by S. Donahue
“Did you go anywhere else when you left the club?”
“Nope. I went straight home. You can speak with my wife. I also have a camera in the doorway of my club. You can see my leaving. You can also verify this information with my bartender Mike.”
“Thank You. I will reach out to them. Let’s talk about the meeting. Who was the meeting with and how was Mr. O’Malley involved?”
As I ask this question, Watson knocks on the door and calls me out of the room. Connor is doing great so far.
“Excuse me a minute. I’ll be right back.”
“Connor’s lawyer is here,” Watson says to me.
“Okay thanks. Send him in.” I walk back into the room. Mr. Reginald Orlando is a very nice man, but don’t piss him off. He turns into an attack dog. I’ve met him several times. He is Brendan’s personal lawyer.
He walks into the interrogation room with all the confidence in the world. He and Connor exchange greetings.
“Miss Soriano is Mr. Kirkpatrick being charged?”
“Not at this time. I am questioning him to get to the bottom of this. I need him to tell the truth and answer my questions. I’m videotaping this so there is no confusion.” He knows what I mean since I’m Brendan’s fiancé.
“Very well. You can continue.”
“So back to the meeting, who were you meeting with and how was Mr. O’Malley involved?”
“The meeting was with the bankers, investors, and my brother, Brendan Kirkpatrick. I’m sure you’ve heard of him.”
“Funny. What were you meeting about?”
“Brendan was going to go over some plans in regards to purchasing Mr. O’Malley’s casino and hotel.”
“Why were you supposed to be there?”
“I was there because we were thinking of opening a Hush II inside of the casino. We were going to discuss financial information regarding the purchase and what the costs would be to add additional amenities.”
“How did this all come about? The plan I mean.”
Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley are frequent visitors of my club, Hush. Mr. O’Malley was sitting at my bar one night. He was talking about his failing business. He asked if I knew anyone who would want to buy it from him. Being that it’s a casino, I didn’t think it was a good idea that I purchase it. I’m a recovering gambler. I immediately thought of my brother. It seemed like a great opportunity for him. It was right up his alley…restaurants, bars, spas, etc. When I proposed the idea to Brendan he was leery. When I finally got him to agree, that was when we had set up a previous meeting with Mr. O’Malley and his CFO. We worked out some things and then decided that Brendan and I would meet with the banker and investors the morning of the murder. Brendan text me to tell me it was cancelled. I was kind of happy because I was exhausted from the night before, but when I found out the real reason I was devastated. It’s very sad and tragic. No one deserves to die that way.”
“No, they don’t. So you knew the victim and his wife prior to the incident.”
“I knew them from the club. They came in a lot.”
“Did you ever notice anything suspicious with them?”
“Reggie chimed in. “You don’t have to answer that question.”
“It’s okay. I have nothing to hide. Detective, I set rules in my club. Whatever happens on their own time is not my issue. If someone’s in the bathroom making sex deals or drug deals I can’t help that. I can’t put video cameras in there. I can only control what I know and see. You would be surprised the people that come into the club that you would never expect…people in high power. I see doctors, lawyers, congressman, businessman, yes, even policemen. Mr. O’Malley really only drank at the bar, had an occasional lap dance, maybe even went to a private room once or twice.”
“What about Mrs. O’Malley? Why does she keep saying you’re responsible?”
Connor was hesitant. He needs to tell me all I need to know…no matter what it is.
“Mrs. O’Malley wants to fuck me and bad for some reason. I have no idea why. She even offered me money. She’s told me that she has to have me because I look like a hot piece of ass. She doesn’t like to be told no. Mr. O’Malley knew about it too, that she wanted to fuck me. I think they are swingers or some kind of shit like that. I don’t know, but she’s mad because I turned her down. She told me I would regret turning her down. That’s probably why she’s saying that I killed people. You can ask Mike about it, she doesn’t hide the fact either. She’s actually a hoochie mama. She gets drunk in the club and acts like a nympho.”
“That’s very interesting because she comes off to me like an upper class bitch.”
“Oh, she is believe me and Kieran was giving her a bad name. They had said something like they didn’t want her daddy to find out about them losing the casino. They wanted to make it look like they decided to sell the casino and move to Florida. I think there is probably a lot more secrets, but that’s all I know. Brendan and I were in it for the investment.”
“Thank You Connor. If I need videos can you supply them?”
“Sure. I don’t know how helpful they will be.”
“You’d be surprised. I’ll be right back.”
I exit the interrogation room. Mrs. O’Malley called all the shots. I’m gonna bring you down bitch.
“Watson, I need to see you in your office…now!!!!” I demand as I walk right by him. I am one pissed off detective right now. Watson follows behind me and closes the door.
“Clearly he’s innocent. She’s framing him. I want him released. If anything she should be taken in for her husband’s murder.”
“Joella, you don’t know that.”
“We brought Connor in on her word.” Watson knows I mean business right now. “Release him now, and if Connor did it you can throw me in jail with him. That’s how positive I am that it’s not him.”
“I’ll sign his release papers, but he’s under your watch. If it is him, it’s your badge.”
He didn’t just fucking go there.
“Really! That’s where you want to go with this. I know you don’t like fucking Connor, but don’t turn into Shea.”
“Joella,” he calls out to me, but I’m halfway through the station.
I walk back into the room. “Connor you’re free to go, but don’t leave yet.”
“Why, what’s up?”
“I need a ride. I now have to go deal with the other asshole at home.”
“Lord Gawd. I’m staying out of that mess.”
“You’re better off.”
Chapter 10
Brendan
The television is blasting. I’m woken by a car door slamming outside. I get up off the sofa. I don’t know how long I have been asleep. I check my watch and it is 3:30 A.M. Joella. Damn it. I feel like a jerk, but I can’t help how I feel about the situation.
Joella is fumbling with her keys in the lock. I open the door, still dressed in my suit pants and dress shirt. She gives me a nasty look and walks past me.
“No Hello?” Silence.
She walks into the kitchen, opens the fridge, takes out a pop and slams it on the counter. I’m standing in the entryway of the kitchen. I try to give her my I’m sorry look, but she’s not having it. She looks so damn sexy when she’s mad.
“Want to talk about it?” I’m trying here.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not speaking to you.”
“We can’t live together in silence for the rest of our lives.”
“Nope, but we can tonight. I’m going to bed.”
She rushes past me and goes upstairs. Hmm, do I follow? Am I allowed? We shall see. I turn off the lights and make sure the door is locked.
I hear Joella in the shower. I change my clothes. I’m not even going to join her right now. She needs time to cool down. Plus, she may cut my shit off if I go in there just yet. I throw on a new pair of boxers and sit back on the bed. Why do I have 2000 channels and there’s never nothing on? Finally…Cake Boss is on. I lo
ve this show. It makes me think of the bakery we went to tonight. Joella was so excited when we got there. I’m such an asshole. Everything just went totally wrong. This is our wedding and everything should be perfect for her. Family traditions mean everything to me.
Joella storms out of the bathroom with an attitude. She tosses her clothes in the hamper and slams the lid shut. I continue to watch television without actually paying attention to it. I want to apologize to her, but I can’t help how I feel about the rookie cop. She gets in bed and turns away from me. I can’t take this.
“So, you’re not going to speak to me?”
“Nope.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t speak to assholes.”
“I’m not an asshole. You’re just blind.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” She says as she turns to face me
“The rookie wants you bahd. I saw how he looked at you when we walked up to him.”
“You say that about everyone.”
“I know that look.”
“Now you read people.” She says sarcastically.
“Joella… Did he drive you home?”
“No…”
“Well someone did.”
“It was Connor. Maybe you want to text him, since you don’t believe anything I say anyway. I’m going to bed. I’m fucking tired.”
My cock is growing so hard right now. I have a vision of her beautiful face looking up at me from down below. That will definitely not be happening at this moment.
She shuffles around uncomfortably. “I’m going to sleep on the sofa.”
“No you’re not. The first rule of marriage is never go to bed angry.”
“Hmm, well, we’re not married yet, and the way you are going we will never be.”
“What did you just say? You don’t want to marry me?”
“Not the way you have been acting.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I’m not going to sit around while you act like a dick.”
This is out of control. I just need to apologize and move on from this. My intention was never for her to not want to marry me. My jealousy is out of control. It’s destroying our relationship.
“I’m sorry, sweetie. I really am. I don’t want you to feel like you don’t want to marry me. That’s absurd. Come here.”
“No.”
“Joella, stop being stubborn. I apologized.”
“Uh Huh, until the next time you act like an ass.”
“Don’t act like you don’t get jealous because you do. We have had many arguments over Jessica.”
“Just the name.” She says, rolling her eyes at me.
“See. That’s how I feel about rookie boy.”
“I love you and only you.”
“I love you too. I don’t want to fight anymore, now come here.”
“Only because I have to sleep in the same bed as you.”
She cuddles up to me and I stroke her hair. I love this woman with all of my being. If anyone tries to come between us, they better watch their back
***
I wake to find Joella gone from the bed. I look at the clock and it is 9 A.M. I stroke my hard dick. It’s aching so bahd. We both fell asleep last night. Joella got home late and she needed sleep. I can survive without sex, but I really love getting some. I start to glide my hand up and down my shaft. The phone rings. I reach over to grab it with my left hand, while my right hand is still gripping my dick.
I look at the caller ID. It says Jess the Mess. Come on… this bitch is going to have me killed by my fiancé. Do I answer? Last time it was about Connor. I’ll just see what she wants and I’ll hang up with her. I answer the phone. Her voice is so annoying.
“Brendan, I’m calling to invite you to an 11:00 tee time at the country club.”
“No thanks, Jess. I’ll be doing wedding things with my fiancé today.”
“Lucky her, at least she gets a wedding. I got city hall, but I guess that’s what happens when you knock up your high school sweetheart.”
“Well you lost the baby, didn’t want another one and cheated on me. Does it matter? Stop calling and aggravating me.”
“Brendan, we never really talked about our issues. You just shut me out.”
“Because I was done, and I’m done now. Bye, Jess.”
“Brendan…wait! I have to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I love you. I always have and I always will.”
“Jess, come on. You’re married to Don. I’m engaged to be married to Joella. I don’t love you. You won in the deal. You got my money. That was more important.”
“I was stupid. I didn’t know what I had until someone stole you away from me.”
“Jess, I wasn’t yours to steal. You chose Don. I chose to go on. I love Joella and I’m marrying her.”
“I thought you would always be available for me.”
“Are you running out of money? I’m confused. You’re married to a doctor. Why would you need me available?”
“Well Don’s cheating on me. I realized how great you are.”
I sit back and smile. I shouldn’t be happy, but poor little Jess now knows what it feels like to have your heart stomped on. Not that she loves Don anyway. She only loves his money. The ice bitch loves no one. She’s probably afraid he’ll cut her off if they get divorced.
“Well Jess, Karma’s a bitch. What can I say?”
“Can we talk over lunch?”
“No.”
“I’ll call every day until you love me back.”
“Please don’t. I gotta go.”
I slam the phone down on the night table. Gawd Damn it, Joella’s standing in the doorway. I have no fucking luck.
“What was that about?”
“Nothing of interest. Just a pointless conversation.”
“Didn’t sound pointless to me.”
“How much did you hear?”
“Enough”
She looks pissed. I don’t blame her. It doesn’t look good.
“It’s not like I want her to call me.”
“What the fuck does she want?”
“I don’t know. I don’t really want to talk about her.”
“Oh, I do.”
“We’re only gonna fight about it.”
“You never told me Jessica was pregnant.”
“Yep. She got pregnant when we were nineteen. I thought I’d do the right thing and marry her. I didn’t have much money. I was working like a dog at the restaurant. We were married by a judge at city hall. We lived with my mother for a few months. We moved right before Jess supposedly lost the baby. I wasn’t home that day. I was working a double shift. She said she felt something wasn’t right, so she went to the doctor. The weird thing was she called me after the fact. She said she didn’t want to bother me at work. When she called she said she was at a clinic. I offered to pick her up. She said no and had my mom pick her up. She had been under anesthesia. Now, either she really did lose the baby or she had an abortion. I’ll never know.”
“Oh My God. Why didn’t you ask her?”
“I didn’t want to know the truth. I hid from it. I was there for her, but I questioned it in my mind our entire marriage. She never wanted to have another baby when I would ask. Her doctor then is her husband now. She was sleeping with him our entire marriage. He was married then so it wasn’t obvious. After he was divorced, she went out more. I didn’t know this then. I started to suspect things. I was busy building a business. In part I probably pushed her to him, but it’s no excuse. When I finally caught them together, I lost it. I made her tell me everything. She wanted to stay together. I shut her out and acted like she didn’t exist. A week after I told her I wanted a divorce, she moved out of our house and in with Don. As soon as our divorce was final she married him. During our divorce trial, Connor passed away. Well, you know what I mean. Only few people know what happened with Jess, but I’m sure they talk. She betrayed me throughout our whole
marriage. I never trusted anyone again until you came into my life. I don’t want anything or anyone to tear us apart. I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I’m sorry about yesterday, I just freaked. At the bakery, I just wanted you to relax and not worry about work. I’m at a place in my life where I can take it easy. I want to spend my time with you, see everything, give you everything, and start a family with you. I made the mistake of having work ruin my first relationship.”
“Oh babe, you can’t blame yourself for what that slut did. I would never do that to you. I’m in the prime of my career and I need you to understand that. It doesn’t mean that I love you any less.”
“Just promise me, if you’re unhappy with our life together or if you want someone else, you’ll tell me before cheating.”
“I would never cheat on you…ever. What did she want to tell you?”
“That she still loves me and that she wants me back. She said she will never give up until I want her back.” I left out the love her back part because it’s irrelevant and it will never happen.
“What the fuck? She was serious.”
“Yes.”
“How do you feel about it?”
“Are you kidding me I don’t want her and I don’t love her. I love you. Plus, her voice deflated my dick. I had a hard on thinking about you and then she called.” I look at her with a straight face, “Can you make it grow again?”
“Sex Therapy…remember those words. Sex Therapy…say it again.”
“You’re the only therapy I need,” I say trying to grab her ass.
“Hmm, well we are now in session. Let me lock the door.”
“I like the sound of this.”
I grab Joella from behind and pull her into me. I wrap my arms around her chest, since I tower over her.
“You’re the only one for me gawgeous. You’re my world. I wake up in the morning thinking of you and I go to bed at night with only you on my mind.”
“Oh, Brendan I feel the same, so why do we have to fight?”
“Because we wouldn’t be Brendan and Joella if we didn’t. You see that wall right there?”
“Yeah”
“I want to fuck you against it.”