Once You'Ve Touched the Heart

by Iris Bolling

  JD looked at the address on the paper. “We’re here.”

  “Where?” James asked.

  JD turned the engine off. “I believe this is where Tracy’s mother lives.”

  James looked at the house. “I thought Tracy did not get along with her mother.”

  “She doesn’t,” JD said, “but I plan to marry Tracy. I have to do all I can to try to bridge that gap for Tracy and our future.”

  James warned, “You may be better off not doing this. Mothers-in-laws can be a bitch.”

  JD laughed. “Coming from a man with experience.”

  Brooks laughed. “Unfortunately, yes.”

  JD stopped for a moment and looked around. “Well, no need putting this off. Are you coming?” James unbuckled his seat belt. “You might need some backup.”

  JD looked at the house Tracy grew up in. He smiled at the thought of her sitting on the front porch reading. From the outside the small, three-bedroom rancher seemed cozy. JD knocked on the door. He was having second thoughts, but he had come too far not to follow through.

  JD knew who she was the moment the door opened. Lena Washington was an attractive woman who did not look her age. She had light brown eyes, just like Tracy’s. Her hair was up in a ponytail, just like Tracy’s had been when he first met her. She was shapely, maybe a size 12, and very stylish.

  “Ms. Washington, my name is Jeffrey Harrison. This is James Brooks.”

  She looked from JD to Brooks. “Please come in.” She opened the door wider.

  As they entered the living room, JD looked around. He noticed pictures of children, a young woman and man—could be husband, wife—, and pictures of Lena; none of Tracy or Al. “Please have a seat,” she said. “What can I do for you?”

  James and JD sat down. JD began, “As I was saying, my name is JD Harrison.”

  “I know who you are, Mr. Harrison; I assume you are here about my daughter. What I don’t know is why,” Lena stated.

  “Ms. Washington, Tracy and I are getting married.” JD smiled. “We are planning the wedding. I thought it would be a good time to get to know her family.”

  Lena smiled. “Does Tracy know you are here?” she asked with a touch of humor.

  JD smiled. “No, she doesn’t, and I am not sure how she is going to react when I tell her.”

  “Mr. Harrison, I haven’t talked with my daughter in years. Why would I change that now?”

  “Because she is your daughter. She is about to go through a major change in her life. Wouldn’t you want to be a part of that?”

  Lena looked at James, then back to JD. “The question is, does she?”

  JD smiled. “I don’t know the answer to that, but I would like to explore the possibility of you two bridging this gap. Would you be open to that?”

  Lena thought about it for a moment. “What would be in it for me?”

  JD frowned. Lena saw his enthusiasm change. “I’m not sure what you mean,” JD replied.

  “My life is fine just the way it is. How would I benefit from connecting with a daughter who apparently does not want to connect with me?”

  James was looking around observing their surroundings. Something about Lena reminded him of his ex-wife. Unfortunately, James was not a man to play word games. He generally went straight to the point. James sat forward. “Were you speaking of monetary benefits or moral benefits, Ms. Washington?” he asked, indifferently.

  Lena smiled. “Why not examine both. Judging by her friends, Tracy seems to be doing well.”

  JD stood up. Brian was right, this woman is about money. “Tracy is doing well, but that had nothing to do with either of us.”

  James stood. “Just out of curiosity, what monetary amount would make it worth your while?”

  Lena stood. “I would have to get back with you on that.”

  JD hung his head. “Ms. Washington, Tracy is a wonderful person. I believe you had a hand at her turning out that way. As much as I want to make this connection for Tracy, there is no way in hell I’m going to pay you to talk to your daughter.” The frown on JD’s face told James he needed to interject before more damage could be done. Lena smirked at JD, and then opened the door, ending the conversation.

  “Ms. Washington,” James began.

  “Lena, please,” she said as she turned to him.

  “Lena.” James smiled. “Thank you for your time, but we have to get back on the road now. If you ever find yourself in Richmond, please give me a call.” He gave her his card. He touched JD’s shoulder. “You have a good day.”

  Lena looked at his card. “I might do that, Mr. Brooks. Mr. Harrison, I’m sure we will talk again.”

  “Ms. Washington,” JD replied as he walked away. Lena smiled, and then closed the door.

  JD got in the car a little dejected. He didn’t expect much, but this was over the top. “That woman is about money. I don’t care if she never calls,” JD said.

  “Don’t let your emotions control your response to this. Yes, she’s a piece of work. But she can be handled. You just have to use a little finesse,” James said with a smirk.

  JD looked at James. “What do you have in mind?”

  “Well, let me work on her,” James said. He knew that what JD was trying to do was admirable, but his instincts told him they had just opened Pandora’s Box. “Are you going to tell Tracy about this?” James asked.

  JD put his head back on the headrest. “I have to. I don’t keep things from her. I just hope she understands why I did it.”

  James smiled. “She will and she will love you more for trying.” JD started the car and pulled off. James laughed. “Damn! I thought I had the mother-in-law from hell.”

  ♥

  JD dropped James off at his office then called Tracy. “Where are you, babe?” he asked.

  “I’m at my place talking with Cynthia and Rosaline about possibly handling the wedding. Can you come by?”

  JD sighed. “I don’t want to.”

  Tracy was quiet for a moment. “Will you come anyway?”

  “What do I get if I do?” JD teased.

  “A very grateful fiancée.”

  “I’m downstairs, let me up.” Tracy smiled and buzzed the door open. JD kissed Tracy and whispered, “How grateful?”

  She just smiled as JD spoke to everyone then took a seat. “So what are we talking about?”

  Tracy looked at Ashley then at Jeffrey. “Jeffrey, I would like to hire Cynthia and Rosaline to coordinate the wedding. Would you be comfortable with that?”

  “Will the end result make you Mrs. Jeffrey Harrison?”

  Tracy smiled. “Yes.”

  “Then I don’t care if Gandhi coordinates the wedding.”

  Tracy kissed him softly on the lips. “Thank you.”

  He frowned at Cynthia over Tracy’s shoulder. “Cynthia, there will be a contract, right?” he asked.

  Cynthia looked at him. “Of course.”

  JD looked back at her. “There may be one or two amendments to that contract. The final contract must be signed by Tracy and me. Do we understand each other?”

  “What is it you think I’m going to do, JD?”

  “What you always do, Cynthia, find some way to put Tracy down. This is her wedding; your place is going to be directing her wants, not yours. Now if you think you can do that, we are good.”

  Cynthia stood up. “I do not put Tracy down.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  Ashley and Rosaline both laughed.

  Cynthia stopped mid-sentence then rolled her eyes at both of them. “I simply tell her what I think. I like to keep things real.”

  “Your keeping it real has been cruel. But Tracy considers you a friend. I’ll be damned if I know why, but she does. If she wants you,” he looked at Tracy, “I will not get in the way.”

  The doorbell rang. “Break!” Ashley smiled then buzzed the door open. “Ding; Round Two.”

  “Good evening,” James said as he reached the top of the stairs.

  “Hello,”
everyone responded.

  “Am I interrupting something?” James asked, seeing the tense expression on Cynthia’s face.

  “No, just wedding plans,” JD replied. “Have a seat.”

  James pouted. “I don’t want to.” Tracy laughed.

  ♥

  Brian thought he was dreaming when he heard the telephone ring. He reached to pick up the house phone, but the ringing continued. It was his cell; he jumped up, wondering who would call him this early on a Saturday morning. “Thompson, this is Tucker. I need to see you. Meet me at Maxi’s in half an hour.”

  “Hey, Brian, can I get you something?” Frank greeted.

  “Hey, Frank, do you ever go home?” Brian joked.

  “Don’t feel like it sometimes.” He pointed to the table. “Your guest is here,” he said looking over to the table.

  Brian looked in the direction Frank pointed and saw Tucker eating. The feeling in the pit of his stomach made it obvious something was amiss. “Let me have a Hennessey on the rocks,” Brian requested.

  “It’s a little early for that, ain’t it?”

  “Yeah, well I got a feeling I’m going to need it.” Brian walked over and sat at the table. “Got to be important for you to be here of all places.”

  “Yeah, I feel like a damn virgin in the center of Sing Sing surrounded by death row inmates, with all these damn cops around,” Tucker joked.

  Brian chuckled. “Just wondering which one is going to screw you first.”

  “Yeah.” Tucker laughed. “Juan is targeting Harrison again.” Tucker stated.

  “Tell me what I don’t know,” Brian said. Frank approached the table with the drink, the conversation stopped. “Thanks, man,” Brian said, and then continued with his conversation. “He isn’t crazy enough to make another attempt on a DA; especially this one. Hell, that would bring the whole force down on him, Fed, state and local.”

  “He’s pissed. Harrison didn’t take the out and is still gunning for him. People do stupid things when they don’t think clearly and you can’t think clearly when you’re pissed. Besides, the plan was to slow Harrison’s roll, not kill him,” Tuck said.

  “The kind of force they brought was to kill, not slow down,” Brian said angrily. “But let’s say you’re right. How could they slow him down at this point?”

  “Think about it: who’s the one person in Harrison’s life that would make him think twice if something was to happen to her?”

  Brian thought for a moment. “Shit,” Brian said, “love is a bitch.”

  “Yeah, tell me about it,” Tucker said as he finished the last of the food on his plate.

  “I can’t officially put anybody on her.”

  “Well, you better do something. I was given direct orders. If anything happens to her, people will die.” Tucker finished his coffee. “I’m out, man.”

  “Thanks for the heads up, man. You take care.”

  “Same for you, my man.” Tucker left.

  Frank came over to the table. “You good, Brian?”

  “No, man, bring me another one. Make it a double.”

  Brian knew if it was in his power, nothing would happen to Tracy. He pulled out his cell, dialed a number. “I need you to cover JD’s girl until further notice; anything goes down, shoot to kill, we’ll get answers later.” He disconnected and made another call. “Calvin. I’m at Maxi’s. Can you get away?”

  “Yeah, what’s up?”

  “I’ll fill you in when you get here.”

  “All right, you talked to JD?”

  “No, I’m pretty sure he’s with Tracy.” Brian smirked. “You know he’s done right?”

  “Yeah, he’s gone, but I ain’t mad at him,” Calvin replied. “He’s got a good one.”

  “I don’t know, man. I am not into that one-woman-for-the-rest-of-your-life shit. It doesn’t even sound that effective, you know what I mean,” Brian said laughing. “Think about it; women outnumber us. Now, if everybody goes to the one on one, like you and JD, what’s going to happen to all the other women? Somebody’s got to be available to help the lonely sisters.”

  “Oh and you are willing to make the sacrifice?”

  “Hell, yeah!”

  “You’re a damn fool, B.” Calvin laughed. “I’ll be down in 10.”

  Frank came to the table with breakfast on a plate. “Maxine said you have to put something on your stomach if you gonna do all that drinking this early in the day. She said she gonna take care of you today, but you need a woman in your life.”

  Brian laughed and thought, has everybody lost their damn mind?

  Chapter 28

  The first day back in open court for JD began with an uneasy feeling, but he was determined not to let it get the best of him. Today the security was tight; no one was allowed in the courtroom unless they were directly involved with the case. No media were allowed.

  When JD left the house that morning, Tracy wasn’t feeling well. She had been staying at JD’s place for the past week. She did her work from home and would have it sent to the office by Ashley. It was easier to handle security that way. Brian and two other federal agents handled the detail rotation on both JD and Tracy. That was completely unofficial.

  When Brian approached his superiors regarding the tip on Tracy, they informed him his responsibility was to protect Jeffrey Harrison only. The agency was not responsible for the family members’ protection. That pissed Brian off, but he followed orders. Most evenings, Magna and Brian were at the house with them, therefore extra coverage was available.

  Sometimes James and Ashley would stop by. James and JD were becoming close friends. The two would have what some might call arguments, but they referred to them as discussions about politics. Ashley would fill Tracy in on the happenings in the office and spend some time on the wedding. They had formed a very tight-knit little group.

  JD was glad the trial day had finally arrived. Once this trial was over, he and Tracy could move on with their plans. Since his meeting with Lena, all he wanted to do was make her feel secure with their family.

  The group from the DA’s office arrived together. Brian drove JD and Magna. Calvin, Dan and two Federal agents rode in the other vehicle. If anything happened to the first group, the lead attorney in the second would take over the case. The media were on the front steps of the courthouse in full force. Before going into the courthouse, JD called Tracy. “Hey, babe, you feeling any better?” he asked.

  “A little,” she replied. “Is everything okay with you?”

  “Yeah,” he said, looking out of the window. “I have the full force of the city here with me today, don’t worry.”

  “I’m going to worry until you come back through the door,” she said with a sigh.

  “Brian said there’s nothing really wrong with you that will not be cleared up once this day is over.”

  “He may be right, but my head is killing me right now.”

  A little worried, he said, “Why don’t you take a couple Tylenols and go back to bed? When you wake up this may be over.”

  “I may do that.” She hesitated. “Jeffrey, please come home to me.”

  He closed his eyes and sighed. “That’s my plan, babe. I love you.”

  “Me, too.” JD hung up the phone then got out of the car.

  Brian walked up beside him. “Don’t worry if anything happens to you; I’ll marry Tracy.” JD froze in his tracks and gawked at Brian.

  Calvin walked up behind JD and hit him on the shoulder. “I guess you better stay alive, partner,” he laughed.

  The trial took two days before it was turned over to the jury. On the second day, JD and his team knew they had a victory and so did the defense. Juan became irate in the courtroom when the mother of his child was called to testify against him. He looked at JD and yelled, “You will pay for this. You fucked with my family, I fuck with yours!” The judge had him removed from the court.

  JD called Tracy on his way home just to check on things. She still was not feeling well, which was unus
ual. To his knowledge, Tracy had never been sick, not even a cold. “Everything is fine honey; I’m just taking it easy today,” she told him.

  “Things got ugly today. The case was given to the jury. Now, it’s a wait and see.”

  “How do you feel about it?” she asked.

  “We are on our way to Maxi’s to celebrate.”

  She smiled. “Thank goodness, this is almost over. We can go back to our normal life.”

  “I kind of like the life we have,” JD said. “I like having you at my place day and night.”

  “Yes, I like that, too, but I can do without so many people around all the time.”

  “I’m with you on that.” He smiled. “Babe, we are at Maxi’s; do you need me to come home?”

  “No, enjoy yourself.”

  “Love you,” he whispered.

  “Me too,” she replied.

  Tracy went to the medicine cabinet to get the Tylenols, but they were out. Her headache was getting worse. She started to call Jeffrey to bring some home, but changed her mind. He had been so stressed about this trial; he needed this outing with the guys. She didn’t want to disturb that. Tracy got in her car and drove to the drugstore.

  When she pulled into the parking lot, there was a commotion behind her. A car had apparently cut off a white SUV. Tracy stepped out of the car and looked around. Before she closed the door, a young Hispanic man approached her from behind. “Ms. Tracy?”

  “Yes,” she answered.

  “I have a message for Mr. Harrison.”

  Before Tracy realized what was happening, his fist hit her face with so much force that her head hit the top of her car. She was stunned. Blood started coming out of her nose. Another fist hit her face from the opposite direction. Tracy lost her balance and fell between the cars. A foot hit her side, like a sledgehammer, which continued to kick and pound her from what seemed like all directions. She tried to slide under the car, but someone grabbed her legs and pulled her back out. Tracy heard voices speaking in Spanish. She knew there was more than the one, but could not make out what they were saying. She tried to scream, but nothing came out. She tried to fight back, but could not. Someone stomped her hand and she cried out in pain. One of them picked her head up off the cement and said in Spanish, “You fuck with my family, I fuck with yours.” The boy slammed her head on the cement. Everything seemed to go black then. Tracy put her arms over her head, and curled up into a fetal position. She prayed to lose consciousness, but it did not come fast enough. The impact of every kick kept her conscious. The kicking continued until her body became numb, but her mind was still aware. Then she heard what sounded like a gunshot, but she could not move. Her mind was closing and she hurt all over; she couldn’t tell if the shot had hit her.