Impeached

by Brenda Trim

  Her sexy laugh filled the room. “Okay, I’m hurrying,” she crooned as she guided him to her entrance.

  “Ahhh,” he groaned, anxious to breach her tight sheath.

  Then, loud beeping intruded, and the sexual fantasy dissipated like the morning fog. Bart jerked awake to the sound of the alarm on his cell phone. He glanced down at his straining erection, and groaned aloud.

  It was a fucking dream. He reached over and grabbed his phone, dismissing the annoying sound. Why the fuck couldn’t it have gone off five minutes later, he thought as he recalled the erotic dream. It wasn’t the first time he’d fantasized about Erika, but he’d never dreamed about her. It seemed so real.

  Even worse, he felt more tired than before. He groaned again. It was time to get ready for the hearing. Don’t forget about my needs, shouted his aching cock. Bart shook his head. It was going to be a long-ass day, he surmised as he walked out of his office toward a cold shower.

  Chapter 11

  As Erika and the others rounded the corner of the governor’s mansion, she spotted Bart standing in front of a stretch limousine. Seriously? Was the male trying to bring unwanted attention?

  “Good morning,” Bart greeted them with a smile.

  “Morning,” she replied then eyed the black limo. “Maybe we should take two smaller cars instead. This seems a little ostentatious, don’t you think?”

  “Speak for yourself,” Cassie chimed in. “My happy ass is riding in style,” the female added as she nodded approvingly.

  “I think it sends the wrong message,” Erika countered.

  “Erika, I understand your point, but it’s common for me. Expected even,” Bart explained and his driver walked around the front of the vehicle, and opened the door.

  “It’s fine, Erika,” Lawson relayed as he put his hand at Liv’s lower back, escorting her to the car. “Maybe it will send the right message.”

  “What do you mean?” Erika asked.

  “We’re not hiding in the shadows any longer. We will stand and fight against the abuse to shifters. And, we have powerful people backing us. Harder to take advantage, wouldn’t you agree?” he relayed as he helped Liv into the limo.

  Erika sighed. “I suppose you’re right.”

  Ryan and Cassie climbed into the car next, and Bart waited for Erika to join the others then climbed in last, sitting next to her. As she took in his appearance, Erika acknowledged that while she appreciated Bart’s casual attire when they drove to Rutledge, the male oozed sexiness in his tailored suit. The charcoal-gray pants and jacket were custom fit, and the crisp white button-down and baby-blue tie complimented his bronze skin and blond hair. She certainly understood why Bart Smith was considered the most eligible bachelor in town, if not the entire state.

  As she perused his attire, their gazes met. Erika noted his red, puffy eyes. The male looked like he stayed up all night partying, but she knew that wasn’t the case. His text said he had to work. Then again, what if Kelly kept him up all night?

  The thought of what that entailed had Erika’s irritation turning to full blown anger. Bart said he was ending the relationship, such as it was, but Erika noticed Kelly’s car at the main house. To think of him kissing the wretched female the way he kissed her had Erika coming out of her skin. Her reaction was entirely unjustified, and completely unexpected.

  I’m not jealous! she mentally admonished, but her wolf howled in her head, calling bullshit. Regardless, Bart didn’t look himself, and she wondered the reason.

  “You okay? You look tired,” she hedged while the others chatted about the luxuries of their transportation.

  “I didn’t get much sleep,” Bart explained, and quickly averted his gaze as if he was hiding something. Was her suspicion right, after all? Had he decided to continue seeing Kelly?

  “Congratulations, you two. I hear you’re pregnant,” Bart announced to Liv and Lawson, changing the subject.

  “Thank you,” Liv replied. “We’re super excited. Hey, we missed you last night. Then again, I was more than happy to eat your share of pizza,” she added with a laugh and rubbed her belly.

  “Yeah, and that left more tiramisu for me,” Cassie piped in and licked her lips.

  Erika heard Bart gulp then he glanced her direction. “Tiramisu?” he croaked, and she could’ve sworn he was blushing.

  “Yeah, I remembered you bragging about how good it was. I think there’s some left over if you’d like a piece,” Erika offered.

  She wasn’t sure what to think when Bart grabbed his collar and tugged. Whatever was going on, he was acting very strange. He seemed nervous and uncomfortable, which was uncharacteristic for Bart.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Erika asked as she stared at him.

  “I’m fine. Just reminded me of something I dreamed about,” Bart answered, his voice shaky. Okay, that was weird. Who dreamt about dessert?

  “I think you need coffee, or, better yet, food,” Erika informed him. “Let’s stop and grab something.”

  Everyone agreed and quickly threw out suggestions on where to go. They made a quick pit stop at a local donut shop then continued to the courthouse. When they arrived, Erika noticed the media gathered on the steps leading to the large entrance. Mr. Greene warned them this would gain attention, but she had no idea it would be this significant.

  “I hoped we would beat the crowds but it looks like the vultures have descended. Say nothing to the reporters if they approach you,” Bart advised them. “Walk right past them. I will stop and say a few words then meet you inside. Lloyd, who is the District Attorney, will be waiting inside the building, and he’ll escort you to the courtroom. Understand?” he explained as the limousine pulled to a stop.

  “Got it,” Lawson replied, and everyone nodded their agreement.

  Steve exited the vehicle and opened the door for them. Immediately, Bart took the lead and the group filed out after him. Several humans with video equipment, cameras, and microphones rushed down the cement steps toward their group.

  Bart motioned for Erika and the others to continue and he stayed in place, forcing the media come to him. Erika quickened her steps, and their small group rushed past the horde of reporters to the main entrance of the courthouse. Thankfully, the media was more interested in hearing a statement from the governor than them, which was fine by her.

  The enormous white building made Erika feel like a tiny ant. It swallowed them whole as they stepped inside the stone structure. Lloyd Greene greeted them inside the lobby, and was explaining the history of the building to them, but Erika was distracted by the overhead dome.

  The colorful stained-glass was captivating, designed with hues of green and blue. It was incredibly beautiful, and she stared in awe. She’d never seen anything so grandiose in all her life.

  A nudge startled her, and Erika glanced sideways to see Cassie motioning her to follow them. She fell in step at the rear, and followed the others into a large room. There were rows of bench seats in the back half of the room, two tables in front of those, and a large wooden platform on a pedestal at the front. To the side of the wooden platform were a few rows of upholstered chairs.

  Immediately, Erika was wary and wanted to turn and run out. It was as if she felt guilty even though she’d done nothing wrong. Was that the point? To scare and intimidate so no one would feel compelled to commit a crime or be afraid to tell a lie. It was her first time inside a courtroom, and she hoped she never set foot in one again.

  Mr. Greene led them to a long wooden table in the middle of the room and set down his briefcase. They stayed in the first row of seats while Lloyd turned to face them and smiled. “Today is quite simple, and I don’t see a reason you will need to testify. This is the arraignment where Mrs. Jensen’s Defense Attorney will be asking for charges to be dismissed. I’ll present our case and give a brief overview of your involvement with Elaine. If Judge Maynor needs more information, he will address you individually. Elaine probably won’t testify, either. My guess is they will rely
on their motion for dismissal and Elaine’s relationship with the Judge. Are there any questions?” Lloyd asked, and their group shook their heads as Bart stepped into the courtroom then made his way to their huddle.

  “How did it go?” asked Mr. Greene.

  “Fine. Protestors have started gathering. Apparently, Elaine is pulling out all the stops. I did see a few shifters, as well. No surprise that this hearing has gained everyone’s attention,” Bart explained.

  “Good. It needed to,” Lawson blurted, making Erika nod in agreement.

  Noise at the back of the room had Erika and the others turning to see the cause. An older male shuffled into the courtroom followed by Elaine Jensen and two other human males Erika recognized as guards from the facility in Nashville.

  Her gut knotted at the sight of the males as she recalled them forcefully restraining her wolf at the laboratory. At least her animal bit one of them during the ordeal. She was certain the one male carried a scar on his forearm, and she hoped it was a painful reminder of her animal’s capability.

  Erika glanced to Elaine and noted the female was dressed in a knee-length skirt and silk blouse. Her short blonde hair was styled perfectly, and her makeup was understated which was a far cry from what Erika remembered. Most days the woman wore tight mini-dresses and enough makeup to make a clown envious. And, she had victim written all over her face. Erika wanted to punch her in the face again.

  Erika opened her mouth to make a snide comment then shut it when a female entered from a side door and announced the court was in session then stated Judge Maynor was presiding over the proceedings. When the female proclaimed the district and court number, along with the case information, Erika had to admit the ritual made the event feel official. This case was being taken seriously, and it gave her hope that they had a chance of winning.

  A male wearing a black robe entered as soon as the female stopped talking. The judge was an intimidating male and wore a blank expression. Then again, it could be Erika’s fear talking. This human held an inordinate amount of power over countless lives. The fleeting hope she felt moments ago was squandered when the judge looked at Elaine Jensen and nodded. A large lump formed in Erika’s gut when the judge didn’t even acknowledge Erika and the other shifters in the room.

  Then, Judge Maynor made his way to the large podium, and took a seat behind the wooden desk. Mr. Greene pointed to the chairs, indicating they should sit down.

  Erika took a deep breath. This was it. The moment of truth. At least, she hoped it was. Nerves a jangled mess, she breathed through the butterflies in her stomach.

  Judge Maynor finally stared their direction. Erika’s wolf immediately sensed his antipathy, and her gut churned. This wasn’t going in their favor today. The certainty nearly had her jumping from her seat, and running out the door.

  The judge introduced himself and his bailiff recited the charges against Elaine Jensen. Lloyd Greene spoke next and relayed the facts of the case. He talked about Lawson’s three-year captivity, along with, Erika and Ryan’s horrific experiences at Primary Research Laboratories. He talked about the shifter that died after being rescued from the lab, and he included the details of the shooting that took place at the cabin.

  When he finished his statement, the judge sat there for what seemed like an eternity. The silence in the room was deafening, and Erika wanted to scream her frustration. Bart reached over and squeezed her hand reassuringly. She locked gazes, trying to see if he felt the same doom. Unfortunately, his expression told her nothing.

  Finally, the judge leaned forward and glanced toward Elaine. “I’ve read the motion for dismissal. But, I have a couple of questions. Mrs. Jensen, it’s quite clear that shifters are being tested at your facility. Can you explain that to me?”

  Elaine stood from her seat and addressed the judge. “Your Honor, it was my late husband’s belief, and I agree with him, that shifter blood contains beneficial properties. So much so that he hypothesized that it can cure cancer. Yes, shifters are brought to my facility, but they are treated humanely. Once a sufficient amount of blood has been acquired, they are released, not to mention, paid substantially,” she explained.

  Ryan jumped from his seat. “You’re a fucking liar!”

  The judge pounded his gavel several times. “I will not tolerate such outbursts in my courtroom. If it happens again you will be banned from these proceedings,” he barked as Lloyd glared at Ryan. Lawson grabbed Ryan and jerked him back to his chair.

  “We understand, your Honor,” Lloyd replied.

  Erika glanced at Ryan and noted his attempt to rein in his temper. However, he wasn’t succeeding because she glimpsed his extended claws, and Erika panicked. Was he close to shifting? She almost jumped from her seat, but decided against it when she watched him take several calming breaths, and finally gain control.

  Unaware of what happened, the judge turned back to Elaine. “I understand your motive, but a shifter died in your care. That’s hardly what I would define as humane treatment,” the judge informed her. Hope flickered back to life as Erika watched Elaine’s mouth twitch nervously.

  “Your Honor,” the defense attorney, Rabun Reed, interjected. “The truth is, we don’t know what happened to the shifter once Mr. Scott and his accomplices removed Jonathan Newberry from the laboratory. Furthermore, we have seen nothing that confirms this death. Show me a death certificate. Anything to prove this accusation,” Mr. Reed demanded.

  The judge turned toward Erika’s group. “That’s a valid point, and was my next line of inquiry. Where is proof and cause of death?”

  “I defer to the Alpha of the Hollow Rock Shifter’s pack, Lawson Scott.” Lloyd stated to the judge.

  Lawson stood and straightened his suit jacket. “Your Honor, it is customary in the shifter community to burn the remains of deceased. We don’t record certificates or other paperwork to prove someone’s death. When a shifter dies, the entire community feels the loss internally,” he told them honestly.

  Erika knew his spoken words were true. Every shifter in the room knew it, too. But did the judge know it? And, if so, would that make a difference to these proceedings?

  Judge Maynor laughed caustically. “Well, I wish I had your faith. See, in this forum we don’t operate on the honesty policy because people are bold-faced liars when it comes to escaping prison. And, there is no court of law in this land that can allow a criminal case to be pressed when there is no evidence. If you don’t have proof of this death, I cannot consider it as part of the state’s case,” he declared and put his folded arms on the desk in front of him. Guess that answered her question about the judge sensing Lawson’s truth.

  “Mrs. Jensen. What do you say to the accusation of the attempted murder on Erika Pittman?” the judge asked.

  Erika’s heart pounded against her chest. Would she have to give testimony? She didn’t think she could. Her voice felt trapped in her throat.

  “It was self-defense, your Honor,” Elaine muttered as she placed her hand on her chest, as if she were the one attacked that day. “I was vacationing in Rutledge when Mr. Scott and his brother barged into my cabin and attacked me. Thank God I had a gun or there’s no telling what they would’ve done to me. That woman,” she snarled and pointed at Erika, “chased me for I don’t how long, and tackled me to the ground. I forgot I had the gun until it went off during our altercation,” Elaine reported. The utter fabrication made Erika lose her temper. Elaine’s words were total bullshit and a major distortion of the events.

  “That’s not true!” Erika yelled as her body trembled with rage. How could she spout such crap? And, why was she surprised by Elaine’s dishonesty? This female had no problem kidnapping innocent shifters and torturing them. What was lying in a court of law to someone like Elaine Jensen? She was capable of far more heinous crimes.

  The gavel pounded again and Judge Maynor glowered at Erika. “I don’t know the laws of your land, but your flagrant disrespect in mine is unacceptable. This type of behavior doesn’t weigh
in your favor. Now, before I make my decision, is there anything more you’d like to add?” the judge asked Lloyd.

  “No, your Honor,” he replied and took his seat.

  Suddenly, Bart stood and cleared his throat. “May I speak, your Honor?”

  The judge eyed Bart for several seconds then replied, “Go ahead, Governor Smith.”

  “I would like to say that I’ve seen the mistreatment against shifters. They’re being kidnapped and held against their will. These three shifters next to me can testify to the fact that they were not willing participants, nor were they paid for the blood stolen from their bodies. No one should be forced to donate blood. We don’t demand such things from humans, so why should it be okay regarding shifters? This must stop, and you have the power to move in that direction. Please consider pushing this to trial. Thank you for your time,” Bart recited.

  The conviction in Bart’s words made Erika’s throat tighten with emotion. Again, he was putting his reputation on the line for shifters, no matter the consequence to him.

  “I will take everything into account, as I do with each hearing. Court will be in recess until my decision is made. There are a few laws I would like to review before rendering my verdict,” he announced and pounded the gavel once more before taking his leave.

  As soon as the judge slipped into his chambers. Erika turned and leaned toward Bart. “Thank you. I hope your words sank in, but regardless, it proves how serious you are about helping us,” she whispered in his ear.

  “Stay positive. The fact he’s taking a recess gives me hope,” he whispered back and squeezed her knee.

  For some reason, his touch calmed Erika. The connection between them was stronger than ever, and she both loved and hated it. She didn’t want to depend on Bart, yet it seemed like she needed him at every turn.

  “So, what do we do now?” Lawson asked Mr. Greene.

  “We sit and wait. The judge didn’t dismiss us which means he’s ruling today. Probably within the hour,” Lloyd replied as he scribbled a few notes on a pad.