Climax Control - 03/27/2016 - Tempe, Arizona
They heard the muffled voices come from inside the men's dressing room, both Kittie who had her hand in a comforting gesture on the center of Despayre's back as they had little choice but to stand and wait, not knowing what exactly was about to transpire between Synn and Rage, but it was obvious that it wouldn't be anything good. Not if Synn had ejected them from the room beforehand in order to speak to Rage. Under most circumstances, they had no secrets to keep from one another. Most of the time. There had been a time or two when they did not divulge every tidbit of information to one another, the better to keep plans secret, such as when Gabriel had worked with his wife Odette against Jordan Williams and none were the wiser until the aftermath, or to keep an already secure secret from being revealed before any were ready, such as Despayre's parentage.
Of course, the chief problem with keeping secrets from friends and more importantly, family, is that when the truth is brought forth into light, it can easily turn against the one who was not forthcoming. Gabriel and Odette came dangerously close to losing the trust of their makeshift family in the Sins, were it not for Despayre's loving devotion to Gabriel and Synn's admiring towards their deceit. And when Despayre inadvertently discovered the truth of who his father was, Synn counted himself incredibly lucky that the revelation did not blow up in his face.
"What's going on?" Gabriel asked as if he appeared from out of the shadows as if by magic. Hey, he is a magician after all! Just ask Despayre and Angel! They'll vouch for him! He slid up in between the two and was prepared to reach for the handle of the dressing room door, but Kittie grasped his wrist, preventing him from doing so.
"Probably not the best idea right now." Kittie warned him, and when Gabriel frowned at what she meant, his little brother Despayre piped in, "Dad's gardening with Rage, just like you said!"
And the realization that what Gabriel had known was coming, was here. Rage had caused a bad auto accident in Vegas recently by driving recklessly, and Gabriel knew all too well what a personal nerve that would touch with Synn above any other. Unless of course Margaret Young, Despayre's mother, had been present for this. Part of Gabriel almost wished she was here to join Synn in reaming Rage. Those two together would assuredly scare Rage straight from ever endangering his or anyone else's life like that ever again...
"C’mon, Synn! I’m not dead!" Rage's voice was heard easily through the dressing room door, obviously arguing against what he knew was to come. "What’s the worst that could have happened?!"
"Take a look at my son you stupid bastard and then ask me that question again!!!"
Synn's own voice thundered loud and clear, and Gabriel wouldn't have been a damn bit surprised if the wooden door had been reduced to splinters from the force of the man's anger. Rage was indeed the physical embodiment of the 'Sin of Wrath.' It was why he fit in so well with their team of the Seven Deadly Sins, but Synn himself was the seemingly manifestation of all Seven Sins combined, and that being said, when he showed how angry he could become, such as now, there wasn't a damn person around that could match him in intensity, especially when that anger was justified in such a personal way.
Synn’s voice continued, as thunder breaking through the storm clouds in the heavens, "Of course you didn’t think about that while you were speeding around without a damn care! Joshua might be alive, but that car accident forever changed him! What if you had done that to someone else’s child? Or what if you had done that to yourself?! That shit doesn’t just affect you, Rage, it could very well affect other people!"
Gabriel would not have wanted to be in the big man's shoes for anything. He had never before been on Synn's bad side, at least to this degree of venting and frustration, but just hearing him lay into someone -- especially someone like Rage himself, and that was quite enough.
Gabriel glanced to his immediate left, and found Despayre standing there with his head bowed and arms draped lovingly as always around Angel, his fingers interlocked and shoulders slumped.
"Despy?" Gabriel found his voice and placed a hand on the little guy's slim shoulder, jostling him from whatever inner thoughts he found himself lost in, and knowing Despayre as he did, better than most others, he knew Despy's thoughts could be some doozies. He continued questioning, "You okay?"
Despayre said nothing, but simply answered with a nod.
"What's wrong?" Gabriel asked.
Again, he was answered with silence, this time Despayre shaking his head in the negative to indicate everything was fine, although Gabriel knew him enough to know that it wasn't quite accurate.
"Alright, just what is wrong with you?"
The bitter toned voice of the less-than-friendly elderly neighbor that we've been introduced to only recently, caught Despayre's attention and drew him from out of his silent brooding. Yes, as you guessed it, we are back to more recent times, narrowing down the time frame between now and in days when Sin City Wrestling's biggest event of the year, Blaze of Glory V, would be held less than three hundred miles away from the famed "City of Sin" in Phoenix, Arizona.
Now we find ourselves in the older Victorian style home of the widow Colleen O'Heaney. You might remember her from previous installments in the world that is Despayre's. She's the "mean old lady" neighbor who lived only two houses down from Synn and Despayre in the sparse neighborhood that had few enough homes as it was. She also had an on again-off again feud of sorts with everyone's favorite teddy bear fan, where the two would trade pranks back and forth, some of which escalated with alarming frequency. And even though this "prank war" was still very much a part of their lives, it had cooled down somewhat, ever since the time where Despayre had intended to play a joke on the near eighty year old and instead found her on the floor of her living room, having fallen.
His interest in her was also magnified when he made the fascinating discovery that she had been an actress in the fifties, which just made the old woman all the more interesting!
Now Despayre had taken it upon himself to visit her as much as he was able, as he was under the impression few others did. (And why would they when she, in Despayre's own words, was a devil in support hose?) Still, whether she liked it or not, he showed up at her front door, time and again, and as Synn believed, she didn't object to the visits as she had yet to insist he cease or eject him from her home. She just had a hard life and did not take it upon herself to make anything easy on anyone where she was concerned.
That was where we found ourselves at this exact moment; Missus O'Heaney seated in her usual recliner in her spaciously decorated living room, and Despayre on the sofa just across from her with a coffee table in between them. On a small platter were some iced cakes and cucumber sandwiches, a favorite of the lady of the house, and a pot of steaming tea with two cups and saucers, one for each of them. Were anyone else here at this time, they would have been greatly surprised, nay shocked, that this seemingly vicious old woman was actually playing the dutiful hostess to Despayre's visit, providing him with snacks and something to wash them down with, but something had changed between them as previously inferred. Despayre tended to have this effect on people, and Missus O'Heaney was apparently not immune to his loveable charms.
"Hm?" Despayre looked up from the cards he held in his hands, his gray eyes looking to her for an explanation on what she was talking about.
With a snort through her nostrils, the elderly woman set the cards in her own arthritic hands face down on her lap and leaned on the chair's arm rest to emphasize her standing as she said, "You asked me to teach you how to play cards. I've been talking to you the past few minutes with what to do next and you were lost -- again."
"Oh, sorry." Despayre looked back down to his cards, then slapped them on the coffee table with a bright smile and said, "Gin!"
Missus O'Heaney looked at the cards, then at him and stated matter-of-factly, "We were playing Hearts."
"I know that!" Despayre frowned. He then looked at the small plush teddy bear seated on a third chair before them and leaned towards her to whisper with his hand cupped over the side of his mouth, "Angel wants to know if you have any."
Missus O'Heaney turned for a brief moment to look at the teddy bear seated almost directly across from her in a hard carved "flora" accent chair. Angel had a cloth napkin draped over his legs and one of her good saucers atop of that with one of the sandwiches on it -- with a bite taken from it that she hadn't noticed before. She knew very little about this young man who had taken it upon himself to visit her every so often, but she was slowly getting used to his quirks and mannerisms. But the one thing she had not yet been able to accept, so to speak, was this 'relationship' that he had with a teddy bear of all things. And not understanding this, she just deemed it odd or unsavory. Still, she put up with it for reasons known only to herself and she turned back to him, picking up her cards.
"I do, as a matter of fact." She answered. "But there will be none of that served."
Despayre nodded, taking the answer in stride. He turned to Angel and mouthed a silent 'I tried!' to his best friend before looking down at his now exposed cards.
"So where were you?" Missus O'Heaney asked him once again. "For someone who asked to be taught to play cards, you've been distracted since you first set foot in here."
"Sorry." Despayre glanced down, and once again subconsciously found his fingers of one hand gripped in the other.
"Something on your mind?" She asked, and was met with a shake of the head. Missus O'Heaney did not truly get this young man, and if she had, she probably would have pressed on anyway. It was simply her nature, and as it was her home, she felt she was given the right. She tossed her cards down onto the deck and Despayre instinctively reached for them to shuffle them for his hostess again.
She said, "I'm old, young man. I am not blind or dumb." She paused, waiting for Despayre to look back up to her and only then did she go on, "I can tell something is bothering you. Now what is it?"
Carefully stacking the cards in the deck properly, Despayre stared hard at them, shielding his gaze from her own. When he did look up, the old woman was startled to find tears welling up in his lovely, bright eyes, as he said in a choked voice, "I think my dad wishes I were someone else!"
"It comes as no surprise when in these mixed tag team matches when one gender focuses little on the opposite on the opposing team, but given that these are the championship finals, somehow I feel it appropriate."
"I know that Despayre will not be setting foot inside of the ring with you, Lucy Seraphina, but I can't help but feel that respect is due where you are concerned. You have indeed done your tag team partner proud. Spike Staggs was lucky indeed when your name was drawn to be paired alongside of him. You've fought long and hard these past number of weeks to get this far, and I imagine when the time comes and the finals are in place, you will only manage to fight even harder to hopefully allow Spike and yourself to walk away the victors."
"That is the plan, and I know you hope to accomplish this, but I will make no apologies when I state I don't see it happening. You are a former champion, that is true, but then again, so is your opponent, and Despayre's own partner, Crystal Millar. Crystal is a hungry young woman. She is anxious, desperate to have the main event spotlight shine upon her, and with the chance to compete for the World title at stake? Somehow I think that will make her hunger turn into something even more than anyone in this match can expect."
"Good luck Lucy, and I mean that. This Sunday we let the chips fall where they may."
"Are you certain that you should?" Gabriel asked as he paced in the kitchen of Synn's house. He had been called and asked to come over for a private talk between Synn and himself.
"I have no choice in the matter, Gabriel." Synn addressed his question, leaning restlessly on the edge of the island kitchen counter, his forearms propped heavily on the porcelain surface. "This entire issue is ending today. It is not going to court. It's going to be decided by a private judge in a private hearing. Joshua's therapist spoke with the judge and both my attorney as well as my mother's and it was decided for his sake, it would be for the best to be settled with as little fuss as possible."
When Synn's mother first made this shocking power play, in a vain attempt to strike back at her heathen son by taking what he cared for most away from him, Gabriel was one of the first to be told of the private matter, aside from Margaret and her mother. Anyone told were sworn to the same vow; Despayre was not to know his 'other grandma' was trying to wrest him away from the only secure home he had known since he was three years old.
"But taking Despy along to be questioned by the judge?" Gabriel frowned from where he sat across the counter from the man himself. "Like that won't cause any fuss? I mean, he still doesn't know, does he?"
Synn exhaled and shook his head, "No, and that will be yet another secret I kept that comes back to bite me in the ass."
"I doubt it." Gabriel assured him. "You said the judge promised Doctor Stark that she would be as discreet as possible, didn't she?"
"She did." Synn nodded. "But that doesn't mean that Joshua won't figure it out, or at least figure out that something is going on. If he does that, then it would be just a matter of time before he figured out the whole story."
Gabriel smiled. "We don't give the little nutter enough credit, do we?"
"He is a sharp one." Synn agreed as Theresa passed through the kitchen, pausing only long enough to set two tall glasses down in front of both men, filled with iced tea.
Gabriel picked his up, and a chill ran down his back as he contemplated the possibility, no matter how small, of being separated from 'his' Despy. Losing the little guy that fast became the little brother he always wanted and who helped him to grow as a man over the past number of years.
"Where did you just go?" Synn asked, having taken notice of Gabriel's sudden bout of silence, coupled with his staring with vacant eyes across the kitchen.
Gabriel set his glass back down, untouched, and found the words that caused that unnerving sensation along his spine. "Where is Despy now?"
"Over at Missus O'Heaney's, as usual."
The magician pried his eyes off of the surface of the counter and to the piercing emerald green eyes of Synn and he asked, as much for assurance for himself as for Despayre, "You said you took precautions?"
"It won't get far, Gabriel." Synn stated matter-of-factly. "That I can assure you, and promised Margaret and Victoria the same. If my mother thinks herself an expert at fucking with people's minds, then she is about to bow to the master."
When Synn was this confident, it was a good sign of things to come. However, Gabriel also knew that until Despy walked back into this house, safe and sound under their collective care, he would not be resting easy.
Synn continued, "And should my mother decide to pursue the matter despite the judge's ruling, then I am fully prepared to take added precautions to end it."
Gabriel's brow furrowed at these caustic words of declaration, and he drew back for a moment and asked a question he was confident he knew the answer to, but knowing Synn, remained unsure.
"Synn, hateful a bitch as she is ..." He shook his head. "You wouldn't...?"
"Gabriel!" Synn barked in a reprimanding tone of voice. "I am not saying I would have physical harm done upon my own mother!"
Gabriel nodded, satisfied as Synn and he both picked up their drinks. Gabriel started to take a sip as Synn casually added, "That would make it premeditated." and Gabriel almost choked and stared at the man with wide eyes.
"What in the devil are you talking about?" Missus O'Heaney asked, setting her small plate aside that held a sandwich which remained un tasted. She had led a long, hard life and felt she was prepared for whatever answer and emotional reaction Despayre was ready to give her, but this was something else. This was most definitely not expected and she was entirely unsure how to react, or if she even should.
She instead gripped the arm rests of her chair and pulled herself up so that she could better look at this young man and she asked, "Why on earth would you even begin to think such a thing?"
"I h-heard him." Despayre choked, wiping his eyes quickly with his shirt sleeve.
Missus O'Heaney frowned, "You heard your father say he wished you were someone else."
Despayre was about to answer in the affirmative when something gave him pause. He instead shrugged in a helpless manner and said, "Well, no. But our friend was in a car wreck and he was really screaming at him for causing it. He said what happened to me could have happened to him!"
"Is that what happened to you?" She asked him, a piece of the puzzle she had long wondered falling into place. "Were you in a car accident?"
Despayre sniffed back a fresh wave of tears as he shoved his fists between his knees and held the rigid position as he answered, "I don't know! I don't remember! But mom and dad both have said something about me being in one before. I just don't ... I don't remember."
"And you didn't hear your father say what you think he means?"
Despayre shook his head.
"Well then how dare you just assume he feels that way!" Missus O'Heaney suddenly scolded him in a bitter tone. "I never had children young man, and it is the single greatest regret that I have ever suffered! Save for the death of Mister O'Heaney! I -- look at me!"
Despayre had bowed his head, eyes clenched shut as he fought off his emotions in front of Missus O'Heaney. But her demand had the desired effect as he brought his face up so that she might see him eye to eye, the tears still fresh on his cheeks and his nose tinged a healthy pink glow.
Only then did she continue to speak, "You tell me all the time -- constantly -- of all the nice things your father does for you! Look at that lovely home he gave you! I have seen through my own windows when your father gets you into that car and you go off to do something fun together! He does it to be with you, not with someone he wishes you were!"
Despayre sniffed back and wiped at his eyes. Missus O'Heaney snatched a tissue from the box on the table beside her and offered it over to him. Despayre accepted it and wiped at his nose, looking to this 'mean old woman' for further assurance, "Y-you really think s-so?"
"No parent worth their salt would wish their child were someone else!" She answered. "I certainly wouldn't have were I a mother, and I am sure your own father feels the same. Now..." She grasped the cane that rested against the side of her recliner and pointed towards the door. "You get over there and you talk to your father. And you'll see that I'm right!"
Despayre just stared at her, obviously apprehensive about doing as instructed, and she pointed again toward the door, her eyes remaining fixed on him. It was obvious that her suggestion was not that -- it was an order. And an order from an old woman was not something to be tossed aside lightly, if at all. Especially if she could be mean! Setting his tea cup on the table as gently as possible so as not to damage it, he slowly forced himself to stand up to do as told. He reached over to take Angel's cup and saucer away (the sandwich now finished somehow!), and set both on the table as well.
He picked the teddy bear up and took one more look at Missus O'Heaney, as if she perhaps would change her mind and let him stay just awhile longer but her eyes told him she was adamant he do as instructed. he turned around to head out of the living room, his feel shuffling just like a small child might when being coerced into doing something they did not want to do, when he paused.
Despayre quickly turned around and hurried over to give a very surprised Missus O'Heaney a quick hug, the first time he had ever thought to do so!
"Thank you!"
And he scurried off, leaving a very startled neighbor lady watching after him as the door slammed shut behind him.
"I don't pay due respect to the opposition of the Sins too often. Most times I simply don't believe that it is warranted or earned. But this time is not such a time."
"Despayre has been involved in a great many matches. many times those matches were in challenging for a championship, or defending one, but I will go on record and say that this match? It has to be the greatest opportunity that has ever been given to Despayre. I'm not saying that because the winners this Sunday will be declared Blast From the Past Champions. I'm not even saying it because the winners get guaranteed shots at the World Championships of Sin City Wrestling."
"No, I am saying it because in this one match, Despayre has his greatest opponent to date, the Hall of Famer and Living Legend in Spike Staggs."
"Spike Staggs is one of a kind. I have watched the man for years, since our earliest respective days in the world of professional wrestling. The man was great as a rookie, incredible as a veteran, and simply outstanding as a legend. Everything the man has accomplished, he has earned. No championship was ever given to him on a silver platter. He earned everything, which is why you will find very few in this business that will not acknowledge respect to this man."
"This man who stands at such a respective stature and yet can fly like a cruiserweight. A man that I dare say can be as unpredictable inside of the ring as Despayre himself."
"Spike, it is an honor for my son to have this chance to be inside of the ring with you. It is an honor for him to have this chance to test himself against a man such as yourself. Win or lose, you have my undying respect."
At the sound of the house's door being flung open, and shut hard behind, both Gabriel and Synn looked up knowingly.
"I'd say that was our boy now." Gabriel started to stand, hoping for this unpleasant situation they were caught in to end as quickly as was possible.
"A safe assumption." Synn agreed, standing up himself and moving around the counter so as to reign in his son before he could get up to anything else and finish this business with his mother and put it to rest for good. He had no time to think anything else, when the young man himself came barreling into the kitchen at top speed and slammed into him, almost knocking him over with the unexpected impact. But it was Despayre's arms wrapping around his father's upper body tightly and his face buried into his chest that made Synn look up at Gabriel in concern before looking back down to his son.
"Joshua? What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry!" Despayre cried against him, refusing to release his hug on his dad even for but a moment. "Whatever I did, I'm sorry!"
"Whatever you...?" Gabriel took a step forward. "Despy, what are you talking about?"
"Whatever I did to make you upset enough to wish I were different! Or someone else!"
That certainly got a reaction! From both Synn AND Gabriel! Synn slowly reached down, and with surprising effort given their vast size differences, Synn pried his son's arms apart from him and held him out at arm's length, his hands on Despayre's small shoulders.
"Joshua ... what are you talking about!?" Synn demanded. "Where in hell did you ever get the idea that I wished you were someone else!? Or different...?"
Despayre swallowed, that sobbing choke we all knew and experienced as children. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, Missus O'Heaney had. Despayre was already having second thoughts and regretting having brought this up, but the genie was out of the proverbial bottle so to speak so he had little choice but to take in the brave sense of comfort Angel was bestowing upon him and face the music.
Despayre forced himself to look up at his father and say, "I heard you yelling at Rage about the car accident. The one you and mom say I was in."
Having heard this, Gabriel closed his eyes and exhaled gently through his nose. So that's what got into his Despy when they had overheard Synn's tearing Rage a new one.
"Yes." Synn nodded. "You were in one. You were just too young to remember."
"You said what happened to me could have happened to him!" Despayre sniffed. "Or he could have done it to someone else!"
Synn stressed, "Yes, Joshua! I was referring to how you were hurt! Rage could have been hurt badly himself in that accident! Or he might have hurt someone else!" He gave Despayre a small shake of the shoulders. "You listen to me, Joshua, because I am only going to say this to you once."
Despayre tried looking away but Synn cupped his son's chin in his hand and made him look him in the eye. Synn held him firm as he said in tones forced to remain calm, despite the stress he had felt over recent issues with his mother, now coupled with this which seemingly came from out of nowhere. It was his own fault though. He'd often been told he had a rather thundering voice that could bend steel. He should have known Despayre and the others would have heard every word he bellowed in Rage's direction.
Synn spoke, "Understand this, Joshua. I have never -- EVER -- wished you were someone else! I have never wished you were different in any way, shape or form! I know I say this rarely and it is because I have had terrible experiences with the use of the word, but I have loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you during my first visit, and I love you even more right to this very day."
"Really?"
"Really." Synn said. "Now, are you done believing such silliness?"
"I guess so." He looked at his father who's stare hardened and he quickly amended his thoughts, "I mean, yes."
"Good." And Synn released him, and Gabriel patted him on the back.
Despayre looked back at Gabriel and then to his dad and asked, "Does that mean we can go and finish this bad stuff with grandma? I really wanna get home and tell Missus O'Heaney she was right."
"Missus O'Heaney?" Synn started to question. The elderly neighbor was the one who assured Despayre that his father loved him unconditionally? He would have to remember that and thank her properly, whether she wished it or not. He felt that he was now in her debt. Then another thought came immediately to mind and Synn narrowed his eyes, "Wait. How did you know this visit was about your ... Joshua. Have you been listening in on my phone calls again!?"
Despayre's eyes grew wide, like a deer caught in headlights. He held a hand up ala the Cub Scouts and said, "Only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and every other Friday!" He glanced back over his shoulder to his big brother and added, "It's a little thing Angel and I do."
"Ah." Gabriel nodded and patted his shoulder, then smiled at Synn who exhaled, shaking his head.
Family Division of the Eighth Judicial District Court
It had all come down to this. In the chambers of Judge Cheryl Moss, sat Synn on one side of a long table, and on his sides sat Margaret Young on his left, and their shared son, Joshua beside her. On Synn's right, sat his attorney, Dara Goldsmith. At the head of the table was the presiding judge herself, and opposite of Synn's side, was his mother, Ethel Winters, and her own attorney who was helping to handle this case, James Butler.
Each person present had spoken with the judge in her chambers privately, and now came the moment of truth. The one that, despite all evidence to the contrary, had Synn wary. He was confident, true, but there was always subdued doubt.
Judge Moss closed the thick folder filled with papers from the case, testimonies and evidence, shut and clasped her hands atop of it.
She stated, "I have reviewed every piece of evidence presented before me by both parties. Extensively. When a party such as Joshua here is involved, I have to take extra care to what would be best for him, and him alone."
Ethel stared at Synn, wearing a smug smile on her old lips that screamed she knew she was what was best for her grandson.
Judge Moss continued, turning her head to Ethel, and shocked the elderly woman by stating, "Which is why, in good conscience, I could never take this young man away from his family and place him under your care."
Ethel's face blanched pale from what color she possessed, and turned her head to the judge. She was clearly caught off guard by this decision, and across from her, Margaret quickly grasped her son in a fierce hug, but Synn remained stoic, restraining himself for now from reacting in any way until he deemed it absolutely necessary -- IF it would be so.
Ethel started to argue, "How ... how can you say that? That man right there..." She pointed at her son. "Is a..."
"Missus Winters!" The judge interrupted her, and did so in a commanding tone that brought Synn's mother to a grinding halt. If they were in any other given situation, Synn would have met that statement with applause. Judge Moss continued, "I have heard your religious arguments. God knows I have! But your religious principles plays no factor in the decision of this case!"
It looked again as if she were going to argue so Judge Moss talked over Ethel Winters before she had the chance to do so, "There are reasons why religion is separated from the courts. I will not debate that with you further, unless of course you want to be found in contempt!"
Ethel fidgeted, clearly fuming, but managed to restrain herself from disrespecting a judge. Pity. Synn might have found such a happening amusing to say the least.
Judge Moss turned to Synn's side and said, "I have spoken with your witnesses. I have talked with Doctor Stark, and even had someone speak to this Missus Colleen O'Heaney who spoke very highly of you, Joshua."
"Missus O'Heaney did?" Despayre blinked, then looked at his dad. "There must be some mistake."
Margaret patted his back as the judge smiled and said, "There's no mistake. By all accounts, I can't honestly believe that moving you from the loving home you are in now would do you more good than allowing you to remain. In fact, after speaking with all witnesses, I think it would do you far more harm than good to be placed with your grandmother, Missus Winters."
Ethel's face turned red at that insult and she bristled, "I beg your...!"
"My decision stands!" The judge said with a definitive tone, and a final. She turned to Ethel and said simply, "The case is closed. You will not be granted custody of your grandson."
Ethel turned a hateful stare to her lawyer, as if this decision was his fault, then forced herself to stand with the aid of her cane. She pointed a finger at Synn and said, "This is not over. I will take this further if I have to and..."
"It is over, mother." Synn stated, the time having come to play his hand. He hadn't wanted it to come to this. Gabriel was right. This tactic was low, even for him, but if his mother wanted to push this, he would simply end it by any means possible. Synn stood up, and the judge paused before she might have the need to intervene.
Synn stared Ethel down and said again, "It is over. You're not getting your way this time. You are not getting some petty revenge on me by way of taking my son. You are not winning. You see, I did some digging of my own, and something I discovered, I shared with the judge weeks ago."
He took a folder that was in front of him and slid it across to her. Ethel's own lawyer took little notice of it, as he had been given the right to examine the contents weeks ago when this whole case started to come to fruition.
"You haven't been entirely honest with us, mother." Synn smiled for the first time. "You didn't tell anyone here that you had three mortgages with Chase National Bank for the home you shared with father before he passed. I also know that you were roughly two months behind in your payments to said bank." He nodded, noticing Ethel's face growing more heated by the moment. "You thought to take Joshua here away and to a home that at any point might no longer be called your own?"
"I happen to know the president of my bank!" Ethel declared confidently. "A friend from church! He would never foreclose on your father and myself!"
"Perhaps not." Synn stated. "But I would."
Ethel frowned and said, "What are you talking about?"
Synn opened another folder and slid a paper over to her and her attorney. He stated simply, "I bought out your mortgage from the bank. You no longer owe the payments to Chase National." His gaze burned to her. "You owe them to me."
"What...?" Ethel stammered, disbelief in her voice. "You can't..." She turned to the judge, then her attorney. "He can't.. he can't do this!"
But it was Judge Moss who stated, "Buying default mortgages is a common practice Missus Winters. What your son has done is entirely legal."
Before Ethel could fully comprehend what was happening to her, Synn said, "Oh, and before I forget..." He slid a third and final paper over to her and said, "I had a chat with your doctor as well as a judge in Carson City. I know you've had your own health issues, 'mother', so a Judge Walter Mathow has declared me to be your power-of-attorney, as your nearest living relative."
"NO!" Ethel cried. "That is a lie!"
"Check with him if you don't believe me." Synn shrugged. "You'll find everything to be as I said."
"So that's it?" Ethel hissed. "You intend to blackmail me into dropping this issue?"
"I would never state such a thing." Synn shook his head, and motioned toward the head of the table. "Especially before a judge in a court of law." He leaned on the table with his hands and stared the woman who gave birth to him and stated simply, "If you choose to press this issue, I can assure you, that you will fail. You are old, mother. Your health is not great." His voice then turned dangerous, "You had better think carefully how you want to live out your remaining years because I can promise you, I am far better at these games than you are."
Synn then turned to the judge and said, "Thank you." Judge Moss simply nodded, this drama having played out and hopefully, would cease. Synn then turned to Despayre and Margaret and said, "Come on. Let's go home."
