Chapter 200: Forgery
"That blind lawyer really knows his stuff. Now we only need two things, and he can help us file a lawsuit to get custody of the kids," Fiona said after returning home from her meeting with Matt Murdock.
"Two things?" Lip asked.
"Yeah. A tax return to prove I have a job, and a signed waiver from Monica giving up her custody rights," Fiona replied.
"Monica would never agree to that," Lip said flatly.
"I know. That's why we're going to forge it. Luckily for us, thanks to her and Dad being unreliable, I learned how to fake her signature back in first grade," Fiona said without hesitation.
"And good thing Dad left those two houses behind. If I didn't have property under my name, that'd be another problem," she added.
"So basically, all we need is a tax return that shows you're employed?" Lip confirmed.
"Exactly. I need to find a job—a real one," Fiona said with determination.
Fiona had only ever worked odd jobs, daily gigs here and there. Since dropping out of high school, she didn't have a diploma and couldn't qualify for full-time employment. But now, for the sake of custody, for the kids, she had to figure something out.
"No need to make it that complicated. I've got a way to get the tax return," Lip said casually.
Just as everything was falling into place, Jimmy suddenly showed up looking for Fiona again.
Fiona was in a decent mood this time, so she didn't kick him out.
"I heard about what you're doing... custody. That's a massive responsibility," Jimmy said.
"It's fine. Lip and Ian will help. Everything will be the same as before—no real change," Fiona replied, sipping a drink.
"No, it is different. Before, you looked after them out of kindness. If you ever wanted to walk away, you could. The legal custody was with Frank and Monica. But if you win custody... it's permanent. You'll be responsible until they're 18—until they're adults," Jimmy said, leaning in.
"Remember what I told you before I left? Liam's only two. That's over a decade of raising him," Jimmy reminded her.
Everything he said was true—even if harsh, it was honest.
"Marriage is also a massive responsibility," Fiona shot back.
"It's not the same. I explained that to you. That marriage wasn't what I wanted," Jimmy said, his tone tightening.
"I went to Brazil with a friend for business, but we pissed off a big-time guy down there. My friend got his ear cut off. The only reason I'm still alive is because I'm an American citizen."
"The guy wanted me to bring his daughter to the U.S. to get citizenship. If I didn't marry her, I'd be fish food."
"Doesn't matter what you say. You're still married," Fiona said coldly.
"Fiona, I've never stopped thinking about you," Jimmy said.
"Ah-ah! Don't start with that. I don't want to hear it," Fiona said, cutting him off with a raised finger.
"Go be with your wife."
"She doesn't even want me around. We've got no feelings for each other. Honestly, she only married me because she got caught hooking up with one of her dad's trusted guys, and he didn't like it."
Bzzz...
Jimmy's phone buzzed in his pocket before he could finish.
"Damn it," he muttered, checking the message. Then he jumped up.
"I love you," he blurted, stealing a quick kiss from Fiona before sprinting out the door.
"F*** you!" Fiona shouted after him, flipping him off as he ran.
Jimmy jumped in his car, floored the gas, ran a few red lights, swerved into a back alley, then climbed the fire escape up to his apartment. He slid through the window, stripped, put his wedding ring back on (he'd taken it off before seeing Fiona), and dashed to the bathroom.
He threw on a towel, splashed water on his face and hair, and hurried downstairs.
His Brazilian wife, Estefania, was standing there talking to a suited man—an immigration officer doing a surprise check.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I was in the middle of a shower," Jimmy said, catching his breath and smiling.
"I'm Wilton. Steve Wilton. Is everything in order?" the man asked.
Jimmy pulled Estefania close and wrapped his arm around her waist like the perfect husband.
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The next day, Fiona and the others headed to the Alibi room to find Kevin.
"I've been doing Kevin's taxes since I was ten. Nice to finally get something back from it," Lip said as he came downstairs with a box.
"All we have to do is make a copy and swap out the name," Ian added.
"Exactly. Just like when they had you running scams," Lip said.
"Is this even safe? I don't want Kevin getting in trouble," Fiona said, concerned.
"Hey, Kevin!" Lip called out.
"What's up? You want a drink?" Kevin asked.
"No, we just want to put Fiona's name on your tax return. That cool?" Lip asked casually.
"Sure. By the way, what's a tax return?" Kevin said, genuinely confused.
Lip shrugged at Fiona. "See? Even if Kevin did get in trouble, the Feds would realize pretty quick he doesn't even understand what a tax return is—let alone know how to fake one."
"By the time they catch on, you'll already have legal custody, and they won't revoke it," he explained. In other words, get it done now—worry about the details later.
"So, everything's ready. Time to go back to the blind lawyer," Ian said.
"Show some respect. His name is Matt," Fiona corrected him.
Later, Fiona met up with Matt at a restaurant and handed over all the required documents. Knowing Matt was blind, she'd even gone the extra mile and prepared a braille version of the documents.
"And who's this?" Fiona asked, noticing someone beside Matt.
The man was also dressed in a suit, in his twenties, slightly chubby, with a warm, friendly smile that instantly made him seem trustworthy.
"Hi, I'm Foggy Nelson. Just call me Foggy. I'm also an intern at Hogarth's firm, same as Matt—and I'm his friend. I'm here to help," Foggy said, shaking Fiona's hand.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Fiona," she replied, shaking his hand.
She didn't say it out loud, but in her heart, Fiona felt a little more at ease. She hadn't expected to get another lawyer for free—and honestly, this chubby, cheerful Foggy seemed way more dependable than the blind guy.
(End of Chapter)
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