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Chapters (88)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT PAGE
  3. DEDICATION
  4. CONTENTS
  5. PART ONE
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. PART TWO
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. PART THREE
  46. 39
  47. 40
  48. 41
  49. 42
  50. 43
  51. 44
  52. 45
  53. 46
  54. 47
  55. 48
  56. 49
  57. 50
  58. 51
  59. 52
  60. 53
  61. 54
  62. 55
  63. 56
  64. 57
  65. 58
  66. 59
  67. PART FOUR
  68. 60
  69. 61
  70. 62
  71. 63
  72. 64
  73. 65
  74. 66
  75. 67
  76. 68
  77. 69
  78. 70
  79. 71
  80. 72
  81. 73
  82. 74
  83. 75
  84. 76
  85. 77
  86. EPILOGUE
  87. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  88. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“I have one final thing to say,” Woodruff said, returning to his seat and letting out a deep sigh. “It is not without a good deal of anguish that I make this ruling today. Though I am finding against Mr. Haynes for the reasons already stated, it would be unjust and unfair not to recognize Mr. Haynes’s long and distinguished career as a trial attorney in Pulaski, Tennessee, and the fact that Mr. Haynes’s ‘criminal record . . .’” He paused to make the quote symbol with the index and middle fingers of both hands. “. . . as well as his second suspension from the practice of law, both stem from a conviction for misdemeanor assault last year that arose during a confrontation with his deceased wife where he was attempting to keep her out of harm’s way.” Woodruff licked his lips and blinked his eyes. “Unfortunately, as we all know, Ms. Jasmine Haynes was murdered outside the Von Braun Center in December 2013. Since such time and up until the first of this year, the two children of the marriage, T. J. and Lila, have been living with Mr. and Mrs. Henderson with Mr. Haynes’s apparent blessing as even you, Mr. Haynes, must have thought they were better off with their grandparents during such time. When you demanded that the children be returned, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson filed their petition with this court.” Again, Judge Woodruff formed a tent with his hands. “Because of these unusual circumstances, it is this court’s ruling that today’s judgment is temporary and will be revisited in six months’ time. If Mr. Haynes has established gainful employment, obtained a suitable residence in line with the children’s school, and has had no further run-ins with the law, then the court may reconsider this order.” He paused and smacked his lips. “Does everyone understand the ruling of this court?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Burgess Cloud said.

“Yes, Judge,” Candy Hoffpower added, smiling up at the judge.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Ezra Henderson’s low growl of a voice uttered. “Thank you, sir.” Ezra peered over at Bo, and Bo wasn’t sure whether he saw triumph or rage in the older man’s gaze. He will never forgive me for Jazz’s death, Bo thought, scowling hard back at his former father-in-law. And no punishment, not even taking my kids away from me, will ever be enough.

“Mr. Haynes?” Judge Woodruff asked. “Do you understand?”

Bo opened his mouth to speak, but his throat was so dry the words wouldn’t come. He coughed and swallowed hard. “Yes, Your Honor,” he finally managed.

Woodruff nodded at him. “I wish you luck, sir. I hope you use the next six months to turn your life around.”

13

13

The Voo Doo Lounge was a hideaway bar on the south side of the Madison County Courthouse square. Located on the basement floor under a Greek restaurant called Papou’s, it was hard to find unless you were a local.