5 August 2019 - Counsel For The Defense
Title: Counsel For The Defense
Author: Beriaearwen
Crossover: Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Perry Mason / Angel the series
Characters: Buffy, Joyce and Hank Summers, Perry Mason, Paul Drake Jr., Holland Manners, Lee Mercer
Rating: FRT - Suitable for people over 13
Word count: 959
Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel the Series and Perry Mason belong to their respective authors, creators, production companies, etc. and are used here without permission. No copyright infringement is intended
Summary: After being arrested for the incident at the Spring Fling, Buffy calls for her lawyer
Counsel For The Defense
By Beriaearwen
“I want you there ten minutes ago!” the voice demanded. “This is a one-time opportunity for us. Don't blow it!” Holland Manners slammed down the phone and then smashed his fist against his desk. Not even he at his most manipulative could have come up with a situation like this. It was a once in existence opportunity. It had never happened before and would most likely never happen again. Wolfram and Hart had the opportunity to make a Slayer and her family indebted to them. Once the firm was the hero, they could get the girl to sign the contract that would make not only her, but the entire Slayer line theirs for eternity.
It was too bad that word had reached them so late. It was possible the girl's family had called someone else, but unlikely. The only benefit he would have in the case of a different defense lawyer would be that the family's lawyer would know nothing of the supernatural and would need to keep anything about it suppressed.
Well... no. That wasn't the only benefit. His lips curled up into an evil smile. He picked up the phone once more and dialed a number. When it was answered, he used his most persuasive voice. “Yes, let me speak to the District Attorney, please.... Holland Manners... It's about tonight's unpleasantness at the high school.”
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
Buffy sat in the interrogation room in her torn and dirty dress, looking a mess and feeling completely betrayed and dejected as she absently twisted her wrist causing the handcuff to clink against the table. She wondered if she could break out of it if she tried. Her parents were still arguing in the corner. She was thankful they arrived after she had made her phone call, which hadn't been to her parents; not for this.
A knock on the door sounded and she looked over, hope rising in her heart until she saw it was an unknown man. “Excuse me. My name is Lee Mercer and I'm a defense attorney for Wolfram and Hart. I was here visiting a client when I heard about your trouble and though I'd come and see if I could be of service.”
“Wolfram and Hart?” Joyce asked, the name sounding vaguely familiar.
“I've heard of them,” Hank countered. “They have a lot of big-name clients and have a well-known record of success in getting clients off.”
“Only because they're innocent,” Mercer assured, smiling kindly.
Buffy's skin was crawling. She did not want to spend any time around this guy and really didn't want to have him be her lawyer. “I have a lawyer,” she stated clearly, causing all three adults to turn and look at her. “I called him already.”
“Buffy,” her father began what was sure to be a spectacular tirade when another knock sounded on the door.
This time when it opened, a white-haired man with a cane entered the room. Despite his apparent age, he still looked solid and his sharp blue eyes revealed a keen intelligence.
“Uncle Perry,” Buffy greeted in relief, rising form the table only to be stopped by the limit of the handcuff.
“Buffy,” the old man greeted, coming closer and giving her a hug.
“Uncle Perry,” Joyce began, her voice sounding more scolding than welcoming. Before she could say any more, the door opened and a younger man poked his head in.
“Uncle Paul,” Buffy greeted her mother's estranged brother.
“Buffy. What sort of trouble did you find? Never mind. We'll get you out of it, right Perry?” Paul chattered.
“Not yet, Paul,” Perry cautioned. His eyes fell on the other lawyer. “Joyce, Hank, you haven't hired this man as counsel yet, have you?”
“No,” Hank confirmed.
“Good,” Perry stated. “Don't. Mr. Mercer, if you would please leave us, my client and I have much to discuss.”
“You're retired, Mr. Mason. Surely someone currently practicing would be a better option for your... niece,” Mr. Mercer offered, knowing what awaited him if he failed to land this client.
“I'm still registered with the California Bar and in good standing,” Perry countered. “That I have chosen not practice actively does not mean I cannot.” Holding up his hand, he cut off any further protests of the Wolfram and Hart representative. “The only person in need of a lawyer in this room already has one. Your services are not required Mr. Mercer. Please leave.”
There were several moments of tense silence before Mr. Mercer picked up his briefcase and left.
“Look, I don't know why you're here or what you think you're doing,” Hank began.
“Hank,” Joyce interrupted, placing a hand on his arm. “Uncle Perry used to work closely with my father and helped my brother settle down and get his start. He's been a friend of the family for years.”
“How does Buffy know him. I haven't seen him since our wedding,” Hank demanded.
“That's a good question,” Joyce agreed. “Especially when you consider that Paul and I haven't talk to each other since Buffy was ten.”
“Uncle Paul introduced us when he would watch me while you two were busy or away,” Buffy admitted with a shrug. “He made sure I knew who to call if I ever got in trouble.”
“Now that that is settled,” Perry interrupted, settling in the chair across from Buffy, “would one of you be so kind as to ask the policeman standing outside to come in here. Those handcuffs need to be removed from my client and we need some privacy to talk.”
“Right away, Perry,” Paul assured, moving to usher Hank and his sister out of the room.
End
Author: Beriaearwen
Crossover: Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Perry Mason / Angel the series
Characters: Buffy, Joyce and Hank Summers, Perry Mason, Paul Drake Jr., Holland Manners, Lee Mercer
Rating: FRT - Suitable for people over 13
Word count: 959
Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel the Series and Perry Mason belong to their respective authors, creators, production companies, etc. and are used here without permission. No copyright infringement is intended
Summary: After being arrested for the incident at the Spring Fling, Buffy calls for her lawyer
Counsel For The Defense
By Beriaearwen
“I want you there ten minutes ago!” the voice demanded. “This is a one-time opportunity for us. Don't blow it!” Holland Manners slammed down the phone and then smashed his fist against his desk. Not even he at his most manipulative could have come up with a situation like this. It was a once in existence opportunity. It had never happened before and would most likely never happen again. Wolfram and Hart had the opportunity to make a Slayer and her family indebted to them. Once the firm was the hero, they could get the girl to sign the contract that would make not only her, but the entire Slayer line theirs for eternity.
It was too bad that word had reached them so late. It was possible the girl's family had called someone else, but unlikely. The only benefit he would have in the case of a different defense lawyer would be that the family's lawyer would know nothing of the supernatural and would need to keep anything about it suppressed.
Well... no. That wasn't the only benefit. His lips curled up into an evil smile. He picked up the phone once more and dialed a number. When it was answered, he used his most persuasive voice. “Yes, let me speak to the District Attorney, please.... Holland Manners... It's about tonight's unpleasantness at the high school.”
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
Buffy sat in the interrogation room in her torn and dirty dress, looking a mess and feeling completely betrayed and dejected as she absently twisted her wrist causing the handcuff to clink against the table. She wondered if she could break out of it if she tried. Her parents were still arguing in the corner. She was thankful they arrived after she had made her phone call, which hadn't been to her parents; not for this.
A knock on the door sounded and she looked over, hope rising in her heart until she saw it was an unknown man. “Excuse me. My name is Lee Mercer and I'm a defense attorney for Wolfram and Hart. I was here visiting a client when I heard about your trouble and though I'd come and see if I could be of service.”
“Wolfram and Hart?” Joyce asked, the name sounding vaguely familiar.
“I've heard of them,” Hank countered. “They have a lot of big-name clients and have a well-known record of success in getting clients off.”
“Only because they're innocent,” Mercer assured, smiling kindly.
Buffy's skin was crawling. She did not want to spend any time around this guy and really didn't want to have him be her lawyer. “I have a lawyer,” she stated clearly, causing all three adults to turn and look at her. “I called him already.”
“Buffy,” her father began what was sure to be a spectacular tirade when another knock sounded on the door.
This time when it opened, a white-haired man with a cane entered the room. Despite his apparent age, he still looked solid and his sharp blue eyes revealed a keen intelligence.
“Uncle Perry,” Buffy greeted in relief, rising form the table only to be stopped by the limit of the handcuff.
“Buffy,” the old man greeted, coming closer and giving her a hug.
“Uncle Perry,” Joyce began, her voice sounding more scolding than welcoming. Before she could say any more, the door opened and a younger man poked his head in.
“Uncle Paul,” Buffy greeted her mother's estranged brother.
“Buffy. What sort of trouble did you find? Never mind. We'll get you out of it, right Perry?” Paul chattered.
“Not yet, Paul,” Perry cautioned. His eyes fell on the other lawyer. “Joyce, Hank, you haven't hired this man as counsel yet, have you?”
“No,” Hank confirmed.
“Good,” Perry stated. “Don't. Mr. Mercer, if you would please leave us, my client and I have much to discuss.”
“You're retired, Mr. Mason. Surely someone currently practicing would be a better option for your... niece,” Mr. Mercer offered, knowing what awaited him if he failed to land this client.
“I'm still registered with the California Bar and in good standing,” Perry countered. “That I have chosen not practice actively does not mean I cannot.” Holding up his hand, he cut off any further protests of the Wolfram and Hart representative. “The only person in need of a lawyer in this room already has one. Your services are not required Mr. Mercer. Please leave.”
There were several moments of tense silence before Mr. Mercer picked up his briefcase and left.
“Look, I don't know why you're here or what you think you're doing,” Hank began.
“Hank,” Joyce interrupted, placing a hand on his arm. “Uncle Perry used to work closely with my father and helped my brother settle down and get his start. He's been a friend of the family for years.”
“How does Buffy know him. I haven't seen him since our wedding,” Hank demanded.
“That's a good question,” Joyce agreed. “Especially when you consider that Paul and I haven't talk to each other since Buffy was ten.”
“Uncle Paul introduced us when he would watch me while you two were busy or away,” Buffy admitted with a shrug. “He made sure I knew who to call if I ever got in trouble.”
“Now that that is settled,” Perry interrupted, settling in the chair across from Buffy, “would one of you be so kind as to ask the policeman standing outside to come in here. Those handcuffs need to be removed from my client and we need some privacy to talk.”
“Right away, Perry,” Paul assured, moving to usher Hank and his sister out of the room.
End