by Vonnie Davis
He stood and moved behind her as she brought the first and second email on her monitor for him to read. “Have you called the police about this? The second one is a blatant threat.”
“Yes, and I called him again when I got the flowers this morning.”
“Call me when he comes. I want to sit in on this meeting. You’re also going to want a restraining order against this Darryl Weir.”
“Yes, you’re right. I was hoping he’d still be in jail so I hadn’t given it much thought.”
“I’ll set it up for you. You’ll still need to sign the forms. We’ll want it for personal, phone, email, texts and anything else you find harassing. No one should have to go through this. My daughter was hassled by a male student at college. She damned near dropped out of Yale over the no good bastard.”
“Oh, that’s awful. Has he stopped?”
“With Daddy Sterling on his ass, you better believe he stopped!”
“Mr. Hughes, I have another problem I could use your advice on.” She held up Chantel’s folder and told him it was one Elizabeth has asked her to take over when she was given her first important case. Then she felt the heat of a blush as she explained she’d been dating the ex-husband and things were very serious between them, causing this conflict of interest.”
“All the lawyers in our firm are very busy. Call the woman who filed the custody case and tell her we can’t represent her. Tell her you’ve been in the hospital and haven’t been able to properly prepare for her side of the argument. Tell her we’ll refund her deposit, but she’ll have to find another attorney.” He stood. “Remember, call me when the Lieutenant shows up.”
“Yes, sir.” Although, frankly she was more concerned about Chantel Calloway than she was Darryl Weir. Sterling Hughes left her office, and she opened Chantel’s file to locate her phone number. This conversation ought to be pleasant.
“Chantel Calloway?”
An annoyed huff sounded over the line. “Yes, who the hell is this? I’m in the middle of a pedicure. No, not that pink. It’s got an orangey tint to it. I told you hot pink. Now, who did you say you were?”
“This is Graci-Ella Santana, the attorney assigned to your custody hearing for your little boy.”
“What happened to Elizabeth? I liked her.” The woman certainly had whining down to an art form. No, it was more like fingernails scraping a chalkboard. Her voice was the type that grated on one’s nerves.
“Elizabeth has been given a larger, more important case.”
There was a gasp over the phone line. “More important than my case? I resent that!”
Resent it all you want lady. “Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to handle this legal affair for you, either. My senior partner has authorized me to inform you of our decision to withdrawal as your legal representatives and to refund you your deposit of the lawyer’s retainer fee. You’ll have to find yourself other legal counsel. I wish you good luck. Good bye, Ms. Calloway.” Graci-Ella hung up in the middle of the woman’s screaming rant.
She called the finance department of the law firm, told the person in charge what Sterling Hughes had told her what to do and gave her the name and address of their former client, as well as the amount paid as a retainer fee. She closed the file and placed it on her narrow cabinet.
Her headache was growing worse, accompanied by some dizziness. No doubt it was coming from stress more than her car accident. She rummaged in her purse for some strong headache medicine, washed it down with her bottled water.
Another glance at Chantel’s file lifted her spirits. Thank God, she’d gotten out of that mess. She checked her emails again and found another from Darryl. No one messes with my life. Gotta say I enjoyed watching you and Tiny screw yesterday morning.
Someone knocked on her open door and she jumped.
“Sorry. I’m Lieutenant Lithgow. We talked earlier.”
She took a sip of her water and motioned him in. “I just got another email from Darryl.” She stood and moved out of the way so the Lieutenant could sit and read. “I’m supposed to call one of the senior partners when you get here. He’ll want to hear about this latest email. Although I can’t say I want him to read it.” Her stomach turned. She was exactly happy to have a strange policeman read it either. She made her call and Sterling said he was on his way.
Both men agreed Darryl possessed a danger to Graci-Ella. Plans were made to have him arrested again. They discussed how they would handle the case. Sterling knew the district attorney and several judges quite well. Many of them played golf together. He’d handle things on his end.
Lieutenant Lithgow phoned the captain of Boyd’s squad and asked him if he knew of some places Darryl hung out or who his buddies were. Evidently, the captain asked why because the policeman filled him in on the threatening emails and flowers Graci-Ella received. “He’s been watching her apartment, her rental car and her private life. The threats aren’t overtly cruel, but bad enough she needs protection and he needs arrested again. This time, with no bail.” After a few more minutes of conversation, the call was ended.
She hated being talked about as if she weren’t really there. But the way her head and eyes hurt, she wasn’t so sure she was. Sometimes, the room spun and at others it turned blurry.
Sterling, leaned toward her. “How are you? Your baby blues look they could use some rest. I think one of us ought to drive you home. Tomorrow is another day for you to start fresh. You’ve always given this firm your very best and we’ve noticed. We especially noticed when you were gone so long.
Lieutenant Lithgow offered to drive her home and see that she had a policeman drive her to the office tomorrow morning. She could get her rental car then.
“Who is your insurance agent?” Sterling plucked a pack of sticky notes from his pocket and a pen. “I’m going to call him and tell him you want a different car. Did I hear you mention compact with your long legs? You need an SUV.” He waved an open hand. “I’ll take care of it. The different car will be in your parking space tomorrow morning and the keys with Bethany.” He stood and nodded to them both. “I think we’re through here.” He pointed to her. “Sleep the rest of the day.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Boyd dialed Graci-Ella’s number and handed the phone to Matt at the kitchen table so he could talk. Meanwhile, he loaded the dishwasher and wiped off the kitchen counters. He’d missed his love all day and, at times, Matt missed her too. The guys decided to pick up some take out and carry supper to her condo.
“Hi, Graci-Fella. This is Matt. How’s work going?” There was a pause. “You sound strange, like you’re sleeping at work.” She must have spoken again. “How did you get home?” Boyd froze. “A policeman?” Boyd’s heart rate increased.
He asked Matt for the phone. “Baby? What’s going on?”
The bed clothes rustled. “I got a bad headache at work. Then dizziness hit.”
“Did you pass out?”
“No. But my whole day was rather bizarre. I was sent home early. One of the senior partners is having my auto insurance company swap the older compact they gave me for an SUV. It’s supposed to be in my parking space tomorrow morning.”
His temper flickered. “Why didn’t you call me for help? Taking care of you pleases me. Didn’t your time in the hospital teach you that? Matt and I would have come to the law firm to pick you up as soon as you called.”
“Because I didn’t want to drag Matt out and have him overdo. Why have him wear down quickly the way I did. I had to have a policeman drive me home and I went straight to bed after I closed all the blinds.”
Damn her headache must have been bad. “How are you getting to work tomorrow? I’ll be at the station. Are you calling a taxi?” Something more was going on. She was hiding something from him.
“I have a ride.”
His temper raised a notch and his fingers clamped the phone. “With…?”
“My man, I want to tell you and I want you to hold me, but I know you’ll probably overreact and
scare Matt.” She sounded like she was crying. She needed him.
“Matt, go pick out a movie for tonight, but not one that’s too loud. In fact, get three and we’ll let Graci-Ella choose. I’m going outside on the patio to talk to her.”
“Okay, daddy. Give her a kiss for me too.” He squealed and giggled as he trotted into the living room.
He sat on one of the patio chairs. “Talk to me.”
“Did you know Darryl is out on bond?”
He jumped out of the chair and paced. “What the fuck? No, I didn’t.”
“I didn’t either until I was wading through all the emails, deleting old ones, etc., and found two from an email address, Kissy Lips. The first one was just his normal smart ass thing. The second was a threat.”
“What do you mean threat?” He’d kill the bastard.
“He knows the type of car I’m driving now and he threated to drive it off a bridge, with me in it, of course.”
“He motherfucking what?” He stomped through his yard.
“I called Ivy Jo to see if she remembered the name of the arresting officer at my accident.” Ivy Jo, but not me? “She gave me his name and I called him. He asked me to keep the original emails and forward him copies. I figured Darryl was just trying to scare me. Then the receptionist called to tell me I’d had flowers delivered. I figured they were from you. As soon as I saw the lilies and black roses, I knew.”
“Oh, Jesus, baby,” he whispered. How many times could he beat someone for scaring this sweet woman?
“The card read something about sympathies for my upcoming funeral. I kept the card, touching only the edges in case there were any fingerprints on it and called Lieutenant Lithgow again. He said he’d come right over. By the time I got back to my office, another email from Kissy Lips was waiting. He said he’d enjoyed watching us have sex yesterday morning. He’s been watching me, the car I drive and my home.” She blew her nose with a tissue. “And, no, I am not crying!”
“Did I say you were?”
“No. You were getting ready to lecture me on not relying on you more. On calling Ivy Jo and the police and having the police take me to work tomorrow. Honey, you have a sick child to look after. I’ll get through this on my own, one step at a time.”
She couldn’t have jabbed his heart or his male ego any harder. “Are you punishing me because I told you Matt would always come first?”
“What? Is that the kind of woman you think I am? Petty. Childish? Vindictive?”
He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “No. That would be my ex-wife. She would go to any lengths to make me pay for something I thoughtlessly said. You’ve taught me not all women are like that.” He bent to pull a weed from the flowers Matt had planted.
“Well, you adorable idiot. I’m telling you he should come first. I’m also telling you I’ll take care of myself. I filed a restraining order against him for any type of contact.”
“I don’t like it. Why can’t I take care of you both?”
“If we were already married and living together, you’d have no choice. But neither one of us is ready for that. We both have responsibilities right now that take precedence.”
“Hell you sound like a damn lawyer. Do you or do you not want to have supper and a movie with us tonight?”
“Yes. I need to see you, big guy. I want hugged so bad, I ache for it. I know I said I can take care of myself, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need your strength and support at times too.”
“You mentioned having blinds in your bedroom. What about the rest of the condo? I don’t want that bastard spying on you again. What does he use? Binoculars? Hell, you’re on the third floor.”
“Beats me. And how did he get the code to enter the parking lot? This whole business creeps me out. You’re right, I’m in the habit of opening them when I get up, but until he’s in jail for a good long time, I’ll keep them drawn all the time. I never asked how Matt’s feeling today?”
“Better. He’ll go back to school tomorrow when I go back to work. These are the choices the kid gave you for supper. Soft shell crab sandwiches and curly fries…or pizza,” dragging it out in bored way Matt did.
“I’m guessing soft shells would be the correct answer to that. You two want to eat and watch movies over here? Can I just stay in my pajamas? Tell Matt to wear his. We’ll have a pajama party. She cleared her throat.” She was waiting for him to jump on the pajama band wagon. Ain’t happening, sweet cakes.
“I am not going into Pete’s Soft Shells in a pair of freaking pajamas.”
“Why, do you sleep naked?”
This woman would be the death of him. “You know I don’t with a child in the house. But thanks a hellofa lot for the mental image of you and me naked in bed.”
“What do you mean? I didn’t say a thing.”
Cripes, what the hell did she think was happening to him…outside…in the middle of his damn back yard…with her breathing in his ear?
“Pack a bag, big guy.”
An officer knocked at Graci-Ella’s front door the next morning. She was more rested than she’d been the day before and didn’t even care it was raining. Since the officer was fairly quiet as he played escort duty, she immersed herself into thoughts of last night. The guys set the table while she chose a Disney movie. After they ate and threw away their paper plates, Boyd slipped into the bathroom with his bag and came out wearing green check sleeping pants and—heaven help her greedy female parts—no shirt.
She stared at him and swallowed. Her tongue wanted to lick every mountain and valley of his pecs and abs.
Boyd whispered in her ear, asking what was wrong.
“Would Matt notice if I crawled up your body like a cat in heat?”
He glanced toward Matt trying to figure how to work her Blu-ray. “Save that thought for another time.” He rubbed his hand over her ass before he strutted away and sprawled out on her tan sofa sectional, his one knee raised. She lay against his chest and crotch. And Matt wiggled between both bodies, so he could have an arm around each of their necks and grinned. “I love being the icing in an Oreo.”
He was such a sweet kid. Thankfully, he was more like his father than his mother. He must have kissed her scar three times during the course of the movie while Boyd fingered her hair. It was an exceptionally tender night after such a rough day.
The officer dropped her in front of the building’s doors, and she thanked him for his kindness before she slid out of the squad car and ran the short distance through the rain, her navy strappy heels getting wet in the puddles. She did get a few strange looks from co-workers as they hurried into the grey and black glass building. What? Didn’t everyone come to work in a squad car?
Bethany motioned her aside. “I just wanted you to know the IT department did some work to your computer. Minor on your end, but any emails coming from that weirdo, no matter how many IP addressed he’s using, will go directly to Lieutenant Lithgow’s office. You won’t even see them again. Some new technology the police department is testing out.”
Graci-Ella felt such relief. “Oh, Bethany, I could hug you to pieces. Thank you for telling me I won’t have to be afraid of my emails anymore. You’re the best.”
Bethany leaned over and whispered, “Well, it was something Sterling Hughes and Lieutenant Lithgow worked out together.” The young girl always did enjoy being in the know, but she had a heart of gold along with it. “Oh, before I forget.” She reached into a drawer. “Here’re the keys for your Murano. It’s parked in your assigned spot, all ready for you.”
The elevator trip to her floor seemed to fly, the great mood Graci-Ella was in. She strode into her office and called Boyd on her cell.
“Hey Sweetness.”
“Guess what? You’ll never guess in a million years!”
The man started laughing. “Boyd, what’s so funny?”
“Matt asks me the same thing almost every time he calls and now you. ‘Guess what? You’ll never guess in a million years!’”
“That is very awesome, Sweetness. I’m glad to hear that.” A loud alarm, followed by an address and size of fire blared over the loud speaker. “Gotta go, love. Duty calls.” He ended the call.
She began her normal routine at the office, checking emails and reading over the file for her next trial. Within the hour, she was writing her brief, two legal books open on her desk.
Sterling Hughes knocked on her door frame. “How are you feeling today?”
“Much, much better.” She smiled. “I’m relieved I don’t have to worry about threatening emails. Whatever you had to do with that miracle and the restraining order, I thank you, sir.”
A brief smile nearly touched down on his lips, almost like a bee on a blossom. “We like to take good care of our staff here, especially one of our up and coming litigators. Keep me informed at to this Weir fellow. Have a good weekend.”
“I will and thank you, sir.” He nodded and moved on.
After only an hour of overtime, she closed down her computer and snatched her purse. Boyd had told her weeks ago her tripod and camera were stored at the fire station. She’d go out to pick it up and maybe take a few pictures if the men were back from the fire. Thanks to her injuries and surgery, she was really behind on this project.
She had to admit, she enjoyed driving the Murano. It was much roomier for her long legs than that compact. As she drove around the fire station, several guys were hosing down fire trucks and ladder equipment. She parked next to the side entrance and knocked on the door. Quinn opened it and smiled.
“Hey, you’re just in time to make hamburgers and spaghetti or something. Come on in, I’ve got an apron to fit over that navy outfit.”
“I didn’t come to cook. Boyd told me my camera gear was in storage out here. The two old men took off with it after my accident.”
“Gas Ass and Hell’s Bells? Lord only knows what they did with it. Hold on.” He went to the intercom and pressed a button. “Boyd, could you report to the kitchen please? We have an uncooperative cook here, wearing navy stilettoes, who needs your attention.”