Thicker Than Water - 52. Chapter 52

“Mr. Parker, you may call your first witness,” Judge Arthur said with a complete and total lack of enthusiasm at the sight of the 20 women seated on Diego's side of the courtroom.

Diego noticed that Ashley wasn't present for the first time since the proceedings began. He wondered whose idea it was for her to not attend. Diego guessed it was Calvin's since it fit his pattern of keeping everyone in the dark.

“The Respondent calls Ms. Debra Jackson to the stand.”

A tall, thin tomboy-looking woman with long brown hair walked to the witness stand. After being sworn in and asked to state her name, she glared directly at Calvin, and Diego was pleased to see that Calvin avoided eye contact.

“Ms. Jackson, could you tell the Court how you came to be here today?” Billy asked.

Debra continued to glare at Calvin and said, “Sure. I was contacted by your assistant about my relationship with that piece of trash.”

“Objection, Your Honor. That's inappropriate," Mr. Clarke called out.

“Sustained,” Judge Arthur said. “Ms. Jackson, you'll refrain from name calling of any kind while on the stand, is that understood?”

“Sorry,” She said, though she didn't appear to be. “Anyway, when I heard what the case was about, I accepted the request and here I am.”

“How did you first become acquainted with the Petitioner?” Billy continued.

“We met online. We were part of a BDSM site called FetLife. We belonged to some of the same chat groups. Eventually, he reached out to me, and we began talking occasionally. Nothing heavy, though not from his lack of trying. At the time this started, I had a boyfriend, so I wasn't interested in anything more than just talking.

“Not too long after, my boyfriend and I broke up, and Calvin reached out. He said all the right words, like that he'd never treatment me badly if I dated him, he'd treatment me like the queen I was, and how beautiful I was. I was vulnerable and looking for validation, and Calvin said anything to make me think we were meant to be.”

Billy then asked, “When did things become serious?”

“A couple of weeks later, I think. I was really upset about the break up, so I went through the whole rebound phase with a vengeance, and Calvin only encouraged it. I'd say we discussed him visiting me in Harrisburg, where I lived, after a couple of days, but not more than a week after my break up.”

“Visiting? Was this before you and Mr. Johnson discussed you two living together?”

Debra snorted with derision. “We never discussed him moving in with me before he left for Harrisburg; in fact, I had made it clear that I wasn't looking for anything too serious at that time, but wanted his company for what was only supposed to have been a week.”

“Wait, so for clarification's sake, are you saying that Mr. Johnson was only supposed to visit you and not actually move in with you?”

“That's correct.” A murmur broke out in the gallery, and Judge Arthur had to call everyone to order.

“Objection, Your Honor. Argumentative. Ms. Jackson could've misunderstood my client's intentions,” Mr. Clarke said.

“Your Honor,” Billy replied, “I have evidence, if I could be permitted a few more minutes.”

“Objection overruled. Continue, Mr. Parker.”

“Thank you, Your Honor.” Billy went to his table and grabbed a stack of papers then handed them to Debra. “Do you recognize these?”

Debra looked them over thoroughly then replied, “Yes. These are messages between myself and Calvin. We're discussing him visiting me for a few days, and I made it clear that he had to leave after five days, since my lease agreement didn't allow visitors to stay more than that.”

“Your Honor, I'd like to submit Respondent's Evidence R-24 for the record.”

“So noted.”

“Ms. Jackson," Billy continued, "according to Mr. Johnson, you were the one who bought the plane the ticket, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Did you find it odd that it was a one-way ticket if he was only supposed to stay for a few days?”

“Calvin said that he could get a better deal on the price if they were bought separately. Being a fool, I believed him.”

“When did you become aware that plans had changed?”

“The day before he was supposed to come back to Washington. I asked him if he had purchased his ticket and what time his departure was. He told me he hadn't purchased the ticket yet. When I pressed him for more information, he told me that he had been kicked out of his home by his roommate. I was confused and asked what happened. According to Calvin, his roommate was gay had kept making unwanted passes at him, while forcing him to do all the house work, while also working full-time, since his roommate refused to work.”

“What was your reaction to this?”

“I was shocked. I knew he had a roommate, but Calvin barely said a word about him. When he did, Calvin was vague, barely giving any details. At the time, I thought that Calvin barely saying a word was signs of some kind of abuse at the hands of his roommate.”

“What were the circumstances behind your discovery of his sons and what was your reaction?”

“It was about three months later. I was getting fed up with Calvin living with me and refusing to get or keep a job more than a few weeks. I was working full-time to support both of us, while also coming home to have to clean and cook, since he did neither of those things unless I started yelling at him.

“One day, I decided I had enough and was going to throw him out. When I came home, he was holding a letter from a court saying that his mother was seeking custody of his two young boys. He told me that his mother and roommate took the boys from him. He wanted to move to Harrisburg, so he could have a place to take his sons. He said that they had already won custody, which is why he was so upset.

“I asked to read the letter, but he wouldn't let me. He said it wouldn't do any good, because they lied about him and tricked the judge.”

“When and how did your relationship with Mr. Johnson actually end?”

“Objection, Your Honor. How and when they stopped seeing each other is irrelevant,” Mr. Clark said.

“It's quiet relevant, Your Honor,” Billy said. “It goes to pattern and character.”

Judge Arthur said, “Overruled. The witness will answer the question.”

“About two months later. I came home, and Calvin was gone, along with everything he owned. I wasn't sure what to make about the whole situation. There was no note, no text, no call, nothing. He blocked me on all his social media and other sites, including FetLife. It wasn't until the beginning of the following month that I discovered that he used my debit card to purchase a one-way ticket to Richmond, Virginia.”

“I'd like to submit Respondent's Evidence R-25, Your Honor, which is a copy of Ms. Jackson's bank statement showing the purchase of the ticket in question." The Jude entered it into evidence and Billy continued. "What happened after that?”

“I was pissed, so I created some fake social media accounts to see what I could find out. Apparently, he met a woman named Tammy in Richmond around the time he got the letter from the court about his kids. They had been talking and he moved in with her.”

“When did you find out the truth about the custody case?”

“When your assistant contacted me a month or so ago.”

“Do you have any regrets about Mr. Johnson?”

“I regret everything, especially with how he abandoned his kids. It seems they were better off without him.”

“Objection, argumentative and speculative.”

“Sustained," Judge Arthur said.

“Nothing further, Your Honor,” Billy said, taking his seat.

“Your Witness, Mr. Clarke,” the judge said.

“Thank you, Your Honor,” Mr. Clarke said. “Ms. Jackson, is it fair to say that you have animosity towards my client?”

“Yes, quiet a bit.”

“Enough to perjure yourself?”

“Objection, Your Honor,” Billy said. “Unless Mr. Clarke has evidence that Ms. Jackson has committed perjury, this line of questioning is out of order.”

Judge Arthur didn't look happy. “Mr. Clarke, do you have evidence that witness has given false testimony?”

“Not at this time, Your Honor.”

“Then I sustain the objection, and I'm telling you now, Mr. Clarke, that I will not tolerate baseless claims in my courtroom.”

“Of course, Your Honor. I apologize.” Mr. Clarke took a drink of water in an effort to stall. “Ms. Jackson, isn't it true that you and my client had a joint bank account?”

“Yes,” Debra said bitterly.

“So, then, my client didn't steal any money from you to buy the ticket?”

“I never said he stole the money,” Debra said. “I said that I didn't notice--”

“--A simple Yes or No will suffice,” Mr. Clarke said.

“It isn't that simple.”

“Why not?”

“It's just not, and you want me to say I said something I didn't. You're not very smart, are you?”

“Objection, Your Honor,” Mr. Clarke said.

“Overruled,” Judge Arthur said. “What did I say about playing games in my courtroom, Mr. Clarke? The witness never claimed that your client stole money from her, yet you're trying to get her to perjure herself. Either ask a legitimate question or let Mr. Parker call his next witness.”

Diego couldn't believe his ears. Was Judge Crusty Pants finally on his side?

“Ms. Jackson, is Mr. Parker or Mr. Padilla paying you to be here?”

“Objection, Your Honor,” Billy said, bitterly. “There is no evidence that I've bribed any witnesses in this case or any other case, for that matter.”

“Mr. Clarke, I've warned you twice already.”

“Your Honor, I'm just asking a simple question, and my client and the Court has a right to know if testimony his being paid for. If Ms. Jackson isn't being paid, then there's no harm in her answering the question.”

Judge Arthur thought about it for a second then said, “Overruled. The witness will answer the question.”

“No,” Debra said, “I'm not being paid to be here, and how dare you even suggest such a thing.”

“So you bought your own plane tickets, paying for your own hotel and meals?”

“No. Mr. Parker said he'd cover my costs if I came to testify.”

“Move to strike Ms. Jackson's entire testimony, Your Honor,” Mr. Clarke called out, as if victory were in hand.

“Objection, Your Honor,” Billy said, rolling his eyes. “It's common practice for attorney's to cover the cost incurred by witnesses, especially those who have to travel. In fact, I know that Mr. Clarke's firm has done this very thing, multiple times. That's how his first witness was able to be here.”

“Is that true, Mr. Clarke?”

Clarke looked like he was about swing on Billy. “Yes, Your Honor.”

“Petitioner's motion is denied, Respondent's objection is sustained, and I fine you $300 for contempt, Mr. Clarke,” Judge Arthur practically shouted as he slammed his gavel down. “Ask your next question, and it better be legitimate.”

“Ms. Jackson, would you have paid for the initial plane ticket had you known my client was leaving two young boys behind?”

“Absolutely not. In fact--” Debra said before getting cut off.

“--Nothing further, Your Honor,” Mr. Clarke interrupted dismissively.

Billy stood and said, “Redirect, Your Honor?”

“Go ahead, Mr. Parker,” Judge Arthur said.

“Ms. Jackson, whose idea was it to have a joint bank account?”

“Calvin's.”

“Did he say why?”

“Calvin said that he wanted to show trust between us and the best way to do that was to have 'our money' in one spot.”

“When did you have him removed from the account?”

“The same day he moved out. I cleared the account and opened a new one at a different bank.”

“Was any of that money his?”

“No. He never deposited a penny, and I have receipts.”

“One final question: What were you about to say before Mr. Clarke cut you off the last time?”

“I was going to say that if I had known Calvin had kids, I never would've been in a relationship with him. My previous boyfriend broke up with me because he wanted kids and I didn't.”

“Just to clarify, but didn't Mr. Johnson know about that before moving to Pennsylvania?”

“Yes. He knew it right off the bat. It was in the first couple conversations we had.”

“Nothing further, Your Honor, and thank you for your time, Ms. Jackson.”

*     *     *

About half of the other women gave similar accounts to Debra's, with only some slight variations. Eventually, Calvin brought up the boys earlier and earlier into the conversations. Eventually, he brought them up as a means to gain sympathy from women who offered to let him and the boys move in with her, once Calvin won custody again. This only lasted until his pattern of frequent unemployment, infidelity and mooching pushed him to leave unannounced, but not before getting a shared bank account that he'd use as his own person income, including buying one-way tickets.

Each time, Billy would present the conversations with the women as evidence, but Mr. Clarke no longer objected; in fact, he stopped trying to cross examine the witnesses, especially since it allowed Billy to ask more savage questions during his redirect.

Diego was happy that Calvin grew more and more agitated with Mr. Clarke's refusal to ask questions, but Calvin gave up in the end.

By the end of the day, Diego was exhausted and already wasn't looking forward to a second day of testimony from Calvin's exes. He wanted to ask Billy if he could skip it, but he also knew how important being there was, since it showed his dedication to the case and the boys.

Diego picked up dinner on the way home from his restaurant. He also wanted to check in on the place and make sure it wasn't burnt to the ground. Everyone was supportive and had his meal ready with within a couple of minutes.

“Hey, I brought dinner!” Diego called out once he got home, but there was no reply. “Anyone here?” Diego looked around the house and the place was empty except for the dog, who was always happy to see his people. Diego checked out front and double checked the driveway, since he was too tired to actually notice if Steve was home or not; Steve's car wasn't there.

I wounder if they went out for dinner or maybe dropping Kenny off, Diego thought. It was only then that he realized that he still had his phone turned off, since cell phones were to be silenced during Court. After his phone booted up, it blew up with notifications from Steve, Bryan, Kenny and Trevor. Despite all the details given, the same message was clear: Caleb had been in a fight...and in the hospital....