“Joe?” Rick said, as if surprised by the question. “Hardly!”
“So you don’t think he’d be fooled by insincere emotions?”
“Objection! Calls for speculation.”
“Sustained,” the judge said, eyeing Nick.
“Knowing your friend, has he been fooled in the past with insincere emotions or feminine wiles?”
“Joe’s immune to ’em.” Rick knew he was lying just a little bit; they didn’t need to know that Joe wasn’t immune to Randy.
“Thank you, Officer Debenshire. I have no further questions.”
To many people’s surprise, the DA had no questions for Rick. He had planned on asking him about his and Midnight’s breakup, but had decided it would only make him look worse at this point.
When Nick called his next witness, it shocked many people, including Randy—Lieutenant Midnight Chevalier.
Midnight walked into the courtroom looking every bit the tough leader of a unit of gang members. She and Rick passed each other in the aisle, and they touched hands, giving each other a supportive look. Everyone in the courthouse caught it, as did a few members of the press, on film. Midnight wore all black—except for her badge, which she wore clipped to her belt as usual— slacks, her favorite dress boots, as she liked to call them, and a cotton shirt. Her hair was pulled back from her face with a black clip, and she wore the slightest bit of makeup. Many members of the press fell in love with her again. She made a striking figure as she raised her right hand to be sworn in. She had been discussed a lot in the proceedings, and now everyone was able to put a face—a beautiful, delicate one—to the woman who had been brutally beaten and left for dead.
“Lieutenant, thank you for coming,” Nick said, and Midnight inclined her head slightly. She looked over at Randy and saw the surprise still in the girl’s eyes. It occurred to her then that maybe Randy didn’t know she believed her. She had danced around being specific at the Curtis home, not wanting to give Randy any false hope. But now she realized she should have been a little clearer. She caught Randy’s eyes and smiled. Randy’s eyes widened at the blatant support Midnight was offering her, and she smiled back.
“Lieutenant Chevalier, you run FORS—is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“What does FORS stand for?”
“Former Organized Riot Seekers,” Midnight said with a wry grin.
“And you hired Ms. Curtis?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I liked her.”
“And she ended up marrying your partner?”
“Yes, the same time I married Rick, actually.” Midnight glanced to the back of the courtroom, where Rick was leaning against the wall. Their eyes met for a moment, and then Midnight looked back at Nick.
“Let me get straight to the point, Lieutenant. Did Randy Curtis cause you the injuries that she is charged with?”
“No.”
“Do you feel that Ms. Curtis in any way told Sergeant Dickerson to do what he did to you?”
“No. He was pissed because a woman was getting the better of him in a fight. So he fought dirty.” Midnight’s words fell like rocks in the courtroom. The murmuring started again, to the point that the judge had to bang his gavel and call for order.
“He was fighting you?”
“Oh yeah. Randy tried to take one swing, but she missed. I backed up, and Dickerson was there.”
“What did he do?”
“Objection!” Cruz cried out. “I reiterate that Sergeant Dickerson is not on trial here!”
Nick looked up at the judge. “Your Honor, I’m trying to establish that my client had nothing to do with Sergeant Dickerson’s actions. I need to get the whole story to do that.”
“Objection overruled,” the judge said.
Nick turned back to Midnight. “What did he do then?”
“He grabbed me from behind, and I jammed my boot heel down on his foot. We grappled some more, and then he got mad.”
“What was Ms. Curtis doing?”
“She was just standing there. Looking absolutely horrified, I might add.”
“How could you see that?”
“I turned to her at one point to jibe at her about the type of company she was keeping, but Dickerson grabbed me again before I could.”
“Why didn’t you report the assault to the department?”
“Because I knew that Joe wouldn’t forgive Randy for something like that.”
“Why did that bother you?”
“Because my partner is my best friend, and he loves his wife very much. I wanted them to get back together.”
“So you withheld evidence so they could make up?”
“Yes.”
“Are you close to your partner, Sergeant Sinclair?”
“Very. As I said, he’s my best friend.”
“Do you think my client wanted to have him killed?”
“No.”
“Even after what happened to you, you still believe her?” Nick asked, disbelief in his voice.
“She loves Joe. She wouldn’t do that.”
“Not even for money?”
“Joe didn’t want a divorce from her—she wouldn’t have lost any money. He paid the bills the whole time she was on her own.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant. I have no further questions.” Nick went to sit down.
“Cross-examination?” the judge asked Cruz.
Cruz eyed Midnight. “Yes, Your Honor.”
Midnight looked back at him calmly.
“Ms. Chevalier,” Cruz said authoritatively as he stood.
“It’s Lieutenant Chevalier or Mrs. Debenshire—choose one,” Midnight said calmly, but her eyes were narrowed. She didn’t see Rick’s slow smile.
“My mistake, Lieutenant Chevalier.” Cruz inclined his head to her. They were usually on the same side, and this was odd for him. “I know that this has all been a strain on you, and I don’t want to compound that, so I have just a few questions.”
Midnight said nothing, just looked back at him, waiting.
“You said that Ms. Curtis wasn’t capable of wanting her husband killed. Is that correct?”
“No, it’s not.”
Cruz looked a little confused. “I’m sorry?”
“I said that Randy loves Joe and that she wouldn’t do that. I believe that you’re thinking of my husband—he said that Randy wasn’t capable of it.” There was subdued humor in Midnight’s eyes. She had felt it necessary to help Cruz out a little bit—she felt almost sorry for him at this point. He was outmatched.
“Yes, okay,” Cruz said, referring to his notes. “I’m sorry. Can I take that to mean that you do feel that Ms. Curtis is capable of hating her husband enough to want him dead?”
“No,” Midnight said, not reacting to the way he twisted her words. She knew this was a lawyer’s game. She did, after all, have a law degree too.
“Didn’t you deny Ms. Curtis’ request to ride along with your unit during her academy training, because you thought she had an attitude problem?”
“Yes, I did.”
“But that attitude problem couldn’t expand to include her husband?”
“There’s a large difference between an attitude and all-out hate, Mr. Cruz,” Midnight replied calmly.
“The attitude was directed at you?”
“Yes.”
“And what occurred to make you feel that Ms. Curtis had an attitude?”
“She challenged my… agility when I was teaching in her academy class.”
“Challenged your agility?”
“Yes, she indicated that when an officer in my unit got older, that officer probably sat at a desk and pushed paper a lot more.” Midnight couldn’t hide a sardonic grin.
“What did you do?”
“I proved her wrong.”
“How?”
“By taking her down to the mat.”
“How did she react to being humiliated in front of her academy class?”
“She did
n’t.” Midnight knew where he was trying to go with this line of questioning, and wasn’t willing to help him get there.
“She didn’t react?”
“No.”
“She wasn’t angry?”
“Not to my knowledge.”
“Are you sure you’re telling me the truth, Lieutenant?”
“I don’t need to lie to you, Cruz.”
“So you don’t feel that Randy could have been angry enough to consequently do what she did to you at your house?”
“She didn’t do anything. I think we already covered that.”
“But she was there.”
“We covered that too. Yes, she was there.”
“And you don’t feel that lends itself to malice.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Mr. Cruz, I have dealt with hundreds of gang members, and I’ve been in a number of confrontations with gang leaders. Guilt by association isn’t always plausible. People get swept up in what happens to them sometimes. I think that’s what happened to Randy.”
“But Ms. Curtis admittedly took one swing at you,” Cruz said, playing the one card he had left.
“Yes, she did.” Midnight shrugged. “She’s a kid. She had to try it again.”
“Oh, one last question. You admitted that you withheld evidence regarding this incident.”
“Is that the question?”
“Is it correct that you withheld evidence?”
“Yes, I did.”
“And what’s to keep you from withholding more evidence to save your friend’s wife from going to jail?”
“If I honestly believed Randy wanted him dead, do you think I’d want her around him?” Midnight raised an eyebrow at him, as if he were crazy.
Cruz stared back at her, realizing he’d be very happy when they were back on the same side. He didn’t want to have to face her this way again. She was tough. “No further questions.”
“Redirect, Mr. Kopanke?” the judge said.
“Yes, Your Honor. Lieutenant Chevalier, how serious is the penalty for withholding evidence?”
“It could cost me my shield,” Midnight said calmly.
“How long have you been a police officer, Lieutenant?”
“Ten and a half years.”
“That’s a long time. You must be very sure of Randy’s innocence if you’re willing to give up your life’s work.”
“I am, just as sure as I am about her love for my partner.” Midnight’s voice carried across the courtroom; there weren’t many dry eyes in the place. Especially not Randy’s. She hadn’t realized the risk Midnight had been taking by not handing her over to the authorities.
“Thank you, Lieutenant.”
“Mr. Cruz?” the judge said. He knew the man wasn’t foolish enough to try and attack Lieutenant Chevalier again, but he had to ask.
“No questions, Your Honor.”
Midnight left the witness stand, and as she walked down toward the audience seating, she stopped behind Randy and leaned down to whisper in the girl’s ear. “Hold it together, Curtis. It’s worth the prize.”
Randy laughed just a tiny bit, through her tears. She stood up and turned to Midnight, reaching out to hug the person she at one point had fooled herself into thinking she hated. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Whatever else happens, please tell Joe that I love him.”
“He knows,” Midnight said. Randy cried harder, hugging Midnight again. Then she turned and sat down. Nick handed her his handkerchief, and she took it gratefully.
Court adjourned for the day shortly after that, with the judge giving the jury their admonishments.
Randy left the courtroom feeling a little bit better than she had that morning. “Nick, there’s something I don’t understand,” she said as they walked down the hall.
“What?”
“Why was Dickerson stupid enough to lie, if he knew that Midnight would take the stand and tell the truth about what really happened?”
“Well, part of that had to do with a little last-minute… oh, gee, I forgot to tell Cruz till this morning that I was calling Midnight as a witness. Too late for Dickerson to change his bullshit story. And second, I think Dickerson figured that Midnight wouldn’t testify for you, even if what he was saying was bullshit, because she might believe the stuff about Joe.”
“That makes sense, I guess.” She eyed him suspiciously. “You certainly know how to finagle them, don’t you?”
“Hey,” Nick said. “If I thought you were guilty, I wouldn’t be doing all this. You’re not, and I’m not letting them put away an innocent woman because she had an affair.”
Midnight drove her Corvette home from the courthouse, with Rick in the passenger seat. He kept looking over at her, ever astounded.
“What?” Midnight said, glancing over at him. She made a face.
“You’re incredible, you know.”
“Yeah, I know.” Midnight sounded like she thought anything but, but she was grinning.
“I mean it. You chewed that DA up and spit him out, and I think he enjoyed it.”
“Funny.” Midnight’s cellular phone rang, and she reached over to hit the hands-free. “Yes?”
“Lieutenant Chevalier?”
“Dearborn?” As usual, she refused to use his rank.
“You and I need to meet.”
“What for?” Midnight replied, surprising Rick with the quick anger in her voice.
“Frankly, for the disciplinary problems I seem to be having with you, Lieutenant.”
“I see. And when will this little soiree take place?” She sounded overly casual, and Rick could see the anger on her face. It was amazing how quickly her mood could turn.
“Friday, in my office at oh nine hundred hours.”
“This Friday?” Midnight said, surprised.
“Yes, this Friday, Lieutenant.”
“Well, if this trial’s not over, I won’t be available.”
“What do you mean, you won’t be available? I thought you testified today?”
“I did, but the trial’s not over yet.”
“So what difference does that make?”
“One of my people’s on trial. I’m gonna be there.”
“Randy Curtis is not a member of FORS.”
“No, but she’s a member of this department, and she’s my partner’s wife,” Midnight snapped.
“She’s accused of trying to kill you and of trying to have your partner killed!” Dearborn exclaimed, as if she didn’t know.
“And,” Midnight said sharply, “she’s innocent until proven guilty.”
“Regardless, Lieutenant, I want you in my office at nine o’clock on Friday.” His voice brooked no argument.
“And if I don’t show?”
“Consider yourself on report.”
“Add it to the list then.” Midnight reached over and hung up. “Sonofabitch.”
“My,” Rick said, eyeing her. “Don’t like the new guy much, do you?”
“That’s an understatement.”
Rick shook his head. “I can’t believe he’s still going to go after you about that raid.”
“Wait till he hears about my testimony today. Withholding evidence—that’ll be a good one for my file,” she said derisively.
“Think he’ll do that?”
Midnight looked over at him, and then started to shake her head. “You have no idea.”
“So give me an idea.”
“You missed a lot while you were vacationing across the pond, dear.”
“Like what?”
“Like my first meeting with the assistant chief after the chief had his heart attack.”
“What happened?”
“Oh, not much. He basically just told me that my unit had received far more special treatment than it deserved. And that I’d have to learn a new way of moving up in the world…”
Rick looked at her for a long moment, and suddenly, seeing the look in her eyes and how white her knuckles were as she grip
ped the steering wheel, he knew what she meant. “Was he saying what I think he was?”
Midnight laughed sardonically. “Oh, he didn’t say it, but yeah, he basically thinks I laid anyone who would get me to the top. Some top!” She laughed again, but there was no humor in it.
“Jesus, Night. He said this to you and the guy’s still breathin’?” He was serious; he knew Midnight’s temper, that and the fact that she had probably told Joe. “Did you tell Joe?”
“Duh.”
“I ask again—why is that guy still alive?”
Midnight laughed, this time with a little more humor. “I wouldn’t let Joe kill him, that’s why. I told him I needed him around to help me, not in jail somewhere.”
Rick was silent for a long time, his face somber. “I should’ve been here for you,” he said softly.
Midnight shrugged, not wanting to tell him that yes, he should have.
“Guess I’ve really left a lot to be desired where those marriage vows are concerned, haven’t I?”
“Some, yes. I can’t exactly remain blameless here either.”
“What? Joe?” Rick said mildly, which surprised Midnight.
“That’s what I was referring to, yes.”
“Was it the same with him as it was before?” It was a question Rick had wanted to ask her for a long time.
Midnight looked over at him, her eyes narrowed just slightly. But he saw no anger there; it was if she was wondering how he knew. Her words confirmed that.
“No, it wasn’t, but how…?” Midnight said, wondering how he knew.
“Let’s just say I found that out for myself. No one is you. Hell, the way I look at it, you bein’ with Joe, what, one time, was more like an afterthought than a real affair. Wasn’t it?”
Midnight smiled. He knew her better than she had realized. She nodded slowly. She reached over and turned up the stereo, indicating that she didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Rick knew to back off then. He felt a sense of relief that he’d been right about her and Joe. It made him feel like there was still some hope for them.
Over the last month, they hadn’t really talked. Every time he had tried to get serious about a conversation, she’d get angry or just go quiet. He’d given up. They’d made love a few more times, each as intense as the first encounter after such a long time had been. He’d found himself wanting her more than he had in years. It was as if he was back to square one with her. When they’d first gotten together, things had been fiery from the start. But then he’d made the mistake of falling in love with her, and he’d decided that he didn’t care if she loved him or not—he wanted to be with her no matter what. And here he was again, willing to be with her for whatever time she’d let him. It was strange; he had come full circle all over one woman. Midnight was the literal center of his life.
Betrayals Stand (MidKnight Blue Book 5) Page 17