Beyond A Reasonable Doubt

by Linda S. Prather

  Harry stood up and paced the small room. “If he can get the arrest warrant signed, it’s brilliant. I like it. Plus, there would be the inheritance. That in itself would be enough for suspicion if we can prove the beatings.”

  “That one won’t help you,” Clifford said. “Olivia left everything she had to Jordan and Kamela and their child. That’s how Elkins found out about the baby.”

  “We have another problem, too,” Jenna said. “Our informant would be Jordan. He doesn’t have direct knowledge of what happened in Kentucky. I’m the one Michael told.”

  Beaumont smiled at her. “So you have two informants. One you’re willing to name, and one you aren’t. By the time someone needs to testify, you’ll have what you need.” He stood up. “Why don’t the three of you join me tomorrow night for dinner? I’m sure Kamela would like to see you again, Miss James. I’ve got some pull with the FAA. I’ll see what I can find out about the pilot and hopefully have something for you on that tomorrow. We’ll need to start tracking down these people quickly.”

  Harry stood up. “Not today. We all need a break—one normal day before the gates of hell open. I’m taking Jenna to the movies.” He glanced at Jake. “And I think you need to visit your wife.”

  Beaumont nodded. “Good. That will give me time to prepare my daughter and get Jordan moved in.” He glanced around the room. “I’d really be more comfortable if you all moved to my place.”

  Jenna shook her head and walked him to the door. “We’ll be fine. Thank you, Mr. Beaumont. And please be careful. It’s hard to know who to trust right now.”

  He took an envelope from his coat pocket and handed it to her. “I’m not taking no for an answer this time.”

  Jenna stared at the envelope. It wasn’t hush money or bribe money.

  “I’ve got all the money any one person could ever want, Miss James. It won’t make up for what you lost.” His eyebrows knitted together, and his jaw clenched. “Truth is, the money’s not really for you. It’s to help me sleep a little better tonight.”

  Jenna accepted the envelope. “Okay.”

  “You need anything else, you let one of my boys know. I’ll call Judge Clinton right way. Once you have the warrant ready, just take it to him.”

  Jenna closed the door behind him and opened the envelope. A bundle of hundred-dollar bills stared back at her. She glanced up to find Harry and Jake watching from the kitchen doorway. “You guys still want breakfast? I’m buying.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Clifford stood in front of the painting over the mantel. Sometimes, it seemed so lifelike he expected her to walk right off the canvas and into his arms. He’d had only a few precious minutes with her before she died, just long enough for her to place a tiny bundle in his arms and make him promise to be happy, to raise their daughter in a home filled with love and laughter. He’d done his best, but he couldn’t hide the ugliness of the world from her. “She’s all grown up, honey. And she’s beautiful, stubborn, and kind, just like you were.”

  “Dad?”

  He cleared his throat and blinked back the mist behind his eyes. “Good morning, sunshine.”

  She came up beside him and wrapped an arm around his waist. “What’s wrong?”

  He could lie to her, pretending as he’d done in the past, or he could accept the fact she was now a woman, soon to be a mother. “The first time your mother smiled at me, I turned around to see who was standing behind me. I couldn’t believe anything so delicate and beautiful could look at a big bloke like me and smile like that.”

  Kamela laughed softly and tightened her hold on his waist. “When I was little and you thought I was asleep, I would sneak in here and listen to you talk to her.”

  Clifford grinned down at her. “That’s when I always told her how you were driving me crazy and I was going to send you away to boarding school.”

  “You knew?”

  “Worked every time. The next day you were always sweet and obedient.”

  Kamela’s voice softened. “Sometimes, I talked to her too. We talked about Jordan. I think she would have liked him.”

  Clifford sighed. “It’s hard for me to believe you’re all grown up.”

  “That’s partly my fault. I let you baby me and called you Daddy because I knew you liked it. I had my first cigarette when I was eighteen and my first drink when I turned twenty-one.” She turned him to face her. “And I married Jordan last year when we realized he wasn’t going to be released. Please don’t be mad. I love him.”

  Clifford hugged her close. “Let’s eat on the veranda. There’s some things we need to talk about.”

  Kamela followed him to the veranda, her gaze taking in the extra men in the yard. “What happened?”

  “Someone tried to break in last night.” He sipped his tea, watching the emotions flitter across her face. “And Jenna James was raped. I’ve taken the precaution of setting up extra guards here as well as Miss James’s house.”

  Kamela’s face paled. “Oh my God! Is Jenna okay?”

  “I stopped by to see her this morning. She’ll be fine in time, but since we got her into this mess, I feel we at least owe her some protection. Have you heard from Jordan?”

  “He called about an hour ago. He’s getting better. Stronger. The doctor is still there.”

  “Good. I’ll make arrangements to move him here this evening. That way, I can protect both of you. I figure if anybody else in the world would die to keep you safe, it would be him.”

  Her face lit up in a way that warmed his heart, clearing the last vestiges of anger and hate from his system. “Besides, if he’s going to be my son-in-law, it’s time I found out what he’s made of.”

  Kamela leapt from the chair and threw herself into his arms. “Thank you. I know you’ll love him just like I do.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Jenna stole a sideways glance at Harry. He really was good looking in a rough, cowboy sort of way. Wrinkles were starting to appear at the sides of his eyes, but the rest of his face was smooth, making him appear younger than she knew he really was. His gaze was riveted to the movie screen, but the occasional clenching of his jaw and tightening of his lips told her he was thinking about the case, just as she was. She glanced behind them, taking comfort from the fact Geno and Marko were three rows back.

  “Watch the movie,” Harry whispered.

  She turned her focus back to the screen. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve been to a movie?”

  Harry raised an arm, allowing it to settle along the back of her chair, not quite touching, but she could feel the warmth radiating across her back. “Too long, just like me.”

  An explosion rocked the screen, and Jenna flinched. “So what made you pick this one?”

  Harry chuckled. “It was this or a tearjerker. I was trying to cheer you up.”

  Jenna flinched again as a Samurai warrior screamed and sliced off the head of his opponent. “I don’t think it’s working.”

  “Want to leave?”

  “Do you mind?”

  “I don’t, but Geno and Marko might.”

  Jenna glanced behind them and laughed softly. The two huge men were enjoying a large tub of popcorn and seemed thoroughly engrossed in the movie. “Maybe we could sneak out without them knowing.”

  Harry shook his head. “Not a chance. Beaumont would have their heads on a platter.”

  Jenna frowned. “I don’t know what to think of Clifford Beaumont. He seems like a good guy, but...”

  Harry stood up. “Come on, we’ll take a walk on the beach, grab a bite to eat, and head in before dark.”

  Jenna followed him from the theater, Geno and Marko somewhere behind them. “It’s Saturday afternoon; the beach is probably packed. How about a walk in the park?”

  “Padre Island?”

  “You’re going to laugh, but I’ve never been there. Is it nice?”

  Harry started the car and pulled onto the highway. “It depends. Like, on the beaches, a lot of trash piles up at t
imes, and the seaweed can really smell when it’s rotting, but I like it there. You can always find a quiet place just to sit and think.”

  Jenna stared out the window. Something had upset him, something she’d said or done. “Are you mad at me?”

  “Why did you take the money from Beaumont?”

  Jenna shrugged. “He seemed to need to give it, so I took it.”

  “Why do you think he needed to give it?”

  “I don’t know. I think he feels guilty because of everything that’s happened to me since I got Jordan out of jail.” She turned to stare out the window. “Why do you think he gave it to me?”

  “Because he doesn’t like owing favors.”

  Harry pulled into the beach and parked, opened his door, and quickly rounded the car to open hers. She glanced behind them as Geno and Marko parked farther down the road. “So, you think Beaumont’s one of the bad guys?”

  Harry took her hand and led her along the beach. “The world isn’t always black and white. Good people sometimes do bad things because they think it’s the right thing to do. Bad people do good things for the same reason.”

  Jenna thought about Tom and how he’d dealt with the guy watching her. In her world, Tom would definitely be a bad guy, but what he was doing for Jordan and what he’d done for her didn’t seem wrong. “I like Beaumont, Harry. I don’t want him to be one of the bad guys.”

  Harry bent down to roll up his jeans and kicked off his shoes. Letting go of her hand, he walked out into the bay, letting the waves crash against his ankles. Jenna kicked off her sandals and walked out to join him. The water was warm. Harry pulled her close, touching her lips gently with his. “Today, there are no good people or bad people. There’s just wind, water, sand, and us.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Jenna typed the affidavit of probable cause for both Elkinses, putting in everything she could remember Jordan telling her, as well as the things she herself knew. Harry and Jake would be back soon with the warrants, and she still had a lot to do. Pulling up another document, she typed in the list of beatings Jordan had outlined for her, printed both documents, and picked up her phone. She’d have to tell David what she was doing; otherwise, she wouldn’t have a job long enough to get them to arraignment. She’d almost finished dialing the number when a strange feeling washed over her. If she did it by phone, he could call them after she hung up. If she went to his house and told him in person, then Harry and Jake could be serving the warrant at the same time. “Damn it, Jordan, I was never paranoid until I met you.”

  She hung up, walked to her closet, and rummaged for something halfway decent to wear. Pulling out a blue pair of dress pants, she chose a light-blue blouse and dressed quickly.

  She picked up the paperwork and headed downstairs just as the front door opened and Harry and Jake walked in. “Did you get it?”

  Jake held up the paperwork. “Search warrant and arrest warrant. All we have to do is fill in the information and get the judge’s signature.”

  Jenna held up the affidavits and the list. “I’ve got everything else ready to go.” She glanced at the clock. “If we’re lucky, we can put them in jail tonight. Since it’s Sunday, Dade won’t have a chance to get an arraignment until morning, so they’ll spend at least one night. Anyone want coffee?”

  They both shook their heads but sat down at the table to fill out the warrants. “The search warrant has to be explicit. Do we have any clue what we’re looking for?” Jake asked.

  “Tickets, phone records, pictures, tapes, videos, anything that would prove they were in Kentucky and anything to prove Elkins beat his wife.”

  Jake jotted down those items on the warrant. “It might be better if we served the arrest warrants first then went back and did the search warrant.”

  Jenna nodded. “That would probably work better if Dade doesn’t intervene. If he does, then we’ll have to wait.”

  Harry passed the paperwork he’d been reading to Jake. “You did a hell of a job on these affidavits, Jenna. I hope we can get enough people to talk to prove it.”

  “I need to go to see David. Dade will demand an arraignment and bail first thing in the morning. I want to be the one to handle that. Otherwise, the judge may just dismiss the charges. If that happens, we’ll all be looking for a place to hide.”

  “I don’t think you should go alone,” Harry said. “One of us needs to drive you.”

  Jenna shook her head. “I have two very huge bodyguards outside. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to take me. I need you two to go to Judge Clinton’s and get the warrants signed. As soon as I call you, you can serve them. I want those bastards in jail tonight.”

  “Give the judge a call, and we’ll be on our way,” Jake said.

  Jenna dialed the number Clifford Beaumont had given her. He answered on the second ring.

  “Hello.”

  “Judge Clinton, this is Jenna James. I’d like to send a couple of officers around to get your signature on some arrest warrants. Would now be okay?”

  “Have them come through the side door next to the garden. I’ll be waiting for them.”

  Jenna hit the End button on her phone. “He’s all set and waiting for you. He said to come through the side door next to the garden.”

  Jake picked up the paperwork and glanced at Jenna. “You know how long I’ve waited to arrest this bastard?”

  Jenna met his gaze and nodded. “Now, all we have to do is make it stick.”

  Harry walked around the table and pulled her into his arms. “We’re gonna get them, Jenna. Both of them.”

  She liked the feel of his arms around her. She felt safe and warm, but she had work to do. Extricating herself, she picked up her purse, grabbed her keys from the table, and gave them both a thumbs-up. “You two get them; I’ll make sure we have enough evidence by trial to keep them.”

  Jenna settled into the backseat of the car and gave Geno and Marko directions to David’s house. She’d wondered about the names when they’d first introduced themselves but realized they weren’t important. If any of them lived through this, she’d probably never see them again.

  Her thoughts turned to David. Was it possible he was involved with Dade and Elkins? She’d been to his house only once, for a Christmas party. At the time, she’d wondered how a district attorney had been able to afford such a luxury home. She’d even asked him. He’d laughed and chalked it up to good planning and lucky investments.

  Jenna closed her eyes, pulling up images of the house he had so proudly shown off that night. If she remembered correctly, it was a Tuscan style with four bedrooms and five baths. “Damn,” she mumbled, remembering it had a five-car garage, executive study, and large theater. Not only was the house outside the means of a district attorney, but also the furnishings were straight off the pages of Celebrity Glamour. Why the hell hadn’t she questioned that earlier?

  Opening her eyes, she rummaged in her purse and found the derringer Harry had given her. He’d told her it was fully loaded and had no safety. All she had to do was point and shoot.

  The car pulled into the circular drive, stopped, and parked. Geno exited and opened her door. “You want us to go in with you, Miss James?”

  Jenna climbed out. “Not yet. Stay here, though; I may need you.”

  He nodded. “Just shout out, and we’ll be there.”

  Jenna scouted the area as she walked to the front door. She saw a slight movement behind the curtains; he knew she was here. The door opened just as she raised her hand.

  “Hello, Jenna. Come on in, I’ve been expecting you.” He opened the door wider and led her to the living room. “Please, have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?”

  Jenna studied the man she’d idolized for years, the man she’d thought could do no wrong. He appeared shorter and thinner than the last time she’d seen him. His cancer was eating at him, leaving nothing more than an empty husk. “Why, David?”

  He sat across from her, the worry lines on his face creasing no
ticeably. “I had my reasons.”

  Jenna pulled a copy of the warrant and affidavit from her purse. “There are two officers on their way to Judge Clinton’s to get these signed. They’re waiting on a call from me to serve them and arrest both the Elkinses.”

  He glanced over the paperwork. “They’ll both be represented by Marcus Dade and on the street in hours.”

  “Not if you help me, David. We can get the proof. We can get the Elkinses, and with your help, we can get Dade too.”

  He rose, walked to the bar, and poured a drink. “I was like you once, Jenna. I believed in the system. If you go after Dade, the only thing you’ll get is a ready-made coffin.”

  “We took an oath, David. We swore to uphold the law, administer justice, deter crime, and ensure the safety of the community. I’d rather be killed in the line of duty than sell my soul to the devil.”

  “Dade got you out of the mess with Travello.”

  “What?” Jenna scooted forward on her seat. Surely, she hadn’t heard him right.

  David turned and met her gaze. “The PSIR was changed. Someone used your credentials to change it. That’s why Conrad Mercer did the closing arguments. We hoped, with the severity of the crime, he’d get the death penalty and no one would be the wiser.” David shrugged. “It didn’t turn out that way.”

  Jenna sat back. “So that’s what you meant when you said, ‘We fixed it.’”

  David nodded. “Dade pulled a few strings and had the real file created with a different social security number, making it appear there was a glitch in the system, exonerating you from any wrongdoing.”

  “Why? Why would Dade do that?”

  David picked up his drink and stared out the patio window. “Because I asked him to. I was going to retire next year. I was hoping you could take my place. You would have had my backing all the way—and the backing of my supporters.” He turned to face her. “There are worse things than Marcus Dade, Jenna. He wants you on his team. He can help you.”