Free Thin Blood Thick Water (Clueless Resolutions Book 2) by W B Garalt Page B

thank you,” she said with faked haughtiness.
    “I think you handle yourself quite well also, babe!” he countered as they shared a laugh.They both had things to ponder as they bid each other goodnight.
    From her office on Wednesday morning Maggie returned the call to Mr. Spader. The call receptionist forwarded it to a cell phone, and a meeting with Spader at 3:00 PM that afternoon was agreed upon. Maggie’s question as to the purpose of the meeting had been flagged off with, “not to be discussed over the phone.”
    After her afternoon appointments had been completed, Maggie left word with Jessie that she would be meeting with Mr. Spader at the East Wayford Tennis Club restaurant. She instructed Jessie to call her cell phone at exactly 3:15 with an ‘urgent message’ which Maggie could use for an excuse to leave. She felt that it would be enough time to hear what Mr. Spader had to say.
    Maggie arrived at the club early and had time to chat with some fellow members, friends that she and Max had known for some time. Having been asked to make up a foursome in a tennis game, she declined, explaining that she had arranged a meeting with a ‘strange man.’ The friends, accustomed to her relationship with Max, kidded her about the ‘date’, telling her that they would be keeping an eye on her so that they could report it to Max when he came to the club.
    “Please do,” she responded. “That is the main reason I arranged the meeting here. I have no idea who he is and what his game is. All I know is that he scared the hell out of Jessie, my secretary, last week, threatening to arrive at my office while I was away.”  Maggie then asked the bartender to seat them in a separate but conspicuous table when the man named Spader arrived.
    At 3:05, Richard Spader walked into the club lounge and asked the bartender for Maggie. Seated at the far end of the bar sipping her ginger ale, Maggie signed her tab and remained seated until the tall, rather heavy-set man dressed in a wrinkled sport jacket and khaki leisure pants approached her.
    “Are you Margaret Marshall?” he asked. When Maggie acknowledged that she was, he continued. “This is for you,” he said, extending a business-sized white envelope to her.
    Bemused at the abruptness, Maggie opened the envelope and stared at the contents. It was a summons to appear at 8:30 A.M. in Superior Court, New Haven, Connecticut on October 21, 2010.
    “What the h…,” she stammered.
    “Good day to you, madam,” said the stranger, as he turned on his heel and exited the club lounge.
    Maggie was stunned, to say the least. Racing thoughts coursed through her brain. She wondered if this was connected to her trip with Max. After all, they did enter and exit another country. Did someone forget to include her on the pre-arranged customs by-pass or was the summons business-connected with Marshall Real Estate Services? Off hand, she didn’t recall having any personal conflicts, nor was she aware of any complaints having been lodged against her. One thing was obvious, Maggie needed some legal advice.
    With no further appointments scheduled, Maggie decided to stop by Eugene VanDyke’s office on her way back to her apartment. ‘Gene’ VanDyke was the most capable, and the most trustworthy attorney that she knew. He was the mayor of their small town, a part-time occupation which allowed him adequate time to maintain a law practice. He specialized in business law but would represent friends and acquaintances when requested, conferring with other lawyers in cases that were beyond his area of expertise.  Maggie and Max had seen Gene in action and both agreed that they would prefer to be represented by him, rather than be up against him, in a legal dispute.
    It was around 3:30 that afternoon when Maggie went to Gene VanDyke’s office. She received a friendly greeting from him and explained her concern with having been served with the summons. With a glance at the writ he told her, “Relax