Justice Black: The Game Never Ends

by Gartia Bansah

  “Are you planning on riding shotgun all night?” Rayford joked when he sat down.

  Kaitlyn laughed at the murderous look Justice gave Rayford and how Rayford disregarded it.

  “Where is your wife?”

  “She’s with Wil. Sarah said I should wait here and keep you company.” Rayford winked at Kaitlyn, inviting her to enjoy Justice’s discontentment. “So, Dr. Joseph, how do you find BrightTown?”

  “Great. After living in Chicago, I find this relaxing. I may have found a bit of paradise.”

  “Then welcome.”

  There was no strain among them. The conversations were filled with jokes and laughter as if everyone had known each other forever. Rayford shared his love for horses and farming and joked about Justice’s fascination with golf and jazz. Justice in turn told Kaitlyn that Rayford actually canned food.

  “Listen, I have to call Elrod to check on my boys,” Rayford said.

  “You’re letting him babysit?”

  “Sure. He and Mrs. Tennessee can handle them.”

  The light evening was interrupted with Gwen Marcus rushing toward their table. Gwen had watched Justice and Kaitlyn since they walked in and was not pleased with their coziness.

  Kaitlyn noticed how Gwen’s silky gold designer gown fitted her like a glove. She was poised, elegant, and very beautiful with flawless skin. Kaitlyn thought any man would be taken with her. Gwen definitely was the picture of someone who spent her money well on herself.

  Kaitlyn tensed and braced herself. There was no mistaking the look Gwen gave Justice. It was the look of someone who’d lost first prize in a contest she was guaranteed to win. There was first hurt and dejection with the struggle to hold everything together. Then it was an angry woman. It was obvious Gwen Marcus was in love with Justice.

  Justice recognized Kaitlyn’s discomfort. “Don’t move.” To make sure she didn’t, Justice protectively draped his arm over her shoulders.

  “What a surprise to see you here, Justice.” Gwen first gave a quick disapproving look at the bouquet and then at Kaitlyn before she leaned to plant a kiss on his lips.

  With his arm still around Kaitlyn, and no warmth in his eyes, Justice leaned back from Gwen and coldly said, “Don’t do that.”

  “My manners,” she said to Kaitlyn. “I’m Gwen Marcus of the Daily Talk Radio and News, and you are?”

  “I am Adeena Joseph,” Kaitlyn politely greeted her. “We spoke on Wednesday.”

  “Ah yes, Dr. Joseph. So you’re she? Yes, I remember. Pardon me. I speak to many people. It’s difficult to remember names.” Unable to keep the charade going, Gwen faced Justice. “I was expecting a call from you. I see why you didn’t. It was my understanding we had a date.”

  “I can’t see why you thought that.” He would be damned if Gwen even thought of putting on a show with him, ever.

  Gwen gracefully stepped back. “Well, if you excuse me, I have to find my date. Good night, Dr. Joseph. I’ll call you about that interview.” She was no fool. Justice would never allow her to ridicule him in any way; she swore under her breath as she walked away, “He’ll regret this.”

  A dark cloud of sudden awkwardness hovered over Kaitlyn as she watched Gwen walk away with pride and grace. It was silly, but suddenly she felt she was the other woman caught in an affair. No matter how crude Gwen was, she didn’t want Gwen to be hurt.

  “I’m sorry about that,” Justice apologized. Suddenly it was the authoratative Dr. Justice Black, head of Southern Defense, who asked, “What is this about an interview?”

  Kaitlyn ignored his question; the evening was going so well. “You don’t owe me any explanations, Justice, so how about as colleagues we enjoy the evening?” She squeezed a cheerful disposition out of her tensed body and thanked him again for the flowers.

  “Dr. Joseph, I know you see lots of people who believe they are good, possibly even beautiful. I have seen those that are packaged well but inside they are damaged chromosomes.” Those words brought back the brightness she had before Gwen.

  She quickly noticed the time.

  “Would you excuse me? I have to find Wil.” Determined to forget everything, she assured him of her return. “Dr. Black, hold my seat.”

  Rayford stopped Kaitlyn as she was leaving the table. “You’re not leaving, are you?”

  “No. I’ll be back.” The lump in her throat refused to let her say anything else. There were other things on her mind.

  “I see Gwen the huntress cornered you,” Rayford said as he took his seat. “Too bad. I saw the billboards and the news. Everything OK?” Justice was his boss, but foremost he was his friend and a good man.

  “Minor details,” Justice responded. “Everything’s good. You’re in charge while I’m gone.”

  “Don’t worry about a thing.”

  Genevieve stopped at their table and pleasantly greeted both. “My, my, Dr. Joseph is an attractive woman,” she commented. “I saw Gwen leave. That was unfortunate. I do hope Dr. Joseph is all right.” Practically everyone in town was aware of Gwen’s bitter bite when it came to her infatuation with Justice Black.

  “She’s fine,” Justice answered.

  “Good. Dr. Black, I want to explain Mayor Mitchell’s position. Of course we want the festival to go as scheduled, but we also want safety first. You do understand how the festival would bring in more funds for the families?”

  “No more changes in the parade routes, Genevieve.”

  “Absolutely. Enjoy the evening.”

  The club owner, Ricky Mackey, silenced the crowd with a thunderous voice over the microphone and announced the second band.

  “Everybody, the fire department is here because the next group is definitely hot, but don’t worry. We have doctors in the house. This first number is especially for birthday boy Dr. Rayford Rule. Everyone, please welcome 3Ds and Fire!”

  Justice wondered where Kaitlyn was until the lights dimmed and music filled the restaurant with a strong, rich mesmerizing voice that resonated through the place; Justice and Rayford recognized the voice at the same time. The drums and guitar played in synchronization, joined by the trumpet as the lights phased in on each band member: Wil on the drums, Kaitlyn on the guitar, Dan Williams on the trumpet, and Gracie on the piano singing Patti LaBelle’s “Somebody Loves You Baby (You Know Who It Is).”

  Completely caught off guard with everything, Justice stared in disbelief, especially at Kaitlyn. “Son of a gun.” She wore tall leather boots and jeans that clung to every inch of her lower body. A white sequined tube top outlined her upper body. Although other instruments played, Justice only heard the guitar.

  Wil beat the drums as a natural. The crowd went wild and came to their feet again when Dan came forward on the trumpet, dressed in leather pants and exposing strong arms in a shirtless leather vest.

  Justice turned to Rayford. “Did you know about all this?”

  “Me?” Rayford couldn’t take his eyes away from his wife as she sang to him. His grin was as bright as the stage lights. “I am in shock. I’ll get Sarah for this.”

  The crowd gave a standing ovation and yelled for more. When they returned for their second number, Kaitlyn wore black leather pants with a red bustier with tassels that moved with every movement. She played a sax melody that he’d often heard coming from her place.

  Rayford coyly leaned over and laughed.

  “You’re staring, Chief. Dr. Joseph surprised you, I see. Why didn’t you know about that?” Rayford looked around at the screaming crowd for one more jab, to Justice’s obvious discomfort. “And the crowd absolutely loves her.”

  Kaitlyn strolled off the stage, stood before Justice, and serenaded him with her sax. She leaned toward him and in a sultry voice whispered, “Dr. Black, a man who gives a woman flowers should always be serenaded with sweet music and surely deserves to be surprised, preferably by me. You’re just
precious.”

  Kaitlyn strolled back to the stage, a little surprised. She had no idea what possessed her to do that. She admitted it felt good now that Dr. Black knew she could give as good as he gave.

  When Justice regained his thoughts, he turned to Rayford. “I wouldn’t talk if I were you. Take a look at the men slobbering at your wife.” He pointed to three men standing at the foot of the stage, gawking and yelling, with one shouting loud mating proposals to Gracie.

  Annoyed, Rayford said, “Can’t he see she’s married and pregnant?”

  Justice jokingly slapped him on the back. “Some say it’s sexy. Didn’t you know that? Relax. It’s not a problem as long as they don’t get out of hand or touch them.”

  The proposal man then yelled, “She’s having my baby!”

  That made Rayford mad. “That is not happening. He’s claiming my babies too? He has to go.”

  Justice didn’t hesitate in adding, “And the crowd loves her.”

  “Aw hell,” Rayford swore. All humor died when the man reached for Gracie. Rayford rushed to the proposal man, placed his hand on his shoulder, and whispered in his ear. All three men speedily left the stage area.

  “What’s the matter, Rayford? Can’t take it?” Justice laughed when Rayford sat down.

  “As long as they don’t touch them. Isn’t that what you said?” He pointed to Kaitlyn. “You’d better check your Dr. Joseph.”

  Justice frowned at one of those same men now trailing behind Kaitlyn, gyrating his body.

  “Damn it, where is security?” He didn’t need them; same as Rayford, he whispered in the man’s ear and watched him run back to his table.

  The hairs on Kaitlyn’s arms raised, and a hot knot formed in the pit of her stomach. It was foolish, but in this crowd, she had the instinct that someone intently and unnaturally watched her. She took an encore bow, smiled, and bowed again. This time she squeezed Wil’s hand a little tighter. Wil, without a thought, squeezed back.

  For their final performance, the three did a synchronized dance that more than stimulated an already-jubilant crowd.

  Justice shook his head with a laugh. “I’ll surely get her for that ‘I can’t dance’ lie.” The way she moved in sync with the beats of the drums caused his heart to jump in his throat, and blood rushed through his ears like loud, rushing waves. Onstage she was in another world.

  Those damn wolf calls and whistles really irritated him. “Son of a gun,” he managed to whisper when a man yelled, “Hey, sax player, drop it like it’s hot, baby.” To make matters worse, the fool yelled, “Marry me.”

  If that dance scene had lasted five more minutes, he wouldn’t have been able to stand it. After they returned to the table, he laughed at Kaitlyn. She had the red dress back on.

  “Woman, you’re full of surprises,” Justice said.

  Rayford gently sat his wife in his lap. “So that’s why you kept asking me to show you that step.”

  “Yes.” Gracie giggled. “Happy birthday. Were you surprised? Am I in deep trouble?”

  “I was surprised, and honey, you’re in so deep,” he laughed.

  “So, Dr. Joseph,” Justice asked with a tease in his voice, “you can’t dance. Is that what you told me?”

  Kaitlyn innocently said, “I know a few steps.”

  Wil and Gracie looked at each other curious of the heat between the two. Wil was equally happy that Kaitlyn had relaxed.

  In a world of stupidity, those same three idiots approached their table, ignoring Justice and Rayford.

  “We’d sure like to have autographs from you hot babes.” The one wearing a beret winked and dropped it directly in front of Gracie. The hatless man winked at Kaitlyn, and the cowboy with a Cheshire grin gave Wil an air kiss.

  Gracie glared at Rayford after he quickly handed the beret back to the man.

  Justice quickly sized up all three: minor details.

  “There are no babes at this table,” Justice corrected.

  “So why don’t you boys find your way back to your table?” Rayford insisted.

  The hatless man attempted to touch Kaitlyn but hurriedly pulled back when Justice stood, absent of any expression. He was the same man who had yelled, “Marry me.” He definitely would go.

  “You three need an escort to your table?” Justice spoke more directly to the hatless man.

  “Man, you guys can’t share?” the cowboy asked.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Justice didn’t offer a smile when he asked.

  Rayford carefully sat his wife aside and stood next to Justice. “Yes, explain that to us.”

  The trio assessed the two men, summed up their situation, and scattered.

  Kaitlyn rolled her eyes at Justice. “Justice, that was absolutely rude.”

  “Weren’t they?”

  “I wasn’t referring to them.”

  “They’re clowns,” Rayford commented.

  Gracie slyly elbowed her husband’s ribs; he gently held her still. “So, Dr. Joseph,” he asked, “how’d you meet Justice?”

  “Yes,” Wil teased. “Tell us.”

  Kaitlyn fidgeted in her seat unsure of what to say. Wil’s urging wasn’t helping.

  “Yes, Dr. Joseph, tell them,” Justice encouraged.

  Kaitlyn narrowed her eyes at Justice.

  “We work together and are neighbors,” she blurted.

  Justice waited a few moments before he spoke. “She called me…”

  Kaitlyn flinched, covered her face, and moaned. “Dear God, no.” She feared he’d mention animal control.

  “An idiot,” Justice finished before he gently removed her hands.

  There were simultaneous laughs around the table. Some of the patrons turned their heads and smiled at the group.

  “You called him an idiot?” Gracie laughed so hard Rayford tightened his hold to keep her from falling off his lap.

  “And a moron,” Justice added.

  “It was only after he told me to shut up.” Kaitlyn felt she needed to explain since Justice conveniently had left out the important details.

  “Don’t worry,” Rayford added, nodding to Gracie. “This one once called me a Neanderthal.”

  Gracie, ashamed, also covered her face, and Rayford laughingly removed her hands.

  “Dr. Joseph, I can’t believe Justice Black. On his behalf, I apologize for his callousness.”

  Rayford sounded so serious Kaitlyn didn’t know whether to laugh or not until Gracie laughed.

  “Don’t pay this husband of mine any attention; he once tied me to a tree.”

  Rayford buried his head against Gracie’s shoulder. “I’ll never live that down, will I?”

  “Not in any lifetime,” Gracie jokingly warned him.

  Kaitlyn laughed along with the rest when Gracie gave her husband a teasing pinch and Rayford pretended he was mortally wounded. “Oh my Lord,” Kaitlyn cried.

  “Welcome to our world, Gianna,” Wil laughed.

  In sheer excitement, Genevieve returned to Justice’s table. “My goodness, you girls are fantastic, and I’m surprised at Dan. I’ve been looking for entertainment for the banquet, and I’ve found it. Dr. Eastermann, expect a call from me.”

  Justice remembered Kaitlyn’s lie. He wasn’t letting her get out of this one and stood and offered her his hand.

  “Dr. Joseph, dance with me. I believe you’re to teach me how. I want to learn that one particular step.”

  Kaitlyn couldn’t dare refuse, not with everyone staring, and took his hand.

  “All right, Dr. Black.”

  Justice fitted her closely to him and led her into a slow dance. “I loved the serenade, but you owe me for that ‘I can’t dance’ lie, Duchess.”

  “You got what you deserved,” she said without shame or remorse.

  “Yes, I did,” he l
aughed. “You are a gem.”

  Wil, surprised, saw Trenton staring at her with the widest grin.

  “Excuse me, folks. There’s someone I need to see.”

  “Where did Wil say she had to go?” Gracie asked.

  Rayford pointed to the beaming couple standing in the aisle. “Come on Sarah, babe. Let’s dance.”

  “Trenton, I didn’t know you’d be here,” Wil said. Their relationship had now turned a complete corner.

  “Luckily, Elrod told me to come here. You were absolutely incredible. Why didn’t you tell me?” He handed her a bouquet of orange roses. “It is with pride and honor to be with you.”

  “You’d traveled, and I didn’t know you’d be back so soon. It was my mistake.”

  He lightly stroked her brows. “You’re forgiven, this time.”

  Her eyes clouded as she took the roses and placed one single orange rose in the buttonhole of his jacket. “Back at you with pride and honor,” she responded. Then they took a table in the corner.

  Dave and Steve Winncott watched Wil with curiosity.

  Earlier, Dave had spotted Gwen with her date and decided to avoid that. He’d been on the pawn end of Gwen’s public display of her insane jealousy toward Justice Black, and it wasn’t pretty.

  “That poor sucker date Gwen dragged along is in for a treat,” Dave whispered.

  “Poor fool,” Steve agreed. “It is very painful to be used. But I see Dr. Eastermann has interest in Boudreaux. I wonder how long has that been going on. Frankly, I never trusted Dr. Eastermann.”

  Kyle was only at Ricky’s because of Justice Black. The chairman ordered it; otherwise he’d be in Vegas for the weekend. Kyle loved his comfortable lifestyle and would never risk losing all the benefits that came with being loyal to the chairman.

  “Justice Black seemed to be attracted to the saxophonist; maybe this is something the chairman can use,” Kyle said. “We need Ed.”