“Technically, I could get them on the use of the taser,” Sydney told Guillaume.
Guillaume had been leaning back in his chair letting his eyes roam all around the consultation room throughout the whole story. Now Sydney had his attention.
Sydney continued, “That’s called ‘excessive force.’ They claim I was resisting arrest, evading capture, trespassing, etc. as if I was committing a violent crime of some sort.”
“Just tell me what it is you want from me, Monsieur Westcott. I don’t really care about the details of your sorry little tale.”
“You just need to step up when they call my case tonight for dispositional hearing and back me up when I make a motion to dismiss. You have to make something up that will make it plausible for me to have been hanging around the Court. We might not get the dismissal but I anticipate being able to bargain them down on the sentence and be done with it.”
Guillaume chuckled and leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “Wait. Are you telling me you’re representing yourself? Have you heard the old saying about the ‘fool for a client?’ Is this why your divorce settlement looks like it’s going to break you?”
Sydney shrugged and said, “The divorce is a unique case. I normally eat people up in court. My motive in the marriage settlement is to be as fair as possible to Raisa. I want to show her how sorry I am.”
“You are sorry in the worst way.”
“Forget that. I have a story idea you can use tonight. Make it your own, throw in a little Canadian spice. You could say I was checking into some possible violation of the purchaser’s agreement on one of the units. I can suggest some if you can’t think of one. I know that agreement all the way through.”
Guillaume stewed a moment and gave a dismissive wave. “You have much bigger problems than this trifle. I will come make this lie for you but you will still be a prisoner as long as you let your passions rule.”
“That’s a great one coming from you.”
“How do you think I know this to be true?” Guillaume rose from his chair and pushed his hands into his pockets. “Such a waste of a good legal mind. There is so much we could have gained from being partners.”
Sydney laughed. “I may be a sorry loser but I still have my standards. I’ll never work for you, Monsieur Sackett.”
“Then the day may come when my fear of your knowledge about me is outweighed by my contempt. When that happens, no prayer will be strong enough to save you.”
