Weeds in the Garden of Love (3 page)

Lorne was one of the top lawyers in the Department of Justice’s Office for Support Order Enforcement, more commonly known as the SOE. Their head office was located on the fourth floor of what, from the outside, appeared to be a typical government building. Inside, however, visitors quickly realized why it had earned the nickname the “Fortress.” The level of security was far from typical. What appeared to be normal outside windows on the lower floors were a façade. They disguised impenetrable thick glass blocks that were both bomb and bulletproof. The floors, ceilings and walls were re-enforced with steel and concrete. The building and surrounding grounds were under constant surveillance by security cameras and personnel.

Admittance to the building was restricted to authorized personnel only after an I.D. card swipe, a search of personal belongings and a walk through a metal detector. Visitors with a confirmed appointment were security screened and escorted to an anteroom off the main lobby. Armed and highly trained personnel manned the main security booth. Anyone who approached the booth, for any reason, was considered suspicious. Delivery people joked they should have bumper stickers with the slogan: “I survived The Fortress!”

Lorne swiped his I.D. card and handed the guard his briefcase.

“
Open it please, sir.”

“
Everyday, it’s the same thing!” Lorne said. “Open your briefcase for us, sir! You guys know who I am!”

The guard clearly knew who he was. He’d dealt with this clown every day for over a year. “We treat everyone the same, sir. No exceptions.” He examined the contents of the briefcase. “Now, sir, please remove all the metal objects from your pockets and proceed through the x-ray.”

Lorne deliberately sighed then placed his car keys, coins and a pen in a small plastic tray. He walked through the x-ray arch. The guard gave Lorne the look security saves for the rude and obnoxious.
What an idiot,
the guard thought.
I’d love to tell him what I really think of him.
The guard handed Lorne the plastic basket.
“Have a nice day, sir. And please don’t forget your briefcase.” He wasn’t about to risk his job just for the satisfaction of telling this guy off—not today anyway.

Lorne ignored him, walked to the entry door and waited with his hand on the handle. He turned and stared at the security booth until the familiar buzz of the electronic lock signaled it was open. He made sure they saw him shake his head in exasperation and roll his eyes at some imaginary being in the ceiling. In the elevator, he gave the security camera his usual Lorne-is-not-impressed glare all the way up to the fourth floor. The guards at the desk made funny faces and rude gestures at his image on the screen.

“
Good morning, Mr. Davis,” the receptionist chirped. “Here are your phone messages, sir.”

“
Thanks.” Lorne could never remember her name.

Today’s court files were piled neatly on the corner of Lorne’s desk. His legal assistant Doug Anderson was relatively new to the job but had quickly learned Lorne wanted things done a certain way. He would not tolerate any deviation.

Whenever the “worker bees”, as Lorne called the administrative staff, met outside the office they begged Doug to do his impression of Lorne. After a few drinks, Doug would comply.

“
Listen, you lowly worker bee you, there’s the right way, the wrong way and the Lorne way.” Doug would then mimic Lorne and push his glasses up on his nose with his forefinger. “You do it my way or it’s the byway, or the highway, or some way. Just do it!” Everyone would laugh themselves silly and give Doug high fives all around. Some would even attempt their own version of a Lorne impression. They despised Lorne Davis with a passion.

Lorne exited the Fortress as the tow truck operator was lifting the front end of the vehicle occupying his parking spot. He drove out of the lot and headed north on Fourth Avenue. Lorne wanted to avoid the mid-town traffic and planned to turn onto Glenrose Parkway.

Checking his side-mirror, he saw a car behind him that looked familiar. He thought it had been parked across the street from the Fortress when he left a few moments ago.
Is that the same car, or am I being paranoid?
Lorne left the Parkway at the next exit. He checked the rear view mirror to see if the vehicle exited as well.

“
He did!” Lorne was now officially panicked. He needed a plan. He began to babble out loud. “Okay, okay, settle down so you can think. All right ... all right … Okay, I got it! Where’s the closest cop shop? Let’s see ... I’m between Water and Fourteenth
^.
No! I’m way past Fourteenth—”

The vehicle behind him was gone.
Where’d he go?
Lorne cranked his neck around wildly, looking from side to side.
He must have turned.

As he pulled over and parked to regain his composure,
Lorne’s heart was pounding in his ears. He had to get a grip on himself. He was a seasoned lawyer. He should always keep his emotions in check. He chuckled to himself as he stated his car.
I’m obviously suffering from an overactive imagination.

As he drove along, he analyzed what had happened. He was an intelligent and learned person. Logic told him he had nothing to fear. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to be more observant. Some of the men he had prosecuted were capable of anything. He knew who they were, but, more importantly, they knew who he was.

I’d better give Roy Wood a call,
Lorne thought.
Twenty years as a detective on the police force shoulda taught him something. If Roy can’t help me—nobody can.

* * *

Lorne was parking at the courthouse when his car phone rang. “Lorne Davis.” He used his best official sounding voice.

“
Lorne. Roy Wood here. You called?”

“
Thanks for getting back to me, Roy. I think I’ve got a problem.” Lorne explained about the car that followed him from the Fortress. He told him he thought he’d seen the same vehicle before but couldn’t remember exactly where. He described the car as an older dark-colored four-door sedan.

“
That doesn’t help at all, Lorne. Did you catch the plate?”

“
No.” Lorne anticipated his next question. “And I can’t describe the driver either.”

Detective Sergeant Roy Wood was an exceptional investigator. He never ruled out any possibility. He was tenacious and knew every trick. He assumed everyone lied in an investigation. Those accused of a crime lied purposely. Witnesses lied unintentionally. Roy would not allow anything or anyone to divert him from his search for the truth. His nickname was: “The Lie Detector.” In most cases, he was able to uncover the truth.

“
Not much to go on, Lorne. I’ll make up an incident report, but that’s it for now.”

Lorne knew Roy was right not to waste any more time on this. This is what Lorne admired about him. Roy didn’t mince words. He was concise and didn’t waste his time, or yours. The one thing plainclothes cops have in short supply is time. They don’t have enough hours in the day to deal with real crime, let alone something as trivial as this.

“
I appreciate anything you can do, Roy. I’ll let you know if it happens again.”

“
Anytime, Lorne. Take care.” Roy hung up without waiting for Lorne to say good-bye.
Cops,
Lorne
thought,
my kind of people.
He believed good manners were a waste of time—except with the ladies.

Lorne entered the rear of the courthouse through the staff entrance. Once again, he was subjected to a security search. Everyone working in Family Court, including Lorne, accepted the necessity of strict security. It’s a dangerous place; emotions run high and a weapon of any type is the last thing you want inside the building.

After clearing security, Lorne stopped at the Clerk’s Office to confirm his docket was up to date. Mildred Landry, one of the assistant clerks, was behind the counter when he walked in. She had worked here for thirty years and knew the ropes as well as anyone.

“
Morning, Mr. Davis.” Mildred pulled his docket files out from under the counter. “One change today on the Hodgson default hearing in Courtroom Two. Mrs. Hodgson is here and would like to talk to you before court.” Lorne was surprised Hodgson’s wife was here. He did not require her testimony.

Lorne picked up the files and headed for the door. “Where is she?”

Mildred knew Lorne had no patience and would quickly disappear. “She’s upstairs in Interview Room Six. Her name is Loretta, and she’s an attractive brunette wearing a cream colored suit with a —”

He was gone. Mildred knew Lorne was not well liked, but she respected his ability and dedication on behalf of his clients. Most were single moms requiring regular support payments to provide for their children. Mildred knew how tough it was to raise kids on your own. Her ex-husband left her with five kids when he ran away with an exotic dancer. He never paid any child support and the SOE couldn’t find him. She always believed fathers who didn’t pay deserved to be prosecuted. She liked Lorne because he showed them no mercy.

* * *

Loretta Hodgson was anxious. She wasn’t sure what she was going to say to the Justice Department lawyer. She was also worried about the possibility of running into her ex-husband Garth. She wanted to avoid him because she didn’t know how he would react. He was still angry about her infidelity. On top of that, these default proceedings had put Garth under a great deal of pressure. The SOE had threatened to throw him in jail. Loretta now regretted contacting the SOE. She hoped to convince the lawyer to go easy on Garth. He was trying hard to find work and was seeing the kids regularly.

Garth was a gentle man and had never been violent. He didn’t like confrontation and normally would not argue. Loretta had only seen his temper a few times. On those rare occasions, he would storm out of the house to cool off. He never even considered raising a hand to her. He thought men who hit their wives were cowards. For the first time in a long time, Loretta found herself missing her ex-husband.

A well-groomed man in his late thirties walked into the interview room. He was wearing a navy blue pinstriped suit, had salt and pepper hair and horn-rimmed glasses. He was carrying an expensive leather briefcase and a handful of file folders.

“
Loretta Hodgson?”

“
Yes.”

Lorne placed his briefcase on the wooden table and piled the folders beside it. He picked up the top file. “Nice to meet you. I’m Lorne Davis, the lawyer for the Support Order Enforcement Office. I’ll be conducting the default hearing against your ex-husband … uh.” Lorne quickly checked the file. “Sorry, Garth. I hope you realize, ma’am, you’re not required here today.”

“
Yes, sir. I’m aware of that. Oh, and very nice to meet you too.” Loretta explained to Lorne she wanted to talk to him about her ex-husband. She didn’t want Garth to go to jail. “I just want him to know the money is for his kids and to pay what he owes. He really is a good man and—”

“
With all due respect, ma’am. I’ve dealt with many, many default cases like this. If we’re lenient, he’ll perceive it as weakness and won’t pay. These types only understand tough justice. We have to get their undivided attention. Your ex-husband has to know—it’s pay up or go to jail. Understand?”

Loretta started to respond, but Lorne cut her off. “These birds have to learn they can’t play fast and loose with the law. Our system may be tough, but it’s fair and it works. I … sorry, I mean … we—make sure these guys pay, and their wives and children are the winners. Trust me, this will work.”

“
I don’t think you understand how difficult this divorce has been on both of us,” Loretta said. “It’s been absolute hell.”

“
I do understand. Listen, experts agree divorce is one of the most stressful events in life. I’ve been through it myself. But know this; I’ve paid every cent I owed for my kids. A man has no excuse for not paying and should do whatever it takes.”

“
I’m also concerned about Garth’s reaction to this court case today,” Loretta said. “He’s under a great deal of pressure lately and—”

“
Please don’t worry. I guarantee your ex-husband will be too afraid to even consider doing anything foolish.”

Loretta shook Lorne’s hand. “Thank you. I’m only asking you to be fair with Garth. I appreciate you taking the time to see me.”

Lorne opened the door for her. “My pleasure, ma’am.” In the corridor, he took out a business card, wrote on the back and handed it to her. “If you have any questions, Loretta, please don’t hesitate to call me anytime, either at the office or at home.”

“
Thanks so much, Mr. Davis.”

“
Lorne, please call me Lorne.”

“
Lorne,” she said. Loretta smiled at him, turned and walked away. Lorne watched her all the way to the elevator.
Great legs,
he thought.

Then, he noticed a man coming down the hallway from the opposite direction. The man was in an obvious hurry to catch the elevator, but the doors closed and the elevator was gone when he arrived. He stood with his head down for a few seconds before approaching Lorne.

“
Excuse me, but I saw you talkin’ to my ex-wife Loretta. Are you her lawyer?” Lorne concluded this guy must be Garth Hodgson.
All deadbeats are alike. This guy is no different.

“
I am ‘a’ lawyer. I work for the Department of Justice and will be conducting the default hearing against you today—Mr. Hodgson. Are you represented by council?”