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“I’m tired of this shit,” I explain to her “I want it resolved”

My attorney answers on the second ring He gavehim that first time Lida showed up at my house He wasn’t about to lose me as a client and is as solicitous to my needs as they come

“Jim,” I say with a coarse bite to my voice “Lida approached Pepper and assaulted her”

“What?” he exclaims over the speaker phone

“He grabbed her Cut and bruised her aret her to intervene with me so she could see Charlie”

“That’s criminally actionable,” he tells me

“I figured,” I reply as I carefully navigate the start of rush-hour traffic in Boston “I want you to facilitate pressing cries on behalf of Pepper She’s here in Boston with ive a statement over the phone or in person on Monday when she’s back in town”

“No,” Pepper blurts out My head turns toward her for a brief, questioning glance “She grabbedI want her arrested for”

“It’s assault by definition of the law,” Jiet her arrested”

“No,” Pepper says again and there’s almost a panic in her voice

“I know you feel sorry for her—” I say but Pepper cuts me off

“It’s not that,” she says with a shake of her head “It’s just…I think that will inflaet her to back off; I’m afraid it would do the opposite I think she feels desperate and desperate people do desperate things”

My hands grip the steering wheel tight Every instinct within ht to show her she can’t do this shit But soives me definite pause

“Look,” Jim says in a conciliatory tone “Why don’t you two talk about it over the weekend? I’ Charlie is with you and safe, so there’s no rush to do soht now We can talk on Monday about it”

I glance at Pepper and she gives me a quick, relieved nod

I sigh “Okay That works But I think you should call her attorney and see if he can put a leash on her or so a hole for herself”

“I’ll do that,” Jim assures me “I’ll let him know it’s imperative she back off”