The Reform Artists: A Legal Suspense, Spy Thriller (The Reform Artists Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

“I still own the house; I'm just not living in it. And that brings me to the really bad news. Katie and I have separated.”
    Celia gasped. “Oh my, Marty!”
    “As of when?” Ted asked.
    “Friday night. I found out when I came home to an empty house, with a note from Katie waiting for me on the kitchen table.”
    “I’m so sorry, Marty,” Celia said.
    Ted frowned at his friend. “So, why are we only hearing about this now?”
    “Well, I spent Friday night calling Katie’s close friends, trying to figure out where she was. I was in shock, and I guess I was hoping the whole thing would blow over. Telling you guys only would have made it seem more real.”
    “So, you spent the weekend alone?” Celia asked, a concerned look on her face.
    “No. My brother and mother came by taking turns keeping the ‘wounded soldier’ company.”
    They all sat for a moment in silence.
    “I’m confused,” Celia said, at last. “If Katie moved out on Friday, why are you suddenly without a house now?”
    “I had one until about an hour ago,” Martin said. “Then, two sheriff’s deputies came and kicked me out.”
    Ted looked appalled. “They did what ?”
    “They knocked on my door at about eight-fifteen and served me with a Temporary Restraining Order that Katie had gotten. Then, they told me I had fifteen minutes to gather up my belongings and leave.”
    “Just like that?” Celia asked. “No warning?”
    “Uh huh.”
    “They must have had some kind of grounds to do it, didn’t they?” Ted asked.
    “Yeah,” Martin said, blushing. “Katie had accused me of repeated acts of verbal and physical abuse against her and the kids , for Christ’s sake! Can you believe that?” Martin shook his head, grunted and threw his upturned hands into the air, as if to say, ‘What’s the world coming to?’
    “Well...Marty,” Celia began hesitantly, clearing her throat. “Have you ever threatened her...or the kids?”
    “What?” Martin asked, taken aback. “Are you kidding me, Celia?”
    “No need to attack me, Marty,” Celia said. “I’m just asking.”
    “I wasn’t. But do you actually think I’d be capable of doing something like that?”
    “Well, a restraining order, that’s pretty serious stuff, Marty,” Celia continued. “Doesn’t a judge have to sign it?”
    “Let’s be clear,” Ted interjected, “there was a hearing, right?”
    Martin nodded as his blush deepened. “It’s a Temporary Restraining Order, guys. It expires in seven days.”
    “Unless the judge makes it permanent,” Ted interjected.
    “I-I can’t believe you,” Martin said, shaking his head.
    “Marty, do you understand how serious these charges are?” Celia asked.
    “I’m the one who just got kicked out of his home, Celia. I think I have an inkling .”
    “You could go to jail for this.”
    “Now, Celia,” Ted said, trying to diffuse the situation a little. He waved his finger at her mischievously. “Remember the O.J. Simpson trial, honey? Let’s not ‘rush to judgment.’”
    “Interesting choice, dear. O.J. was a celebrity, and no one had any idea of what he was capable of, either—no more than they could have predicted what that horrible Barnes man would do.”
    “What?” Martin said, leaping up, shaking his head and waving his hands in the air. “Tell me the two of you are not comparing me with those psychos!”
    “Whoa, whoa,” Ted said. “No one’s suggesting anything of the kind.”
    He turned to his wife. “And, for the record, Honey, the jury found O.J. not guilty, remember? ‘If the gloves don’t fit, you must acquit!’”
    Celia shook her head and waved a finger at Ted. “O.J. was guilty as hell, dear. The prosecution never should have allowed his defense team to put so much weight on those gloves. Instead, they should have been telling the jury, “If the shoes fit, you must nail this shit!”
    Martin broke in as he resumed his seat, “Hey guys, remember, I haven’t been tried, or convicted, of