Shaking out Snakes

It was not the kind of news Richie liked to impart to a client but he picked up the phone and called Travis McGee.

"Travis, this is Richie Roberts the ah petition we filed with the court for guardianship of your nephew…seems there is a challenge. Someone has come forward claiming to be Tee’s father."

"You’re shittin’ me right? He doesn’t know who his father is." Travis felt the heat building.

"We’re going to have to address it Travis and let the court settle it."

"Who is the son-of-a-bitch?"

"His name is Wayne Cramer."

"Never heard of him," Travis’s voice was short and clipped.

"He’s an American from LA."

"How the hell did he know anything about this Richie, did you petition the fucking world?"

"No of course not, what I’ve got here says he saw his picture in the paper, I am assuming it was taken at your wedding, and that he’s been trying to find him for years….I guess we can order a DNA test to make sure he’s not lying."

"Order it…this guy doesn’t know Tee. Richie this is the kind of thing I face…people crawling out from under some rock somewhere making claims on me and my family. He ain’t getting Tee you can bet your ass on that."

"I’ll do what I can for you Travis, I believe you when you say this guy doesn’t know Tee because he called him Tee and I know you gave him that name. We’ll see what shakes out."

"Snakes Richie, that’s what shakes out…this ain’t the first time. You do what you have to Richie…anything. I’m not giving this boy to some asshole in LA."

"I understand Travis…sorry about this…I’m on it." Richie sighed and hung up the phone. If this guy in LA turned out to be Tee’s father…it could get nasty.

Travis hung up the phone and went to find Tee. He was down at the kennel playing with his puppy.

"Hey Tee, whatca doin?"

"Just checking on Bear…I decided to name him Bear cause he kinda looks like a koala bear."

"Yeah he does kinda…Tee have you ever heard of a bloke called Wayne Cramer?"

"I knew a Bud Cramer; he used to come over sometimes when I lived in America."

"What did he do when he came over and how long did you know him?"

"Bedroom," Tee said rubbing his puppy.

"What do you mean bedroom?"

Tee looked up at Travis.

"Never mind Tee…how long did you know him?"

"Um I knew him when I was five I think we lived in Miami."

"Did he live with you?"

"Oh no he never lived with us."

"Okay Tee…hey won’t be long that puppy will be following you around he’s about old enough to leave his mama."

"I know…can I have him in the house?"

"You can have him anywhere you want to Tee." Travis said mussing his hair and standing up.

Travis watched Tee with the puppy for a moment…money that’s what they guy was after he knew it as well as he knew his own name.