By popular demand, Chapter 3 begins.

Say hello to the annoying (to some) Kay Corleone, and yet another lawyer

Chapter 3

Kay Corleone had briefly considered dropping the “Corleone” from her name and reverting back to her maiden name of Adams, and, in fact, had even done so for a short time, until she realized the she received much better service and was treated with considerably more deference when people learned that her name was Corleone, even in situations when they weren’t certain that she was one of those Corleones.

Sitting across the desk from her newest attorney, Douglas Michelson, Kay wondered if she were not on a mission of futility. The divorce proceedings in the Nevada courtroom that had not only terminated her marriage to Michael Corleone but awarded him custody of their two children, Anthony and Mary, had been, in her mind, a sham. The judge, it seemed to her, had been far from impartial, and even her own lawyer had appeared at times to be working against her.

After losing the custody battle, Kay had moved to Carson City in order to be close enough to the Corleone Tahoe estate to be able to visit Anthony and Mary on the alternate weekends which were permitted by the court. Her former sister-in-law, Connie, and Tom Hagen, had remained friendly, and, to an extent, even sympathetic to her and the difficulty of her plight, but the children seemed to be growing more and more distant from her in the months following their separation.

Finally, unable to bear the pain of seeing her children so infrequently, unable to handle the accompanying guilt, and unable to deal any longer with the anger she felt against the father of her children who she had once loved, Kay Corleone began to make inquiries in Carson City, hoping to find an attorney who could re-open her case.

Douglas Michelson had come to her attention through several sources. He had practiced in Nevada capitol for more than ten years, having moved there from California following the war, in which he had served with distinction in the Judge Advocates Generals Corps. Setting up a private practice, he had become well connected politically over the years and developed a reputation as a man who could “get things done”. He was friends with the Governor and State Senator Geary, two of the most powerful men in the state, and was even acquainted with some of the lesser known, though equally influential men in Nevada, men such as Tom Hagen and the recently deceased Hyman Roth.

Although he had no particular love, or even liking, for those who he considered part of the “gangster element” who were populating Nevada in increasing numbers, he was practical enough to understand that gambling, more than the clean air and beautiful scenery, was responsible for the state’s economic growth, and pragmatic enough to be willing to look the other way at the activities of the gamblers and casino owners, understanding that they were, at least for now, an integral part of the process.

He had earned a considerable amount of money over the years arguing for the casino licensing of men that the Gaming Commission had initially turned down, and for the exclusion of others from the famed Las Vegas “Black Book”, a listing of those individuals who were considered to be “undesirable” and had been barred from entering the casinos.

In fact, Michelson had thought at times, he would not have had very much of a practice had it not been for his work with various individuals who he knew without doubt were associated in some way with organized crime, and he had no desire to jeopardize his relationship with them.

Still, he felt sorry for the woman now sitting across from him. Clearly, she had not been treated fairly by the Nevada courts. She had lost the custody fight for her children for another reason that he could see than the identity of her former husband. Obviously, the judge had been afraid of who and what her husband was and the influence he wielded in the state. He had been presented to the court as a legitimate businessman and casino owner, with no mention made of his position as head of the most powerful organized crime family in the United States. It was argued that it was he who would best be able to provide for the children, who, under his guardianship, would live on an estate, attend the best private schools, and be supervised at all times by a professional governess. Her own attorney, it had appeared to Michelson, had been incompetent, yet he was not surprised to learn that just a few short weeks after representing Kay Corleone, that very same attorney had been appointed a Judge of the Nevada Appellate Court.

He had listened to Kay Corleone’s story with interest, and felt that he could help her. The question in his mind was whether or not he wanted to.

“I believe that we do have good grounds for reopening your case, Mrs. Corleone” he began. “It would appear that there were certain facts about your ex-husband which were not brought out at the original custody hearing. You were married to him for ten years, and there is quite a bit that you could testify to regarding his criminal activities, but, unfortunately, without a corroborating witness I’m afraid that your testimony would not carry very much weight.”

“I know, Mr. Michelson” Kay said. “That’s always been the problem. Getting someone to testify against Michael.

“Perhaps his sister” Michaelson said. “Surely, as a woman, she must realize that the children would be better off with you.”

“No chance” said Kay. “Connie would never go against her brother.”

Kay was beginning to feel helpless again. Yet somehow, for some reason, she felt an attraction to this man and believed that he would be the one who could finally help her.

“Well, Mrs. Corleone” he said “Without someone to help us, I’m afraid that we don’t have very much of a chance.”

“Please call me ‘Kay’ ” she said. She wasn’t sure why she wanted to get to know this man any better than she already did, except for the feeling that he could he help.

“I’d be happy to call you ‘Kay’ “ he replied. “But only if you begin to call me ‘Douglas’. Perhaps you would like to join me for dinner this evening, Kay” Michelson said. “We can discuss your case further” he added, with a slight smile and a twinkle in his eye.

“Why, that would be very nice, Douglas” Kay answered. “I think I would like that very much.

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