Against the Shoals by T K Szepesi

Author:T K Szepesi [Szepesi, T K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781543992236
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2020-02-25T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

Not knowing when dawn will come,

I open every door.

—Emily Dickinson, The Complete Poems.

We watched Leo O’Shaunessy stride down the aisle to take the stand. If possible, the courtroom seemed even more crowded than the day before. It was, after all, a sexy scandal. Judge Ramsey seemed unusually bright-eyed and alert.

As usual, O’Shaunessy looked distinguished in his elegant, three-piece suit, pinstriped shirt, and jaunty maroon bow tie. His eyes flickered towards Maddie as he stepped into the witness box. His ramrod-straight spine added height to his otherwise diminutive form. After being sworn in, O’Shaunessy recounted to the court his detailed curriculum vitae, which would have impressed even the most indifferent listener.

Ribisi dove right in. “Mr. O’Shaunessy, can you please tell the court in what capacity you were acquainted with the deceased?”

O’Shaunessy cleared his throat and responded in his famous, mellifluous voice. “My firm has been retained by the Monnehan family for thirty-seven years. For the last twenty-five, I have acted as the sole advisor to the Monnehans, and for the last six years, upon the death of Mr. Monnehan Sr., I have worked with Senator Andrew Monnehan exclusively.”

“You were involved in all matters pertaining to the late Senator’s concerns. Isn’t that so?”

“Yes,” said O’Shaunessy dryly.

“Commercial, legal and...” A pause. “Personal. Is that right?”

“Yes.”

“When did you first meet Madeline Wallker?”

O’Shaunessy was assiduously avoiding eye contact with Maddie. “I met Mrs. Monnehan upon her engagement to the Senator.”

“Can you tell the court the circumstances of that meeting?”

Another throat clearing. “Senator Monnehan had asked me to draw up a prenuptial agreement.”

Ribisi paused for several seconds. “Hmmm…a prenuptial agreement? Can you tell us briefly what that contained?”

Leo O’Shaunessy finally turned to look at Maddie. His composed expression could not hide the twinge of regret in his eyes. I felt pity for the man. It was apparent that he resented being here, and out of the corner of my eye, I caught Maddie’s slight nod, a gesture of reassurance, and not for the first time I wondered what the true nature of the relationship between my client and her attorney was.

“The contract stipulated, in no uncertain terms, that if the marriage was dissolved for whatever reason other than death, Mrs. Monnehan could not lay claim to the estate.”

“In other words, if the couple divorced, Mrs. Monnehan would not be entitled to any other financial divorce settlement; is that correct?”

“Well, she would receive an annual stipend of one hundred thousand dollars, but could not lay claim to anything beyond that amount.”

“Could you tell us what his estate is worth?”

“I believe in excess of one hundred-eighty million.”

“Thank you, Mr. O’Shaunessy.” Ribisi nodded with a small smile and returned to his seat.

There’s motive for you. One hundred-eighty million reasons. I rose unhurriedly from behind the table. “Good morning, Mr. O’Shaunessy.” I smiled pleasantly into his attentive eyes.

He offered a gracious nod. “Good morning, Mr. Conor.”

“About that prenuptial agreement, was there anything unusual about it?” I asked.

“No, nothing at all,” he said in that rich voice, smiling for the first time.

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