The video started with a black screen and then suddenly showed Jim and Lenny staring at the camera. Bernie objected. Jim started yelling. Lenny went white.
“What is this, Miss Townsend?” The judge sounded angry and Skye didn’t know what was going to happen.
“Your Honor, I was attacked by those two men hired by Mr. Hexter for the purpose of finding out what evidence I had regarding this case and destroying it. Specifically, the affidavit I had told them I had from Miss Jessamine appointing me as her legal counsel and denying that she ever granted Mr. Hexter power of attorney when, in fact, Miss Karri Hill was and still is Miss Jessamine’s sole power of attorney. This video is proof of that, Your Honor.”
“Illegally obtained evidence is inadmissible, Miss Townsend,” the judge censored, but Olivia just smiled with her swollen lip.
“Oh, I know, Your Honor. But this isn’t illegally obtained. Henry,” she said as Henry handed the judge a piece of paper. “This is an affidavit from the SA Tech analyst I hired the moment I was conscious to log in to my computer remotely and film whoever opened it. Not only that, but you’ll see the SA Tech analyst set up dummy files that the defendants thought they were deleting.”
The judge’s brow creased. “Are you saying this is video from your personal computer that was stolen?”
“Yes, sir. You’ll see my desktop in a moment if you’ll allow me to continue.”
Over Bernie’s objections, the video went on. It showed Jim and Lenny talking about the documents, searching for them. In the end, they deleted the entire hard drive.
“This should stop them until we can find Skye and fix this. She’ll fall in line once we can talk to her,” Lenny said on film before Jim reached out and closed the laptop.
Olivia cocked her head at Jim. “Mr. Hexter, would you care to revise the statements you’ve made under oath or would you prefer I file perjury charges now?”
Skye was so on edge she reached out and grabbed Tandy’s hand. She leaned forward, her heart pumping hard and fast as she waited.
Jim’s jaw was tight as he thought it through. “Fine. You’re right. I forged the power of attorney and thought all you had was a digital copy. With Skye still missing, I wanted to keep control over her empire that I built. Me. This doesn’t change the fact that the contract is still enforceable.”
“Actually,” Olivia said, holding up a finger to stop Jim, “section twenty-one, subsection C, paragraph 8 says criminal activity can void the contract at the request of the other party. So, completely ignoring the affirmative defenses my co-counsel has already proven, the contract itself leaves both parties able to void it upon proof of criminal charges.”
“That’s so I can void the contract if Skye becomes a junkie,” Jim sputtered.
“Ah, but your attorney didn’t do a good job writing the contract and didn’t make that clear. It very clearly states that either party may do so, and I’m putting you on notice that the assistant district attorney is here and ready to charge you with forgery. Further, my client is here and is hereby enacting her right to cancel the contract based on your criminal activity. No further questions, Your Honor.”
Henry grabbed the wheelchair and wheeled Olivia over to the desk as Jim stepped down from the witness stand. The judge looked over the evidence and then at the assistant district attorney sitting directly behind Tandy. Skye watched him study the inch thick contract she’d signed and then the evidence Olivia and Tandy had submitted.
“I’m ready to rule,” he said after several tense minutes.
A hush fell over the courtroom and Tandy held Skye’s hand just as tightly as Skye held hers. Henry reached over and took Skye’s other hand and caressed it. Skye smothered a shocked giggle because it tickled. “Always look as if you know you’ve won,” Henry whispered.
“I’m not going to address the criminal charges,” the judge began. “I found the contract to be invalid based on its indefinite clause for the period of not only the plaintiff’s life but even after her life to control her image. Secondly, I find the contract invalid on the basic ground of it being unconscionable. It seems clear that Mr. Hexter preys on women to induce them to sign these contracts that are grossly unfair. Therefore, I order the contract null and void. Miss Jessamine is free to hire any agent or manager she wishes from this moment forward.