Two Years Later

by Jones, Lisa Renee

  “What is it?” Milton asks, sounding irritated.

  The judge settles his glasses on his nose and looks over at him. “Naked pictures of your last witness with the deceased. I won’t allow those photos into evidence, but I’ll send her to jail. I don’t tolerate lies under oath in my courtroom.”

  He doesn’t offer to let Milton see the photos. He hands them back to me and I look at Milton. “Lies is what the entire prosecution is all about.”

  “Says the man defending a killer,” Milton snaps, his face pinched with anger. “Do I get to see the photos, judge?”

  “You’ll have to trust me,” he says. “She’s naked. I don’t run a girly show here. I assure you I can validate what I saw.”

  “Seems to me your witness, who was taking naked photos with her boss, the focus of this trial, has something to hide,” I say.

  “Your client is the one who has something to hide.”

  I don’t even consider outing his text messages with Dana’s boyfriend. Not yet, but I will I have to end this trial and get my wife out of town soon. “Did you know about Martha banging Mr. Warren when you charged Dana or did you even do an investigation?”

  “Enough,” the judge says. “Martha will be taken into custody when the court reconvenes.”

  “I need an afternoon recess, judge,” Milton says. “Please, I need to talk to my team.”

  The judge gives him a keen look. “I suspect you do and I’m going to grant your recess for one reason: I don’t want another lie in my courtroom. We’ll reconvene at one-thirty when the witness will stand before me and be arrested for lying. After which, we will recess.” He waves us away.

  I exit to the exterior of the office and text Cat: I need you. Have Savage bring you back here. I exit to the hallway and as soon as I’m in my team’s private hallway, Richard and Elsa are on top of me. “The judge is having her arrested at one-thirty. After which, we recess. Go drill Dana about Martha. I need to see my wife.”

  I walk around them and head for the end of the hallway to wait on Cat and Savage. The minute Cat rounds the corner, I pull her to me and kiss her. “That’s was incredible,” she says.

  “We need to talk,” I say, lacing my fingers with hers and leading her toward a private office.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Reese

  I shut the door to the office and my need to control everything, especially my wife’s safety, has me backing Cat against the wall, my hands on her waist, my legs caging hers. “Reese?” she asks. “Why are you so intense right now? You killed it in court.”

  “That attorney who’s working with Debbie.”

  “What about him?”

  “He’s been following you for weeks. Royce pulled footage from random cameras around the areas you frequent.”

  “Oh,” she breathes out. “That’s creepy. I admit that freaks me out a little. You’re going to ask me to leave again, aren’t you?”

  “Royce thinks you should. I know you don’t want to go. And while my first instinct was to send you away, I really don’t know if I can focus if you’re out of my sight and in danger. I need to see you in the courtroom.”

  “I want to be there. I love watching you and I feel safe in the courthouse.”

  “I’m going to end the trial and we’re going out of town. Wherever you want to go.”

  “I want to stay close, in case we need to talk to the police.”

  “Then we’ll go to Cole and Lori’s place in the Hamptons. We’ve wanted to go for a while.”

  “I’d like that. Thank you for not just sending me away. If Debbie comes forward I need to be by your side.”

  “You just need to be by my side, period.” I kiss her, a slow, deep passionate kiss, and if we were anywhere but here, I’d be inside her right now. I stroke her cheek. “Let’s talk about the trial.”

  “Yes. Let’s talk about the trial.”

  I force myself to let her go, unbuttoning my jacket to pace as I think through everything that just happened in that courtroom. “We’re recessing until one-thirty. I showed the judge the photos. We’re going back to court to have Martha arrested, and then we’re done for the day.”

  “How hard did Milton fight her arrest?”

  “He didn’t. He’s just not that good, which is really damn good for Dana. The judge wanted to prove his court was lawful and make this a big event. If it had been me in Milton’s shoes, I would have fought to have that done in private. Now the jury will see her punished.”

  “And a few hours in jail will make her break if she’s going to break,” Cat assumes.

  “If it doesn’t, it will prep her so that I can.”

  “I agree and the fact that she lied and she’s getting arrested, creates plenty of reasonable doubt. The jury is going to wonder why she lied. They’ll wonder if she’s the killer.”

  “But it won’t end this. I want this over.”

  “I know you do,” she says. “But you’re winning, Reese. I’m right here with you and I’m not a fool. I’m not going anywhere without Savage by my side. I have every reason to stay smart and alive. And—as much as I don’t want to go, if me being here starts worrying you to the point of stress, I’ll go. For you. I’ll go crazy, but for you, I’m willing.”

  I cross to stand in front of her, my hands settling under her hair at her neck. “For me.”

  “Anything for you.”

  “Even after that call this morning?”

  “We both have a past, Reese. I don’t think you came to me a virgin and if you did, you were born with some pretty impressive skills.”

  “Is that right?”

  “Yes.” She slides her arms around me. “I was shocked and it felt like an invasion of our world, but it didn’t feel like a betrayal. And just so you know, watching you in that courtroom really turns me on.”

  “Watch out, sweetheart, or I’m going to forget where we are and pull your dress up.”

  “How much more will it take,” she teases, “because I’m trying pretty hard to tempt you right now.” There’s a knock on the door and she sighs, “Of course.”

  I stroke her hair. “You’re just giving me more motivation to end this.” I kiss her and release her to walk to the door, and open it. Elsa is standing there.

  “Dana said that she’s completely sideswiped. She had no idea her father was sleeping with Martha. She’s no help, but she wants to talk to you.”

  “She doesn’t need to help. Martha is doing plenty herself. Tell her I’ll be right there.” She nods and I start to shut the door and stop. “Wait, Elsa. Give me a minute. I have an idea.” I shut the door to refocus on my wife. “That idea you had about Dana and dinner. Let’s make it lunch. She admires you. I do think she might open up to you. She might tell you something she won’t tell me because she’s nervous and on edge. Are you in?”

  “Of course. Anything that helps. You know that.”

  I wrap my arm around her and pull her to me. “I do know, sweetheart.” I kiss her and let her go, opening the door and inviting Elsa in to explain the plan.

  “It’ a good plan,” Elsa says. “I like it. I can go grab lunch. I’ll just pick up a couple large pizzas so we don’t lose time with orders. Yes?”

  “Yes,” I say. “Do it.”

  She walks away and I motion to Savage who’s standing at the end of the hallway.

  He quickly joins us. “I need to go into the conference room without Cat but she’ll be joining me. Can you stay with her and nearby the room once she enters?”

  “They don’t call me the ‘right now guy’ for nothing,” he says. “I’m right here, right now, and whenever you need me.”

  Cat laughs. “If you use that line on a woman, try ‘all night guy.’”

  “That, too,” he assures her, while I tune him out. “I’ll be right back, Cat.”

  I cross the conference room and enter. Dana is sitting with Richard at the table and she pops to her feet. “Did she do it?�
�

  “We don’t know,” I say. “But we’re working on that. Cat is here. How do you feel about her joining us for lunch? She’s signed a contract as a part of my legal team. Anything you say to her is protected.”

  “Yes, please. Bring her in.”

  I open the door and motion Cat forward. She enters the room and her and Dana are immediately chatting it up. The pizza arrives, and we all eat as Cat asks questions that are pretty damn probing, but Dana doesn’t so much as blink. At one point, Dana tears up. “I did hate him, so how does it hurt so badly to know he’s gone?”

  Cat, who is sitting next to her, grabs her hand. “My father is like your father,” she says. “And when he had a stroke a few years back it terrified me. It didn’t take him long to return to his normal, horrible self, but at least he’s alive. I get it. They’re our fathers. They’re a parent that brought us into the world.”

  Cat shares this with Dana, but I don’t believe she does so to earn her trust. She does so because she feels what Dana feels, deeply, completely. It guts me every time I hear Cat talk about her father and until recently her brothers weren’t much better, but that’s changing, and thank God for it.

  Unfortunately, by the time lunch is over, I don’t think we’ve achieved much. I meet Cat in the hallway before I head back into court.

  “Anything I missed that you picked up in there?”

  “Just that I still believe she’s innocent. I believe if you put her on the stand a jury will see that, too.”

  “I’m not letting this trial get that far,” I promise her. “I’ll see you in court and then we’re getting out of here.”

  Savage steps to Cat’s side. “Don’t worry. I’m protecting your most precious thing in life. She’s right here with me.”

  While I’m comforted by his declaration, I really am tired of leaving my wife with other men. Just another reason for me to end this trial. I head toward the conference room to gather my team. It’s time to watch Martha feel the heat of being arrested.

  Then I’m taking my wife home and reminding her that I’m the man by her side. She knows it, I know it, but after that call this morning, and seeing Savage by her side over and over again, I have a deep need to remind her in every possible way.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Reese

  Fifteen minutes later, my eyes are on Cat in the courtroom, and I relax into what is about to be a huge success. The judge calls the court to order and asks Martha to report to the stand where she’s arrested for contempt of court. Martha stands up in a panic and starts to cry, pleading with the judge. The room is a crazy rumble of sound as observers react.

  When she’s finally out of the room the judge addresses the jury, “To the jury,” he states, “I have proof that Ms. Banks lied under oath, the details of which will not be placed into evidence, but a lie under oath is a crime and will not be tolerated in my courtroom. We’re adjourning until eight am tomorrow. Ms. Banks will be back on the stand at that time.” He bangs his gavel. Milton glares at me, while I turn and share a look with Cat before heading for the door.

  A few minutes later, I’ve arranged to have my team at the apartment at seven, and I’m in the SUV with my wife, my hand on her leg, pulling her close. “That went well,” she says.

  “It certainly did,” I say. “And as much as I want to celebrate that with you alone, right now, I think we need to make sure Reid knows where we stand.”

  “Royce is meeting you at your apartment,” Savage says. “He wants to talk about the recent developments.”

  “That works,” I say, looking at Cat. “We need to try to get Reid to the house.” I pull my phone from my pocket and it rings with Reid’s number. “Speak of the devil himself.”

  “That he is,” Cat agrees, as I answer the call.

  “I heard what’s going on from Royce,” Reid says. “I’m coming to your place, and Gabe’s with me.”

  “See you there,” I say and disconnect.

  “Your brothers are on their way.”

  “I swear those two haven’t been so attentive since I was a child.”

  I squeeze her leg, aware that talking about her family stirs emotions over her brothers being assholes over her career, following a path they didn’t approve of. At least not at the time. I believe they’ve come around but not without a lot of damage to their relationships with Cat. Her phone rings and she talks with Lauren, and then Lori, just as Cole calls me for an update. Both Lori and Cole are out of the mix, dealing with a crisis with a client, but they want to be here for us. That’s what matters.

  A few minutes later, we enter the apartment and we’ve barely had time to set our things down when Royce, Reid, and Gabe, join us, while Savage also sticks around. There are so many of us that we meet in the front living room. “This guy’s been following Cat for weeks?” Reid demands. “What the fuck. Where is he now?”

  “We have eyes on him,” Royce says. “He’s hiding from his bookie in a Motel Six in Queens. He’s on leave from his job. He’s not going anywhere we don’t go with him.”

  “I don’t like this,” Reid says, showing the most emotion I’ve seen that man show in all the years I’ve been around him. “And Debbie hasn’t returned my call and yet she called Reese and threatened him this morning.”

  “This guy needs to be ended,” Gabe says, which is a very out of character statement for him, at least where I’m concerned, too. He looks at me. “Are you going to the police?”

  “No,” Cat says. “That presses Debbie to talk which is fine, but I want us to try to negotiate out of this in the next few days.”

  “I’m going to give my guy at the Feds a heads up,” Royce says. “This is blackmail and it falls under their umbrella and with Wilson’s gambling debt to a nasty bookie, with strong ties to a crime organization, that makes them all the more interested. I’ll let him know we’re concerned about the press. He will likely want to talk to all of you.” He looks at me and Cat. “Unless you two object.”

  I eye Cat. “I think it’s smart.”

  “Me too,” she says.

  “Who’s the bookie?” Gabe asks. “I might have an insider who can give us something on this guy.”

  “Guy’s name is Dimps McCoy,” Royce says.

  “Negotiate,” Reid grumbles. “I’ll negotiate all right.” He starts walking toward the door and Cat races after him, planting herself in front of him, and Gabe and I both take up either side of them.

  “What does that mean, Reid?” Cat demands.

  “Don’t worry, little sis, I’m at my best when I’m angry and I might have hurt you, but no one else is going to.”

  “Reid,” I say. “Can I see you alone?”

  “No,” Reid says. “I need air. And for everyone to back up.”

  Gabe backs away and Reid steps around him, and the interesting part of this is that Gabe says nothing. He just follows him toward the door.

  Cat turns to me. “What are they going to do?”

  “They?”

  “Don’t let Gabe fool you. He is just like Reid, just as dangerous, aside from one hiding behind stone and the other behind humor.”

  “They’re your brothers. As your husband, I know how easy it is to react to this, and want to hurt someone. Give them time to calm down and they’ll be back.”

  “I hope you’re right. These are my brothers, Reese. They aren’t you.”

  “I’ll handle it, Cat. I promise.” I kiss her. “Let’s finish up with Royce and we’ll figure it out. Okay?”

  “Yes. Okay.”

  My cellphone rings and it’s an insider I use at the jail. “Martha says she has information she’ll trade for immunity, but she wants to talk to you.”

  “I’ll be right there.” I hang up and talk to the entire room. “Martha wants to make a deal but she’ll only talk to me.”

  “She wants to find out what you know,” Cat says.

  “Of course she does, but that isn’t going to work o
ut for her.”

  “I’ll go with you on this one,” Royce says.

  “I’ll stay with Cat,” Savage says and once again I’m leaving my wife with another man.

  I settle my hands on her shoulders. “Come with me.”

  “You want me to come?”

  “Yes, I do. You’re part of my legal team. I lean in and lower my lips to her ear, “and I really want you close, Cat.” I lean back to look at her.

  Her eyes warm. “Yes. I’d love to come.”

  ***

  Reid

  Gabe and I step out of the elevator. “Let’s walk and talk.”

  “Agreed,” Gabe says.

  Once we’re on the street, away from anyone who might overhear or record us, I say, “We need to end this.”

  “Agreed again. Let’s divide and conquer. I’ll take Wilson. You take Debbie.”

  “Works for me,” Reid says.

  “I’ll go first,” Gabe says, pulling out his phone and calling someone without identifying them. “I need a number for a bookie named Dimps McCoy. Text it to me.”

  I don’t ask what he’s going to do. I know. A minute later his text beeps. Gabe motions me right and we walk about four blocks to one of the few payphones around this area. He grabs the phone, punches in the number and makes the call. “Dimps McCoy?” he says. “You don’t know me but I have a tip for you. Wilson Moore is hiding in a Motel Six in Queens. I got nothing more.” He hangs up and looks at me. “You’re up. Deal with Debbie.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  Reid

  I arrive back to my office and dial Debbie’s number and end up leaving her a message. “It’s your lucky payday. Come to my office at six o’clock or the deal is off.” I disconnect and review the file I’d been given by Royce that includes Debbie’s parent’s information. Mary and Marcus own a restaurant in Long Island. I do a tax search and find a lien on their property.

  I dial the restaurant. “Mary?”

  “Yes. Who’s speaking?”

  “I’d like to talk to you about your daughter. Are you aware she’s pregnant?”

  “Who is this?”