Duplicity - A True Story of Crime and Deceit by Paul Goldman (surface ebook reader txt) 📗

“It's old, the brakesaren’t working, and it has body damage.” This was news to me. Ishook my head and began to knead my palms.

“Ms.Munson, you are ordered to return the Sienna to Mr. Goldman nolater than this Friday, January 5th, 2009 by 5 p.m.” Judge Andrews was unmoved and I was tryinghard to conceal a smirk.

“Thank you, Your Honor,”remarked Adam. Now Audrey’s lawyer, Jack Smith, began hismotion.

“Your Honor, may we nowaddress the temporary support issue?” Jack Smith was a short,rotund man who struck me like a person who always seemed to beannoyed, as if he had somewhere better to be. Plus, there was amelodramatic sigh about everything he said.

“Yes, Mr. Smith, what areyou looking for?”

“Your Honor, we would like$6,000 a month in support.” My hands stopped, my jaw dropped, and Ilooked up at the judge in complete disbelief. Adam, sensing myshock, gently tapped his finger on the table, signaling me to relaxand stay quiet. I sat back slowly, the pleasure provided by thejudge’s decision just five minutes ago was gone and replaced withabject fear. That amount would destroy me, though I guessed thatwas the point. Smith went on to explain how he’d arrived at thenumber, an explanation punctuated with his palms up and a lot ofdramatic exhales. I didn’t like him at all.

Judge Andrews began his questioning. “Ms.Munson, what is your educational background?” he asked as hefingered through some papers, his eyeglasses resting precipitouslyon the tip of his nose.

“I have two degrees, inmicro-biology and engineering,” Audrey answered clearly.

“Do you have any physicalor mental impairments which preclude you from working?” the judgecontinued.

“No, but I do have to takecare of my three year old son.”

“Is there any reason whyhe cannot be in day care?”

“Well, no,” Audreyconceded.

“Ms. Munson, what is yourcurrent income?”

“I receive $1,600 a monthin child support. That is my entire income, Your Honor.” I washorrified by Audrey's attempt to appear innocent and vulnerable. Iwas also scared the judge might not see through it.

“Mr. Goldman,” JudgeAndrews turned his head to me, “what is your currentincome.”

“Your Honor, a few monthsago I had a business setback and, due to the slowdown inconstruction, my business failed. I am currently living on borrowedmoney. I have no income.” I could feel my ears redden as the judgestared at me intently. “I’m looking for a job, but I haven’t foundanything yet, Your Honor.” He stared at me for another moment, asif trying to read me. I held his stare, not sure what else tosay.

“Well, look harder, Mr.Goldman, and take anything you can get,” he directed, and thenreturned to his papers. “I hereby order temporary support in theamount of $750 a month, to be paid by Mr. Goldman to Ms. Munson.Court dismissed.”

Hearing his decision, I was relieved thatAudrey wouldn’t be getting the full $6,000, though I would stillhave to find a way to come up with the monthly $750. It felt likeit was a small win, and Adam reassured me that it was. I turned tolook over at Audrey. She was already gone.

At exactly 4:55 p.m. thatFriday Audrey pulled up in the Sienna, with her parents followingclosely behind in their car. Knowing that she would wait until theeleventh hour to comply with the judge’s order, I had spent thelast hour or so finding things to do in the garage with its dooropen so that I would see when she arrived. Hearing the cars, Iwalked to the top of the driveway, facing her as she hopped out ofthe car, and locked the doors with the key still in the ignitionand the car running. Audrey then glared at me, ran to her parents’car, and, in one final show of contempt, poked her middle finger atme. A nice touch from a classy lady.

Happy to foil Audrey’s plans, since I had aspare set of keys in the kitchen, I unlocked the door to find anempty cavern where a car interior had once been. There were nofloor mats, no middle row of seats, no radio, and no DVD player.She had even taken the owner’s manual and registration from theglove compartment. Audrey had taken everything that wasn’t naileddown, and for a final touch, she had “keyed” the outside of thecar, one long scratch on every door and body panel. I called Adamto inform him of her latest offense.

“Incredible,” was Adam’sonly response. “I’ll file a contempt of court motion tomorrow toforce her to return those things and pay for the damages.” The ideaof Audrey having to pay for anything was thrilling and I thankedAdam and hung up the phone.

True to his word, Adam immediately filed amotion and I returned home the following week to find the threemiddle seats dumped in my driveway, in a folded up position.Expecting to find them torn or otherwise damaged, I slowly unfoldedthem to perform a cautious inspection. Surprisingly, they wereintact and I reinstalled them in the car.

We still had to go to court to get back theother stolen items, and the damages. So, on a chilly Februarymorning, which saw the thermometer dip to 75 degrees, I met Adamoutside the courthouse to show him the car before we wentinside.

“Unbelievable,” hewhispered, and shook his head. A half hour later, we were onceagain in front of Judge Andrews. “Your Honor,” Adam began, “youordered Ms. Munson to return Mr. Goldman’s car, and she did, butprior to that return she removed numerous items from the car andkeyed the entire exterior.” Now it was Adam’s turn to sigh inexasperation. The judge turned to Audrey's lawyer, narrowing hiseyes.

“Mr. Smith, what do youhave to say about this?”

“Your Honor, this does notconstitute contempt,” Audrey’s lawyer responded, without denyingher actions. Audrey sat beside him, staring at thetable.

“Okay,” the judge said ashe shook his head, “here is my ruling. The motion for Ms. Munson topay for the damages is put on hold until the final hearing. We willdeal with it then, along with any other marital assets in thiscase. However, Ms. Munson, let me tell you that I am not happy withyour actions. The car was in your care, custody, and control. Youractions may have constituted contempt,