by A Lexy Beck
Cain always seemed to be the voice of reason. I pulled away and kissed him one last time before I allowed him to lead me back into the party.
Chapter Three
The cold air sent a shiver down my back as we walked outside together. A light dusting of snow covered the freshly shoveled sidewalk and Cain held my hand, keeping it warm as I fumbled for my keys in my coat pocket with the other hand. “I’ll see you in a few minutes, I’m just parked over there.” I nodded in the direction of my car and kissed Cain, leaving him behind.
The street lamps reflected off of the flurries of snow drifting from the sky. The roads were wet and I was thankful they weren’t slippery. My rear-wheel drive sports car was awful in the snow, and I was definitely not a great snow driver. The eerie silence of the night was broken by footsteps behind me. I quickly turned, expecting to see Cain and instead was met by an empty sidewalk and a few passing cars. The unmistakable feeling of my phone vibrating caught my attention as I hastened my pace. My car was only two hundred yards ahead. I reached for my phone and read the text message from an unknown number.
:(
The footsteps returned and I began to walk quicker, almost jogging, while looking back over my shoulder; still nothing and no one in sight. The echoed beep of the car alarm disarming was muffled by the snow on the ground and I reached for the car door. I turned to look back down the street in both directions. Nothing. I was suddenly met with the loud crash of breaking glass and spun to see a dark figure standing next to me.
My blood-curdling scream echoed throughout the room as I bolted upright in bed, covered in sweat, barely able to catch my breath.
“What’s wrong!? Are you ok, Jennifer?” Cain’s hand rested on my back, slowly rubbing it and comforting me. “Talk to me!”
I struggled to figure out where I was and finally gained my composure. “It’s ok. Just a bad dream, it must have been all of the spicy tuna I ate last night.” I looked at the clock and realized I needed to be up in a few hours and lay back down, pulling Cain’s arm around me. “I’ll be alright.”
“I’m right here.” Cain reassured me and pulled me close.
I reached for my phone sitting on the nightstand and scrolled through the messages.
I’m watching
Take a hint…
I see you.
I looked at the last message with the attached picture of me leaving my apartment. Tears fell on the pillow and my sniffling caught Cain’s attention. He grabbed my phone and stared at the messages.
“What are these? Why haven’t you me told about these?” Cain’s stern and protective voice cut through the otherwise silent room. “You’re in danger, you shouldn’t be handling this yourself, Jen.”
“It’s harmless, Cain. If they wanted to do something they would have done it already. They’re toying with me, and I’m trying to figure out what they want. We both know the police aren’t going to do anything.”
Cain continued to scroll through the old messages. A few had photos from my stolen laptop, some of me and Cain, and others were just nonsense pictures that I couldn’t figure out. “Jennifer, this has been going on for a while. You told me they had stopped.”
I didn’t say anything. I knew it was wrong to have kept this from Cain, but there was already so much going on with the trial and Dylan. The last thing he needed was to worry about me and some hapless, wannabe stalker. I had gotten the feeling that whoever was doing this was more of an annoyance than a threat.
“Jennifer, talk to me.” Cain pushed for an answer but I refused to give in. My stubborn side prevailed as I continued to lie still in bed. “If you don’t answer me then I’ll stick to your side until this is resolved. If I have to hire private security for you I’ll do that as well.”
“Cain! Stop! It’s nothing to worry about. They don’t want anything other than to be annoying and scare me. Think about it. There haven’t been any break-ins, all they are doing is sending texts and taking pictures from afar. Eventually I will figure this out. They’re bound to slip up, but for now, just let it go.” I realized that my request was far from rational or even reasonable. If the tables were turned I know I would be thinking the same thing. I rolled over and grabbed my phone from Cain. “Besides, I’m either always in the office or with you. I can take care of myself in between.”
“Have you forgotten what we just went through?” Cain’s words hung in the air.
“We? What we went through? I was the one kidnapped! I was thrown in the trunk of a car and tied up to a bed…by your friend, Cain. Trust me, there isn’t a detail I have forgotten about that night.” Tears were streaming down my face and I could feel the emotions taking over. I hadn’t really had a chance to let go since the news broke that Dylan had been convicted.
Cain paused and collected his thoughts. “I’m sorry you went through all of that. If there was anything I could have done…but I suffered with you. If anything would have happened to you, Jennifer…” Cain sat up and reached for me, but it was too late.
“I’m going to head home and get an early start on the day. I have lots of packing to do and I want to spend some time preparing for Monday.”
“Jen, wait…”
I quickly put on a pair of jeans from the drawer I had now filled at Cain’s house. I finished getting dressed and looked at Cain sitting on the edge of the bed watching me.
“It’s ok, Cain. I’ll be fine. I just need some time. I’ll give you a call later today.”
I hated leaving him that way, but I realized that I hadn’t totally healed from everything that had happened. I thought I’d get some closure once Dylan was officially behind bars for good, but there were still some loose ends that needed to be tied up.
I spent the rest of the day packing and planning for my two big moves. My life was about to change again, and I wasn’t exactly sure how I was going to handle moving into a new apartment, starting this new company my father had set up, and trying to put the past behind me and move forward with Cain.
I was being pulled in so many directions by unseen forces that I felt as if I were about to be ripped apart.
Exhaustion had taken over from everything else, and I was too tired to even want to talk to Cain. It felt odd that I was avoiding him a bit, but I felt I still needed some space. I sent him a quick text.
Sorry about earlier. I’m exhausted and headed to bed. Talk 2morrow. Luv Ya
I passed out before I received his reply.
I’m sorry too. Yes. See you after work. Ditto
Chapter Four
Monday morning and getting back to reality was a welcome relief. I was happy to bury myself in cases and clients again, but I was even more excited about getting started with Dunning and Associates. Dad hadn’t given me too many details, except that they wanted to begin separating cases from Dunning, Durst and Chandler’s.
I arrived early, hoping to catch Dad and pick up everything I needed for the new office before the day got started. The firm had been built out on the eleventh floor, one below DDC.
“Morning, Dad.”
“Good morning. Are you ready for your first client of your own?” I could tell Dad was trying to sound proud, but it came off a bit condescending.
“Well, I have had my own clients before, but I know what you mean. Anyhow, yes. I just wanted to grab the keys to the office and get things situated.” A large part of me was ecstatic to no longer be working in the same office as my father. Even though we didn’t see much of each other, I always knew he was right next door.
“Oh sorry, the office isn’t quite done yet. It won’t be ready until the end of the week. You and Reese can sit tight here until then. And here’s the file on your first case under Dunning and Associates.”
I knew the disappointment was written all over my face as I grabbed the file from Dad, but I didn’t bother trying to hide it. “Brice Pennington? Why does that name sound familiar?”
“I’ve worked with him on cases before. He’s a very sharp defense attorney. He was t
op of his class and a rising star within his firm. I ran into him last week, and when he told me about his case I knew you could help him. They need help with the jury.”
I stared at the file. Jury selection on a hit and run. “And why exactly did you tell me this was a big case? This seems pretty cut and dry to me.” I flipped through the folder and realized where I had heard his name before. “This is the arrogant, know-it-all, Brice Pennington?” I suddenly wanted this case even less than before.
“You’ll have to discuss that with Brice…and no, he’s not arrogant. He’s confident and he’s really good. And besides, Jennifer, if I told you this was just a boring old case, would you have been excited?” Dad smiled his usual know-it-all smile and sent me on my way.
I sat in the conference room reviewing the file and details of the case. Pretty clear cut. The driver, John Doll, was intoxicated and failed the field sobriety tests. He chose not to take the Breathalyzer and later submitted blood for testing. While he didn’t remember it, he apparently hit a college student on his bike. Fortunately the student wasn’t killed, but was injured. I shook my head as I continued to read the details.
“Jennifer? I’m Brice Pennington.” A tall handsome man in his early thirties extended his hand. His blonde hair hung slightly over his well-tanned face; he’d obviously caught some winter rays. His clear blue eyes and bright white smile matched his confidence and I was caught off guard at his stunning good looks. He wasn’t anything like I had pictured in my mind.
“Yes. Nice to meet you, Brice. I was just reviewing your case. Jury selection? What are you hoping for on this?”
“I just want to make sure we aren’t missing anything and that I do the best I can for my client.”
“I see. So this kid is a landscaper?” I couldn’t help but wonder how an early twenties kid with a landscaping job could afford such a high profile firm. Must be Daddy’s money.
“He is. Hard working kid. His parents are backing him one hundred percent. I feel terrible, they cashed in their retirement to pay for the mistake their son made. I owe it to them.” Brice seemed sincere and not the brash, arrogant attorney that I had heard he was.
“Here, take a look at his interrogation video and what we recorded when we talked with him later that week.” Brice opened up his laptop and played the first video.
John Doll sat in the interview room three hours after he hit the cyclist at 10 pm. He had run his car off the side of the road less than two miles from the scene of the accident.
The burly detective paced around the room as John sat and watched. John’s foot tapped the cement floor as he held his head in both hands, his elbows resting on the stainless steel table. He slowly wobbled back and forth.
“Mr. Doll, how much did you have to drink this evening?” The detective sat opposite John but he was unable to make eye contact. “Look at me, son, I’m talking to you.”
“Not much…I don’t remember, maybe one.”
“Really? Just one? You think I’m stupid? We found you passed out with your girlfriend, two miles down the road. Just tell me what happened and make this easy on us all.”
“I told you, I had one beer and Macie hadn’t been drinking at all. She’s…never mind.” John kept his hands on his head, holding it steady.
“She’s what? She had been puking all over herself, obviously you two have been out on a binge tonight. At least you had the balls to man up and tell us you’d been driving.”
“I’m not feeling too hot. I’m going to be sick.” John leaned over and threw up on the floor.
“Alright, kid, into the tank you go. We’ll catch up with you when you’re more coherent.”
“I’m not drunk, I just don’t feel well.” John attempted to get the detectives attention, but it was useless.
“Save it, kid. I’ll see you in a few hours when you’ve slept it off and realize what you’ve done.”
Brice stropped the video and started to play the next one.
“Hold up a minute, Brice. Are those pictures of the car and the police report?” I reached for Brice’s file and flipped through the paper.
“Yeah, there was damage to the front and driver’s side of the car. They busted up the front of the car and broke the mirror.”
I stared at the photos of the supped-up black SUV sitting at the side of the road and then flipped through the police report. “It says that when the police found them no one was in the driver’s seat. They were both sacked out in the back seat. His girlfriend had thrown up all over herself, he had been sick too. She claims she didn’t have anything to drink and he says he only had one.”
“Surprise, right? Did you really think they were going to admit to drinking and driving? Your dad told me you were sharp, I’m wondering what I’ve got myself into.”
I was tempted to get up and walk out on Brice. I started to see his attitude coming through and remembered the stories of the arrogant young attorney that told Judge Jenkins how to do her job. He had found himself paying a hefty fine and almost landed himself in jail.
“Just play the next video and let’s move on.”
Brice launched the video and I sat and watched as John Doll recounted his story of the evening. He was in his attorney’s office, dressed in a suit. An older couple I presumed to be his parents sat to one side of him, and a petite girl sat on his other side.
I listened as Brice questioned John. “And when did you realize that you had hit the man on the bicycle?”
“I didn’t. I didn’t see him at all.” The girl reached out and squeezed John’s hand.
“Who’s the girl and why is she there?” I could only guess it was his girlfriend.
“Macie Hicks, his girlfriend. She wasn’t arrested for anything, but we wanted her there to help fill in the blanks.”
I scribbled down some notes as I watched the rest of the video.
“So why did you stop?” Brice continued to press. “You stopped just a few miles down the road, or should I say parked in the ditch a few miles down the road.”
“I… I don’t remember.”
“I want you to think hard here, John. You stopped because you were going to call for help, right?”
I glanced at Brice. “That’s the advice you give your client? To lie?” An uneasiness settled in my stomach and for a moment I wished I was helping the other side instead of this snake.
“Not at all, I was helping him remember the facts.” Brice smiled. “He parked his car way off the side of the road, almost in the ditch. It looked like he had crashed it there. When the police showed up he had his cell phone in his hand and was passed out in the back seat with Macie.”
I continued to watch the train wreck of an interview. Macie held John’s hand tightly as he continued to answer Brice’s questions.
“So, John, let me just make sure I have all this straight. You only had one beer, Macie, you hadn’t been drinking at all. Neither of you saw the guy on the bike, you parked your car down the street to rest because you were feeling dizzy and nauseous, and when the police showed up, John you voluntarily told the police you were driving?”
“Yes.”
“Oh and you failed the field sobriety test. It really looks like they have you here, John.”
“Hold up a minute, Brice.” I reached for the folder and looked at the report and at the pictures. “Play that last minute or so again. “
Brice slid the play head backwards and hit play and I watched John more closely.
“There! He’s being honest, he didn’t see the guy on the bike, but he also wasn’t the one driving.”
“What do you mean, Jennifer? He admitted to the police that he was driving.”
“No, there’s more to it. He hesitates before he admits he was driving. He glanced at Macie…and here…” I slid the photos of the car across the table to Brice. “What do you see?”
“I see a black SUV with a missing mirror.”
“How tall is John? In this video he looks pretty tall to me. Macie looks like she can’t
be more than five foot two. Look at the seat in the picture. It’s pushed way up front, close to the wheel. You can see the seat back. She was driving. He was covering for her.”
Brice stared at the pictures and replayed the video. “How did I miss that? How did the police miss that?”
“Brice, you need to push this back. You’re missing some facts here, and you have a client that’s covering for his girl for some reason. You have an innocent client and you definitely don’t need me to help you pick a jury.”
Brice sat in silence looking at the papers in front of him. The arrogance and confidence had disappeared as well as his and his ego.
“Is that sharp enough for you, Brice?” I got up from the table and made my way to the door of the conference room. “Call me when you get further along or need my help again.”
Chapter Five
The remainder of the day flew by and I was glad that I had dodged the bullet of having to work with Brice and his case. It was the him part—rather than his case—that actually made me happier. Brice was attractive, but held nothing on Cain and his arrogant attitude was over the top.
I packed up for the day and grabbed my phone from my desk. I had forgotten to get back to Aimee, who had texted me earlier in the day. I stared at her text and debated how to respond.
What did you think about Carter? Drinks tonight?
My initial vibe on Carter wasn’t good, but I didn’t want to put Aimee off him. There had been a lot going on when I first met him, so maybe there was a chance I was wrong. I decided I would give him the benefit of the doubt.
Rain check on the drinks. Exhausted. C seems nice. Let’s double date later this week? Call you 2morrow.
Perfect! :)
I was on auto pilot and somehow made it home without even realizing where I was going or how long it had taken. The snow had melted during the day and made for a sloppy and wet trip. I was happy to pull into the private garage of my apartment and see Cain’s car in the guest parking. I could barely keep my eyes open, but at least I’d get to finally crash for the evening with him. I dragged myself inside, work bags in tow, and looked for my handsome man.