by Janice Jones
Toni was about five foot two inches tall. She was light in complexion, had grey eyes, and pretty long black hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. She was quite attractive. My mind again started conjuring up thoughts of this possibly being another of Shaun’s lovers. However, since she exuded such confidence, the last thing I wanted to do was come off as jealous and insecure; at least not until I knew for sure what role she played in Shaun’s life. I pushed aside my thoughts and continued my interrogation.
“Do you know where Shaun is?” I asked.
“Yeah. He’s in jail.”
Okay! So much for my composure. I nearly fell off the couch. I grabbed my chest like Fred Sanford during one of his many heart attacks. I opened my mouth several times to say something, but I could not push the words past the lump in my throat.
Again Toni gave me that annoyed look, but she at least managed a little civility. “Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not!” I screamed, finally managing to find my voice. “What do you mean Shaun is in jail? In jail for what?”
“Wait one minute, Lindsay. Don’t start yelling at me. I’m just the messenger. Shaun asked me to come here to let you know where he was. He said that he needed you to get in touch with his attorney.”
Toni flopped back onto the cushions of the chair, folding her arms, indicating that she was too through with me. Personally, I gave less than a hot ham sandwich how she felt about me. However, I knew I had to calm down so I could get to the bottom of the situation with Shaun ... Did she just call me Lindsay?
“All right. Let’s start over, beginning with this. Don’t call me Lindsay. It’s Nay, Nay-Nay or Mrs. Taylor. Next, do you have any idea why Shaun was arrested?”
“No. All I know is he called my house collect and asked me to make a three-way call to your cell phone because he couldn’t reach you on the home phone. When you didn’t answer your cell phone, he asked me to come in person. He needs you to contact his attorney and tell him to get down to the sixth precinct in Detroit as soon as possible.”
I just realized that I had left my cell phone upstairs on the nightstand when I went to pick up Shauntae from school, and subsequently, to my mother’s house. And I was so caught up in my misery and confusion when I got home that I neglected to check the home phone for calls and messages.
Furthermore, I realized I had no idea who Shaun retained as an attorney; let alone how to get in contact with this individual. It embarrassed the heck out of me, but I had to ask Toni if she knew the information.
“It figures you wouldn’t know,” Toni said, shaking her head. “Shaun gave me his name. He knew you wouldn’t know either. Shaun said he couldn’t remember the number off-hand, and the police confiscated his cell phone, so I took the liberty of looking it up myself.” She reached into her purse, pulled out a piece of paper with the name and number on it and handed to me.
I snatched the paper with a little force. Ms. Toni was starting to push her luck. She was certainly willing to be very helpful to my husband. My inquisitiveness about her position in Shaun’s life piqued again.
“How did you say you were acquainted with my husband again?”
“I said I worked for him.”
“How long has Shaun been in jail?”
“Since yesterday morning. Today was the first time the police let him make a phone call.”
Okay, that explained where he had been during the second half of his departure. Where did he spend the first day and a half? I wondered if Ms. Toni had anything to do with making sure he had shelter during that time, but I would never give her the satisfaction of letting her know I was suspicious. I would find out all I needed to know when I talked to Shaun. If necessary, I would deal with her later.
“Well, I guess you did what you came here to do. I need to make this phone call and get down to the precinct. You can go now.” She was dismissed.
Toni stood up, and I walked her to the door. As I opened the door for her she had a parting comment for me.
“You know what? I can’t believe you’re being so rude. But if what Shaun and Rhonda say about you is true, I really shouldn’t be surprised.” She walked out before I had a chance to reply.
I spoke with Shaun’s attorney and gave him what little information I had available. He listened, then agreed to meet me here at the precinct at 4:30 P.M. It was now 5:00. I called his office three times since my arrival to the precinct. Each time his secretary told me that he had left more than an hour ago and had not yet returned during either of my repeat calls. I could tell she was becoming a little aggravated with me, but who cared?
I was anxious to find out the details surrounding Shaun’s arrest. I also wanted to know what he had been up to since he left our house on the night of our anniversary. In particular, who and what role Ms. Toni truly played in his life.
I tried talking to the officers at the precinct, but they were absolutely no help at all. Each one of them—I talked to four—told me the same thing. Shaun was being held on a drug charge, but they couldn’t give me any details. When I inquired about seeing him, they said suspects being held at the precincts were not allowed visitors. I either had to wait for him to be released from custody, or transferred downtown to the county jail. Something told me they were all lying. They were probably just giving him a hard time because he refused to talk to them.
The longer I sat waiting on the attorney, the more upset I became with everybody: Shaun, the lawyer, the police and still, Ms. Toni.
A new police officer, or at least one I had not yet spoken to, entered the front door of the precinct. Before I realized it, I was in his face asking him about Shaun.
“Excuse me, officer. My name is Lindsay Taylor. My husband Shaun is being held here—” That was as far as I got before I was interrupted by the second most beautiful man I have ever seen in my life. Shaun, of course, was the first. But the more I stared at this man, the more my brain waged war as to how true that really was.
“Hello, Mrs. Taylor. I’m Cody Vincini, Shaun’s attorney.” Mr. Vincini held out his hand for me to shake, and on automatic impulse, I lifted my own in return. I certainly don’t remember doing it consciously. I stood mesmerized by this man’s handsomeness.
He was six foot three inches tall and about one hundred ninety pounds, each ounce strategically placed in just the right areas. His dark olive complexion and his last name led me to believe he was Italian. He had thick black hair with slight waves combed toward the back of his head, but a few stray strands lay untamed across his forehead. He had dark brown eyes and a voice that sounded like it was made for singing sensual love songs. He was a perfect cross between Ben Affleck from the movie Armageddon and Benjamin Bratt, the Native American actor from the television series Law and Order. Neither actor is Italian, but the comparison is accurate. Woo! Woo! Woo!
“I’m sorry I’m late, Mrs. Taylor. I stopped to speak with one of Shaun’s friends to get as many details as possible before I went in with him.”
Not five minutes ago I was ranting and raving about his tardiness. Now all I could say was, “Oh, it is perfectly understandable. It was no problem at all.”
I couldn’t believe I had so little control over my actions. Never before had any white man had this kind of effect on me. I was actually attracted to this man. I had never been attracted to anyone other than Shaun since the first time I laid eyes on him.
“Have they let you see Shaun since you have been here?” he asked me.
Doing my level best to answer without stumbling over my words I said, “No. They told me there was a policy against precinct suspects receiving visitors.”
“Well, they’re right. But they bend the rules when they want to. They’re being especially hard on Shaun because he refuses to cooperate with them. He has maintained his right to remain silent and not be questioned without the presence of his attorney. I’m assuming you haven’t seen your brother yet either. Is that correct?”
If dreamy eyed drunk described my fawning over Shaun’s attorne
y, I was now Sober Joe. His words felt like the equivalent of someone throwing hot coffee in my face.
“What do you mean my brother? Why would I be looking for Kevin here?” The questions sound stupid to me even as they left my mouth, but I needed Mr. Vincini to tell me that he made a mistake; that my brother was in no way involved in the mess with Shaun.
“You mean no one has told you that Kevin was arrested with Shaun?”
“Arrested with Shaun? For what?” I shouted.
Everyone in the front area of the precinct stopped what he or she was doing. They were now staring at Shaun’s lawyer and me. Mr. Vincini gently grabbed my arm and led me to a bench near the front door. I guess he could tell I was on the verge of hysterics. I was torn up enough over Shaun’s being in jail. Now I had to deal with both my husband and my brother facing prison time. How in the world was I going to tell Mama that her son, whom she presumed to be just acting disrespectfully, was actually locked up?
Suddenly I became light headed and nauseous. I hadn’t thought about my pregnancy since Toni showed up on my doorstep. Now the reminder came at me with a vengeance. I looked around for the nearest restroom, spotting one behind the big desk where the officers were seated. Without warning, I jumped from my seat and bolted toward the bathroom. Shaun’s attorney was right on my heels, and the police were yelling that I couldn’t go back there, but I was not to be stopped. Unfortunately the door to the restroom was locked. So right there in front of everyone, I puked. The spasms were so violent that I lost control of my bladder, and I peed myself as well. It was the most embarrassing moment of my life.
I stood there with my head hanging low, my clothes wet, and vomit at my feet. I was just as big a mess on the inside. I fell on the floor in the mess I had made, balling like a big baby. Mr. Vincini bravely approached me and helped me up, just as a female officer approached with a washcloth, towel, and some dark blue clothes that looked like a prison uniform.
Cody accepted the things from the officer and said to me, “Why don’t you go in the bathroom, clean yourself up and change. When you are done, go home. I’m sure I’m going to be here a while sorting through all of this with your husband and brother. As soon as I’m done, I’ll meet you at your house and give you all the details. I promise.”
He spoke so calmly and softly that his voice helped me to compose myself. Mr. Vincini acted as if dealing with funky vomiting wives was in his job description.
“But what about bail money?” I asked naively
“Shaun and Kevin will have to go before a judge before any bail can be set. The earliest that can happen is tomorrow morning, so don’t worry about it. Just go home and try to rest until I get there, okay?”
I was again overwhelmed by how sexy he was. Immediately, I started to feel a little bit better. I nodded and let the policewoman lead me into the bathroom so I could at least wash away my physical disarray.
Chapter Eighteen
As I drove home from the precinct, I started to miss my daughter. I stopped by Shyanne’s condo to get Shauntae and to give her a blow by blow of all that happened so far. Once she knew all the details, she agreed to come and stay with me for the evening. That way she would be there for me if I needed her for support this evening, and she could get Shauntae off to school if I needed to go to court with Kevin and Shaun in the morning. Shyanne said she would meet me at the house after she tidied up behind her goddaughter. I truly loved my best friend.
Once I got home, I put Shauntae down for the night and took a much needed shower. I stood there under the spray of hot water trying to figure out a way to tell Mama about Kevin. I didn’t want her to worry anymore when he didn’t come home tonight, but telling her he was in jail wasn’t something I was excited about either, especially since I was still so fuzzy about the details. I was sure Kevin hadn’t called Mama for the same reasons I dreaded having to talk to her. Even though Kevin was twenty-two, Mama would probably still beat him silly.
After I got out of the shower, I decided to bite the bullet and let Mama know as much as I knew. The thought of her imagining anything worse than jail had happened to her baby made me sad.
Wearing my thick velour bathrobe, I went downstairs to the den to make the phone call. That way I would already be downstairs when Mr. Vincini arrived. Shyanne could let herself in with her key.
Mama, against normal procedure of a two ring minimum, answered the phone on the first ring. She was probably sitting on it, hoping to get a call from Kevin letting her know he was all right.
“Hello!” she answered anxiously.
“Hey, Mama.”
“Hey, Nay. Have you heard from your brother yet?” That has always been my mama’s way. Straight to the point.
“Yes and no, Mama.”
“What do you mean yes and no? What’s going on with your brother that you’re afraid to tell me?” she yelled.
There was no use telling her to calm down so I could explain, so I just gave it to her in her own way, straight up; no chaser. I explained everything I knew, telling her that I would have more details when Mr. Vincini arrived at my house. Afterward I would call her back and let her know what I found out.
“Nay-Nay, I want you to pick me up in the morning. I’m going to the courthouse with you.”
“Mama, I don’t think that will be necessary. I’m only going to post bail, then your son will be straight home.”
“Nay, don’t make me hurt you. I said pick me up. I’m going with you.”
She also had a few choice words about my husband getting her baby involved in his mess. I expected her to blame it all on Shaun even though Kevin was an adult, and we were still ignorant to all the facts. But I wasn’t about to argue that point with her.
Just as I hung up the phone, the doorbell rang. I sprinted to the door, hoping it was Mr. Vincini with good news, or at the very least, some plausible answers. My heart told me that this whole mess was going to get a lot worse before it got any better though. I opened the door to find Mr. Fine standing on my porch with Shyanne pulling up the rear.
Mr. Vincini stepped aside to let Shyanne enter first, then followed her through the door. “Hello again, Mrs. Taylor,” he said as the three of us stood in the entranceway.
“Hello, Mr. Vincini. I would prefer if we put aside the formalities and you called me Lindsay. This is my best friend, Shyanne Kennedy.” I was unaware of exactly what I said until I saw Shyanne staring at me like I had a big booger in my nose. Then Mr. Vincini drove her point home.
“On one condition, Lindsay; you must call me Cody.” I felt it was too late to tell him then how much I hated my first name. For some reason, I didn’t feel the need to.
“Why don’t we have a seat so I can bring you up to speed with your husband’s case?” he suggested.
“I’ll leave you two to talk,” Shyanne volunteered. She was normally too nosy to make that kind of declaration. Cody’s looks must have had an effect on her too.
“No, Shy. Stay. That way I won’t have to repeat it to you later.”
We all went into the living room and took a seat. Cody and I sat on the sofa. Shyanne sat across from us in the chair. From the way she looked at Cody, I could tell Shyanne was just as impressed with his beauty as I was. This man was dangerously fine.
“Well, ladies, what we’re working with is this; just before I left the precinct, Shaun was formally charged with possession with intent to deliver an unspecified amount of cocaine and assault with intent to do great bodily harm. Both charges are felonies that could carry a concurrent sentence of fifteen years to life in prison.”
I almost fainted. My head started spinning and the nausea returned. I immediately left the room as to not have an encore to my performance at the police station. Shyanne came in the bathroom with me. She removed my robe so I would not soil it if I had another accident with my bladder. I was lucky this time, only letting loose the bitter bile in my stomach. Then I realized I hadn’t eaten anything other than a bag of potato chips and some cookies since Sh
aun left.
Shyanne gave me a cool washcloth for my face and stayed with me while I thoroughly rinsed my mouth. Then we went back to the living room to hear the rest of Cody’s story. Hopefully there was some trace of a silver lining in this sea of endless clouds.
When we took our seats, Cody asked, “Are you okay, Lindsay? This is the second time tonight you have gotten ill. Maybe you should see a doctor. All this stress could be causing you a physical problem that you are not aware of.”
“Actually, it’s the third time today, Cody. I’m pregnant.”
“Oh wow! Shaun didn’t tell me that.”
“Shaun doesn’t know yet. I just found out today myself. Please don’t tell him. I’ll let him know the first chance I get to see him,” I pleaded. I sounded like a weak little girl. This whole situation was wearing on my nerves.
“Of course not. I would never do anything like that.” Cody took hold of both my hands and held them for a long moment. “It’s not going to be as bad as you’re thinking right now; I promise.”
His words and his voice were so gentle that I instantly felt calm. In the midst of the possibility of me losing my husband to prison, I was sitting here getting turned on by his attorney. What kind of wife was I?
Shyanne cleared her throat to get our attention and bring us back to the matter at hand. “What were you saying about Shaun’s charges, Mr. Vincini?”
“Please call me Cody, Shyanne. We are all going to be spending a great deal of time together until this thing is resolved. We might as well be casual.”
Why did his statement about us spending lots of time together excite me? I was overheating in my heavy bathrobe. Considering I had on nothing but a T-shirt and panties underneath, I had to keep it on and sweat it out. This attorney-client relationship was going to truly be dangerous.
“As I was saying, Shaun’s charges carry a heavy sentence. From what he told me, they will be hard to beat.”
My emotions were a terrible wreck. It was as if I were riding a huge unbalanced seesaw. I went from being unbelievably distraught over my husband’s situation to being turned on by another man and back again. Shyanne saw me stressing and excused herself to get me some juice.