by K Elliott
“Why don’t you advance me some of the lawsuit money? Come on, you know we’re going to win this case. Hell, they locked me up for nothing. This is an open and shut case; you know this. They already offered me three-hundred thousand dollars, so you know I’ll have enough to pay this Huntley guy.”
“I tell you what, I’ll talk it over with Dan. I’ll see if we can work something out.”
“Promise.”
“Yeah, I promise.”
“If you two can work something out, I will double Huntley’s legal fees after I get my settlement.”
“You really love your son, don’t you?”
“He’s all I got in this world.”
“Mr. Cannon, don’t worry about it. I will make it happen.”
“Thanks.”
*****
Dan Huntley was a tall redhead with a freckled face. He wore huge glasses. A no-nonsense kind of guy, he was an ex-military man. He’d also worked hard as a federal prosecutor for ten years, bringing down some of the city’s most notorious criminals. He decided to go into private practice when one of his old law school buddies started his own firm. He was offered a partner position. He’d become quite wealthy since becoming a criminal defense attorney. He’d bought himself a penthouse and a Ferrari, and he’d invested in eighteen condos that he used as rental properties. His net worth had tripled.
Huntley extended his hand to Tommy when he walked into the attorney visitation room in the county jail.
“Pleased to meet you, sir,” Tommy said.
“How ya feeling, big guy?”
“Not so good.”
“I can understand that, but I’m going to do my best to get you out of this situation—or at least put you in a better position.”
“I hope so.”
“Your dad said something about you being sexually involved with one of the agents involved in the case.”
Tommy’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, one of agents was a woman.”
“What was her name?”
“Stacey Matthews. She went by the name of Alicia.”
Huntley scribbled the names on a yellow legal pad. “And you and Matthews were supposedly an item, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“They must have thought you were a big fish.”
“Why do you say this?”
“This is a pretty intense investigation.”
“You think so?”
Huntley nodded. “The way they lured you into investing your money with the CI and all … that was serious.”
“Is that entrapment?”
“Yes and no. It’s kind of dirty the way they can persuade you to do something like invest your money while pretending to be your friend, but they can do it within their bounds. Entrapment is hard to prove.”
“Sleeping with the target of an investigation isn’t illegal?” Tommy asked.
Huntley took his glasses off. “This is clearly government misconduct, but how are you going to prove it? It’s going to be her word against yours.”
“I don’t know?”
“That’s what I was afraid of. You have no proof. We’ll have to try this from another angle, unless we can prove your allegation. Let’s face it, I don’t think she’s going to come forward and say that she slept with you.”
“But we used to be together everyday; my friends used to see us.”
Huntley stared at Tommy without smiling. “Son, I believe you, but the judge probably won’t. I’m just being realistic.”
*****
“So how does it look?” J.C. asked Tommy, staring through the Plexiglass window.
“I guess it’s okay. Huntley says we can’t get an entrapment
defense.”
“Why?”
Tommy shrugged. “Says the judge rarely rules entrapment.” “Even if you sleep with the feds.”
“I guess.”
“That’s fucked up, Son.”
“I know it is.”
“You say your prayers?”
“I did.”
“Well then keep your head up; everything is going to be okay.” Tommy ran his fingers through his hair. “You know we only get
one haircut a month in here.”
J.C. chuckled. “Is that why your ass is looking like the missing link
between man and ape?”
“Very funny. I remember coming to see your ass in here, and you
was looking like Dr. J. from back in the day.”
J.C.’s smiled disappeared. “Son, I hate they got you caged like an
animal.”
“Don’t worry, Dad. Like you say, everything is going to be okay.” “It will; I really believe that,” J.C. said.
“Me too.”
“I hate that DEA bitch, and I don’t even know her.”
“I just feel so fucking used. I loved this woman; I really did. I
actually had a lot of fun with the woman.”
“I know she’s a nasty ‘lil bitch.”
“Why you say that?”
“I found a pair of bloody underwear in your apartment. They were
thongs. And I know they couldn’t have been yours, or at least I hope
not.”
“Naw, they weren’t mine, player.”
“I hope not.”
Tommy’s eyes lit up. “Those underwear, that’s the proof I need.” “What you talking about?”
“My semen is on those underwear, too. I pulled those thongs to
the side to hit that, but I remember coming out sloppy.”
J.C. smiled. “Tommy, this is good news, Son. That means your
DNA and her DNA is on them. The same thing that got me out of
prison is going to get you out, too.”
***** “Did you have sex with him?” Mark asked Stacey.
“No.”
“His lawyer is claiming that you did, and he has proof.” “Well, I didn’t. What kind of proof?”
“He won’t tell us, but he says that he’s going to make our whole
department look corrupt.”
“Fuck what he says; I know what I done,” Stacey said. She sipped
some coffee.
“Again, did you fuck the man?”
“Did you fuck the white girl?”
“This ain’t about me?”
“The hell it ain’t; it’s about the department.”
“Hey, I just don’t want anybody to get embarrassed, that’s all.” Stacey began to cry.
Mark looked down at her. “It’s going to be all right.”
“I’m sorry. I swear I’m sorry.”
Mark ran his fingers through her hair then whispered, “We all make
mistakes.” He thought about the sex he’d had with Jennifer, but she
had taken the secret to the grave with her.
Stacey raised her head, looked into his eyes for a moment, then
started crying again.
***** “Good news,” Huntley said.
Tommy smiled. “What is it?”
“The girl resigned from the agency.”
“Oh yeah? What does this mean?”
“In my opinion it means that she isn’t going to dispute the
allegations.”
“So what does this mean for me?”
“Nothing. You’ll probably be debriefed by outside agents about
your affairs.” Huntley toyed with an ink pen. “Tommy, you’re facing a minimum twenty years. I’m going to ask the judge to give you a reduction since you came forth with the information about the governmental misconduct.”
“Can you get it down to ten years?”
“Possibly lower.”
Tommy smiled. He felt blessed. He extended his hand to Huntley.
“You’re the best.”
“I told you I would put up a fight, and it still ain’t over.” “But at least one day I’ll be able to live again.”
“Yes, indeed you will.” Huntley smiled then left the room.
***** Judge Theodore Owens looked over his glasses at To
mmy. J.C. held his son’s hand.
Tommy’s whole body shook.
“Son, I want you to know that you’ve done an admirable thing by coming forth with this information. I commend you for helping bring this kind of government corruption to the forefront.”
Tommy smiled.
Owen’s face became stern. “You are nobody’s angel, though. In fact, you’ve done a lot of harm to the community. Do you understand me?”
“Yeah-yes, sir,” Tommy said.
“Your lawyer thinks you should have a second chance.” Huntley raised his hand. “Your Honor, if I may say something?” “Make it quick.”
“Tommy’s father is here today. Let me just say he has just completed ten years in state prison.”
“So he takes after his father, huh?” Owens said.
“Not quite Your Honor, you see, Mr. Connors was falsely accused and recently released because of new evidence.”
“Okay, what does that have to do with this case?”
“Mr. Connors has filed a lawsuit against the state and will probably be awarded a hefty amount of money.”
“I don’t understand.”
“He plans to open a restaurant and several other businesses, so whenever his son released, he will have something legitimate to do. I don’t think we’ll ever have to worry about him selling drugs again.”
“Is this so, Mr. Dupree?”
“Yes, sir, Your Honor.”
The prosecutor protested and made a few objections, which were all overruled.
“All things considered, I herby sentence you to sixty months.”
“Thank you, Your Honor.”
“Thank God!” J.C. said.
Epilogue
J.C. was in his new boat, lying back, taking in the sun. His
boat was a decent size, but he was thinking of getting something a little bigger, perhaps a river yacht. He could afford it; he could afford a lot of things now that he’d received his settlement for false imprisonment. With the money came new relatives and young women that wouldn’t have ordinarily given him a second look, but ever since they had published his settlement in the newspaper, he’d become one of the most popular bachelors in town. He didn’t care about women or a new boat; all he wanted in life was to be living when his son walked out of that federal prison. Thirty more months and Tommy would be free. Together they would explore the world, ride in big boats, go deep sea fishing. J.C. smiled, thinking about what life would be like once his boy was free.
About the Author
K. Elliott resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. Elliott participated in and has completed various creative writing courses at both Central Piedmont Community College and Queens University. In 2001, Elliott received a scholarship to attend the North Carolina Writer’s Network Conference. Elliott was also a finalist in 2001 Keystone poetry competition. The release of his first novel, Entangled, placed Elliott on the list of Essence best-selling authors. He has also recently signed to write for the G-unit book series.