Elusive Justice

Chapter 49

Peaceful Morning not 1862

Lawrence Parker does restore Mark Greene to his inexorable path to success -- 1981

All the federales say

Could have had him any day

Only Let Him Get Away

Out of Kindness I suppose

Townes Van Zandt – Pancho and Lefty Merle Haggard Willie Nelson Columbia Country Classics


Elusive Justice

“Hi Max, we finally have our date set to present our case on the appeal. September 15th. The other side has been delaying and the court has had enough. I think they were trying to get it after the election. We are prepared I am sure we will win. I hope it is not a narrow technical decision. I hope we will get it completely overturned.”

“Good about time, but then I will lose my son. He will likely be in DC next year, if it happens as you believe.”

“He is a well-qualified individual that PhD in International Studies he is about to earn, may not be the most suited one for running Greene Farms.”

“I don’t know look what a tailspin our Moscow Olympics boycott got us. Lost export sales do impact our operations.”

“Mark may help form better policies to benefit all farmers. Have Mark call me I would like to have him attend the arguments with me. It is unusual but if he is my aide, he can be there. It will put a face on this case. My Dad said to say hello and have me assure you we will win this appeal. How are the crops this year?”

“We’ve had a good year. Rain after things got going, yields should be good. Always better to have something to sell, no matter the price.”

“You manage the farm well; I will see this case is well managed.”

“Goodbye, Lawrence give my best to your folks.”

“I will”

-

“Glad you are accompanying me. You must not say anything or express any emotion or display any reaction. You are here as my aide. I have slipped in your biography when I could in my arguments. Sometimes our appeals courts seem to forget real people are affected by their decisions. I heard from Dad and Sean some tidbits. I am glad you helped Carol, apparently even protecting her from blackmailers.”

“They were young not Godfather types. I was there just to back her up. “

“Your father will miss you on the farm.”

“He will, but he wants me to attain this goal. I like it on the farm. I enjoy being outdoors. You observe the seasons change. There is knowledge my father and grandfather had and your grandfather. A wisdom of observing the weather patterns, learning the soils, deciding on planting. If you mud the seed in and it keeps raining it will all come up. If a farmer plants in wet soils and then the predicted rain doesn’t happen, the soil will crust. The seedlings will not break the surface. They all weighed their decisions based on volumes of experience and intuition. "

"You'll miss it too; I think?"

"I respect the skill, the art of farming. I do not like the fishbowl aspect. Everyone knows each other. You get judged not just on your social behavior; you are judged when you try something new on the farm. People judge how well you mow the road banks, but bankers judge how well you raise crops. Now there is much competition to expand as modern farms need to be large. This results in passive aggressive interactions. Our close neighbors and the people in the Franklin church are wonderful. They support each other when there is a need; they celebrate your joys as their own. The people in small communities entertain themselves by discussing the behaviors of those who they know but are not close to. I will not miss that aspect of farming in Franklin. “

“After grandma and grandpa died, I haven’t been back. Dad says Carol is succeeding doing very well. She started her produce and fruit business from scratch. “

“Carol has Ruth and Lizzie, together they are a force. JB is good at fixing machinery and equipment. Dad will come over if they need a big tractor. Carol had a vison and researched her market. It is working for her. My father says he had doubts when this city granddaughter of Eldon and Grace Parker came. He thought she was just an unrealistic flower child. He said she proved him wrong. Her hard work and business sense have impressed him.”

“Both my father and Finn have been very tight lipped on Carol’s divorce agreement. Unusual for a divorce agreement to have a specified end date four or five years in the future. My mother said Carol is going to have a baby. Is this part of the agreement?”

“I was not part of those negotiations. I only handle black mailers. I think Carol took me when she met with Stephen to pull her back in her chair if she began to attack him. Carol joked if JB had driven, he was experienced at barroom brawls, but she valued my diplomatic skills. She did suggest JB could give me some pointers if she needed a more muscular approach with Capuano in the future. Carol handled a horrible mess with great pragmatism; she made the best of a big buffalo wallow of slime.”

“I always wondered about her stability after she ran away without a word for two years. Carol has been all business ever since she came back home. All business on the farm she operates too. I thought she would have left the farm and gone with you maybe; Stephen was in no position stop or hinder her divorce.”

“Carol is Parker Produce and her life is the things she grows. She has become as tied to the land as your grandfather was or my Dad is. She wouldn’t trade her identity to be a diplomat’s wife. I might well have become another generation In the Greene Family Farm, but Carol wouldn’t allow me to lose my dream either. She says our lives are on different tracks headed to different destinations. I’ve learned many lessons from Carol. One is accepting hard choices and celebrating the present letting the future keep itself."

"I met the boyfriend she ran away that seems ages ago. I met Stephen Capuano once, when they came to meet the family after the wedding. Carol should have had me do a background check on him. I must say you're the best man I know of, who has had a relationship with Carol. You do have a relationship with Carol it seems, or she wouldn't have taken you out East to be her bodyguard. Am I allowed to know anymore from you than Dad or Finn are willing to reveal?"

"No. I will say this; Carol and I are star-crossed lovers. I met her once before she was married. Carol's intelligence and attractiveness made an impression. I was headed back to work in government and pursue a doctorate. We became friends while we both believed she was married. When her life imploded I was there to help. I will miss Carol Parker; she is a homesickness I will always carry.”

-

"Do we wait in the courtroom?"

“We will wait in a conference room until we are called. They are usually on schedule. When we go into the courtroom stand until the judges are seated and then do not speak unless a judge specifically asks you question be as succinct and courteous as possible. Addressing and thanking ‘your honor’ is always a good practice. We are going to win this case, relax.”

-

“Hello”

“Hi this is Lawrence Parker is Mark available?”

“He and Max are out in the field harvest has begun. They’re doing soybeans today.”

“Margaret, I have very good news. The decision has been announced. We are completely vindicated. The court also added in the comments they could not see any basis for a retrial. It was a stern rebuke to the prosecution. Mark should be able to proceed with a clear record in six weeks.”

“Thank you, Lawrence. It always seemed so unfair. I will tell them when they come in tonight. Say hi to your folks.”

“I will, Mark was a victim of a prosecution not to improve society, but for personal political gain. Sadly, this type of thing has become more common. Usually people with the sterling character Mark has are not the victims. Hope harvest goes well.”

“Thank you, goodbye.”





Old Federal Courthouse -- St :Louis   (Dred Scott Case)