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

The drive over found me wondering how the divorcetrial would play out. I knew Adam and I were well prepared on ourside, but I couldn’t help feeling nervous about what her lawyermight be up to. Would he simply argue that we had a normal marriagethat’d gone wrong like so many others, entitling Audrey to half mytownhome? Or, was there something else? Since they made no attemptto settle, I was afraid they might have something up theirsleeve.

I looked up to find that the car had driven itself tothe courthouse while I had been thinking. Hurrying up thecourthouse steps, I kept scanning the area for familiar faces.Entering the building, I went through security and headed to ourdesignated room, where Mia O'Shea and her cameraman were setting upin a corner. I had called her two days prior and begged her to beat the trial. Mia saw the pleased and surprised expression on myface, flashed me a quick, knowing smile as if to say “I told you Iwould come, and I did,” and returned to her preparations.

I continued into the courtroom and realized I waswalking right toward Audrey. Our eyes locked at exactly the sametime and we both froze. She was dressed in a very long,conservative navy dress that sought to expose nothing, especiallyher true persona on a typical Saturday night. She also had her hairpulled tightly behind her head and, to complete the effect, she waseven sporting mousy, wire rimmed glasses which we both knew sheonly needed for driving. Clearly, she was trying for the prim andproper “librarian look.” She gave me the once over, then haughtilyand theatrically spun around and made her way to her chair.

Today's fake persona didn’t matter, I thought tomyself. I had plenty of video tapes from Joyce capturing her usualensembles for a night out, like the tight jeans, high heels, andskimpy top she donned while propositioning two men at the RoyalCrown Hotel. Even more, I could always present one of the picturesI found on my computer illustrating the white, leather handkerchiefshe tried to pass of as a skirt while modeling for Royce, proudlyholding a bottle of personal lubrication. She may have wanted toappear innocent in court, but I was more than prepared to show howfar from an innocent victim she actually was, that in fact Audreywas a financial predator, in addition to being a common whore and amadam to boot. I proceeded to my seat.

Adam was already waiting for me at our table. He wasgoing over his notes while waiting for me to arrive. My job was tokeep the exhibits organized and hand them to him on demand, and Iwas happy to have something to occupy my nervous energy.

“Are you ready?” I whispered,sitting down beside him.

“I couldn’t be more ready. Howabout you? Feeling okay?”

“I’m a little nervous. Did you seeher get-up?”

“I know. What a ruse. Don’t worry,the judge will see right through that, especially after we get donewith her,” Adam reassured me.

“I hope so. Did you see the TVcamera? I can’t believe Mia actually showed up.”

“Honestly, neither can I. This isall looking really good for you, just don’t get nervous. This caseis ours to win.” I must have been doing a bad job at concealing myuneasiness. I took a couple of deep breaths and glanced in Audrey’sdirection. She was also seating next to her attorney, Peter Walton,and she was smiling and nodding as he whispered in her ear. On thefloor next to her seat slouched a cheap, Wal-Mart purse, a starkcontrast to her $500 designer bag that Joyce videotaped Audreycarrying when she was dressed for work, or meeting with hergirls.

“All rise,” the bailiffboomed.

I joined the rest of the room in standing. The judgeentered, took his seat, and immediately called for Peter Walton tobegin his opening statement.

“Your Honor, this is the story ofa typical marriage gone wrong. We want half the equity in Mr.Goldman’s Florida houses. In addition, because of Florida’s“presumption of gift” statute, we claim that the California housewas a gift from Mr. Goldman to Ms. Munson, and we want half of itas well. We also want half the money in his business and personalchecking accounts. And finally, we want Mr. Goldman to pay myclient’s legal fees.” When he finished, Walton sat down. He andAudrey were clearly pleased with his performance.

I let out a sigh of relief as their strategy was allabout demands, and devoid of any complex legal bases Adam might nothave prepared for. With a nod from the judge in our direction, Adamrose from his seat and uncovered the written timeline which he haddrawn on a chalkboard to explain to the judge what had reallyhappened in our marriage. When I saw the timeline, my nervousnessleft me. Wow, I thought, any fool could see that this was not a“typical marriage gone wrong” at all. This was a diabolical plan tomake a naked grab for my assets after only thirty-five days ofliving together. Furthermore, this woman who pretended to be mywife was actually a working prostitute the whole time. Game over, Ithought.

“Your Honor, we will show that Ms.Munson married Mr. Goldman solely for his money, and defrauded himbefore the marriage by telling him she was caring for hergrandmother in Cocoa Beach. She created two fictitious entities andused them to steal money from Mr. Goldman during the marriage. Shehad a boyfriend on the side during their entire marriage and,although this is a touchy subject, it appears her boyfriend is alsoher pimp, Royce Rocco, and Audrey Munson is a workingprostitute.”

With those words I looked over at Audrey for any signof a reaction, but there was none. This was real. This was a courtof law. Audrey had just heard herself accused of being aprostitute, now and forevermore in the public record. How could shehave absolutely no reaction? I wondered. What a conniving actressthis one is. Her face was completely expressionless.

My lawyer continued, “Mr. Goldman and Ms. Munsonspent only fifty-six days together as man and wife and we willrebut the presumption of gift statute regarding the Californiahouse.” With that, succinct and