CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE - VIC
Days go by. No lawyer visit.
I try to call home. No one picks up.
I try to call the shop. They don’t accept collect calls at that number.
I would try more numbers, but I never memorized them, so. Yeah. That’s how my fucking week goes. I’m actually looking forward to my family court hearing this morning because if I don’t see a face I trust and recognize I’m gonna start thinking someone is fucking with me.
They cuff my hands in front of me, shackle my ankles, and lead me into a little room. Then they just close the door and leave me there.
Maybe an hour goes by and then the door buzzes and opens. Two guards appear. One takes off my shackles, but leaves me cuffed. And then the other one says, “Let’s go.”
Now I get nervous. Not about the terrorist thing, even though that’s kind of a big deal. I get nervous because no lawyer.
Where the fuck is Alec Steele?
But then they lead me into the courtroom and I see him. And Daisy. Ah, my heart feels so much better once I see her. Then I see Veronica, Spencer, and all the kids. All six of those beautiful children. The real world is still out there! I was not abandoned.
I’m escorted to the table where Alec and Daisy are in the front of the courtroom. I sit down, smiling, so eager to talk to my people, but when I open my mouth to say hello to Alec, he puts up a hand and shakes his head. “I’m not your lawyer, Vic. I’m here to represent Daisy, and only Daisy.”
“What? Since when?”
It’s Daisy who answers. And she does it ventriloquist-style, with eyes straight ahead and lips barely moving. “Your ex-girlfriend is a vindictive witch.”
“What?”
“No more talking,” Alec says. “They are not fucking around, Vic. Sorry. I’m not sure what they have planned, but you’re on your own.”
Someone taps my shoulder and when I look behind me, Ronnie is leaning over the railing. “Don’t worry,” she whispers. “We’re cooperating too.”
“Cooperating with who?” I ask.
Daisy scoffs. “Fucking Lucille.”
Ronnie looks at Daisy, confused. “Who’s Lucille?”
But I’m not paying attention to Ronnie anymore. Because that’s when I notice that Lucille Lancaster is on the prosecutor’s side of the courtroom. “What the hell is she doing here? I thought this was family court?”
“All rise,” the bailiff says.
I shut up and stand. But I’m side-eyeing Lucille. She’s here to make trouble for me about that stuff in the mountains. To be a witness or something. Even though she’s not a witness. I don’t know how she found out about what Bobby and I are doing up there, but it’s clear that she knows.
The judge comes in, we all sit, then the bailiff calls the case. The judge opens the file and reads. After a couple of uncomfortable minutes, he peers at me from behind his glasses. “Mr. Vaughn?”
I stand. “Yes, your honor?”
“Where is your counsel?”
“Uh. I don’t have any.”
He frowns. “OK.” His gaze goes to Daisy. “Miss Lundin. This is your counsel?”
She says it is. Then he gets to the prosecution.
So that’s it? Where’s your lawyer, Vic? Oh, you don’t have one? Cool, let’s just get this show on the road then.
That’s just great. And where the hell is my pops?
But I forget about that when I realize the prosecution is calling witnesses to the day in question.
First up, of course, are the Donut Nazi and Alexa what’s-her-face from the AA meeting.
They make me look like a dick. And there’s no lawyer representing me to stop them.
I look around for Bettina from the Bohemian Poet’s House, but she’s a no-show. I’m gonna have to send her a little Sick Boyz gift certificate for being loyal once this is all over. But then… Lucille takes the stand. And because she is an artist, she paints a picture of me up there for the judge. “Foul mouth,” she says. “Left the child sitting alone in the gallery for a period of time so he could use the bathroom. Probably doing drugs.”
“What the actual fuck?” I say.
But I get yelled at for that. And the f-word didn’t help my case. But seriously? Drugs?
“This bitch is insane,” I mutter under my breath.
“You have no idea,” Daisy mutters back.
“Shh,” Alec cautions.
But Daisy doesn’t shh. She keeps going. “She’s trying to steal Vivian.”
“What?” I hiss back.
“Yeah. She threatened me. She’s going to steal her. She’s going to send you to prison for being a terrorist and then make me look like an unfit mother. And she can do this because her husband is the mayor.”
This last part comes out loud. So loud, the whole room goes silent for a moment and then all faces are looking at Daisy.
“What?” she snaps. “She threatened—”
“Your honor,” Alec cuts her off. “Can we have a break?”