by Jayce, Aven
The two women stare at one another, both frozen and in fear of the other’s response to the moment.
“Leondra….”
She holds her arms out and takes Devery into a firm embrace. Tears flow down her face as she sobs at the sight of her cousin.
“Devery,” she whispers. “Oh Devery, I haven’t heard from you in so long.”
Devery, who’s never been one for intimacy or any sort of physical contact from another person, especially something as close and suffocating as a hug, wraps her arms around Leondra and holds her securely against her body. Lewis walks out and rubs against their legs, not wanting to miss out on any opportunity for comfort that may present itself.
“I’ve missed you,” Leondra cries. “I hope you’re here to talk and can stay a while. Please tell me that’s the case and you’re not just passing through to deliver a message from Paul.”
Devery steps back quickly and looks into her cousin’s deeply pained face. She wipes the tears off her cheeks and flashes a warm smile.
“I only speak to Paul about his daughter; you know I don’t work for him. I haven’t been in contact with him since the arrest… only now, since he asked me to work with Sophia. I’m not here to deliver a message. I’m here because I’m worried about her, and your son. I think it’s time,” she pauses. “We need to talk. Something’s not right and I’ve been in the dark about this whole scenario for too long.”
Leondra takes her hand and leads her inside. Lewis follows and scurries in before she locks the door. The women embrace once more before walking out of the foyer and into the large open loft.
“I’m glad to see you still surround yourself with color and eclectic items. Your home is like an amusement park. Still painting, I hope?”
“Still, yes. Would you like some coffee?”
“Yes, please. With cream,” Devery responds, as she continues to take in all of the art and antiques displayed throughout the space. She runs her hand along the blue sofas and takes in the view of the city from the towering windows that line two full walls of the room. The morning light enters and as she turns to look back at her cousin who’s pouring her a cup of coffee, she notices a suitcase on the opposite side of the kitchen. “Traveling?”
Leondra holds the mug out to Devery and places a hand on her shoulder. “Would you like to see my studio?”
“I think we should talk. Can we sit down first, and then I’ll take a look at your work? No offense, but I think we have some issues, past and present, to discuss immediately before I look at your art.”
“Trust me, the view’s much better two stories up.” Leondra turns and walks up her stairwell to the second floor landing. She waves for Devery to follow and disappears up another flight to her studio. Devery trails behind, her eyes wide from all of the decorative fabrics and worldly objects packed into the space. She reaches the top and walks to the window where Leondra stands and enjoys the clear morning sky. Darkly painted male figures line the walls and multiple canvases are piled throughout the room. The smell oil paint fills the air causing Devery’s nose to twitch. The terrace door is open and a breeze rushes in that helps to disperse some of the chemicals hanging in the air. “I didn’t take your coat because I’d like to step outside, if that’s alright with you.”
Devery lingers as Leondra steps out, but then remembers the conversation she had with Sophia about the cameras Paul secretly set up in the hallway and her loft; she understands her cousin’s request and follows her out. It’s only forty degrees, but if it means the conversation will be private, she’ll comply.
They sit on two bright green wicker chairs with their feet up on the railing. Leondra sips her coffee and inhales a deep breath of the morning city air. It’s crisp and fresh, awaking her with new hope.
“Thank you. I take it you understand.”
“Sophia told me about the cameras, including the live cam in Cove’s loft. That’s when I started to worry. Paul told me Cove was bringing Sophia into a dark world.”
“That’s not true,” Leondra snarls.
“I know. Well, I didn’t know at the time, but I think I get it now.”
“Paul placed that camera in Cove’s guest bedroom, then Cove hacked into Paul’s site and had it set to a live cam to anger Paul. He was upset because he had no privacy.”
“Like you?”
“I don’t need privacy. I have nothing to hide. We’re outside for your protection, not mine. He probably shouldn’t know you’re here.”
“No. I don’t think that would go over well, especially if word got back to my father.”
Leondra holds her coffee in both hands to keep them warm and takes another sip. “So tell me, Dev. Why are you here? I haven’t seen you in years. You wouldn’t pick up or return my messages when I called. Eventually I gave up. If I didn’t love you to death I’d slap you right now. Why did you back away from me? What did someone say to you?” Leondra’s voice wavers as she fights back tears and anger.
“My father, Paul, Dayne, and Doron… mostly my father. I’m sorry,” she says in a soft voice. Her hand rests on Leondra’s leg and her face shows true regret. “I was caught between my family, my former lover, and my best friend. Over everyone, I had to listen to father; I can’t disrespect him or challenge his requests. He told me to stay out of it, to distance myself from you, your family, and the situation. I feel so guilty… I introduced you to Paul that one summer. I knew about some things during those years leading up to your husband’s arrest, and I stayed silent. I feel that my brothers may be deeply involved, and for that matter, my father…”
“Your father didn’t set up my husband, Paul did, and so did your brothers. They should all be in prison for what they did to my son and those other boys,” she says in a stern voice. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Devery turns and sips her coffee. She places the cup on the armrest of the chair and takes a violet colored head warmer out of her black wool coat pocket. She pulls it over her hair and covers her ears with the fleece fabric.
“You’re right, Leondra. I don’t know what I’m talking about. That’s why I’m here,” she turns back to her cousin and shakes her head. “I want to know what I don’t know. I’ve been working with Sophia for a while and she was extremely upset about Paul and Cove. Then she disappeared. She didn’t show up to her last appointment. I spoke with her briefly while she was in Vegas, but now she’s not answering her phone. I believed Paul when he said Cove was seducing her, but when I did manage to get her on the phone she said just the opposite. Doron and Dayne have both called me about her, and that’s unusual. They said she’s fine and enjoying the city with your son. I love my brothers, I’m very close to them, but I can tell when they’re lying,” she pauses, inhales, and holds her breath before a deep exhale leaves her body. “I have questions for you. Questions I should have asked years ago, and I’m full of shame and remorse that I haven’t come to you sooner. It took meeting Paul’s daughter for me to understand I’ve been wrong about many things. I’ve also allowed myself to become close to her, something I’ve never done with any other patient, and I believe it’s because of Paul. I feel a connection with Sophia. If I had stayed with Paul, she could be my own daughter.”
“Ask me. Ask your questions. I’ve been waiting for this since I saw you in the back of the courtroom on the day of sentencing. Ask.”
Devery takes her feet off the railing and places them on the terrace floor before leaning forward to speak. “You don’t believe your husband’s guilty, do you?”
“Absolutely not. You know he’d never hurt Cove. Never! Your brothers and Paul set him up. I know that for a fact!”
“How do you know?”
“My husband would never lie to me about this, and neither would my son. They both told me exactly what happened, at separate times, in separate places, and it was the same story. My son was taken, tortured, brainwashed, and forced into pornography by Paul with the help of Dayne and Doron. My husband was aware of it, but was
threatened and couldn’t do anything about it. And Cove has been through hell. If I had known what was going on I would’ve taken him and disappeared to keep him safe, and the only reason my husband didn’t want to leave was because he was sure Paul would kill us. He was just as brainwashed and terrified as my son. They were both trapped in Paul’s world. Still are.”
“So then, how can you still work for Paul? How can you say these things and still be one of his main photographers?”
Leondra sighs as tears roll down her cheeks. “My husband’s safety relies on my relationship with Paul. That’s how Paul works and how he takes control. He always has something on you, always one step ahead. You can’t beat Paul Jameson. I say I would’ve taken Cove far away from all of this, but I know, just like my husband knew, that it’s only a fantasy to disappear. Paul runs his company like it’s a gang. Once you’re in, you’re in for life.”
“And my father?”
“I believe he stepped in and protected his sons when my husband was arrested, probably giving them legal advice. And being a lawyer himself, he knows most of the bigwigs in the St. Louis court system, I’m sure that helped to keep them out of trouble. But no, I don’t believe he was aware of anything until the arrest. As far as I know, the only thing he should be ashamed of is loaning Paul the money to start Jameson Industries. I know he loves Paul. Both of your parents do, but if they knew him… if they really knew him….”
“I should’ve realized back in college that there was something off about him, but a lot of people cheat on one another, especially the ones in that particular fraternity. They were known for having multiple women, sometimes in the same day, so I didn’t think much of it when I found out he was with another woman. Then a girl in my dorm told me he raped her one night at one of their big parties. She was drunk and couldn’t get him off of her. I didn’t believe her at the time, and now I can’t believe I was so naïve. The girl was too afraid to report it, like many women are, and I wish I had helped her… I wish I had helped you,” she turns to Leondra with a look of distress.
“I remember that time when you found out Paul cheated on you. I had never met him, but I flew out with my husband, boyfriend at the time, to offer my support and help you get over him. We had only been dating for a few months then, but I knew he was the one. Any man who would fly from St. Louis to Philly at a moment’s notice for a family problem is a keeper.”
“I thought he came out with you to visit his cousin Patrick? If I remember correctly, that cousin of his had serious issues with depression.”
“Yes, that’s true, but the main reason he came along was to be with me, and I wanted the two of you to meet. I was serious about him and our love grew very quickly. I thought I would just die without him by my side for a weekend. And hearing what Paul had just done to you made me want to keep an eye on my new man. I was aggressive at the beginning of our relationship, as well as more than a little possessive.”
“Well, I’m thankful you were there, which again makes me realize what a mindless fool I’ve been. I’ve never supported you in the same way you’ve supported me, and I need to change all of that. I have a lot of making up to do, and even right now, after I’ve kept my distance and ignored you for so many years, you’ve welcomed me with open arms into your home. No one else in my life has been so forgiving.”
“You’re family,” Leondra whispers. “We grew up together Dev. Forty years of roller skating, sleeping under the stars, talking about boys, periods, broken hearts, holidays, proms, cars, college, tattoos, spring breaks, marriage… you’ve always been my best friend. You were there when Cove was born, which was the happiest day of my life. Even when you weren’t speaking to me, I still loved you, and I knew you were thinking about us. We’re as close as sisters, perhaps even closer than some,” she sighs, as she thinks about her recent battle with her sister Lydia over her son’s visit to her Vegas home. “The past is the past, I’m just thrilled to have you sitting here next to me now.”
Devery leans back in the chair, takes a tissue out of her coat pocket, and dabs her eyes of tears. Her mascara smudges and Leondra smiles, taking her hand into hers for a tight squeeze.
“Leondra, there was so much evidence against your husband, how did all this happen? I’m so confused by all of it… and my brothers. Why? What…”
“Hey, sweetie. I know. If I were on that jury I would’ve found him guilty as well. Everyone who testified was part of Paul’s company, and those on our side either turned on us, or had something tragic happen to them. The twin brothers who were in NOVA with my son died in a car accident, and Natalie who was also in NOVA ended up changing her story once Paul got a hold of her. She looked terrified on the stand, like she had a gun pointed at her head.”
Leondra stops, drinks more coffee, swallows hard, and rubs her eyebrows before she continues on.
“The videos they found of Cove doing things...” she takes a breath and holds it until Devery’s grip around her hand knocks the image out of her head. “Those videos were given to my son to place in our home the day before the police arrived. He had no idea what they were. He was just doing what Doron told him to do.”
Devery’s mug hits the concrete and shatters as she stands and hurries to the edge of the terrace. She crosses her arms and holds her coat closed tightly against her body in an attempt to block out the cold air. But, she knows it’s not the weather that just sent a chill to her bones, it’s the information and severity of her brother’s involvement with the case, and a man sitting in prison who she’s beginning to realize is an innocent victim, like his son and Leondra. Something she never wanted to hear or find out about, but deep inside, she always knew to be true.
“I’m sorry,” Leondra says. “I’ll keep the case to myself.”
“No!” Devery barks and swiftly turns to continue the conversation. “This is why I came. I need you to tell me, so I know what to do next.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Leondra, please. Continue.”
“The videos were planted by Doron, but knowing Paul, Doron didn’t have a choice. He has something on him.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better. But go on.”
“Paul said if I came forward with any information that he would have someone inform the police about a mistake I made for his company.”
“What mistake?” Devery asks in a harsh voice, overwhelmed by everything she’s heard.
“I once photographed someone who was underage. It was a major issue for the company. I was told she passed all the checks, but it turns out she was only fourteen.”
“Oh, Leondra,” Devery sighs as she walks back to her chair, steps over the ceramic shards, and sits. “I know what that means.”
“We were already drowning in the courtroom and the jurors knew I was a photographer for a porn magazine, so that didn’t help my husband, but if it came out that I had created child pornography in the form of photographs, even by mistake…”
“You and Cove could’ve been viewed as a team and you could’ve been sent to prison as well.”
“And our son would’ve lost both of his parents.”
“That’s why you were so quiet during all of the proceedings. I didn’t understand why or how you could just sit in the courtroom without screaming. Now I understand.”
“We still don’t know who placed the files on our home computer, but when you think about it, that’s easy enough to take care of. For all we know Paul could have been friends with one of the officers who searched our house. Anything’s possible with that man.”
“And the men who testified that they distributed the porn for your husband. Paul’s men as well?”
“Yes, and I’m sure they were paid well to say what they did,” Leondra fumes, no longer in need of coffee, but rather a tall glass of red wine to calm her nerves. “There were also cash deposits in a secret bank account that neither my husband or son told me about. Tax evasion is a crime and I can’t blame the court system for that ruling.
He should’ve told me about it. Both of them should’ve opened their mouths, but I know they were trying to protect me.”
“There was no way to point a finger in any other direction, was there?”
“No. There was no evidence that led to Paul or your brothers. My husband stayed quiet after he was arrested in fear for our safety, and all the others found themselves in similar situations. The only person who fought tooth and nail was young Cove, but no one would listen to him. No one believed him. He was seen as a dumb teenager trying to cover for his father’s wrongdoings. It pains him daily to know this all came about because he tried going to the police. He blames himself.”
“That’s what happened? Cove tried to turn Paul in?”
“Yes. And it wasn’t the first time either. He told me Dayne and Paul almost drowned him in a tub when he was fifteen so he would never consider heading to the police again, and of course he didn’t, but then years later Doron was ready to come forward. I believe it’s because Doron had started a family. He must have looked at his own children and felt guilty about his involvement in NOVA. But because your brothers are so close, Dayne found out, then Paul, and it was all over.”
“My God, Leondra. Now I understand why my father demanded I break all ties with you, he didn’t want me to find out the truth about my brothers and our family’s dark side. I wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it back then, not with my father against me, and Paul for that matter, but the one thing I could’ve changed was how I handled our relationship. I’ll forever regret the time I’ve lost with you. How have the three of you survived the past seven years without going mad?”