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“How does her father feel about this?” I had a funny feeling that the father was clueless

“Father?” Jackson bellowed “Since when has that man been a father? Was he there for her when she was sick? When she needed advice? Did he give her gifts at Christmas? Or even a birthday card?” Jackson continued to recite a laundry list of Rodney Fisher’s various arbled He paused to catch his breath “What has the man done, ’cept not be there for her?”

“He took her in when herto give up his parental rights, to becouardian, you’ll have to show that he’s unfit”

He gruht I tole’ that court not to let hireild, that’s what He never gave her no ground rules, no guidance How fit a parent can a man like that be?”

It seeard, too Noas not the ti it up William Jackson had already made up his mind

“Have you spoken to Tina’s father about this?”

“Yes, I’ve spoken to hier “And the son of a bitch told o to hell”

“Bad news, Mr Jackson The burden is on you to prove he’s an unfit parent”

“Well, how hard could that be? With Tina running wild every night and hier to stop her”

“You ht hurt Tina’s defense in the purse-snatching incident I intend to es about Tina I need to steer clear of the issue of her ‘bad friends,’ if at all possible”

He was silent a moment “What does that mean?”

“It means the cases present a conflict of interest One I’m not sure I can work around”

“I see” Except for his breathing, he fell silent “Then I suppose that ends our business”

“It would help me a lot if we could keep in touch I’ is true—”

“Thank you, anyway, Ms McRae”