Chapter 4: THE PLAINTIFFS TURN
Rick turned and addressed the Tribunal.
"Honorable Tribunal. I would like to call my first witness," Rick declared.
"Granted."
This time it was Rick who waved his hand at the portal. Mike Dobbins, Hank's long time friend and business partner, emerged from the pool of energy.
Mike cut an imposing figure for an older man. He was six-foot-two with a slim, athletic build. His short salt and pepper colored hair had a "classic cut" style to it. The wrinkles -or the "character lines" as he preferred to call them- on his face showed all of his 62 years. His red Raffaello power tie, charcoal gray Marco Carelli suit, and matching gray Ackerley shoes practically screamed corporate lawyer -- which was, of course, what he was.
"Whaoo? Mike's here?" Hank questioned. "He's supposed to be in Hong Kong giving a presentation to the board."
"Tabula Rasa Hank. Don't worry."
Hank was about to say something when Rick stopped him. "Tabula Rasa works both ways," Rick explained. "When this is over, they won't remember being here and one will know they were ever gone."
Rick turned his attention back to Mike.
"Mr. Dobbins. How long have you known Hank?"
"More than 20 years now. We met in college."
"Hank is your friend?"
"He's my best friend. He was the Best Man at my wedding. He even drove Sarah and me to the hospital when she started having contractions. He and Joyce were with me in the waiting room the day Daniel was born."
Sarah was Mike's former wife. They divorced years ago.
"So you would consider him to be a friend to your whole family?"
"Before her passing, Joyce and Hank were Daniel's Godparents. He attended Daniel's grade school and high school graduation parties. He spoke at Daniel's college the day Daniel got his Bachelors degree."
"Would you say Hank's life is worthwhile?"
"Absolutely. Hank is a fun guy, a loving father, and a sharp businessman. Heck, without him, MY life would be dull."
Rick signified he was done. Lilah began her cross.
"You and Hank have been friends for over 20 years?" Lilah inquired.
"Yes."
"Would you say you know him well?"
"Yes. I would say that."
"You tell each other everything?"
"Everything."
"Then you know about his affair with your ex-wife?"
"What?"
Lilah raised an eyebrow. "He never told you about that?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Your wife did say that your love life was boring. That she was sick and tired of your... lackluster performance in bed. And she did say that she found someone else. Someone who... satisfied her."
"Not Hank!" Mike adamantly responded. "He would never do such a thing!"
"On the night your wife called and said she was leaving you, the number on the Caller ID was Hank's apartment. How do you explain that?"
"She said she needed to talk to someone."
"So she chose your best friend? Not one of her friends?"
"Hank is just as much her friend as he is mine."
"She had to talk to him at his apartment?"
"What difference does that make? Hank was at his apartment, so that is were she went."
"Sarah left the house at 10PM. She called from Hank's place at 2AM. What was she doing for 4 hours?"
Mike was lost in thought. For several minutes he just sat there, staring straight ahead.
"I need to talk to my friend."
"He's right over there." Lilah gestured at Hank.
Mike was in full 'lawyer mode' now. He put his hands on the arms of the witness chair while he straightened his back and put his best poker face on. Mike looked his friend of 20 years in the eyes.
"Hank. Did you and Sarah have an affair?"
"No," Hank replied.
Hank was lying. And Mike knew it.
If Hank knew every boardroom psychology trick in the book, it was because Mike taught them to him. Hank made a cardinal mistake. He broke eye contact when he answered the question. Rule number one: Never trust a person who won't look you in the eye when you ask them a question.
Mike slowly stood. He began to walk away from the witness chair. The expression on his face was one of contemplation. You could almost see the wheels turning in his mind. Forgive his best friend or kick his behind into next week.
Anger won.
Mike's face became a mask of pure rage. "YOU SON OF A...!" he yelled as he rushed toward Hank. Rick created a transparent energy barrier in front of the charging lawyer that stopped him in his tracks. Mike tried in vain to knock the barrier down with his bare hands. He pounded his fist on the barrier as he screamed, "You bastard! You son of a bitch! THey don't need a trial! I'll Kill you myself!" Mike's outburst continued for several minutes during which he called Hank a variety of other... colorful metaphors.
"I'm done," Lilah gloated. It took several minutes but Mike was finally able to get a hold of himself. Rick instructed him to sit in the waiting area. Mike begrudgingly complied.
"Well," Rick said to no one in particular, "That could have gone better."
He turned to Hank and asked, "You slept with your best friend's wife?"
"She's hot," Hank answered.
Rick gave Hank a look of obvious annoyance.
"How was I suppose to know this would happen?" Hank angrily responded. "You're the mind reader. I assumed you knew about that."
"I can only read your surface thoughts, Hank. I don't know every intimate detail of your life."
"Then how did Lilah know?"
"The Senior Partners have been keeping an eye on you for years. I sure your little... escapade with Sarah is on record somewhere."
"Continue," The Tribunal demanded.
Rick nodded at the Tribunal before he waved his hand at the portal. This time a familiar face appeared. Dawn Summers, Hank's youngest daughter, emerged from the portal in a light blue blouse and jeans. Dawn took a quick look around the alley. When she spotted her father, she smiled at him and silently mouthed the words 'Hi Dad' while she waved at him. Hank smiled and waved back.
Rick instructed Dawn to sit in the witness chair.
"Dawn. You know why your here," Rick stated. "Tell us about your father."
"He's great!" Dawn said. "He loves me and Buffy a lot. When I was a younger, we use to spend every summer at the family cabin by the lake. It was great there. We use to fish and we would eat what we caught. One time, we didn't catch anything, so we snuck to the car and drove to a nearby store. He bought two fish and put them on our hooks. We came back to the cabin and showed them to Mom and Buffy." Dawn laughed as she finished her story, "Mom knew we didn't caught those fish, but she Ooohh-ed and Aahhh-ed anyway."
"Why didn't she believe you?"
"They were huge! Mine was as big as my arm! It was almost too heavy for me to carry into the house. There was no way I could have yanked that thing out of the water"
Hank remembered that trip. He did go a little overboard with that fish. He knew he should have bought the smaller one, but that was one really impressive looking fish.
"Sounds like good times."
"Yeah," Dawn beamed. "They were." Dawn paused for a minute as she considered what to say next. "I love my father. I don't want anything bad to happen to him."
Rick indicated he was done. Lilah began her cross.
"Interesting choice of stories Ms. Summers," Lilah said. "Especially since you didn't even exist at that time."
Rick was about to shout something, but Lilah cut him off. "She's your witness. You brought her here. She knows who she is, and she knows what she is." Rick silently conceded.
"She knows what she is?" Hank whispered to Rick. "What the hell does that mean? And what was that crack about her not existing?" Rick signaled Hank to let it go.
Lilah continued. "And yet, it is your fondest memory. Your fondest memory of you and your father together is false. A lie. A fantasy placed in your head by a bunch of monks. Makes you wonder what else is false, doesn't it? Like maybe, your love for him? Or even, his love for you?"
"OBJECTION!" Rick shouted.
"Her love for her so-called father is the reason she is here! That is why you called her as a witness Lansing!"
"You would hurt a child Lilah!"
"You shouldn't have brought a child into this, Lansing!"
"SILENCE!" The Tribunal decreed. Rick and Lilah stopped yelling at each other. "Continue."
Lilah straighten her outfit and fixed her hair with her hands. It was just a delaying tactic. She needed time to calm down.
"Who won custody of you and your sister?" Lilah asked.
"You're the mind reader. You tell me."
"Just answer the question," Lilah commanded.
"Mom did. But you already knew that."
"I do Ms. Summers but the court doesn't."
"How am I supposed to know that? I'm not a mind reader like you."
"Just stick to answering the questions. Leave the commentary to me."
"It doesn't matter what I say. I'm not real. Remember?" Dawn crossed her arms around her chest and leaned back in the chair. Lilah felt her anger growing again. This girl may be young, but Lilah got the sense that she knew what she was doing was doing. She was baiting her. Dawn was playing the role of an annoying, mealy-mouthed, little brat just to throw her off her game. It was working. Every time she made one those snappish remarks, Lilah got angry. This kid is good, Lilah thought to herself. But I'm better. Lilah calmed herself again before returning to her questions.
"How often does Hank call or visit you in Sunnydale?"
"What difference does that..."
"Answer the question," Lilah said in a surprising pleasant tone. "Please."
Dawn was quiet for several moments before she said, "Sometimes."
"Is that the truth?"
Again, there was a long silence from Dawn. "Yes."
"Twice now you have reminded me that I have the ability to read minds. And then, you sit in that chair... and you lie to my face." Lilah walked toward the witness chair. She tapped her index finger on the side of her forehead while she said, "I know you're lying."
Dawn was making eye contact with Lilah during her questioning. Until now. Dawn turned her head to the side. She found herself staring at an empty trash bin several feet away. Lilah stopped her approach just one foot away from the witness chair.
"You didn't answer my question." Lilah declared in singsong voice.
"He doesn't."
"He doesn't what?"
Dawn stared at the floor as she answered, "He doesn't call. Or visit."
"That's odd isn't it," Lilah said. "I'll admit. This isn't exactly my area of expertise. But, don't people who love each other call? Don't they visit each other? Don't they miss each other? You'd think they would at least check up. If for no other reason than just to hear the other person's voice?" Lilah leaned forward. She put her hands on the armrest of the witness chair. Lilah's face was now only inches away from Dawn's. Dawn retreated. She pulled her arms to her side to avoid touching the evil lady lawyer. "That is what loved ones do? Right?"
Dawn said nothing. It was obvious to everyone present that the youngster was really uncomfortable in that chair. She looked at everything except Lilah. Her eyes darted around the alley as the young girl desperately searched for something else, anything else, to look at. While Dawn was desperately trying to avoid eye contact, Lilah was trying very hard to make it. Every time Dawn's eyes would land somewhere, Lilah would position her head in front of them and try to lock eyes with the teenager, and every time Dawn would look somewhere else. This cat-&-mouse game went on for several minutes.
"Do something Rick!" Hank strongly whispered. "She's practically torturing her."
"I can't," Rick whispered back. "This is Lilah's time. I can only object if she says or does something that is deliberately hurtful and unnecessary."
"You don't call this deliberately hurtful," Hank replied in an angry whisper. "You see what she's trying to do! She's trying to turn my own daughter against me. There has got to be some kind of rule against that."
"These are legitimate questions Hank. Lilah can ask whatever she wants."
"Did he visit you after the funeral? Either one?" Lilah continued.
"No," Dawn answered. It was a weak response. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Could you repeat that Dawn. I didn't hear you."
"NO!" Dawn loudly proclaimed. She almost shouted it. Lilah finally got the eye contact she was looking for. When Dawn raised her head to shout the words, she looked Lilah right in the eyes. Dawn tried to put on a tough front, but it was obvious that the youngster was near tears. It made Lilah smile.
Lilah stopped leaning on the arms of the witness chair. She stood up straight and turned her back to Dawn. The evil lawyer took three steps away from the witness area before she quickly turned back to face Dawn again.
"I have one last question to ask you Ms. Summers. Is Hank a good father? Yes or No?"
"He's really busy," Dawn answered.
"Yes Or No?" Lilah inquired, her voice intentionally showing her impatience.
"He got a really important job that takes up a lot of his time. And..."
"Yes. Or. No. Ms. Summers?" Lilah demanded. "Is Hank a good father?"
There was another long pause as Dawn contemplated her answer. "He's really busy," was all the youngest Summers would say. Lilah indicated she was done. Dawn left the witness chair without being told. She was happy to be out of there. Lilah's questions were emotionally draining to say the least.
Hank was overcome by a wave of guilt as he studied the expression on his daughter's face. He realized how much he has lost touch with his child.
"Continue," The Tribunal demanded.
"I may end up regretting this," Rick said to no one, "but here goes." He waved his hand at the portal. Another familiar face appeared. Hank's oldest daughter Buffy emerged from the portal wearing a bright green t-shirt and faded blue jeans.
"Objection!" Lilah demanded. "She can't be here!"
"Why not?" Rick asked in a pleasing tone.
"She is the reaso...! She is the...! She...!" Lilah stumbled over the words like a first year law student.
Lilah found herself in a quandary. How do you object to something without saying why you object to it? The Tabula Rasa spell was applied to every new person who entered the court. In other words, the spell only works on the witnesses who came through the portal. Hank was already within the court when the spell was cast. That meant he would be completely unaffected by it. If he lived, which was still a definite possibility, he would remember everything.
Add to that, the core of Rick's case was that Hank was important not just because he was the Slayer's father, but because he did not know that he was. Revealing the identity of the Slayer to Hank was something the Senior Partners desperately wanted to avoid. If Hank discovered the truth from Lilah, the Senior Partners would stick her in a section of Hell that was even more unpleasant than the one in which she currently resides.
"Withdrawn," Lilah stated.
Rick instructed Buffy to sit in the witness chair and she complied.
"I'll be brief Misses Summers. You know why you are here and you know all of the testimony so far. So I'll just ask you. How do you feel about your father?"
"I love him," Buffy said without hesitation. "He's my dad. He hasn't always been there for me and Dawn, but he's still my father."
"Then you would vote live?"
"Of course. I don't want him to die."
"Thank you Ms. Summers." Rick said. He then signified he was done.
Although they had never met, Lilah knew all about Buffy. The files Wolfram & Hart kept on her, and the regular reports from Sunnydale, told the story. Buffy Summers will go down in history as the greatest Slayer that ever existed. She has slain more vampires, killed more demons, and stopped more apocalypses than any other Slayer in history.
She changed the world. Literally. Thanks to Summers and her new army of Slayers, Wolfram & Hart's mission to bring about the one true apocalypse was now ten times harder. She even died. Twice! And yet, there she sits, as alive as ever.
Then there was Lilah's other problem. For some unknown reason, Buffy was starting to unnerve the dead, lady lawyer. Whenever Lilah and the Slayer locked eyes, it felt like Buffy was staring a hole through her. It was the same feeling she got when she was around Angel.
No wonder those two had such an intense thing for each other. Lilah thought. They were both so much alike.
Lilah mentally slapped herself for letting her mind drift then quickly returned her thoughts to the problem at hand. This is going to be tough. The Slayer doesn't strike me as a person who is easy to manipulate. I have got to come at her differently. She won't fall for an obvious baited trap like the other witnesses did, and if everything I've read about her is true, she can't be intimidated. I need a new angle.
After a short internal debate, Lilah concluded that the direct approach would work best. Don't try to bait her into anything, just get the Slayer to answer the questions, let the truth do the real damage.
"Ms. Summers. After your first year at Sunnydale High, you spent the summer with your father. Is that correct?"
"Yes it is." Buffy answered.
"What did you the two of you talk about?"
"We braided each others hair and talked about boys. What do you think we talked about?"
"Why didn't Hank take care of you after your mother died?" Lilah inquired.
"I can take care of myself."
"Did he even offer?"
"There's no room at his place." Buffy answered in a sardonic tone. "Besides, it's too big a hassle, what with all the packing, and the boxes, and the heavy lifting. Best to just stay put."
Gavin and Lee's reports from the firm's Sunnydale contacts said Buffy Summers had a 'singular wit' as they put it. The reports did not say how incredibly infuriating that wit was.
"Why are you avoiding my questions Ms. Summers?"
"Let me think. Well, you're evil, you've tried to kill my father twice, first with psycho bitch Drusilla, then with this trial, and you bullied my little sister. That doesn't exactly put me in hugs and kisses mode. Ooohh! And you're evil." Buffy acted as though she just thought up that last one a second ago.
"Let's change gears then. I will just continue to talk. If I tell a lie, or if I say something you don't agree with, you chime in. OK?"
Buffy changed her posture. Before this she was sitting in the chair normally. Now, she folded her hands in her lap, crossed her knees, and sat very straight in the chair. She was doing the opposite of Dawn. She was playing the role of the perfectly attentive schoolgirl. "I can't wait to hear this."
"You told your mother about the cave ...incident... your first year in Sunnydale. Granted it was years later, but you did eventually spill. But you never told your father. You had all summer to discuss it with him but you never did."
"Careful on that tightrope Lilah," Rick interrupted. "Your employers would be very upset with you if you fell off."
Lilah insecurely thanked Rick for his subtle warning before she continued.
"Let's talk about the holidays, the time when families come together. By our records Hank has missed every Christmas and every Thanksgiving since the divorce. Not to mention all of the other Hallmark-invented holidays. No showed on all of the 4ths; too busy every Easter. The list goes on and on."
"You love to hear yourself talk don't you? I'll bet you never get tired of the sound of your voice."
Buffy's insults did not faze Lilah. She continued her speech. "And then there was your mother's funeral? Where was he then? Sure, he showed up. But that's all he did. He was on a plane to Phoenix before the sun went down. He just left you and Dawn there, all alone."
"Then there's the issue of money," Lilah continued. "Here you are. A beautiful, vibrant, young woman trying to better herself by going to school during the day and ...working... at night, all without any financial help from your father. In fact, our records show you had a fiscal crisis after your..."
"Objection," Rick declared, "Your rope is getting thinner Lilah."
"Our records show you had a fiscal crisis after your... Return. What did he do to help? Nothing. He didn't even take care of Dawn while you were ...out of town... Your friends did that. He let his child be raised by total strangers."
"My father didn't know I was ...out of town." Buffy stated crossly.
"Fair enough. Let's move on to birthdays then. According to our records, Hank has missed every one of your birthday parties since you and your mother moved to Sunnydale. His record before the divorce wasn't exactly stellar, but at least he made an effort. Afterward, he just couldn't be bothered. When you turned 17, he was addressing the board. When you turned 18, that was a rough one for you if I remember correctly, he couldn't make it because his quarterly projections were unraveling. He did send flowers and the ice show tickets he... excuse me, Clare bought. He just wrote the note and signed the card. That was something at least. Then there's birthday number 19. That one was fairly uneventful. Hank was in San Diego closing the Motorola deal. Birthday number 20, another bad one by our records, was a rather traumatic time for both you and Dawn. You could have used some fatherly advice, but once again, Hank no-showed. He was brokering a trade agreement in China. Clare sent a gift and a card on his behalf, but that's not quite the same now is it?"
Lilah was quiet for a second. She turned her attention to Hank. She gave him an odd look for a few seconds before turning back to Buffy and continuing her speech.
"Then there was your high school graduation. He missed that one too. Before you say anything, I know you didn't want him there. What with you having to ...work... and all. Actually, missing that one was a good thing, it was an ...intense... ceremony, but still, the least he could have done was call and say congratulations. He was in L.A. at the time. L.A. huum? Only 2 hours away and he doesn't even make an appearance at his own daughter's high school graduation. I wonder why? I know why! He had to give a speech at Daniel's college graduation party."
Buffy's expression changed. The detached demeanor she entered the court with was gone; in its place was a clear sign of anger. The anger was not directed at Lilah, nor was aimed at her father, Buffy was angry with herself. Lilah managed to do the one thing Buffy promised herself she was not going to let the Wolfram & Hart attorney do, let Lilah get to her. Try as she might, Lilah's last comment did just that.
"That's right Buffy. Your father blew off your graduation ceremony so he could go to some other kid's graduation party."
Buffy did not answer. She just sat there, staring a hole through Lilah. Lilah smiled at Buffy. She knew she hurt her with that one. Lilah had taken back control, and she wanted Buffy to know it.
"That wasn't the first time he put Daniel ahead of you. It is safe to say that Daniel is the son he never had. The spell that was cast on you when you entered this court allowed you to instantly know all of the testimony that was said before you arrived. Mr. Dobbins said Hank was at every important event in his son's life. Graduations, birthdays, holidays, all of them. He even gave Daniel $8,000 so he could go to Cancun for Spring Break last year. I believe you were getting burger and chicken grease in your hair during last year's Spring Break."
"Speaking of last year, if our records are correct, 2002 wasn't exactly a banner year for you, was it Ms. Summers? You were deeply depressed; your best friend was ...on the magical sauce as the old saying goes... Dawn was stealing to get attention; your other best friend was ruining his life, your new boyfriend took some liberties that he should not have and crossed the line when you told him it was over; and Social Services tried to take Dawn away from you because you were not performing your duties as her guardian. And where was Hank during all of this? What was he doing that was more important than his own daughter? His little princess? I'll tell you what he was doing, princess. He was making money hand over fist, and he was befriending someone else's child. That's what he was doing."
"How does that make you feel Buffy? Knowing he was there for someone else, when he was never there for you."
Again, there was no answer from Buffy. She had the same look of contemplation on her face that Mike had when he had a decision to make.
"Where was he Buffy?" Lilah quietly inquired. "Where was your father during the worst time of your life?"
Lilah signaled the Tribunal she was done before she walked back to her area.
Lilah never got an answer to that question. She did not want one. Lilah had more ammunition, but she decided to stop there. Push to hard and you risk breaking the mood. Best to just let the Slayer stew. Beside, she got what she wanted. The look of confused anger on Buffy's face was all she wanted.
"How bad is it?" Hank asked Rick.
"Clare is the only definite yes vote we have." Rick answered. "Your girlfriend doesn't care one way or the other. Charlie is going to vote 'die' just to avoid paying back the money he borrowed. Your best friend would kill you himself if he could. Your youngest daughter is on the fence, and after Lilah's cross, how your oldest will vote is anybody's guess. I'd say things look pretty bad. I don't hold out much hope of winning." After a long pause Rick said, "You're going to have to take the stand."
"What do I say?"
"Something that gets us out of this mess."
Hank began to search the pockets of his coat. He was looking for something he knew he was not going to find. But before he could start, Rick grabbed his wrist. Rick did not look at Hank, he just stared straight ahead as he flatly stated, "You quit two days ago."
End Chapter 4