Time: 15:02. Location: Mercury Justice law firm.
The sign is almost new, and next to the name: "Justice For A Dollar!!", there is a picture of the lead attorney pointing straight ahead and winking, with a Stars and Stripes flag on his back, almost like a cape that transforms him into some sort of patriotic Superman.
From the sidewalk through the large windows, can see the masons still plastering the walls with plaster, and wedging Roman pillars of costume jewelry into the compact, one-story high local. Despite being in the middle of construction, a sign hanging on the glass door indicates that the law firm is open.
Father and daughter enter. James immediately has to cover his mouth from the dust in the air. Within seconds of entering they are reached by a blonde, heavily made up, in a tight-fitting office suit that lifts her cleavage.
"Excuse me, do you have an appointment?" The woman asks in a high-pitched singsong voice.
"Wait a second, you're the woman from the commercial" James identifies.
The young woman blushes, averts her eyes and fixes her fluffy hair with one hand.
"It was just a small part... A career thrives on baby steps forward, you know" She returns her countenance to them with a smile, looking genuinely happy that someone recognized her. "So... Are you here to see Mr. Justice?"
"We are the Mayers" James clarifies.
"The Mayers...?" She tilts her head to the left, and her lowered eyebrows bear the effort of someone trying to remember. The woman's smile returns as she places them in her memory. "Oh, right, the Mayers. Mr. Justice is expecting you. My name is Mandy, to serve"
"Is the owner's name really Mercury Justice?" Veronica asks.
"Of course. Why would he lie?" Mandy approaches Veronica without diminishing her smile. "I'll tell you a little tip my therapist left me, sweetheart. A healthy relationship is built primarily on trust"
Veronica looks sideways and not knowing what say to Mandy, just nods.
Mandy asks them to please come with her and starts walking towards a room at the background. The entrance is a wooden door painted to look like gold. Father and daughter walk behind Mandy. James, wanting to be polite and attentive, asks the secretary about her side career.
"And what else have you acted in, Mandy? Any movies? TV series? Give me something to watch when I get home"
"I had a starring role in Hot Snow Bunnies Vol. 3 and Vol. 4. I tried to get in Vol. 5, but the director told me I was too old for what he required. But don't think badly of Jerry, he's still a sweet and told me I still had a lot of talent and potential for other approaches"
James opens his eyes wide and is speechless. Veronica just lets out a "Wow." Mandy stops by the golden door, grabs the knob but freezes at the sight of Veronica again, as if an idea occurs to her.
"You'd make a great Hot Snow Bunny"
James frowns and places his hands on Veronica's shoulders protectively.
"She's 16"
"Yeah, I'm 16" She spreads her arms out and lets them fall to her sides, as if to say that's all she can give. "And I'm a lousy actress, too"
"Well, call me in two years if you change your mind, dear" Mandy opens the door and walks in.
"Let's be thankful that's one call you'll never need to make" James mumbles and passes the room together. Veronica follows.
Whale songs echo from amplifiers placed in the corners of the windowless room, the walls painted like a representation of the solar system with extra planets. On the desk sits in lotus position a man in sweatpants and socks, his eyes closed in meditation. Mandy leans over him and speaks to him several times until she gets him to open his eyes. The lawyer's gaze shifts from Mandy to the Mayers. Mercury leans over, picks up remote control on the desk, presses a button and the whale songs cease. With a twist Mercury drops into his seat on the other side of the desk, a leather couch, while a pair of plastic chairs await for the clients.
Mandy exits and closes the door. Mercury with a wave of her hand invites the father and daughter to take a seat. They both agree.
"James, nice to meet you in person" he squeezes James' hand for a while, then points at the girl with that same palm. "And you must be his beautiful daughter. A pretty American girl, the kind that doesn't exist anymore"
"Actually, my high school is full of them"
Mercury gives a half-smile, retracts his hand and nods.
"And with a fine sense of humor to boot. I'm glad... These days hardly anyone can take a joke" Mercury places his elbows on the table and clasps his hands together. "Excuse the informality, I prefer to work comfortably. I keep the battle suit for trials"
"Also for commercials" Veronica says.
"How clever. Yes, I dress for commercials too. Do you like my infomercial?"
"Maybe the hanging man was too much?" James says.
"Reality never understands "too much", my friend, it just is what it is. Oh, and another little thing... "He slouches forward, his countenance possessed by an uncharacteristic seriousness. "You do understand that justice for a dollar is just advertising, right? I'll charge you more than that"
Father and daughter exchange glances before turning back to Mercury and nodding in sync.
"Phenomenal! Some people get confused and cause awkward situations for all parties involved" Mercury returns his jovial smile. "Now, James, you told me about your case on the phone. Terrible situation, I almost threw up when I heard about it, between your boss and Charles Manson I don't know which one is the real monster and I'm totally serious. But since we're face to face, tell me in great detail about the event"
James tells the story just as he did with Sheriff Stabler. Mercury listens attentively, nodding at the points he finds of interest. Veronica looks down and rubs her knuckles as James retells how he was beaten up by those unknown boys.
"Terrible, terrible" Mercury shakes his head and clicks his tongue repeatedly. "It hurts to see how the moral degeneration of young people affects even those born in our traditional villages. Your daughter seems to be the exception rather than the rule, James"
"They were actually foreigners" James clarifies.
"Really? Well, I'm not surprised. One wonders why those Latinos don't stay in Mexico"
"No, that's not what I meant, they weren't Latins" James waves his hands from side to side as he denies such a conclusion.
"Asians, then?" Mercury scratches his chin. "That would be weird, but not that weird. They're great with numbers and robots, but everything else... Let's just say that if women are from Venus and men are from Mars, Asians come from some moon of Jupiter. And don't make me say where Jews come from! That's a conversation you're not ready to have"
James is silent for about five seconds before leaning over to Veronica to whisper.
"Maybe we should hire someone different?"
Veronica replies in the same volume of voice.
"We don't care if he's a good person, we care if he's a good lawyer"
"Yes, but-"
"We can't be too picky either, Dad. You're out of work, and this is the cheapest option I could find"
The mention of his joblessness serves to make James relent. Mercury watches them with narrowed eyes, as if trying to figure out what they're muttering.
"They won't be black, will they? That would raise the complication levels. We're in a post-Black Live Matter world, people are screaming racism and already a veritable judicial and media inferno is exploding. If that's the problem, James, my professional advice is to let the police handle it in the heat of the moment, on the spot. It's the best option, the statistics are in favor, it's a scenario that will happen sooner or later, so sit on your front porch, relax with some margaritas, and get back to me when you have a more reasonable case"
"Mr. Justice" James inhales deeply and exhales long, an exercise that allows him to keep his nerves in check. "The young men who hit me were European... Maybe Russian from the accent, I don't know"
"Russians...?" His countenance from an arched eyebrow soon evolves into a huge, white smile. "That's much better, James! I mean, it would be a thousand times better if we were still in the throes of anti-communist paranoia, but you can't have it both ways. Smell that? We're already cooking up a lawsuit. Give me something else to work with... A first name? A last name? Something that sounds subversive, weird and socialist"
James sighs and holds a palm to his forehead.
"A lot happened at once... My head hurts just trying to remember"
A slender, delicate hand reaches for his. James looks at his daughter, who squeezes his fingers and gives him a supportive smile.
"You're stronger than you think. Trust yourself and make an effort"
James lets out a long sigh, closes his eyes, concentrates on recalling everything that happened in the supermarket, one step at a time, even if it makes his bruises look a little messy. He opens his eyes when he thinks he has a clue.
"Onachenko...? No, Onyshchenko. Yes, that's it!"
James' face lights up. But Mercury's turns grim.
"Onyshchenko? Are you sure? As in Oleksandr Onyshchenko?"
James nods without noticing the sudden unease on the lawyer's face. Veronica does notice the change and hunches forward to inquire.
"This Oleksandr is famous? Does it make any difference that this man is involved? If he hurt my father, he has to pay, doesn't he? It's a matter of justice"
Mercury sinks into his armchair and starts nibbling his thumbnail.
"Girl, this isn't about justice, this changes everything"
Mercury's palms push James and Veronica's backs in a disguised panic, until they are gently pushed off the premises. On the sidewalk, father and daughter turn to look at him with surprised faces. Mercury doesn't give them a chance to speak.
"Thank you for coming, Mr. and Miss Mayers. But we are still getting acclimated to this town and are unable to handle your case. Goodbye!"
Mercury closes the door and flips the sign to read: Closed.