These Foolish Things Read Online Free PDF

the announcement and Judge Francis L.
McCafferty entered the courtroom and made his way to the bench.
    “Be seated.” They did.
    The Honorable F.L. McCafferty was a large man, gray-haired
and round-faced. He had a pair of reading glasses perched on top of his head
which he flipped down to his nose as he settled himself onto the bench.
McCafferty conferred with his clerk for a moment. Liz felt her anxiety
beginning to rise again. She stole a look at the plaintiff’s counsel. Ty Hadley
looked as relaxed and at ease as she was nervous.
    Dan’s nemesis didn’t look all that threatening. After all,
he was wearing a fuchsia bow tie under his round face. Slap a beard on him,
thought Liz, and you’d have Santa. And she wanted to laugh in spite of herself.
    “Randazzo versus White.”
    Liz heard Ty stand up. He was still on her blind side.
“Tyrone Hadley for the plaintiff, Your Honor.”
    Liz saw McCafferty look thoughtfully at Ty. “Not your usual
caliber of clientele, Hadley. Kind of small potatoes for you, Counselor. He
your cousin?”
    “No, Your Honor. Just a client.”
    McCafferty nodded. He looked at Liz. She scrambled to her
feet, heart pounding. “Elizabeth Gardner for the defense, Your Honor.” Even as
she said it, Liz was amazed her voice didn’t crack or squeak from the stress.
    McCafferty peered at her closely. “Where’s Attorney Dennis?”
    “He had an emergency, Your Honor and since I’ve been working
very closely with him on this case, he felt a continuance was unnecessary and a
delay was not in the best interests of the client. I did file an appearance.” Where
in the hell did all that come from?
    McCafferty was unimpressed. “Uh huh.” He looked at Ty. “Do
you have any objection to Brother Dennis’ shenanigans, Counselor?” Liz looked
at Ty, who glanced back at her and said, “No objections here, Your Honor.”
    McCafferty nodded. “Very well. Let the record show that
Attorney Elizabeth Gardner is here to represent the defendant. Tell me,
Attorney Gardner, on what golf course or in whose boudoir is this ‘emergency’
taking place?” Before Liz could answer, McCafferty frowned and looked at her
closely for the first time. He beckoned her forward.
    “Counsel, please approach the bench.” Liz did as she was
told, hearing Ty do the same. As she stood before the judge, McCafferty leaned
forward to study her right eye. Liz held still for the scrutiny. He sat back. “That’s
quite the shiner, Counselor. Very impressive.”
    “Thank you, Your Honor. Anything worth doing is worth doing
well.” She heard Ty suppress a laugh and cover it with a cough.
    McCafferty smiled. ‘You look like Tony Conigliaro.”
    “Wrong eye, Sir,” Liz replied. “He got hit on the left.”
    McCafferty chuckled. “Quite so. Still,” and he gestured to
Liz’s eye. “I’d hate to see the other guy.”
    “That would be me, Judge,” Ty offered.
    McCafferty’s head snapped in Ty’s direction. “You did that?”
he barked. Liz turned her head in time to see Ty nodding.
    “Didn’t your mother tell you not to hit girls?” McCafferty
roared, “I’ve half a mind to call the cops, Counselor!”
    “Your Honor, it wasn’t like that,” Liz began, but McCafferty
cut her off with a wave of his hand.
    “Don’t you defend him, Missy!” the judge bellowed. “Do you
plan to protect him until he beats you to death?”
    “Your Honor…” Ty began. McCafferty cut him off, too.
    “Not a word, Attorney Hadley or I’ll hold you in contempt!” This
was too much for Liz and she matched McCafferty’s roar.
    “YOUR HONOR! WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST LISTEN TO ME FOR THIRTY
SECONDS!”
    Both men turned to look at her in astonishment. Liz’s heart
was still pounding and her mind racing, but dammit, the truth was going to be
heard. McCafferty glared at her.
    “You’re courting a contempt citation, too, Counselor.
Remember where you are. This is my courtroom and I will have decorum, Missy.”
    “I apologize, Your