Chapter 119: Divorce
*One of the most courageous decisions you’ll ever make is to finally let go of what is hurting your heart and soul. – Brigette Nicole*
After breakfast, Neo drove them to Marti’s office where Jolene was briefed on what all was going to happen. They had gone through it several times, but Marti wanted to make sure that Jolene would be comfortable and feel prepared with everything.
Everything including the trial, the judge and the process. But most importantly, the people. Hank and his family would be there. The press would be there. The judge had already forbidden any cameras and all cell phones must be turned off. Not silenced. Not on airplane mode. Completely turned off.
With just over a third of the local police department having resigned, been let go or forced into retirement following the Fargo investigation, their divorce was still high profile. Binch would not be handling this one since he did not do civil law. It had been luck of the draw who they got.
Judge White who was nearing retirement and just didn’t care about winning the next election.
Or Judge Stevenson who was new and still trying to make a name for himself.
Marti bit back a sigh of relief when her assistant had told her that it would be Judge White. When it had been postponed due to Hank’s disappearing act, she had feared that it would go to Stevenson. But White refused to relinquish the case and they would just have to wait until he got back from his cruise. After forty years of marriage, his wife deserved the honeymoon that she never had all those years ago.
When they were ready, Marti took them out through the garage and into the car with its dark tint. The driver took them past the crowds and to the underground sallyport. Using the back hallways of the old courthouse, they made their way to the courtroom.
Walking inside, Jolene had expected to see Hank and his family. She had even expected to see her mom and brothers. Marti had prepared her for the press.
Nothing could have prepared her for seeing all the princesses and their partners. And Bunny’s moms. Ty and his aunt and uncle. Shelby sat next to Zack. There were at least two dozen of the IGYS guards that watched over her. But what surprised her the most was seeing Parker and Tori sitting next to Gina. She and Parker both wore the uniforms of the sheriff’s department. The deputies and paramedics that had saved her life were on the row behind the sheriff.
Neo sat down next to Reese in the front row. Reese looked at his friend and smiled. Neo wore a black suit with a white shirt and purple tie. He also noted that the only piece of jewelry that Jolene wore required a key to remove. Helen leaned into Reese and linked their fingers. Looking down at her, he knew that she had noticed the coordinated outfits also.
Hank came in with his lawyer and sat at the opposite table. He turned and glared at Jolene before shooting a hard look at the new *deputy* Parker. Henry, his sister and her husband, the former police chief Devonshire, sat in the row behind Hank. Missing from their small entourage was Amber Fargo.
The bailiff was talking to the clerk until they each received a message. Walking over in front of the bench, he took his position.
“All rise.” Everyone in the room stood as the judge entered and sat behind his elevated desk. “This Court of Common Pleas with the Honorable Judge White presiding is now in session.”
“Please remain standing while bailiff Grant swears everyone in.” Judge White ordered as he got everything settled.
“Please hold up your right hand.” The bailiff commanded and everyone complied. “Do you promise the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”
There was a solid “I do” from the courtroom and the judge accepted it.
“You may be seated.” Judge White said and waited for the courtroom to become quiet again.
“We are here in the case of Fargo VS Fargo.” He shuffled some papers. “Mr. Fargo, you are wanting to enforce the prenuptial agreement due to infidelity. Do you have evidence of this?”
Turning, the lawyer accepted the file from Steve without opening it or even looking at it. He then handed it over to the bailiff who took it to the judge. The judge opened it and read the contract before looking through the pictures and other documents.
“Mr. Fargo, did you hire this company?” he looked back at the contract. “C & N Investigations?”
“No, your honor. My father hired them while I was still… away.”
“Incarcerated.” The judge corrected not looking up from the file.
“Yes, your honor.”
“Fargo senior, did you read this contract before you signed it?”
“Yes, your honor.” Henry said and smirked over at Jolene.
Marti squeezed Jolene’s leg under the table giving her some reassurance.
“And you were incarcerated for violation of an order of protection. Your mother went to convince your wife, that you beat almost to the point of death, to go back to you.”
“I did not know that she had-“
“Don’t even.” The judge cut him off. “You were found in a hotel room across the street from the hospital where you were watching her. Are you going to deny this?”
Before he spoke, he looked at his lawyer who shook his head.
“No, your honor.” Hank replied.
“And then, in an attempt to hide property and assets from your wife, specifically the family properties and inheritance, your portion was placed into a trust. And who had the brilliant idea of doing that?”
“My father.” Hank admitted.
“Even after you were ordered by this court to compile all of your assets and properties, you still thought that hiding these would be a good idea?”
“I was not thinking clearly.”
“You can leave off the last word and it was a complete sentence. You were not thinking.” The judge set the file to the side and picked up the divorce petition.
“For your failure to comply with the previous court order, I am awarding the Colorado hunting lodge to Mrs. Jolene Fargo. You are to present her with the deed in her name within thirty days.”
“Your honor–.“ Hank’s lawyer stood up.
“Shut up. *You* should go before the bar for your part of this. You knew where he was since you visited him in the hotel. And, Mr. Fargo,” he picked up the file from C & N, “I would like to thank you for the evidence of your son’s infidelity. Along with his stalking actions of air tags in her vehicle and tracking app on her phone.”
“The prenuptial agreement will not be upheld. The remaining properties and assets will be split equally as per state law. Yes, this does include your portion of the Hawaiian property. You may present her with a cashiers check for half of your value within thirty days.”
“Miss Pinkston, you will present Mr. Davis with an itemized billing for his client to pay. Mr. Fargo, you will also pay all court fees. I will enforce this part of the agreement where you will continue to pay for her college.”
“Your honor,” Marti stood up, “as generous as you are being, my client wishes not to be indebted to her ex-husband. We fear that he would use this court order of paying my fees and her tuition to influence her choices and demand some type of repayment. Her mother’s fiancée, Mr. Owen Reese, has volunteered to cover both. If I might make a suggestion?”
“Go ahead.” The judge said cooly as he continued to look over the other documents that had been given to him.
“Perhaps the amount that you are ordering can go into a scholarship for the college? Or maybe to the Family Advocacy Center?”
“Very well. Calculate the total of what those two would be and turn it into Mr. Davis. I will allow forty-five days for this to be donated to the Center.”
“We thank you, your honor.” Marti sat back down.
“Miss Pinkston, I see that your client is not requesting alimony.”
“That is correct your honor.” She confirmed.
“Very well.” He signed off on the papers and handed them to the clerk. “This marriage is considered dissolved. Any complaints or objections can be filed in the next thirty days. We are adjourned.”
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