Chapter 28

We rode to the courthouse in Mr. Bell's Cadillac. It was a very nice car.

Colleen was as keyed up as anyone I'd ever seen and I wondered if she would be able to control her anger in court. Rebecca and Colleen bracketed me in the back seat, with Mr. and Mrs. Bell up front. I thought that was odd but didn't have a chance to ask questions. Everything was happening too fast.

Mr. Bell looked at me in the rear view mirror. "Brian, my boy, I got a call from our Sheriff a few minutes before I picked you up. It seems your cabin was just covered with fingerprints, all recent, that matched a man who is known to be the paramour of your landlady. There is another set of prints but they don't match anyone, which the detectives think belong to your landlady, herself.

"I have one more tidbit to share with all of you. Colleen spoke briefly to Brian's landlady and remarked on how rude and angry she was on the phone. Remember?" Colleen nodded and added a few details about their conversation.

"Well it seems your landlady left us a phone message, earlier today. In her message she makes specific threats about taking action to make sure you do not stay in that house another day. Since she voluntarily left that RECORDED message, I thought it appropriate to being it along and play it for the Judge.

"I don't think Ms. Mesicowski intended to convict herself of a string of felonies, but she has managed to tie a noose around her neck, evidence wise, I mean."

Mrs. Bell interrupted. "Honey. Are you talking about Sherrie Mesicowski?" Mr. Bell gave her a look, "Yes. Do you know her?"

"Oh, Sweetie. That woman is as mean as a snake. All of us girls at the club avoid her like the plague. She has a reputation of going crazy whenever she thinks someone is talking to her boyfriend. Some of the girls have been verbally abused by her because her boyfriend said, 'excuse me, ' as they brushed past each other on the way to the restroom.

"Brian, if Sherrie thought Beth spoke to her boyfriend, that's all it would take for her to do something this stupid. None of us have anything to do with her and even leave if the two of them come in while we're playing bridge."

Mr. Bell rubbed his jaw and thought.

While he thought we arrived at the court, went inside, and waited our turn.

At precisely 3:40 P.M. the bailiff announced, "All rise. Court is now in session, the Honorable T. Clyde Thorson presiding."

He took his seat and motioned for the bailiff to continue. "Be seated." The little, old man must live for his lines, because he said them with such devotion. The judge looked over a folder provided by his clerk and nodded at Mr. Bell, saying, "Jim, what brings you to court this afternoon, and what is this about an emergency restraining order?"

Mr. Bell took his time rising from his chair and walking forward toward the judge. He opened his folder and began. "Your Honor, I am here with young Mr. Brian Morse," indicating me sitting at the table with Colleen. "You might remember Mr. Morse. This very court granted his petitions just weeks ago.

"In the intervening weeks, young Brian, while riding in a vehicle driven by his mother, the late Mrs. Beth Ann Morse, was critically injured when their vehicle was struck by a fuel truck running a red light. Mrs. Morse was pronounced dead at the scene and young Brian just this morning, was released from the hospital due to the devastating injuries he sustained."

"That's all fine, Jim. But can you get to the point?"

"Certainly Your Honor. Upon returning to his rented home, Mr. Morse discovered every piece of his clothing destroyed, every shoe rendered useless, every item of personal property torn, ripped, broken, chemically damaged and/or otherwise rendered useless.

"During Brian's stay in the ICU of Springfield Regional Medical Center, our office received a dangerously threatening letter from a Mrs. Sherri Mesicowski, the owner of the rental property, demanding Brian vacate the home before the last day of this month. I contacted Ms. Mesicowski by phone and attempted to discover the reasons for demanding that a properly leased, completely paid up, and perfectly cared for rental home, should become unwelcome to the rightful tenant and was treated to what must be described as a brutal assault upon my ears.

"Ms. Mesicowski later left a dangerously threatening voice message on our office phones, which I have copied off for you. In that phone call, Ms. Mesicowski specifically states that if young Mr. Morse does not vacate the property voluntarily and immediately, she would see to it that he does involuntarily.

"Today, upon returning from his long ordeal in the hospital, Mr. Morse discovered the power company had been called by Ms. Mesicowski, and his utilities were all shut off, causing the spoilage of his refrigerated goods, the telephone company had been contacted, again by Ms. Mesicowski, and his phone had been disconnected, and as I stated, earlier, all his belongings, including everything he has left of his recently departed mother, was shamefully destroyed. Mr. Morse noticed that not a single piece of furniture belonging to the landlady, nor any electronic devices were touched. No appliance was damaged, nor was any property missing that was accounted for on the pre-rental inventory. Every bit of damage was directly done to injure young Mr. Morse and avoid damaging anything belonging to the landlady.

"In the interest of time, Your Honor, there are two detectives from the Sheriff's Office investigated, and they will detail for you that fingerprints taken from the rental home match those of Ms. Mesicowski's live in boyfriend. Another set of prints have been collected that they expect belong to Ms. Mesicowski herself.

"Your Honor, as you can see, young Mr. Morse is dressed in rags, because every piece of clothing he owns has been ruined. He walked miles on the state road, seeking assistance and his injuries have been treated and catalogued by Doctor Temple, who is here to speak for herself.

"We are requesting immediate relief by the court, restraining Ms. Mesicowski and anyone associated with her, from contacting, harassing, threatening, and molesting him in any other way. Young Mr. Morse is in perilous health, Your Honor. He just lost his mother. His belongings have been hatefully destroyed, and his photographs and other mementos of his mother have been ripped from him by this capricious malicious, assault.

"As this has rapidly become a criminal matter and as it is not simple property damage, Your Honor, we fear for Mr. Morse's safety. My wife has reminded me this afternoon that anyone who would abuse a critically injured, grieving, and physically disabled young man, like this, might not stop at threats of violence, but be perfectly happy to carry them out.