State's Evidence: A Beverly Mendoza Legal Thriller
Page 34
And had given them all the opportunity for a future.
* * *
Grant stirred, his eyes watery, focus distorted. He could barely make out the concerned faces of Beverly and Jaime.
“You got shot in the shoulder!” Jaime informed him, seeking to be strong in the face of terror.
“An ambulance is on the way,” Beverly said.
“Looks like we got more excitement than we bargained for,” Grant joked, doing his best to tolerate the pain and dizziness.
Beverly wiped away tears while smiling. “Story of our lives lately.”
Grant made himself smile at his beautiful lady. There was something he needed to say and this seemed as good a time as any to do so. “Bev, this isn’t exactly the way I planned it, but will you marry me? I’d hate to die before I ever popped the question.”
Beverly was stunned. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Grant Nunez. And don’t even think about dying. Not until we’re both ancient, living the good life in Hawaii or the Cayman Islands or some other exotic location.”
She kissed him on the mouth. Grant returned the kiss, whispered he loved her, and lost consciousness.
“I love you, baby,” she whispered back.
Beverly cried as she cradled Grant in her arms. The thought that she could have lost him and Jaime left her slightly disoriented.
But they would live to see another day. And take on whatever new battles and victories that life had in store for them.
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
Stone sat in the bar, having a drink with Chang and mulling over another day of detective work. Three months had passed since Rafael Santiago’s plan had been foiled, costing him his own life in the process. While the killer’s remains had been cremated, his identical twin was set to do some hard time. Although the plea bargain between Manuel Gonzalez and the D.A.’s office sparing his life stood firm, new evidence had shifted the murder of Judge Sheldon Crawford and Maxine Crawford’s sexual assault back to the original suspect in the case.
This included Gonzalez’s taped admission about the scheme plotted with his brother, the recanting by Isabel Santiago that Santiago had been with her at the time of the crime and, most importantly, the murder weapon. As such, the case was now considered closed and the D.A.’s office vindicated in its dogged pursuit of Rafael Santiago.
Or at least the lead prosecutor in the case.
Stone sipped the mug of beer and smiled in thinking of his good friend. Make that good friends. Grant Nunez and Beverly Mendoza had not only survived the assassination attempt, the lovebirds had gotten married and, from what Stone understood, were honeymooning on a cruise ship somewhere in the Pacific. He wished them well, while counting his own blessings in having a wife who he wouldn’t trade in for anyone. Or his kids, for that matter, growing up faster than he could keep up with their shifting needs on a homicide detective’s salary.
“Stone, are you with me, man?” Chang lowered his eyebrows with annoyance.
Stone focused in on his partner and realized he hadn’t been entirely. “Drifted off there for a moment,” he admitted. “What were you saying?”
“I wanted to get your take on the Butterfly Killer. Just who the hell is he and what makes him tick?”
Stone tasted more beer and ruminated. Their latest case involved a serial killer who had strangled three women over the last six weeks. The press had dubbed him “The Butterfly Killer,” because the killer had left a butterfly in the mouth of each nude victim, all of whom were pretty, redheaded, and had been sexually assaulted.
It never ends. Not for them anyway. All they could do was keep going after the bad guys and hope that maybe some victims could be spared along the way.
Much like Beverly and Grant had been.
Abruptly Stone got to his feet.
Chang looked up. “You gonna take a leak?”
“I’m going home,” he answered unceremoniously. “Think I’ll take my wife out to dinner.”
Chang, who was divorced, frowned. “What about the Butterfly Killer?”
“Something tells me he’ll still be out there tomorrow,” Stone said. “And we’ll be hot on his ass. Tonight I need to take a breather and remember what’s really important. See you later.”
Outside Stone breathed in the spring air and got on his cell phone. He hoped Joyce hadn’t made any special plans for dinner, as he had.
CHAPTER SIXTY
The private balcony in the suite offered breathtaking views of the Hawaiian Islands and endless sea. Beverly had come to treasure all the beautiful things in life that she may have once taken for granted. That included a lifetime commitment to the man who stole her heart and soul and made his own.
They had cemented their love through marriage and taken a cruise as the perfect way to explore one another in an idyllic, romantic setting.
After making love for the umpteenth time, Beverly was exhausted and incredibly happy to be in the virile arms of her man. She was finally Mrs. Grant Nunez and intended to soak it up for all it was worth.
She thanked God again and again that they had escaped Rafael Santiago’s wrath. Not in small part due to the heroic efforts of Stone Palmer. Grant had made a full recovery after being shot in the shoulder, with only a half moon scar left to remind them.
Jaime’s nightmares, lasting several weeks, had stopped. When they had invited him to go on the cruise, he had declined, opting instead to stay with his friend Paco and his family. Stone and Joyce had graciously agreed.
Beverly no longer allowed the stress and strain of a case that went awry before ending on a more positive note make her question if she were in the right profession.
Indeed over the last three months, she had found herself reenergized as a trial lawyer, using the unusual nature of the Santiago case and its eerie connection to an alliance with Manuel Gonzalez as a motivator to press forward with her career. Along the way, Beverly had been given more responsibility and now believed that some day she might even be able to join her husband on the bench.
She lifted her mouth so that it brushed against his and turned into a passionate kiss.
“Love you,” she murmured, their naked bodies pressed together, the perspiration from the earlier heat they had generated beginning to dry.
“Love you, too, baby,” Grant assured her. More than he could ever say, but not more than he could show Beverly. He fully intended to do all the little things that spelled love in a big way.
Both his and Beverly’s careers were in full swing, making it all the better in their personal lives.
Just last month indictments were handed down against thirteen people, including a sitting judge, in connection with the investigation into bribery, fraud, and racketeering charges first initiated with Judge Sheldon Crawford. Grant fully expected some convictions and serious prison time to come out of this, with Beverly prosecuting several of the defendants at the state level.
He kissed the top of her head. “So are we going to spend all our time in bed or what?”
Beverly could feel his erection beneath her, causing her temperature to rise once again. “You tell me, Mr. Nunez. I’m game to see what’s happening on the ship, if you are.”
Grant thought about it for a moment or two. Recognizing his overpowering desire for her and his need to be inside her, he declared, “Well, maybe later. Right now, I think I’d like to enjoy the view inside this cabin a while longer.”
Beverly laughed amorously. “Sounds like a plan. A very good plan.”
She waited till his mouth descended to kiss hers. It happened like clockwork and the ticking began once again.
# # #
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
R. Barri Flowers is an award winning, bestselling author of crime, mystery, thriller, suspense, and young adult fiction. His novels include DARK STREETS OF WHITECHAPEL, DEAD IN THE ROSE CITY, JUSTICE SERVED, MURDER IN MAUI, PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE, KILLER IN THE WOODS, CHRISTMAS WISHES, GHOST GIRL IN SHADOW BAY, and DANGER IN TIME.
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