Arrest of the Heart

by Judy Kentrus

  The officer sighed deeply and took his hands off of the computer keyboard. Patience, he told himself. Pretend you are talking to one of your kids. “You seem like a nice guy. You posed real nice for your mug shots and you didn’t give me a hard time when I took your prints. Cooperate.”

  “I want a lawyer.” He was only going through the motions and following orders. Monday morning, he’d walk out a free man. He had an ace in the hole.

  The door opened and Officer Emilio Donatiello walked in. He’d just turned forty and spent a good part of his leisure time at the gym. He thought himself a suave ladies’ man, but the women he attempted to pick up would totally disagree. His ego made promises his body couldn’t cash.

  “Sergeant needs back up. There’s a disturbance at Delancy’s Tavern. Three of their regulars are bashing each other with pool cues. They’re fighting over who is going to win the annual bed race.”

  “Where are Lorenzo and Bowll?”

  “Handling an accident. Car ran into a telephone pole by Trinity Church. Guy claimed he saw Buford Adams’ ghost running around the cemetery.”

  Linc tightened his fisted hands, but showed no reaction at the mention of his late grandfather’s name.

  “Saturday night,” Bill sighed. “Blame it on the full moon. Let’s get Blackbeard locked up. It will be the day shift supervisor’s problem to find out the identity of our guest.”

  Linc tried to make himself comfortable on the thin mattress, missing the king-sized bed in his condo. He’d already spotted the surveillance cameras that monitored the six cells and determined there was a problem with the system. The ready lights kept blinking on and off. They’d added a bit of privacy to each cell by hanging a shower curtain around the small sink and commode. He closed his eye and tried to talk himself out of the headache centered in the front of his head. So far nothing about this “payback” had gone as planned. Adding to his woes was the condition of his best friend’s expensive sports car. Hopefully, Scott wouldn’t be too ticked. Linc’s mind finally shut down, and it was close to nine in the morning when the sound of the cell door opening woke him from a very restful sleep.

  “Rise and shine.” Jess had managed two hours down-time before coming in to give the prisoner his phone call. Sergeant Carrington, the senior sergeant on the force, had requested a vacation day.

  Linc flipped off the olive-green, army-surplus blanket and swung his feet to the floor before rubbing his hands over his scruffy beard. His headache had subsided and he’d removed the annoying bandage, revealing a small Cyclops lump on his forehead. Since he was supposed to be a cocky bastard, he continued the playboy façade. “Good morning, sweet cakes. Tell me you have coffee and I’ll be your love slave.”

  “I’m not your sweet anything.” Jess was tired of the insults. “It doesn’t matter to me if you make your phone call or not. When you’re done, I’ll see about breakfast.”

  “Touchy.” He stepped outside the cell and held his arms out with his wrists together. A hint of shower gel swept his senses. Lavender? Vanilla? “Aren’t you going to cuff me? The other officers must have thought I was Ted Bundy.”

  Jess put a hand on her hip and looked him dead in the face. “I’ve had very little sleep, but you wouldn’t get far. Blackbeard, I’m always armed and a firm believer in the phrase, ‘shoot first and ask questions later.’ So, what’s it going to be?”

  “I’ll behave,” he laughed. He liked this lady sergeant more and more.

  They walked down a series of hallways that opened into an operations room. A lone police dispatcher sat behind a long console on the far side of the room. In the rear of the communications area was a map, showing the entire county. He was surprised to see a large GPS compatible board that allowed the tracking of cars on patrol.

  Fingers of sunlight, created by the beige vertical blinds on the tall windows, streaked across nutmeg colored carpeting. Dark beige, soft-sided cubicles were well laid out for efficiency, as well as privacy. Four offices opened into the room, one designated for chief of police, a lieutenant, and two road sergeants.

  Linc decided to throttle back on the macho charm. “Did you find my cell phone when you searched my vehicle?”

  Jess had and was surprised at what else she’d found, along with the opened bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Scotch and his cell phone. A Kids R Us bag in the trunk held two pairs of little girl slippers and matching nightgowns with pictures of Sophia the First. In a fully stocked diaper bag, she discovered a picture of a lovely, dark haired woman surrounded by five beautiful children, two being less than a year old. From his irresponsible actions, she never took him for the father of five children. Typical cheat, take off the wedding ring and pander to the ego between his legs. And he had the nerve to kiss her! Sick pervert!

  “Here’s your phone,” she said, taking it out of her uniform pocket.

  “Thanks. Can I have some privacy?”

  “Sit in this vacant cubicle. I will be on the other side.”

  “That’s not private.”

  “Take it or leave it,” she almost sneered, but caught herself at the last minute. What was it about him that irked her so much? Let’s see? He’d kissed and embarrassed her in front of her men, and he didn’t respect her. If he thought to fast talk his way out of the charges he was facing, he was in for a rude awakening. Come Monday morning, she had an ace in the hole.

  “I’ll take it,” he replied, sitting on the soft office chair. He rested his arms on the top of the clutter-free desk and speed dialed Scott’s number.

  “Good morning, Daddy’s cell phone, Susan speaking.”

  “Where is your father?”

  “Who is this? You are supposed to identify yourself.”

  “It’s the pirate.”

  “Oh, Uncle Lincoln. Daddy is with Uncle Michael in the bathroom. Aunt Danni is throwing up and he brought her some ice water.”

  “Is she sick?”

  “No. Did you forget she is getting a baby?”

  He didn’t remember. It was a good thing he got away from his best friends for a while. The pregnancy bug was becoming an epidemic. Scott’s wife had given birth to twins and Russell and Alexis had triplets. Russell’s sister-in-law was due to have a baby in a few weeks.

  “You guys have a regular baby factory,” Linc mocked, realizing too late what he said.

  “Oh, no, we don’t have a factory. Mommy told us the babies are a gift from God. Vicky and me want to know how the babies got in Mommy’s belly. Can you tell me and then I’ll tell Vicky?”

  “No, I’m not going to tell you how the babies got in your mommy’s belly,” Linc impatiently declared. “Where is your mother?”

  “Oh, she’s pumping her boobies.”

  “Pumping her boobies? What does that mean?”

  “You know, like a cow gives milk. Mommy has to get the milk from her boobies for the babies. They eat real food now, but Mommy said they get extra nursement from her booby milk.”

  Jessie clamped a hand over her mouth, holding in the laugh that threatened to escape. This Susan person was an expert at pushing Blackbeard’s buttons. He seemed almost human.

  Linc’s patience had come to an end. “Susan, the word is nourishment. Is there anyone else I can speak to who isn’t pumping boobies or throwing up in the bathroom?”

  “Uncle Russell and Aunt Alexis came over with the babies to see the new playroom.”

  “Why didn’t you say so?”

  “You didn’t ask to speak to him.”

  “Just put him on!”

  “I can’t. Baby Garrett had a poopy blowout and Uncle Russell is getting more wipes for Aunt Alexis.”

  “A poopy blow out? What’s that?”

  “You know, the poop exploded out the side of the diaper and ran down his leg. Do you still want me to call Uncle Russell?”

  Lincoln shook his head in frustration. “Just call him, I mean please call him,” he quickly corrected himself.

  A few minutes, he heard a sane voice. “Hey, old man, eve
rything okay?”

  “This is the pirate and I’m at the Laurel Heights Police Department. I’ve been arrested for a variety of charges, but I need Scott to verify that I didn’t steal his Corvette Stingray. I will be passing my cell phone to the shift sergeant.”

  Russell wondered what Linc had gotten himself into. He put his hand over the phone before passing it to Scott. “He’s in big trouble. Don’t mention his real name.”

  Jess walked around to his side of the cubicle. Any traces of the laugh she’d been holding in, disappeared. “Who am I speaking with?” Jessie asked, accepting the phone.

  “Scott Landis. I’m the owner of the Corvette and I loaned the car to the pirate. It’s part of Long and Barrows’ corporate fleet.”

  Jess wasn’t surprised that Scott Landis avoided the prisoner’s real name. If anything, he had loyal friends. “I will need you to FAX over the registration, proof of insurance, and a copy of your corporate ID to verify ownership by ten tomorrow morning. Your friend is facing numerous motor vehicle charges and assaulting a police officer.”

  “You’ll have it,” he replied.

  Linc reached out a hand. “I need to ask him one more favor.”

  Jessie was feeling generous and passed him the phone. “Make it quick.”

  “Scott, I’ll need legal representation and a couple good character witnesses. You’ve got access to my condo. Bring me something decent to wear and toiletries.”

  “No problems about the lawyer and clothes, but am I to understand you need Julie and Alexis as character references?”

  “If you were in my shoes, who would you have in your corner?”

  “Personally, I’d want Trouble and Double Trouble,” Scott chuckled, “but I’m sure the ladies will be delighted to come to your aid.”

  Lincoln felt himself sinking further and further in his mire of shit and understood the true meaning of the word, cluster-fuck.

  Chapter 2

  Linc felt a great deal better and not so much alone after having spoken to his friends. “Guess you’ll want this back?”

  She put the phone into an evidence bag marked with his name—Blackbeard. “Pray we get proof of ownership before your arraignment.”

  “I’m not worried,” he replied with his signature grin. He leaned back in the narrow office chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll be out of here by lunch time.”

  Jessie perched a slender hip on the edge of the metal desk and hugged her waist. She told herself to ignore the way his tightened shirt emphasized his broad chest. “What makes you think tomorrow morning is going to be a walk in the park? Assaulting a police officer is a serious charge.”

  Linc loved a challenge. He abruptly sprang forward, bringing their bodies much too close. Her body stiffened, but she didn’t budge an inch. His grin was laced with confidence. “Let’s just say I’ve got an ace in the hole.”

  Not as good as mine, she silently declared, hoping he couldn’t hear her pounding heart. “You’ve got quite an ego, Blackbeard. Now, it’s time to go back to your weekend accommodations.” Jessie put a hand on his upper arm and felt his hard, muscled strength.

  “Did you forget to feed me?” he asked, just before she closed the cell door.

  “Breakfast is on the way.”

  “I hate to eat alone,” he said with a puppy dog pout.

  Jess took a stance and flipped a hip. “I’ll make you a deal. Tell me your name and I’ll join you for coffee.”

  “That sounds fair enough.”

  “What do I call you?” she asked, thinking they were finally getting someplace.

  “Mr. President,” he grinned.

  “Smartass!” Jess abruptly turned around before she became a victim of his great smile. Blackbeard was a threat to all of the womanly feelings she’d buried. Her dirt bag ex-husband had seen to that. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

  A hundred and fifty miles away, Vicky and Susan Landis sat on the floor of the newly constructed playroom, surrounded by five babies. The seven-year-olds loved to babysit Anna and Joshua, their-nine-month old brother and sister, and their almost cousins Cole, Garrett, and Mary Jane Long, six-month-old triplets. The twins were currently testing out their new walking legs, while the other three discovered if they jumped up and down in their bouncy seats, they could travel around the room, which was decorated in a rainbow of colors and Disney characters.

  “Uncle Lincoln didn’t sound very happy,” Vicky said, tossing a sponge football at her brother Josh. He laughed when he caught it, showing his four front teeth.

  Susan glanced at the video baby monitor on the wall. “I know we’re not supposed to listen to adult conversations, because every time we do we get in trouble,” she whispered. “Maybe if we find out what’s wrong, we can make a card to cheer him up.” She didn’t even wait for a response from her sister as she pushed the monitor button.

  Scott joined the others in the dining area off the big, sunny kitchen. It still boggled him that Julie loved the layout of their old home so much, the new one was similar, but a great deal larger to accommodate their growing family. As often as possible, Russell and Alexis and their babies, along with Michael and his very pregnant wife Danni, got together for brunch on Sunday mornings.

  “He’s really gotten mixed up in something this time.” Scott sat next to Julie and took a drink of much needed coffee. “We warned him not to go, but he said there was unfinished business from his past he had to clear up.”

  “Spill it,” Julie impatiently demanded.

  “Linc called from the Laurel Heights Police Department. He’s been arrested for numerous motor vehicle violations, but most important of all, assaulting a police officer.”

  “That is pure unadulterated bull crap!” Julie furiously exclaimed. “Linc would never do something like that! He is the most level headed one of the three of you.” She glowered at Russell and then her husband. “What are you going to do about it?”

  Scott kissed her pouting lips. “Calm down, Lola Baby. Let’s all talk this thing through.”

  “I can make a phone call,” Danni offered. “I attended a criminal profiling course with an officer from Laurel Heights. The cop had been working in New York City at the time. We still keep in touch via email.” Danni took a few sips of ice water. Morning sickness was supposed to last the first three months, not the entire pregnancy.

  “I would hold off contacting your friend. Linc only requested we bring him a decent set of clothes, legal representation, and a couple of character witnesses. He is being arraigned tomorrow morning at ten o’clock.”

  “Why would he ask you to come up with a lawyer?” Michael asked. “When I re-designed his website, he requested a hot button for his legal staff.”

  “Before leaving, he said he’d only contact us if he ran into trouble. He hasn’t given them his name, so he probably wants to keep Adams Security and Investigations off the table.” Russell sighed deeply and passed Scott a knowing look. “He’s always been a private person and avoided all reference to his growing-up years in Laurel Heights. One night, we got drunk and it all came out. In his mind, it was a closed door, never to be opened, and we’ve kept Linc’s secrets.”

  “I’ll be a character witness,” Julie quickly offered. “The kids will be in school and my parents and Mrs. Clooney can handle the twins for a few hours.”

  “Oh, you are a character all right,” Scott winked, loving his adorable wife more and more every day.

  “I’m going too.” Alexis turned to her husband. “I’ll call your mother, and Marie will help out. We can go to his condo this afternoon to pack his clothes.”

  “We’ll take the company chopper,” Julie suggested. “You just have to get him a lawyer.”

  Scott and Russell looked at their respective wives and laughed. “What does Linc need us for? Since you two have everything organized, I’ll contact our pilot to be at Long and Barrows tomorrow morning at seven o’clock.” Scott turned to Russell and wiggled his eyebrows. “You can call Mel
issa, the head of our legal department, since you once dated her.”

  Russell scowled at his best friend and determined it was Scott’s mission in life to bust his chops. No other woman could hold a candle to his gorgeous wife Alexis.

  “Don’t worry, Mr. Clean, if she tries to make a move on you for old time’s sake, I’ll hit her with my broom,” Alexis laughed.

  Having solved the problems of their friend, parenthood interrupted their conversation.

  “Mom,” Susan yelled into the baby monitor. “Anna smells.”

  “Uncle Russell,” Vicky hollered, “Cole has a poopy diaper. You have to change him because he’s a boy.”

  Late Sunday afternoon, Jessie walked into headquarters. She’d managed a few hours of sleep. After twelve years on the job, she’d learned to shut down, but her subconscious kept thinking about their prisoner. What did he have up his sleeve that he was so sure he was going to walk away a free man?

  “Hi, Pat. How’s everything?” Jess walked in back of the shoulder-high counter that separated the communications area from the rest of the room to check the locations of the cars on patrol.

  “There was a minor fender bender at Jefferson and Main, another dispute at Delancy’s. Lorenzo and Bowll responded to a silent alarm at the Mayor’s house. That’s the second time this week.”

  “How’s our guest?”

  “I haven’t heard a peep out of him,” she said, indicating the screen to the left side of her console that monitored the six cells. “Blackbeard’s dinner is on the way. Sallie Mae came in special to fix his meal. I put the Fax you were expecting on your desk.”

  “Thanks. Let me know when the food arrives. I’ll take it back.” Jess glanced at the monitor and just stared, wondering if she was seeing things. Their prisoner had removed his shirt and was doing pushups on the concrete floor. “He’s exercising.”

  Patty grinned at the eye candy. “Oh, yeah. He switches from push ups, to sit ups, and does shadow boxing.” The monitor blinked off and Patty tapped the side. It popped back on. “This thing has been acting up the past couple of days. I left a note for the lieutenant to have it repaired.”