The Naughty Nine: Where Danger and Passion Collide

by Nina Bruhns

  “No, I’m convinced the Army buried that non-disclosure agreement as deep as they did Jesse’s missions. And we better hope like hell Lawson et al. don’t find it. Jesse’s right. If they did, Garrett would have the surefire weapon against her that he doesn’t have now.”

  Eric mused, “I feel like shit going behind Jesse’s back, but we’re going to have to spring it on her. She’d shut us down if she knew.”

  Dameon gazed at him through narrowed eyes.

  “She didn’t give us a choice, Eric. There’s nothing ethical about letting your client lose her son because she’s too stubborn to ask for help.”

  “Hell, Dameon. I don’t know how to thank you. Jesse’s gonna owe you big time, bro. You’re making sure she gets custody of her son.”

  “We haven’t succeeded yet, Eric. But between your skills, and me on the stand, we’re going to run those fuckers into the ground.

  “As for Jesse and me?” He gave a bitter laugh. “She doesn’t owe me a goddamned thing.”

  * * *

  On the plane ride home Dameon had a “come to Jesus conversation" with himself about Jesse. The discussion had been brewing in his mind since last Monday when Jesse cut him out of her life. He reminded himself of the hell he went through with Nita. It had taken him five years in a hellacious marriage to admit that Nita’s cunning evil and six extramarital affairs spoke to who she was and always would be. For most of those years he told himself that he stayed because of Zoey. He finally admitted that he had a crusader complex. He was convinced that he could change the devastating traits of his disloyal wife with the sheer power of his persuasiveness. Nita taught him a life lesson that he’d promised himself he would never forget.

  Then along came Jesse. Beautiful, talented and a genuine warrior. But Jesse was broken as profoundly as Nita was. While Nita tried to destroy others--Jesse inflicted her pain on herself.

  Dameon had tried to ignore that he was doing the same thing with Jesse that he had with Nita. He’d been sure that he could heal Jesse. Make her believe in herself. Overcome years of self-sabotage and ugly experiences. But this last week had proved him wrong. He had to let go. Or give in to another decade of unhappiness with a woman he couldn’t help no matter how hard he tried. The decision was clear. He’d help Jesse get Trey back because they both deserved that. But as painful as it was, he and Jesse would be no more.

  He gave a harsh laugh. The hell of it was, that it would be easier to do this time. He was so goddamned angry with her he didn’t want to be in the same room with her, much less admit that he loved her.

  * * *

  Jesse stared in her closet, deciding what to wear. She planned to get to court early as she always did. She wanted to give herself extra time. She’d been so foggy lately that she wasn’t sure she’d remember where the courthouse was or where to park. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to fantasize that things were like they were a short week ago. That Dameon would be here any minute to make sure that she got to the courthouse on time and that she was ready for the ordeal.

  But that pipedream had shattered and she’d done the shattering. She hadn’t heard from Dameon since Friday morning and Eric had barely spoken to her. She’d shut them both out and apparently they’d decided that’s where they wanted to be. She took a deep breath and walked out to her Jeep, alone. As she’d insisted she wanted to be.

  Red Rock Rises: Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “A child custody suit is a serious business. The well-being of the child is at stake, particularly in this case given the claims the plaintiff has brought to the court. This is not a typical hearing with all the rules and procedures inherent in a formal hearing. I will allow leeway and will often interject myself into the questioning. Trey Chambers will not be present for the testimony, but at the conclusion I will bring him in and question him. Neither attorney will be permitted to ask Trey questions.

  “Mr. Lawson, as attorney for the plaintiff, you may begin and present the plaintiff’s case. Then Mr. Grant will present Ms. O’Donnell’s case. At any time, either attorney can ask questions of any of the witnesses. Mr. Lawson, please begin. Present your case and the claims Doctor Chambers has made against his former wife.”

  Judge Sylvia Thompson’s words were as crisp and professional as her appearance. Likely in her fifties, she was an attractive woman who brooked no nonsense. Her reputation was that of a tough, unforgiving family court judge who went out of her way to ensure that the needs of the child were front and center. Dameon had worked with her and admired her. It was good to know that she respected him as much as he did her. He congratulated Eric. Garrett may have the largest and most aggressive legal team, but Eric had hit a ten stroke in getting Judge Thompson on the bench to hear their case.

  “Your honor, let me begin by stating that not only is Trey Chambers’ well-being at risk, his life is as well.” Martin Lawson paused to let his shocking words sink in.

  Judge Thompson raised an eyebrow, but simply nodded at the small dapper man in the $2,000 suit to continue. Dameon could have warned the prick that Judge Thompson wasn’t impressed with theatrics. The puffed-up attorney was so enthralled with his own presentation that he missed the signal from the Judge.

  “In summary, your honor, we have compelling evidence that Jesse O’Donnell has endangered her son’s life. As a former member of the military, she has a house full of weaponry that is openly available to her teenage son. Since she moved to Albuquerque she herself has been arrested on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs. Trey Chambers, who was never in trouble while under the care of his father, was also arrested in an incident where a man was shot. Trey is now on a rigorous probation plan because the APD considers him ‘at risk.’ In addition, Ms. O’Donnell now runs a business that she claims is a personal security company. That is questionable. From what we can ascertain her only client is closely associated with the Morales narcotics cartel.”

  Dameon hadn’t missed the way Jesse’s eyes lit up when she saw him come into the courtroom. The flame died quickly at his stern nod. He spoke quietly with Eric for a few minutes then, ignoring Jesse’s silent appeal, went to sit in the back of the courtroom. He sat where he could see and hear the proceeding but couldn’t smell her damnable intoxicating aroma. He almost pitied Eric, who was forced to sit next to her. Then again, pity wasn’t exactly what he felt. Just a week ago, he’d have given anything she asked, just to be sitting next to her. Dameon caustically reminded himself that she didn’t want him there.

  Now watching Jesse while the officious man ticked off Garrett’s case, Dameon was concerned with her appearance. Beautiful as ever, she looked too pale, thinner than he’d ever seen her. Even sitting next to Eric, she looked vulnerable, alone. As Lawson detailed the outrageous charges, Jesse’s back stiffened and Dameon saw her eyes flash. Good, her fighting spirit was coming through. She would need it under cross examination.

  Lawson continued. “We concede that Ms. O’Donnell is a beautiful woman. However, we will present compelling evidence that in contrast to the image Ms. O’Donnell presents of her military service; it is more likely that she used her physical attributes to augment her military income.”

  At the shocked gasps in the courtroom, Judge Thompson banged her gavel.

  “Silence.”

  She pinned a hard gaze on Lawson. “That is an inflammatory charge, Counselor. I trust you have ironclad evidence to support it.”

  “We do, your honor. According to the old saw: ‘Pictures don’t lie.’ ”

  Turning toward Garrett, he continued. “In contrast to Ms. O’Donnell’s questionable background, Doctor Chambers is a physician and surgeon educated at the finest universities in the country. In the short time he’s lived in Albuquerque he has generated a prosperous plastic surgery practice. He is the member of six different Boards of Directors, and is considered by many a rising community leader. He provides a home for his son consistent with his income, educational and professional background. We have put into evidence, testimony from twelve
leading citizens testifying to Dr. Chamber’s standing in the community. In addition, Dr. Chambers has had primary custody of his son for most of the boy’s life as his ex-wife has chosen world-wide jaunts, rather than motherhood for the last ten years.”

  Clearly annoyed, Judge Thompson interrupted. “Tone it down, Counselor. Please present facts--not your opinion.”

  Dameon knew that it would be challenging to listen to the ugly case that Garrett’s legal team was making. But he was surprised how angry he was. Jesse did not deserve this. He reminded himself it was not his business to protect her. That was Eric’s job. But he was eager to go to the stand and blow this nonsense case to shreds. At that moment, Martin Lawson asked the court’s permission to show date stamped photographs of the defendant that they had received from a private source. When the judge agreed, Lawson clicked through a montage of photographs all showing a scantily clad Jesse surrounded by groups of, primarily Middle Eastern, men whose faces had been blacked out. To say the pictures were damning was an understatement. In each of them, Jesse looked as though she was entertaining the men and enjoying every minute. The reaction from the audience was electric.

  Dameon knew that Eric had shown Jesse the pictures in advance, and was gratified to see that she did not react, only stiffened her shoulders further and sat ramrod straight.

  “Mr. Lawson, I presume you will present evidence as to what these pictures represent, correct?” Judge Thompson was glaring at the plaintiff’s bench.

  “Yes, your honor. From the best source we have. We will let Ms. O’Donnell elucidate us on the particulars of the photographs.”

  Dameon had to give the asshole credit. His ploy was obvious. Garrett and his attorneys knew that Jesse couldn’t defend herself. They assumed that her silence would confirm her wrongdoing. Dameon huffed. It might have worked if he hadn’t come up with a strategy to shoot their theory up their collective asses.

  “Do you have any questions, Mr. Grant, regarding these photographs?”

  Eric glanced up at the photos. As though they were of no importance, he shook his head.

  “No your honor. Not at this time.”

  Her irritation showing, the judge glared at Eric. “I see. I would have assumed you would want to respond. As you do not, Mr. Grant, please present your case.”

  Eric began by calling Sherman Caruthers to the stand. Caruthers indicated that he was a locksmith and had been in business for twenty-five years.

  At Eric’s request, two officers wheeled in Jesse’s gun safe, a four-foot by five-foot rectangular steel box. Caruthers confirmed that it belonged to Jesse and that the locksmith had seen it in her house.

  “Mr. Caruthers, if you would, please, open this safe.”

  Caruthers turned to Eric in surprise. “You know I can’t do that, sir.”

  Eric replied, “Yes I do know that. Please tell the court why.”

  “This safe is one of the most elaborate I have seen. It can only be opened by her.” He pointed to Jesse, then to the locking mechanism. “This lock scans her fingerprint and her retina. No one but her could open it unless he had a ton of dynamite.”

  Lawson jumped to his feet. “Just because it requires her finger print to open it doesn’t confirm that the Major always kept it locked.”

  Caruthers shrugged. “I guess you’re right. But I don’t know why she’d go to the trouble and spend the money to have a safe like this if she didn’t use it.”

  Eric dismissed him. “Thank you, Mr. Caruthers.”

  Next, he called Trey’s school principal to the stand.

  Eric dispensed one of his sunny smiles on the scowling principal. “Mr. Rodriguez, you are the principle of Xavier High School that Trey Chambers attends, correct?”

  When the principal frowned and nodded, Eric asked, “You know Trey Chambers’ mother, Ms. O’Donnell? Yes? She’s been to the school?”

  “Yes, frequently.”

  “How often?”

  “At least several times a month. She was concerned about Trey’s grades and that he seemed unhappy.” The stern man elaborated. “After Trey got in trouble she came once a week to review his grades and meet individually with his teachers.”

  “Do you also know Trey’s father?”

  “No, I’ve never met him until today.”

  Lawson rose to his feet. “Are you aware that Trey’s father is a very busy surgeon?”

  “Like I said, I never met him until today.” With that, the principal was dismissed. Next to the stand was Marsha Vargas.

  “Officer Vargas, you are Trey’s probationary counselor, correct? Please tell the court your opinion of Trey’s progress.”

  “Well, thanks to his love of basketball, and the Chief putting him on the Warriors team, Trey is thriving. He was a shy, sullen kid when he got in trouble. In the short time that the Chief and I have been working with him he has become a leader. Not only on the court but at school. I don’t know how he’s improved his grades as much as he has. All the kid talks about is basketball.”

  Jesse couldn’t hide her surprise when Eric called Shaunda Williams to the stand. When Shaunda sat down in the witness chair and showered Jesse with her 200-watt smile and a wink, Jesse was stunned at the emotion flooding her. Resisting the impulse to cover her face with her hands so that no one could see the tears burning her eyes, she kept her head down, listening to her friend’s cheerful description of Jesse’s participation in the basketball team.

  “Jesse never missed a practice in the month that Trey has been on the team. She is as loyal to Trey as I am to my son, DaShon. In answer to your question about him,” Shaunda pointed to Garrett, whose face was riddled with dark red splotches. “I only saw him once. After the Albuquerque Gazette raved about the team and Wolf, he showed up. Must have thought he could horn in on some of the publicity we were getting.”

  When Eric brought Trey’s former basketball coach in on Skype, Jesse was stunned. Listening to Coach Straight tell the court how Jesse had him videotape all of Trey’s games and send them to her wherever she was on assignment, she allowed herself to acknowledge what was happening. She had not seen Eric since she threatened him with dismissal five days ago. He’d left messages indicating that he was travelling. Other than a couple of phone calls when she laid out the strategy he was to follow, they’d barely spoken. She now understood his absence. He’d gone above her head and created a defense he knew she would’ve refused to consider.

  Jesse was surprised to hear Eric speaking to her. She realized with a start that he’d called her to the stand. Forcing her myriad emotions to quiet, she rose with as much dignity as she could muster. At least this portion of the trial she understood. She’d designed it. A wave of anxiety hit her. Unless, Eric threw her a curveball as he had been doing for the last forty-five minutes.

  Dameon watched her walk to the witness chair. She looked elegant, competent. If she wasn’t so pale, and he didn’t know her as well as well as he did, he would have missed the fear in her eyes and her hands clenched in tight fists at her sides.

  After a series of short, introductory questions, Eric asked, “Which branch of the service were you in, Major McDonnell?”

  “The Army. I was an adjunct member of a Ranger squad.”

  “I see. The Rangers are what we laymen know as Special Operatives, correct? Isn’t it unusual for women to be in Ranger units?”

  “Yes. But it is becoming more common.”

  “What was your role?”

  Jesse frowned. Eric was going beyond her instructions.

  “I was a community liaison specialist.”

  “Can you tell me about the missions you were on?”

  “No.”

  “As for the photos that your former husband showed the court, is that you in the pictures?”

  Jesse couldn’t help but be impressed at Eric’s skillful question. She responded the only way that she could.

  “I can neither confirm nor deny that.”

  Eric tugged on his chin. “Is it fair to say that i
f any of the men who were on those missions were in the courtroom, that they also would be unable to confirm or deny their presence?”

  “That is correct.”

  Jesse watched him, uneasy, not sure if he would follow the script she’d given him. She was relieved when he concluded, “So that puts us in a hard place, doesn’t it, Major? You can’t confirm, deny or explain what you were or were not doing when you were on your various missions, correct?”

  “Yes, that is correct.”

  “Thank you. That’s all for now.”

  Hearing the murmurs from the people in the courtroom, Jesse knew that they were as surprised as she was at his quick dismissal.

  When Eric called his next witness to the stand, she understood his strategy and who had helped him create the defense that was a world away from her instructions.

  Relying on the last ounce of strength she had to get back to her chair, she avoided his eyes as he passed her on the way to the witness stand.

  “Your honor, I’d like to call Police Chief Dameon Macarios to the stand.”

  Three members of Garrett’s team and Garrett himself were on their feet objecting as Dameon strode up the aisle, his smile as large and confident as his presence. He whispered to a clearly shaken Jesse as he passed by, “Don’t worry, tiger, I won’t embarrass you anymore than I have to.”

  Red Rock Rises: Chapter Thirty

  Martin Lawson’s voice was sharp, insistent.

  “Your Honor, there is bad blood between my client and the police chief. I request permission to treat the Chief as a hostile witness!”

  The corners of Judge Thompson’s eyes crinkled before her impassive expression returned.

  “I know the Chief can be overbearing. Arrogant, even. But I’ve never thought of him as hostile. Proceed.”

  Jesse doubted anyone missed Dameon’s surreptitious wink at the Judge or her slight flush in response. She watched Dameon settle into the witness chair, an easy smile lighting his handsome face. His custom cut suit rivaled Martin Lawson’s. Except that compared to Lawson’s short pudgy frame, Dameon’s lean muscular physique was made for his GQ styled apparel. The open necked charcoal silk shirt and hand tooled black cowboy boots were stylish accessories only someone with Dameon’s panache could pull off. Jesse struggled with the familiar sensations ricocheting over her body. His closeness brought back a wave of emotions, from desire to sadness. When he first entered the courtroom, she hadn’t permitted herself to acknowledge how his cool response hurt. She hadn’t allowed herself to think how much she missed his laughing, teasing presence until it was gone, replaced by cool dispassion. She wondered what it would feel like to have his strong arms around her, driving her to ecstatic heights. With an effort she suppressed the sob that tore at her throat, knowing that she’d lost those sexy comforting arms forever.