Stepparenting 101
Chapter 7
Amanda had left Billy's office after he and Lee told her about Marty's history and heading back up to the "Q" office, immediately went to Lee's desk and got on the computer.
As she waited for it to boot up there was a knock at the door and in walked Francine who asked, "Everything ok? I noticed you looked a bit distracted when you left Billy's office. What did he and Lee tell you about Bradford?"
Amanda shook her head frustratedly as the computer was ready and she began typing furiously and answered quickly, "There was no child support mentioned, no visitation schedule, no custody arrangement-"
Francine sighed impatiently, "Wait. What are you going on about now?"
Amanda waited for the info on Judith Bradford to appear and stated, "Francine, I'm a mother! When Joe and I divorced, we made arrangements for Phillip and Jamie and the house was put in my name. I never asked for alimony, but child support was necessary and Joe was always good about that. Judith just up and leaves Chet with Marty and no support is worked out and she never goes to see her son? I don't buy it!"
Francine put up a hand as Lee entered. "Whoa, Mama Bear! I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation-"
Amanda grunted, "Reasonable? No reason on earth unless those two are hiding something and I'm gonna find out what it is!"
Lee puzzled looked at Francine. "I could hear Amanda as I came up the stairs. What's she talking about? We gave her everything we had on Bradford-"
Francine rolled her eyes as she headed for the door. "Apparently, you didn't dig deep enough for her satisfaction."
Turning back she answered, "Good luck, Amanda. Hope you find something."
As she left Lee walked over to face Amanda at the desk and calmly asked, "Okay. What's got you all fired up about this, anyway?"
Amanda sighed. "Do you remember the Estoccia case when we helped Joe because of the Prime Minister? You found out about my divorce and the arrangements for the boys that Joe and I made, right?"
As Lee nodded Amanda continued. "Well, why wasn't there anything on Marty and Judith's divorce?"
Lee shrugged."Maybe it was done quietly-"
Amanda retorted, "Lee! There had to have been legal papers drawn up. There were when Joe and I split. We didn't just shake hands and goe our separate ways. There were our boys to consider. Just how is Marty able to afford the house he has now if he's so bad at investing, huh? How has he been able to care for Chet all this time on his own? I'm telling you, there's something wrong with this picture."
Lee thought carefully for a moment and then going around to the other side of the desk nodded as he stood near her gesturing to the computer screen. "Okay. You've got a point. So let's just see what comes up on Judith Tyler Bradford...Oh, and for kicks, let's also check out her mother, Charlotte Tyler. Hal's widow. Couldn't find much on her either..."
TBC
