Chapter 70 – Stetler Residence 0800hrs Tuesday morning.

Rick stood in his bedroom doorway just watching his wife get ready for the meeting. He noticed that she wasn't wearing any makeup and there were dark rings under her eyes.

R - You ready to go Babe? Mum & Dad are waiting and your Dad's just arrived. I thought we'd just take one vehicle. Is that okay with you?

M - I'm as ready as I'll ever be I guess.

R - (hugging her) have you got everything?

M - yeah

R - Max, it's going to be okay. Do you know how many people will be there to support you?

M - (tearily) no.

R - Horatio and Charlie will be there. Father Riley said he'll be there. Your Dad and my parents will be there as well. You'll be okay.

M - A whole cheer squad?

R - Yeah. You don't think we'd let you go through this alone do you?

Police Chief John Kelly's office 9am

Glancing down at the paperwork in front of him, John Kelly looked over at his soon-to-be ex Chief of Detectives and said.

JK - I see you've made your decision.

PJ - I didn't have much choice did I?

JK - For what it's worth I think you made the right decision.

PJ - A 30 year career gone just like that (snapping his fingers)

JK - Did you talk to your wife about this?

PJ - of course

JK - how did she take it?

PJ - surprisingly well. She's already made a list of things for me to do around the house.

JK - (glancing at his watch) Mrs. Stetler should be arriving any minute now, we should head over to the conference room.

PJ - out of curiosity, just who is going to be at this meeting?

JK - Oh, just the people involved and a couple of Patrol Officers for security.

PJ - You think it's going to get that ugly?

JK - (chuckling) what do you think is going to happen when we put Maxine Stetler in the same room as her mother! Bearing in mind that this is the second time in 4 months that Emma Norton has tried to use her daughter to save herself from jail time!

PJ - WHAT!

JK - And you would have known this, if you'd bothered to do a little checking!

PJ - I really screwed up this time, didn't I?

JK - Do you really want me to answer that?

Conference Room

A/n SG = Samuel Goldstein (Maxine's attorney)

MR= Michael Robertson (Emma's attorney)

AN= Alexander Norton (Maxine's step dad)

Riley= Father Riley.

JK - Mrs. Stetler, who are all these people with you?

SG - I'll answer that.

JK - to her left is Rick Stetler, next to him are his parents and that gentleman wearing the Armani suit is Mrs. Stetler's step-father Alexander Norton. Who, by the way is an Attorney as well. And last but not least the gentleman with the white collar on sitting next to Horatio is Father Riley.

JK - Mr Norton, why are you here today?

AN - I'm here to support my daughter

JK - You're not here to support your wife (pointing at Emma)

AN - No. She doesn't deserve my support.

JK - Okay, moving right along. Mrs. Stetler did you speak with your mother at anytime last Friday?

M - No, I did not.

JK - You did not receive a call from her at 7.53pm?

M - No

JK - Your phone records say otherwise.

M - I did not speak to my mother at all last Friday!

EN - She's lying! We had a really nice chat

M - (glaring at her mother) Look everybody! Botox Barbie speaks!

JK - A call lasting 5 mins. 17 seconds was made by your mother to your cell phone last Friday evening and you still maintain that you didn't speak with her

M - That's correct

SG - There were 5 adults present in her house at the specified time anyone of them could have answered her phone.

JK - That may be, but I have a statement from a prison guard saying he overheard Mrs. Norton offering her daughter $1000 to make the evidence against her disappear.

SG - And I'm sure Mrs. Norton planned it that way!

JK - And I have a sworn Statement from Mrs. Norton giving her version of events. What do you say about that Mrs. Stetler?

EN - (sweetly) Max, darling maybe they'd let us share a cell together!

JK - Mrs. Norton, kindly do not speak unless you are spoken to! Mrs. Stetler please answer the question.

M - Certainly. You, Chief Kelly are about to learn that the statement made by my mother is not worth the paper it's printed on. That my mother will do anything and say anything to try and save herself from jail time!

JK - Can you prove that?

Ch - Chief Kelly, Mrs. Norton does have a prior history of lying to police and making false allegations against Det. Sgt. Stetler and his wife. I have the file here if you want to see it.

JK - (glancing at the file) Ah, yes! That happened just 4 months ago.

H - Indeed it did.

MR - Just because my client misrepresented herself then, does not mean she is doing the same thing now. And you can't prove otherwise!

PJ - Well, I wouldn't say that Counsellor! You see Chief Kelly along with Lieutenants Caine and Daniels did a much better job investigating this matter than I did. You wouldn't believe what they found out! It's quite illuminating!

MR - Emma, what is he talking about?

EN - I really have no idea Michael!

MR - I have a really bad feeling about this Emma!

EN - Michael, relax! I've told you everything.

JK - Then why don't you tell us about that phone call?

EN - The phone call?

JK - Yes! Now answer the question!

EN - (sighing) I asked Maxine if she'd be willing to do me a big favor. She asked what and I told her it was to help get me out of that stinking jail cell. She refused at first, so I decided to sweeten the deal. I asked her what she could do with $1000. Maxine said she could do plenty with it as funds were tight at the moment. So, I told her that I would give her $1000 to make the evidence disappear for me. She said for $1000 she'd make that happen.

JK - Is that right?

EN - yes.

JK - And this happened during the call last Friday evening.

EN - That's correct.

JK - Amazing! Absolutely amazing!

EN - What is?

JK - That you managed to have such a conversation with your daughter at all, when all of the calls to her cell phone have been going through to voicemail!

EN - That can't be right! I'm telling you I really did speak to my daughter.

JK - I've checked with her service provider Mrs. Norton! Only 4 calls have been received since 4.15pm last Friday. You did not speak to your daughter did you!

EN - I'm telling the truth! Why won't you believe me.

M - (yelling) Because you're a lying, scheming evil minded ! That's why!

R - (soothing voice) Now, sweetheart remember you promised to use your inside voice today!

M - Besa mi culo, Stetler! That is trying to ruin me.

JK - (smiling) Mrs. Stetler, I'm sure your husband would love to take you up on that offer but lets get this matter finalized shall we?

M - (growling) It ends now!

JK - I'll need your help to make that happen.

M - Tell me what you need

JK - I need your cell phone, do you have it?

M - Yes I have it

JK - Is it still switched off?

M - Yes

JK - Then I want you to switch on the phone and access your voicemail. Please put it on speaker phone as well.

All eyes were on Maxine as her phone was turned on and her voicemails began to play.

You have 4 new messages.

Received September 10 at 4.15pm. "Mummy, Daddy has lots of cookies and he won't share!" "Maddy who are you talking to?" "Me tell mummy you not sharing!" "Maddy put the phone down" "Okay, but you in big trouble mister"

Received September 10 at 7.53pm.

"Max darling you just have to get me out of this place (pause) So, I had a little drink! I didn't kill anyone. I don't deserve to be here! (pause)Look I know we don't have the best of relationships but I really need you to help me get out of here! I'll even pay you for your help. How does $1000 sound (pause) I bet you could sure use the money (pause) Look all you have to do is make the evidence against me disappear. You do that Max, and I'll gladly give you $1000 (pause) Yes, darling I'll pay you in cash (pause) So will you do it sweetheart? Come on say yes! (pause) We have a deal. As soon as my case gets thrown out of court you'll have your money! Bye darling!

Received yesterday at 7.45am "Max, it's Dan Cooper. Call me when you get this. It's urgent.

Received yesterday at 5.20pm "Max sweety, it's mummy here. Look I just had 2 detectives here asking me questions about what we talked about. I told them EVERYTHING darling! Wasn't that nice of me?

** End of messages**

JK - Mrs. Norton do you have anything to say?

EN - no comment.

JK - Well, you are under arrest for Attempting to Pervert the course of Justice, Attempting to Bribe a county employee, Swearing a false Affidavit AND Wasting Police time and Resources! (motioning to the patrol officers) Get here out of here!

EN - (frantically) Max, darling I'm sorry. Please forgive me for what I did.

M - (pointing at Father Riley) If it's forgiveness you want see him. He specializes in that stuff I don't. I'll never forgive you for what you've done to me. I want nothing more to do with you. YOU ARE NO LONGER MY MOTHER! And now I believe that my trusty Attorney has something to give you!

EN - Yeah, what?

SG - a Restraining Order Mrs. Norton.

EN - WHAT!

SG - You heard me. From this day forward you are restrained from doing the following.

Coming any closer than 300ft from Mrs. Norton or any member of her family.

You will not contact Mrs. Stetler or any member of her family in anyway either directly or indirectly. That means no phone calls, no letters, no text messages, no emails.

You are not to approach her house OR enter any property which she owns or has a financial interest in.

You are not allowed to enter her place of employment unless you're there for official business.

The order is valid for 2 years!

EN - (looking at Maxine) You can't do this to me! I won't have it!

M - (snarling) It's already done! And I'm done with you! Goodbye Mother. Enjoy what's left of your miserable life!

Max didn't even bother to look in her mother's direction as she was led from the room. Instead she looked across the table at Chief Jackson and said.

M - (grinning evilly) Well, Chief Jackass it's your turn now!

Laughter rang out around the table as Rick was heard groaning.

R - Jackson, Max. His name is Jackson!