?What isn't, Brenda?? the judge asked.
?None of it. I've presented Mr. Fortlow's documents. These men were destroying his home and property. My client is gainfully employed and he has tried to pay his rent.?
The judge lifted the cover of a manila folder on his desk. He didn't read much.
?He sent a few money orders nine years ago and that makes him the legal occupant? Sounds rather slim, counselor.?
?He paid first and last month's rent, Your Honor. No one ever tried to evict.? All of her brash tone was gone. Socrates thought that maybe Brenda Marsh had learned something even if James had not.
?Okay.? Judge Radell smiled and put up his hands. ?Why no eviction procedure, Mr. Brantley??
?We have no legal relationship with Mr. Fortlow. I don't know whether that document is real or not but Price Landers died almost ten years ago. He owed back taxes and Cherry Hill bought the estate. The fact that the property went through government hands absolves us from any responsibility.?
?Absolution?? The judge's eyebrows rose and the question seemed more like an accusation. ?You throw a man's bed into the street and call that absolution??
?It was our property, Your Honor. Mr. Fortlow had to know??
?Where was he going to sleep that night?? the judge asked. And before Brantley could reply, ?Why couldn't you just knock on the door and say that he needed to move? Was your company going to lose money? Were you planning to build something next week??
?There is no law compelling us to take such an action.? Brantley, Socrates could see, was used to better treatment by the law. ?Mr. Fortlow was trespassing.?
?Oh. Huh,? Judge Radell said. ?And here I thought it was the court's job to make those kinds of decisions.?
Kenneth Brantley's left eye closed of its own accord. There was no apology or courtroom wisdom there.
?And this court says that Mr. Fortlow is the rightful tenant of the property in question, that he will be exonerated from paying the past rent because it is an unreasonable expectation for the current landlords to expect remuneration. And I further stipulate that no development can be made upon any section of that property until Mr. Fortlow has vacated his residence. As far as assault charges are concerned I am willing to hear Mr. Fortlow's charges against Burris, Trapps, Lomax, and Cherry Hill. That will be all.?
The last four words silenced Brantley.
Socrates remembered to keep his smile to himself.
?Thank you, Ms. Marsh,? Socrates said to his lawyer outside of the downtown courthouse.
?You shouldn't thank me, Mr. Fortlow. If it wasn't for me you wouldn't have spent forty-eight hours in jail.?
?Don't you worry about that,? Socrates said with real warmth. ?I seen a lotta jail in my life. Two more days ain't nuthin'.?
?What do you want to do now?? Brenda asked.
?What is it you wanna do??
?Cherry Hill isn't going to let this drop. Radell put a hold on a multimillion project. They aren't going to let that alone for long.?
?Yeah, I know.?
?We can take Cherry Hill back to court and seek a settlement,? the young lawyer said. ?I think that they'd be happy to see you in court. That way they'd have an opportunity to settle, to pay you.?
?To pay me off, you mean.?
?Yes.?
To anyone looking, Socrates might have been staring off into space. But really he was appreciating the swell of Ms. Marsh's buttocks and breasts. They seemed to him in perfect balance. Not large but firm.
