Irrevocable Trust (Sasha McCandless Legal Thriller Book 6) (17 page)

She felt Will and Marsh turn their eyes to her. Marsh had explained repeatedly, in painful detail, that she could decline the appointment.

Serving as trustee would entail years of monthly visits with Judge Kumpar to update the court on the status of the trust and to answer any questions he might have. It would also entail filing sheaves of financial reports to account for the funds in the trust.

She certainly didn
’
t need
more
paperwork and
more
appointments in her life.

But Allison had chosen her for a reason.

And the kids needed
someone
.

The room was silent. Everyone was waiting.

“
I will, Your Honor.
”

The words felt almost as weighty as her wedding vows.

“
Super!
”
He clapped his hands together again, this time with something approaching glee. Then he gathered up his papers and stood.

Before his clerk could get out the words to dismiss court, the judge was gone in a blur of robes.

“
Judge Perry-Brown is in Courtroom 6,
”
the clerk said.

“
Thank you,
”
Marsh answered.

He turned to Sasha and Will.
“
Well, I
’
ll leave this in your capable hands. Once Judge Perry-Brown
’
s ruled, reach out to me, and we
’
ll keep the probate ball rolling.
”

“
I will. Thanks for your help, Marsh,
”
Sasha said.

“
Yes. And give our best to everyone back at the office,
”
Will added, ever the diplomat.

Marsh nodded and scurried off.

“
Well, this should be fun,
”
Will remarked, as they gathered up their papers.
“
I don
’
t suppose you know anything about Judge Perry-Brown?
”

“
Never heard of her,
”
Sasha confirmed.

They walked in silence out of the courtroom.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Judge Perry-Brown
’
s courtroom was unlocked when they arrived. A cluster of people filled the back row of her gallery.

“
I never realized the state court buffs were such back-benchers,
”
Sasha whispered to Will as they hurried to the counsel table.

It was sort of odd how they sat in the back, considering they were there voluntarily. In law school, the back-benchers tended to occupy the rear row of the class because they were

unprepared, unengaged, or otherwise unhappy to be in class. At least, that was her impression, as a dyed-in-the-wool, front row gunner.

Will craned his neck to eyeball the senior citizens with their heads bent over their Sudoku puzzles.

“
Isn
’
t that the guy from Kumpar
’
s courtroom?
”
he whispered back, jerking his head toward a man on the far end.

Sasha peered at him. He was rumpled and rough-looking but other than that, she couldn
’
t say. He had his head bowed.

“
Maybe?
”

They dropped their bags on the table and walked up to the front desk to check in with Judge Perry-Brown
’
s courtroom clerk.

“
Hi,
”
Sasha said, sliding a business card onto the desk.
“
Sasha McCandless and Will Volmer. Judge Kumpar sent us over?
”

The clerk examined the card for a moment, rhythmically clicking the top of her ballpoint pen as she did so.

“
Your firm info the same as hers?
”
the woman asked Will.

“
Yes.
”

She scribbled his name under Sasha
’
s printed title and clipped the card to a file.

“
Okay. Have a seat. Judge
’
ll be out in a minute. We
’
re just waiting for Old Big Gun.
”
She smirked.

Will cocked his head and gave the woman a puzzled look.

Sasha
’
s heart thumped.

“
Excuse me? Big Gun? Do you mean Andy Pulaski?
”
she asked.

“
You know another one?
”

“
Um, I
’
m not sure I follow. Why are we waiting for Mr. Pulaski?
”
Will asked.

“
Your guess is as good as mine. Judge said call him and tell him to get his butt over here, so I did. I imagine we
’
ll all find out when he shows up.
”

Sasha swallowed around the lump in her throat and hurried back to the table.

“
Are you okay?
”
Will asked her in a low voice as he slid into the seat next to her.

She pasted on a smile to ease his worry.

“
I
’
m fine.
”

Will
’
s eyes narrowed as if he didn
’
t believe her.

His skepticism was understandable. He was almost as well-acquainted with the hard-charging, ethically-challenged divorce attorney who called himself Big Gun as she was.

The psychic scars from her tangles with Andy Pulaski had finally healed. She couldn
’
t believe he was popping his head up again like a rat or a groundhog or
…
well, whatever kind of rodent lived underground and popped its head up. She was a city girl, after all.

“
What the devil do you think Pulaski has to do with any of this?
”
Will mused, more to himself than to her.

She shrugged. The last time she crossed paths with Pulaski she
’
d been representing two men accused of murdering their estranged wives, both of whom had been partners at Sasha and Will
’
s former firm. Pulaski was the divorce attorney who represented both of the women. And, as it turned out, the man who killed Ellen Laing worked for him as a messenger. That would have been enough to put a bad taste in anyone
’
s mouth, but it was only half the story.

Pulaski
’
s messenger had also been convinced of killing Clarissa
—
wrongly, as it turned out. The right man was in prison now, but that mistake had weighed on Sasha for a long time. It had nearly cost her her relationship with Connelly, her mental health, and her life.

Suffice it to say if she ever saw Andy Pulaski again, it would be too soon.

And then, like a set piece in a bad sitcom, there he was. Huffing, out of breath, and racing up the aisle to the counsel table.

Pulaski dropped a battered briefcase on the table, smoothed his hair, running a hand over his low ponytail, and straightened his garish purple tie. His eyes widened with recognition at the sight of Sasha, but he clicked his game face into place almost instantly.

“
Counselors,
”
he said by way of greeting as he struggled to catch his breath.

“
Andy,
”
Will responded.

Sasha just nodded.

“
What
’
s this all about?
”
Pulaski asked Will.

“
I suppose we
’
ll all find out together. Even the judge
’
s clerk doesn
’
t know why you
’
re here.
”

Pulaski made a clicking noise with his tongue and flopped into the vacant chair next to Sasha.

For reasons she had never fully understood, some state courtrooms provided a single table for all counsel and parties to share, rather than the more common set up of having defendants and plaintiffs sit at separate tables. It made for a crowded, uncomfortable situation
—
particularly for the two opponents sitting closest to each other. Surely the legislature could find room in its budget to order some additional tables?

She scooted her chair closer to Will
’
s and resisted the urge to ask him to switch seats with her. This wasn
’
t seventh grade, she reminded herself.

Either oblivious to or unfazed by her discomfort, Pulaski leaned over and stage whispered,
“
How
’
ve you been? Heard you got hitched. Good for you. If it doesn
’
t work out, have your husband give me a call.
”

He fake laughed, a hearty guffaw.

Will turned and gave him a withering gaze.

Sasha stared straight ahead for a long moment then looked at him as if he hadn
’
t spoken and remarked,
“
Why don
’
t you go check in with the clerk so we can get on with this?
”

He remained seated, waved his arm, and shouted toward the front of the room,
“
Hey, Bev, I
’
m here!
”

“
I noticed, Andy. The judge will be out in a minute.
”

The clerk returned to her paperwork with an expression that looked as though she smelled something putrid.

So that was how it was going to be. Pulaski had a reputation as an unpleasant, combative jerk to uphold. The only way to react was to refuse to react.

Sasha smiled to herself. That sounded like something her favorite Buddhist would say.

“
Something funny?
”
Pulaski asked.

She was saved from having to answer by the appearance of the judge.

“
All rise. The Honorable Merry Perry-Brown presiding,
”
Bev the clerk intoned.

Merry Perry? The judge
’
s parents must have had a sense of humor,
Sasha thought. She stifled a giggle and felt Pulaski giving her the side-eye.

“
Good morning,
”
the judge said, smiling broadly to show off a dazzling smile that seemed out of place with her frizzy hair and wrinkled robe.

“
Good morning, Your Honor,
”
Sasha and Will sing-songed before returning their seats.

Pulaski went on the attack immediately.

“
With all respect, Your Honor, can I know what this is about? I have a full day of meetings and conferences, but my secretary received a call from your chambers demanding that I drop everything and
—”

The judge raised her hand and cut him off.
“
Enough.
”
She turned to Sasha and Will.
“
Ms. McCandless and Mr. Volmer, I take it?
”

They popped back to their feet.

“
Yes, Your Honor.
”

“
Welcome. And where is Mr. Alverson? Will he be joining us?
”
she asked.

“
No, Your Honor. Mr. Volmer and I thought his presence wasn
’
t necessary at this time.
”

“
Very good. In that case, we
’
ll get started. To answer your question, Mr. Pulaski, the court has decided to appoint you to represent the father in Ms. McCandless and Mr. Volmer
’
s matter.
”

Pulaski sputtered.
“
A court appointment? I don
’
t have time to take on another case, judge.
”

The judge
’
s megawatt smile vanished.
“
I
’
ll be blunt, Mr. Pulaski. You have clogged the docket, not only of this court, but of every judge in the Family Division, with your endless motions and briefs, which range from the frivolous to the laughable to the downright nasty. Well, I have a client who is the perfect match for you. In fact, I can
’
t think of another member of the bar better suited to represent Mr. Bricker than Big Gun Pulaski.
”