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Wyatt Reynolds · (02-10-2014)

February 7, 2014
Robert S. Vance Federal Court House
Birmingham, Alabama

The bailiff escorts me through the judges entrance, down the hall and into his chambers. Judge Baxter pulls out a bottle of Jim Beam and pours himself a tumbler full of the liquid. He motions for me to sit as he takes a huge swallow before takin' a seat himself. He then gives the bailiff a nod. Indicatin' that she should leave.

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
You know, that's not what I expected when I opened the envelope.

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
I'd imagine not, your honor.

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
The question is, Mr. Reynolds, what is it you hope to achieve by this little tactic?

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
My continued freedom, Larry.

Judge Baxter looks at me over the top of his glasses as if I shouldn't be callin' him by his abbreviated first name. I probably shouldn't. However, this is a game of chicken. You don't charge full throttle, then bow down to your opponent.

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
And these sexually provocative photos of you with your psychiatrist are designed to grant you that?

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
Oh, Larry. Do not sit here and pretend I'm beneath your intelligence. You and I both know that Dr. Winston is not only your court appointed psychiatrist, but she's also your wife.

I beg your pardon, Judge, but is that not a conflict of interest?

I mean, a federal judge givin' his very own wife court ordered federal money. A result of which, allows you to also benefit.

Judge Baxter takes his glasses off of his face and tosses them on his mahogany desk, then leans back in his large, over sized leather chair.

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
I reckon, the state of Alabama as well as the federal government may frown on such an act.

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
Only a guilty man, resorts to extortion, Mr. Reynolds.

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
Mr. Baxter, I'm an innocent man. This little tactic is designed to secure the fact that this little case never sees the light of a trial.

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
You're an innocent man? Yet you resort to extortin' a federal judge? I wasn't a math major in college, Mr. Reynolds, but somethin' just doesn't seem to add up here.

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
Judge, I'm guilty as charged. In fact, even more guilty than you think.

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
Knowin' this, what makes you think I won't tell you what you want to hear right now, then turn around and rule against you later on?

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
I'd expect that you're not a stupid man, Mr. Baxter. You don't want Wyatt Reynolds as an enemy. If you think what I'm doin' right now is unfair.

Just wait.

Just wait, Mr. Baxter, and see what happens if you rule against me.

The judge pours himself more Jim Beam.

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
Tell me somethin', Mr. Reynolds. How do you know Dr. Winston is my wife?

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
Judge, you should know by now...

I pull out a small tape recorder and lay it on his desk before hitting the play button.

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
I always come prepared.

+++++Dr. Erin Winston+++++
No, Wyatt..... ahem.... Mr. Reynolds.... I... We can't do this.

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
Your lips may be sayin' no, Doc. But your eyes and the rest of your body are sayin' hell yes.

+++++Dr. Erin Winston+++++
Mr. Reynolds, I'm a married woman.

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
No one needs to know, Doc. I'd suggest you find me... temptin'. There's no shame in that, darlin'... Most women do.

+++++Dr. Erin Winston+++++
Mr. Reyn.... Wyatt... I'm married to Judge Baxter.

Judge Baxter quickly tries to grab the recorder. I'm quicker. I grab the recorder just a split second before his hand reaches it.

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
Let's lay it out here. How can I trust that you'll keep what you know, to yourself?

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
Well, the way I see it, Judge, you don't have much of a choice.

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
If I rule in your favor, I need some assurances.

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
If I had more than one copy of that tape, I would have let you have that one. Judge, I'll level with you. You seem like a reasonable man.

When you rule in my favor, I'll ruin that tape. You have my word.

Judge Baxter stands up and places both hands on his hips.

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
Wyatt Reynolds, you are one gutsy, tenacious son of a bitch.

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
Hell, that ain't a secret.

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
We're already late, Mr. Reynolds. Lets head on back to the court room.

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
So, you're gonna make me sweat it out, ain't you?

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
It's not a simple yes or no, Mr. Reynolds. I'll come to my decision. You'll hear it with the rest of them.

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
Fair enough. Remember, your honor, you can keep your seat on the bench and bury this one case. Or...

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
Or what?

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
Or you can watch your career go down in flames. Just like the church in Selma.

The choice is yours, Judge.

I exit the judges chambers and head back to the court room and take my seat. Judge Baxter re-enters a few minutes later.

+++++Bailiff – With That Heavenly Body+++++
All rise!

The honorable Judge Lawrence J. Baxter presiding!

The man pounds the gavel once more.

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
With that unfortunate set of circumstances now out of the way, court is now in session. Mr. Hartman, please call your character witness.

Dallas Hartman stands up and looks toward the crowd of people seated behind us.

+++++Dallas Hartman – The Prosecutor
I'd like to call Willow Reynolds to the stand.

Willow stands up and proceeds toward the witness stand. The bailiff stops her before takin' her seat.

+++++Bailiff – With That Heavenly Body+++++
Place your right hand on the bible.

Do you swear under oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothin' but the truth so help you God?

+++++Willow Addison Reynolds+++++
I do.

+++++Bailiff – With That Heavenly Body+++++
You may take your seat.

As she takes her seat, she looks over at me. I nonchalantly take my pointer finger and make run stroke from my upper lip to my chin. I follow that up with a smile and a wink.

+++++Dallas Hartman – The Prosecutor
Mrs. Reynolds, how long have you known your husband, Mr. Reynolds?

+++++Willow Addison Reynolds+++++
Twelve years.

+++++Dallas Hartman – The Prosecutor
How long have you been in a relationship with your husband?

+++++Willow Addison Reynolds+++++
We met when we both attended the University of Alabama. We dated for a year prior to gettin' married. We wed in 2003 after about a year.

+++++Dallas Hartman – The Prosecutor
Has he ever showed any violence toward you or your children?

+++++Willow Addison Reynolds+++++
No, sir. Wyatt can be a cold man. He'd never lay a hand on his children.

+++++Dallas Hartman – The Prosecutor
What about you, Mrs. Reynolds?

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
Objection, your honor!

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
On what grounds, Mr. Reynolds?

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
I really don't have any. I just always wanted to do that.

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
Overruled. Mrs. Reynolds, please answer the question.

+++++Willow Addison Reynolds+++++
No, your honor. Wyatt has never laid a hand on me.

+++++Dallas Hartman – The Prosecutor
It's safe to assume you know Mr. Reynolds better than anyone. Has he ever mentioned the church that was destroyed in Selma?

+++++Willow Addison Reynolds+++++
No, sir. Not that I can recall.

+++++Dallas Hartman – The Prosecutor
In your personal opinion, do you think your husband is capable of such an act?

She looks over at me. She has a worried look on her face. Whatever she's feelin', she buries it quickly.

+++++Willow Addison Reynolds+++++
I think that, when Wyatt is angry about somethin', he's capable of just about anythin'.

+++++Dallas Hartman – The Prosecutor
You and your husband are now estranged, are you not?

+++++Willow Addison Reynolds+++++
We are, yes.

+++++Dallas Hartman – The Prosecutor
Can you tell us why?

+++++Wyatt Anderson Reynolds+++++
Your honor, I must object here. My marriage is not on trial here.

+++++Dallas Hartman – The Prosecutor
Mrs. Reynolds is a character witness, Mr. Reynolds. She is here to help us all establish what type of person you are.

We both look toward the judge to get his rulin', which of course, he's hesitatin' to give.

+++++Judge Lawrence J. Baxter+++++
Objection overruled. This is not an unusual question, Mr. Reynolds.

Mrs. Reynolds, you may answer the question.

+++++Willow Addison Reynolds+++++
Wyatt started his new career in pro wrestlin'. He's on the road a lot. I guess we just grew apart.

+++++Dallas Hartman – The Prosecutor
Has he threatened you in anyway since your estrangement?

Willow hesitates once more.

+++++Dallas Hartman – The Prosecutor
Mrs. Reynolds, has Mr. Reynolds ever threatened you in anyway since your marriage began to fall apart?

Her hands begin to tremble. I suppose she fears what to say. It's one thing to tell a lawyer somethin' behind closed doors. It's another thing altogether to sit in front of all these people, with your estranged husband starin' you in the eyes, knowin' full well just what he's capable of. The great federal prosecutor, Dallas Hartman looks to the judge in a plea for help.

...To Be Continued...

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