by Alexis Angel
I realize that I have to get to Emma's building ASAP this morning to check things out. Hopefully, there's a lead there somewhere. I get into my car and as I make my way there, I start to think about Wolff, my boss. It's awfully odd that he said he himself investigated the boyfriend angle but he didn't find anything. If Jacqueline's team managed to dig something up about a secret boyfriend, then it seems like Wolff, with the full weight of the police behind him, would have been able to do the same. He didn't even mention it as a possibility. He just immediately zeroed in on Damian Cain, which was an easy out because he's got a bad rap in the press and he didn't have an alibi. I wonder if Wolff knows more than he's letting on?
When I arrive at Emma's building, I prepare myself to go in. I'll need to talk to the doorman and to make sure he knows I need answers. I may have to play bad cop on this one if the person is uncooperative.
The security guard greets me and asks me which floor.
"I'm working on Emma's case. And, as the main security for this building, I'd like to know how much you know. You had to have seen something that the police are not aware of."
"No, didn't see anyone. Like I told others before you, no one suspicious passed by here except for that Cain fellow on his out."
"Hmm, you know I think you're lying to me and I need to know why. What are you covering up? Whom are you lying for?"
"No sir, you've got it all wrong. I only saw what I said I saw."
"Okay, if you're gonna play that way, then maybe I need to bring you in for obstructing justice."
A worried look crosses his face like he never considered he could become more a part of this case than he ever wanted to be.
"I'm serious man. You better tell me everything you know. I am not the person you want to be messing with. I can slap you with charges by the end of the day."
"Okay, all right! There was a man here, another man. She had another boyfriend. But that's all I know I swear! He paid not to talk about them, but that is everything I know."
"God, so you accepted payment from the man who possibly killed Emma and you didn't feel it was necessary to bring that to someone's attention? Wow. This is just disgusting. Some security guy you are. You have no morals."
"He paid me a lot of money!"
"Well if money is all you care about, then I have nothing more to say to you. After this is all over, I just may have you charged for tinkering with evidence."
With that statement, I turn away and walk out the door. Poor Emma had no protection with that guy on call. What a snake.
I leave in a hurry because I have to get to court. But I'm so glad I did due diligence and that I saw for myself what is happening. Jackie was right, there's another point of view on this thing. If I hadn't overheard she and her legal team talking, and if Jackie hadn't let me in on what they know, I might've still been working my ass off to put Cain in jail. This was a close call. I would never have wanted someone so innocent to be accused of a crime that is of this magnitude. I am questioning everything right now, but mostly I am questioning my own department. It feels like everything I stand for is crumbling away and I'm just watching it unable to help.
Jason
I'm sitting in the courtroom, next to Marcus, watching my favorite girl cross-examine the shady businessman who the opposing counsel has called to testify against Cain. They’re really playing dirty on that side and I wonder what Xavier’s reaction is to that. They obviously have very little on our client. Nothing has been more apparent in court so far. It's like Wolff, the prosecuting attorney, is doing everything he can to distract from the true point of this case, that somebody was murdered. He thinks by defaming Damian's character that that is enough to convict him and it's not. In fact, I've worked across from Wolff before because as the DA he's been arguing with me in court for years, but I've never seen him so off target when it comes to evidence. It's like he's trying to fuel the flames of Damian's media storm, hoping that will be enough to convict him.
Luckily Jacqueline is going to cross-examine the guy and I know she'll hammer out the details. She looks hungry for the fight, like a lioness protecting her cubs, but in this case, her cub is Damian Cain.
"Mr. Shumann," she begins. "You say that you were led to a variety of bad investments by my client, Mr. Cain. But, may I ask, did he ever lie to your face about what you were getting yourself into?"
"No, he never lied per se, but seemed to intentionally lead me astray!"
"Isn't it true, sir, that Mr. Cain warned you on several occasions not to put your money with EPM, Inc. and that you strategically went behind his back and invested both your money and some of Mr. Cain's into the company that failed?"
"Yes, he suggested that perhaps it was the wrong move, but I felt otherwise."
"Isn't this then contrary to everything you've previously said about Mr. Cain leading you astray, as you called it? Didn't he deliberately try to get you out of hot water on this deal and when it fell through he didn't even ask for his money back?"
"Do you have proof of that?"
"We do, Mr. Schumann. Luckily, unlike you, Mr. Cain is a prudent businessman who keeps all of his email records. Did you not think we would find the truth? Have you been defaming my client because you have a personal vendetta against him?"
"Objection!" Wolff cries. I can see he's angry that Jacqueline is getting the best of his witness.
"Overruled."
"No, that's not true. I just hate Damian Cain okay? He's got everything he wants without even trying. He's cocky and an asshole. It's not fair."
"Then Mr. Shumann, have you just admitted to presenting a false account of your relationship with my client? Do you realize you've just perjured yourself as you have been lying under oath?"
She's got him! Jacqueline's done it. I love to watch her in court because she gets really fired up like she's on a mission to reveal the truth. I love how she just cracked this guy so easily. She's got a great hold over men and I feel so appreciative that she's in our firm. It's no wonder she got promoted because she really deserves it.
Seeing her cross-examine this guy reminds me of when I first saw her. She was fighting in court on her first case for our company. I remember I went to see who this hot new attorney was that was representing our firm. I saw that she would be ruthless to get at the core of things. I probably fell in love with her in that instant, but it just couldn't happen. I would never jeopardize her working relationship with me. She's just too good a lawyer to lose.
I look at Jacqueline and think about how many years I longed for her. I wanted her so bad, and I knew she wanted me. Finally, we are at a point that it can happen, but there are other guys in the mix. I wish I could reveal to Jacqueline how deep my feelings go. She's not somebody who I can afford to let down. I've wanted her for this long and I'm not going to let go now, no matter what the circumstances. I just hope she sees in me a man worthy of her love. If she were mine, truly all mine, I would worship the ground she walks on and I would make her the happiest woman on the planet.
I'm eyeing every inch of her curves as I think how she is passionate in bed. Here is a woman that has the ability to bring emotions out of me that I didn't even know were there. God, she looks sexy up there in her work attire, her hair pulled back. I imagine untying it so it cascades down her shoulders and undoing her blouse to reveal those succulent, sweet breasts that I've come to adore. She is everything to me. And she arouses a desire in me that is unlike anything else I've ever experienced with a woman. It is for this reason that I have to keep hanging on, and fighting to be with her. I will take however she'll have me at this point, even if it means sharing her with other men. That is something I never thought I'd do but with Jacqueline, it seems entirely worth it.
She's done eating that witness for breakfast and she comes to take her seat next to me.
"Great job," I whisper. "You just nailed him."
"Thanks, Jason," she says. "I hope I made you proud."
"Always," I mouth. She'll always make me proud, a
nd I want to express that to her. She will always be the light of my eyes and I'll always, always love her no matter how this thing goes. I'd be crazy not to have Jacqueline in my life somehow, someway, no matter what. She is my dream girl and I need that dream to be lasting.
Jacqueline
In the conference room of our impressive law firm sits Marcus, Jason, and I. They're congratulating me on my performance in court today when I was busting the balls of that crooked businessman, Mr. Shumann. I knew he was lying even before Damian confirmed it. He seemed kind of twisted the moment I laid eyes on him like something was just not right. I always trust my instincts when it comes to people in the courtroom. It's what I do. It's like I can sniff out deception and it's my job to shed light on it.
"Okay, we have to break out the best champagne for this occasion." Jason has pulled a bottle of Dom Perignon from the wine room and he's proudly pouring us each a glass. "We deserve a little bit of celebration in the midst of this tough case."
Jason's right. We've not slowed down much since beginning this case. It's not as simple as just proving Damian's innocence. Now that we know the murderer is still out there, it has become our unofficial job to find him. I've never felt so passionately involved in my job before. Maybe the fact that I'm working side by side with my two sexy guys is bringing this passion out of me? Or maybe it's for the sake of Emma? I just want to bring her justice. So even though we're celebrating here, it's with a heavy heart that it's still not solved.
"Babe, you did unbelievably well in there today. Makes me proud to be your partner."
"Aww, thanks, Jason. And thanks for letting me be the one to tackle Schumann's agenda. He had it coming."
I sip my champagne and remember how it felt to be in charge of the courtroom today. I loved bringing some good attention to Damian's case.
"He definitely had it coming," Marcus says. "I can't believe the way he just broke down and admitted that he was jealous of Damian."
"Yes," I agree. "I knew I had him, but I never thought he would admit it so readily."
"No way Jacqueline," Marcus says. "You pulled it out of him. Like you led him in the direction you wanted and then he was just eating out of the palm of your hand. You have a real way with men." He winks at me.
"Thanks, I think? But, I believe the fault lies with Wolff bringing in these terrible witnesses to take cred away from Damian."
"Yeah, it looks like Wolff is not bringing in the best of the best for this case. In fact, it's weird because he's usually so on point and thorough about his investigation. He normally only brings on star witnesses, because Wolff hates to lose." Jason, a senior partner, has worked with Wolff a lot. I find it odd that he finds his behavior unusual on this case too. It can't just be because Wolff is impressed by Cain's infamy and he wants to capitalize on it. There must be more.
"The courtroom is certainly a circus, with all the media attention," I say.
"Yeah and Wolff is just playing into their hands. Maybe he wants the limelight in himself," Jason remarks.
"Who knows?"
I sip my champagne and ponder the issue. What is Wolff hiding?
Jason takes a call and Marcus and I are left together.
"Hey Marcus, I'm really grateful that you were proud of me today."
"Of course I was. I'm always proud of you. But, especially today, seeing you take that guy down."
"Yeah, well it felt good, but we need more evidence. Marcus, we need so much more evidence and if we don't find it soon we might lose. There's not any more time left. Cain's life is hanging in the balance."
Marcus sits back in his chair, downs his champagne, and says to me, "Jacqueline, I have to tell you something okay? It's not something I'm sure of yet. I need to go find out some things, but I think I may have a way for us to garner evidence."
I'm shocked. Is Marcus going to come through for us? What is he sitting on?
"Marcus, if you have a lead, you have to get it checked out, quickly!"
"I know, I know. Just cover for me with Jason. Tell him I had to leave for some reason. I don't want to get his hopes up until I have something concrete."
"Okay, okay. Just go. Do it now."
He kisses me deeply for a moment, takes a final look in my eyes, and then he's off. I hope beyond hope that his inkling leads to something promising for us. It would be nice if it was Marcus who came through for us so the firm would know how valuable he is. It's only his first case, but I want him to prove himself. He's a genius at law and that is so obvious to me. I want others to know too.
Jason comes back. "Where's Marcus?"
"Oh, he had to take off to do something...important."
"Well did he say what it was?"
I hate to lie to Jason, but I don't want to put Marcus on the spot either, so I just omit information.
"I just know it's urgent. What he's doing is something urgent."
Now Jason comes down to kiss me and I wish all my men were here. But, in the back of my mind, I am also hoping Marcus finds what he's looking for and that he stays safe.
Marcus
I pull up to the Crave club and hand the valet my keys. I walk right past the bouncer and past all the princesses and players waiting in line. As the door to the club swings shut behind me I can hear the people waiting in line complain about how I just walked in, but the throbbing music of the club drowns them out. I used to be a regular and there was a time when I would've picked a princess or two for the night from among the gorgeous girls standing in line, but not tonight. Not since I’ve met Jacqueline. The girls waiting in line don’t even register for me. Jacqueline’s the only woman who matters to me anymore. I’ve never felt about another woman the way I feel about her.
I weave my way through the crowd and go straight to VIP. My table is reserved of course. I tell the manager I want Meagan as my waitress tonight. Meagan brings the bottle of Ciroc and gives me a huge smile. "Join me for a drink?" I say.
"I’m working," Meagan says and she doesn’t even try to sound like she cares about her job. I know exactly how this game is played and put a couple hundred on the table.
"I guess I can sit for one drink," she says folding the bills and tucking them neatly into her cleavage as she sits down. "I don't do dates."
"Relax." I give her one of my killer smiles. "I just want to talk."
"Sure." She says like she’s heard that line a million times and I bet she as. I’m also willing to bet I’m the only guy who meant it.
"What do you want to talk about?"
"People." I have to lean is close so she can hear over the thumping music in the club. Up close her eyes look tired and she seems older.
"Okay fine who do you want to talk about?"
"Damian Crane, do you know him?" I jump right to the chase I have no interest in spending the entire night in this place. I see a flicker of recognition in her eyes. I can also see her weighing her words before she speaks.
"I've seen him on the news. He killed his girlfriend right?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
"Did you know her?"
"Who?" Megan tries to sound innocent but she doesn’t quite succeed.
"His girlfriend," I say.
"Why would I know her?"
I put another hundred on the table. "Because you live in her building and you found her body."
"Who the hell are you?" Megan stands up, but I know if she really wanted to end the conversation she would walk away.
"I work for Damian Crane, so why don’t you sit back down, unless you’d rather spend the rest of your night with them." I point to a table of junior broker types clearly having a bachelor party. If you looked up douchebag in the dictionary these guys would be the illustration. Meagan sits back down and takes my money. She’s smart.
"Crane killed Emma, so what do you need from me?" She folds her arms across her chest, and looks at me defiantly.
"You keep saying he killed her; did you see him do it?"
"If I did, we both know I probably wouldn’t
be here."
I’ve got admit she’s not wrong about that. That’s what bothers me about this. Crane is an asshole but you don’t get to be a thirty-five year old billionaire by being dumb enough to murder your girlfriend and then leave her apartment in plain sight of the security cameras. It doesn’t make sense. “So you’re guessing?"
"Are the police guessing?"
"Yes."
"Isn’t it always the boyfriend?"
"You watch too much Law & Order Megan." She actually smiles at me.
"Maybe I do but who else would kill Emma?"
"That’s what I want to know."
"Why do you think I would know?"
“For starters because not everybody tips as well as I do and you don't do dates but you live in Prescott Towers; that money has to come from somewhere Meagan."
"I have a boyfriend, so what. It's not a crime."
Her voice sounds nervous. "A boyfriend? Look Megan I’m not judging, you’re smart, you’re hot and men like that. You use it your advantage."
"You could say that."
"And Emma did the same thing."
"Yeah."
"Did you and Emma meet boyfriends at the same place?" I ask
"Not always. We had different types. I met my boyfriend here."
"Where did Emma meet her boyfriend, and I don't mean Crane?"
“I’m not sure … some bar downtown. A nice one, probably the type you’d go to."
"Oh come on Megan you can do better than that for me."
"I could say the same to you."
"What do you want Megan?"
"Do you have a girlfriend? My boyfriend’s getting a little clingy, maybe it’s time for me to upgrade."