Outside The Lines:: Third Person Narration Read Free Page B

anyone’s lawyer.”   No one seemed to be listening.
    The judge stepped forward. “You’re my lawyer now.”
    “I am not.”
    “I’m appointing you.”
    Johnny sat back, almost enjoying the show. “You can’t do that.”
    The judge simmered at him. It was uncharacteristic of a man known for his icy calm. Johnny’s gaze slid to Mrs. B’s carefully-constructed patience.   Or maybe not.
    In fact, Mrs. B was the only reason Johnny hadn’t walked out entirely.   He knew Mrs. B, he liked Mrs. B, very much, and he believed, fervently, in her divorce.   He’d given her advice and referrals and now, was sitting here, resisting the urge to punch Judge Billings in the face.   All for Mrs. B and his partner Dan.   But at some point, enough was enough.  
    He decided now was that time.
    “I can recommend someone,” he said, and pushed out of his seat, heading for his handy list of divorce lawyers.
    “Please, Johnny, wait,” Mrs. Billings said quietly.  
    He sighed and turned back.   Mrs. B tipped to the side and whispered in her lawyer-friend’s ear.   Farrah listened, nodded twice, shook her head once, then stared at Mrs. B a moment and turned to the room.  
    “We’d like to suggest a compromise.”
    The judge narrowed his eyes.
    Farrah zeroed in on Johnny. “The idea of a protracted divorce, ending in court, is not a pleasant one to anyone. Perhaps if one of us,” she looked directly at Johnny, “were to go and speak with Ms. Jauntie, review the documents, hammer out her concerns and come to some understanding, we could perhaps come to an agreement here.” She overturned her manicured hand and made a circle in the air, indicating their tight-knit, hostile little group.
    Everyone turned and looked at Johnny.
    He looked around. “Me?”
    Farrah the lawyer frowned.   “Yes, you.”
    He sat up.   “Why me?”  
    “Because you people speak the same language,” the judge interjected, stepping forward eagerly.   “I think it’s a perfect solution.”
    How touching, they’d come to agreement on this one issue.
    Johnny opened his mouth to say no, then thought of Dan.   Dan, who was right now handling the details of a corporate buy-out by one of their wealthiest clients over Christmas.   Dan, who’d been at Johnny’s side since day one, a sort-of elder statesman, even though he was barely six years older than Johnny, because Dan hadn’t spent over a decade in Afghanistan and other places he couldn’t talk about.   And thus, Dan had brought both legitimacy and clients to Danger Enterprises when it first launched.   Dan, who’d left a lucrative position with a high-powered firm and risked it all to join Johnny.   Because that’s what partners did for each other. That’s what friends did.
    “It’s up to you, of course,” Farrah the almost-lawyer was saying. “But otherwise, I do believe everyone’s going to need to retain real lawyers, and then this is going to get messy,” she said sadly.   Threateningly.  
    “Yes, Johnny, please do,” Mrs. Billings’ soft voice rode under all the bluster of the room.  
    Inwardly, he groaned. Outwardly, he turned to the judge. “It’s going to cost you.”
    “Whatever it takes.”
    “I’m not your lawyer.”
    “Consultant, whatever.   Just go.”  
    The meeting wrapped up quickly, Johnny in possession of a stack of papers and very little information on the last known whereabouts of Juliette Jauntie, until he spoke to his assistant, Roxy, who was suspiciously well-informed on the matter.  
    “How do you know all this shit?” he asked.
    “I talk to people. You glare.”
    He tried again, more specifically. “How do you know where Juliette Jauntie went skiing?”  
    “I recommended it,” she said brightly.   Roxy did most things brightly.   And with crushing efficiency.  
    “You had to recommend a place in Nevada?” he complained, reaching for his overnight bag.
    “Part of it is in California,” she pointed out. “Anyhow, you