go talk to Rene’. Could this woman read minds or what? Yeah, I think that I will.

Mom back to you. How are you going to resolve this thing with Dad? Mom came back with an unexpected response. There is nothing to resolve. I am going back to Jakesville, with or without your Dad. I broke in, What about this place and all your businesses. You cannot just pick up and go… Yes I can and I will. If your Dad wants to stay here it is entirely up to you… It hit me what she just said with a slight delay, but why would she say it is up to me. Mom, what is up to me? Mom surprised me with her next explanation. When you came to us, I knew that your Dad might cause some problems, so I made my will and trust, leaving everything to you and Wesley. Wesley wanted me to change it so that you would always have, so you are sole owner. That is so like Wesley to think of me first. But this place is rightfully his. He is your real son… Mom broke in, with a little anger in her voice, And you, are my real daughter in every sense of the word. Mom, I only meant… I know what you meant and we will not have this conversation again… understood? Yes maam, I said sounding like a three year old. Mom started again, anyway, this place is yours, Wesley is going to run the businesses remotely, and you have to choose which business that you want dedicated and turned over to you. I was a little overwhelmed now. Mom, are you cutting Dad out of everything? No! Of course not. He still has his endeavors and the businesses that he started, and he can go on with this new center that he wants to start up. He has the money for that. He just wanted my name and money attached to it, which is not necessary. Mom, I do not think that there is anything that I can do here. You seem to have everything under control and… the phone ringing interrupted me. Mom answered a little too joyful. Hellooo. I think that she thought it was Dad. Macey, it’s for you. Oh. It must be Lysa. Reaching for the phone, I couldn’t help but notice that ‘I stole the cookie from the cookie jar’ look on mom’s face. Hello. Mae. Damned Jason. How did you know I was here?’ I was on the phone when you were talking to your mom, remember. Yeah, okay, what do you want?’ Jason sounded serious now. Remember I called you at the office. I really need to talk to you. It is important. Meet me in my office in thirty minutes, I said with indifference and hung up abruptly, hoping to send a message.

I found out later that Jason’s wife found a loophole in their prenupt and is trying to take him for all he has… It seems that Jason had included a section in this prenupt that would leave me with about 85% of everything that he owned, if his wife initiated a challenge to the agreement, which she has. Since I had not drawn up the document originally, I was unaware of the inclusions or stipulations. There was no way that she could cut me out entirely, but she could dispute the percentages. Even then, it would only be valid if there were a child involved, and as far as I knew, there was no child.

I pulled up in my parking space at my office and noticed the canary yellow Jag in the space adjacent to mine. It was unmistakably Jason’s pride and joy. ‘Why did he always have to be so prompt?’ Although this was a very good trait, it bothered me tremendously, only with Jason though. I walked in only to be bombarded with questions from some much-unexpected guests… the press. I quickly searched for Lysa and found her in my office trying to fend off some press associates that had somehow gotten through to my office.

Lysa, what is going on here and how did the press get into my office. Just as Lysa started to answer, cameras were going off everywhere. I really had to get a handle on this. I picked up the walkie-talkie that I kept in my office desk so that I would have a straight line to my security team, who seems to be MIA right now… Brock, where are you and your team? Brock came back sounding a little tired or out of breath. Miss Macey, the team, and I were misled to the conference room and locked in. There was a call made that you had been forcibly taken there. Brock, what are you talking about, what… Never mind. Just get to my office now! You all need to leave my office now and get off the property… NOW! Charlene from WXTD News was in my face with a mic, with her cameraman right behind her. Ms. Harold, is it true that you have just inherited several billion dollars, making you the wealthiest ‘woman of color’, in all of NC and Virginia? Charlene, what are you talking about and where did you get that information? Just then, Jason spoke up. Until now, I had not noticed him in the room. Mae, I am so sorry. Camilla, (his wife) called all the local TV and News Stations when she discovered how much I am worth and how much I am giving you. She was trying to get some public support, but instead she came off looking like a love-struck, scorned, gold-digger. It crossed my mind that I really should get a look at that prenuptial agreement. There evidently were things in it that I should see.

Brock and his team entered my office through my side, private door that was masked as a wall bookshelf. The press was taken by total surprise, as was intended. The team expertly and efficiently cleared the room.

Now to get to the business at hand… Jason. Okay Jason. You have my full attention. What exactly is going on? Jason seemed a little hesitant at first. Then he pulled some papers from the briefcase that he had been holding much too close and tight. He slowly pushed them towards me on my desk and said, Mae, just take a look for yourself. I opened the folder and recognized it as Jason’s prenuptial agreement for his wife Camilla. This document and legal issues were handled by my firm, but I had no dealings, personal or business with them. I had instructed my associates from the beginning that I did not want to know any of the contents or procedures concerning their handling of my ex-husband’s affairs. Now it seems important that I know what had caused such uproar.

Jason and I met my first year at Carter’s in 1967. I won’t say that it was love at first sight, but there was some strange connection. Jason and I married secretly in 1969 and kept it secret until I graduated in 1972. Jason had graduated two years before me, finished his apprenticeship, and opened a small but lucrative law firm. Once I graduated, I skipped the apprenticeship offered to me by the school and accepted Jason’s offer to help me start up my own firm. In 1974, Macey Harold’s Law Firm was opened with a full staff. As far as I knew, life was perfect and Jason and I could not have been happier… That is until I came home early from an out of town business trip and found him in a very compromising position with one of my half-sisters. No fuss, no muss. I turned, walked out the door, and never looked back. We were divorced in 1975 and I have never second-guessed my decision, despite Jason’s attempts to reconcile and win back my trust. Jason and I have managed to remain civil and friends in an offset way, but it seems to work somehow.

Now, 1979, Jason sits across from me in my office asking for my help. Camilla,