Chapter 13 – Final Straw

The day to day living was beginning feel more like a scene from the movie, Groundhog Day.

Every day, wake up at the same time, drive the same route to work, see the same faces at work, same drama with a few challenges thrown Willow’s way. On this particular day Willow had an afternoon court hearing. She was accustomed to one of the investigators or a friend from work accompanying her but today she decided she would walk to the courthouse by herself.

Being there was no cubicle to peer over, Penny stopped by Willow’s long table at the library with little or no chance of having a private conversation. There were no cubicles, no dividers and no way to share brief friendly connections throughout the day without every co-worker in the room listening in.

“What time is court today?”

Willow lifted her pointer finger, signaling one o’clock.

“Is someone walking over with you?”

Willow shook her head and tried to avoid detailed information as the entire table seemed to become obviously quiet. She knew they were listening. Penny knew they were listening. They smiled at one another when Penny pointed to her phone for Willow to text her when she got back.

The morning passed rather quickly and before she knew it, it was time to leave and walk to court. As she approached the massive building with the long wooden doors, she began to give herself a pep talk.

You can do this.

Once inside the courthouse, she recognized the metal detector attendant, who had seen her so many times in the recent months, they had become friendly acquaintances. He was a big burly man with white teeth that shined when he smiled.

“Hey Willow!”

Instantly she felt more at ease and her knees stopped knocking.

“Hi, Mike! Another day in paradise.”

Just then Mike looked beyond Willow and directly behind her stood Mitch and Jane. It was apparent to him the rotten duo was motioning violent threats behind Willow’s back. If it weren’t for the intent look in Mike’s eyes, Willow would have had no need to turn around. She quickly turned around and almost fell to her knees.

“Kissing up to security? Bitch.”

Willow stumbled through security like a speedy roadrunner – removing her watch, placing it in the basket along with her purse and phone. The scan seemed to last an eternity when in reality it lasted only a couple minutes. Mitch was almost standing on her heels. She could feel his breath on her neck and he continued to whisper horrific threats in her ear.

Mike could see the terror in her eyes.

“Sir, I want to remind you there are cameras on you. I’d be careful what you do next.”

Knowing this man better than he knew himself, she thought to herself.

That is only going to make him meaner and angrier.

Willow threw her watch inside her purse and ran for the elevator. Just the thought of being alone in the elevator with those two monsters made her heart skip a beat. Pushing the elevator button over and over wasn’t going to speed up the process but she did it anyway. Who thinks clearly when being tracked down by a power hungry beast?

Looking back at Mike scanning Mitch through the metal detector, it seemed as though he was taking his sweet time. Mike was no fool. He understood the threat at hand, trying to avoid a verbal confrontation from being a physical attack. Mike slowed down the process as the line grew to the outside sidewalk.

Mitch glared at Willow as his belt buckle sounded the metal detector alarm. His beady shark eyes stared right through her until she had to turn away – back to elevator, pushing the buttons until her finger quivered.

Come on. Open, open!

Finally the elevator door opened as Willow nearly ran into the small crowd of people trying to exit the tiny box.

“I’m sorry. Excuse me.”

An elder woman glared at her but Willow overlooked her assumptions as a clear misunderstanding. If granny would have known the reality to this moment, she would have brought her home and baked her a delicious homemade apple pie.

Success. She was in the elevator and she could hear footsteps grow closer as someone stopped the elevator from closing with their oversized Nikes. Willow was afraid to look. Was it him? Panic set in and she felt as if she was going to pass out.

She heard no sarcasm, no threats and no voice at all. There was just silence. At that moment she knew she was safe. The monster would have surely roared and created a scene. She took a few deep breaths followed by a heavy sigh of relief.

Why on this day that she decided to walk to court by herself would she be faced with such a tumultuous close call?

No time to worry as she needed to get inside the courtroom and locate a safe seat, possibly between two weightlifters or linebackers. No such luck but she did manage to spot a row of seats with one seat calling her name. She felt like leaping over the row but knew that would not appear lady-like so she waited patiently instead, trying not to look when the chaotic couple entered the courtroom.

Their case was called last. Typical. Nothing like adding more anticipation to Willow’s already anxious state of mind.

Slime Ball One, Mr. Wynn, was sitting in front, motioning for Slime Ball Two, Mitch, as he slithered through the entrance.

The judge was a prior defense attorney, knowing Willow by face as she helped her countless times at the district attorney’s front counter. They were not chummy in any way, shape or form. As a matter of fact, it was exactly the opposite.

She was one of the few types of defense attorneys that had a chip on her shoulder. Most defense attorneys were fair and kind, understanding they were just doing a job and trying their best to deliver a win for their client. The work ethic should be a common sense kind of thing. You do your job, I do mine. No hard feelings.

What a wonderful world it would be if more people, not just defense attorneys, thought in a more logical way – without taking sides and being ruthlessly personal. Willow thought there was no need for such behavior but this newly appointed judge, prior defense attorney, seemed to have a different view of prosecutors and any person who worked for or with the “other side.”

Willow felt the strong vibes of Judge Prima donna and Mr. Wynn taking sides and being a bit over-the-top with the “other side” behavior.

What are we? Are we Star Wars’ characters now? Is one the Dark Side and the other the Light?

You can probably figure what side she would choose if she ever had to decide but this was an adult working situation and the mere thought of you against me was preposterous.

You can bet the two were friends. Willow knew she was doomed from the start.

Once again, Mitch was trying his best to relieve himself from his responsibilities. It wasn’t like Willow was asking for the moon. She just wanted him to support their children and pay half of what he was required to pay by law. Any good father would but she wasn’t dealing with a good father and that became more evident with every day.

Finally their case was called.

“Williams vs Copekski.”

They finally got my name right.

It was obvious to Willow that the judge recognized her right away as she also pretended not to notice her old office pal who represented Mitch.

“We are here regarding a motion for the child support to be reduced.”

The judge looked down at her paperwork which included the previous hearing and motions. The latest hearing provided all of Mitch’s tax returns, showing he clearly made enough money to support his children, but chose to hide the income from the IRS and the courts.

“Mr. Williams has your self-employment changed since the last hearing?”

“No Your Honor.”

The judge then looked at Mr. Wynn for an explanation.

Willow thought, Maybe she realizes they are both wasting our precious time.

“Can you please explain why you are requesting to reduce your child support when you just had a hearing overruled based on your hidden income?”

Willow was smiling big inside. She wanted to jump up and down like a little girl and start clapping but then she may look insane. So she refrained.

The two monkeys stared down and shuffled through their papers as Willow stared up at the ceiling, waiting for a doozy of an explanation.

“We stand firm with our previous motion that Mr. Williams does not make enough money to pay the monthly support ordered by the court.”

The judge is not in a good place as you can see her desire to give her ex office buddy what he wants but she also understands the high code of ethics she swore to uphold.

“With all due respect, this is a frivolous motion without any merit, and I am forced to order the previous amount will be upheld.”

Oh how Willow wanted to jump out of her skin with joy but she also knew Mitch was all about winning and this latest court order would surely set him off. Willow had to refrain from any gloating in order to avoid being his go-to punching bag.

The knuckleheads squabbled and complained like five-year-old children as the judge remained firm with her ruling. This was Willow’s moment to make her move and dash out of the courtroom and directly to the elevator. She was in luck. There was no one waiting for the elevator. Maybe she should stop at the corner market and purchase a lottery ticket. She felt that lucky.

What just happened?

Safe and sound inside the tiny mobile box, she pressed the button for the ground floor, where her security guard friend worked away, screening more people inside for entry. He caught Willow in the corner of his eye.

“You have a good day now Ms. Willow.”

She was beaming and it must have showed.

“I will. Glad that’s over.”

Her nerves were less taut, seeming less aware of her surroundings as she started her walk back to work.

“Hey bitch.”

She instantly knew the voice. She knew her momentary happiness was too good to be true. She could feel his breath on her neck as he was that close. He whispered in her ear.

“You’re dead. You better get yourself a good bodyguard.”

Just then she turned to a stranger, a nearby bystander, and held on to his arm. Yes, it would have looked strange to the average person but she was desperate.

Mitch ran off when she asked the stranger for his help.

“I’m sorry for grabbing your arm like that. That was my ex-husband and he wants me dead. Did you happen to hear what he said to me?”

With his kind face and kind eyes, he responded with a sense of sadness as Willow knew Mitch was crafty enough to whisper, eliminating any witnesses.

“I am sorry Ma’am. I saw him run up behind you and say something in your ear but it wasn’t quite loud enough for me to hear.”

She figured as much and thanked him for his understanding her frantic reaction.

“It’s okay. I need to go back inside and get an emergency protection order.”

The kind stranger waved as he walked away. Mitch was nowhere in sight.

Now the line for the metal detector was nearly out the door as she stood with her back to the line, watching for the devil to come back. Her friend’s shift must have ended when she noticed a new security guard on duty. Willow was still shaking a bit and tried to regain her composure. That’s what Mitch wanted after all, the ability to control her thoughts, her actions and her fears.

She went through the drill, placing her belongings once again in the empty tray, pointing down to her boots with buckles, signaling they would set off the metal detector. After receiving clearance once again, she speed walked to the elevator, still a bundle of nerves, surveying everyone within 20 feet of her.

Reaching the courtroom, she noticed the same judge was inside, standing and gathering her things when she saw Willow walk inside.

“Can I help you? You were just in here - weren’t you?”

Willow stuttered and stammered, trying to get her words out.

“Yes…I, I was just threatened by by my ex. He came up behind me outside.”

“By the way, you look familiar. Do you work for the County?”

Willow was beside herself with such a question. Why did that matter?

“Yes. I work at the District Attorney’s Office.”

“Aw, yes. You say you were threatened by your ex? Do you have a witness?”

“No, but there was a man who saw him run up behind me and say something in my ear.”

“But did he hear what he said to you?”

“No.”

Willow was beginning to see where this conversation was headed and it wasn’t good. She hung her head, thinking her and her family may wind up on an episode of Dateline. He’d have someone else do his dirty work, making it look like a murder suicide. No, she just remembered how much Mitch loved himself above anything so he would more than likely hire someone to off her. He fainted at the thought of blood. Hiring a ‘house painter’ was more his style.

“I am sorry but without a witness I cannot grant an emergency protective order for you.”

Working in the legal field, Willow knew that was not the standard requirement for an emergency protective order. The judge had all the evidence she needed but her strange question as to where she worked probably had something to do with her lack of assistance. With frustration and desperation she spoke her mind.

“Do I have to be dead for these courts to help me? Will you help me then?”

The judge obviously didn’t appreciate her tone. Willow didn’t appreciate her lack of ethics.

Willow stormed out of the courtroom as tears ran down her cheek.

Her life was in a pickle and she knew in that moment she had to take matters into her own hands. She knew what it would take to finally have peace, thinking back to her original plan. Leave the only town she knew.