Tempted by the Badge

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  “You’re not protecting my interests if you’re already talking about me taking a plea deal. I didn’t do anything wrong and I certainly didn’t do what’s being said. I have no intentions of pleading this case out. I don’t want to go to trial, but I will if it means clearing my name.”

  Before Mr. Pearce could respond there was a knock on the door, the entrance swinging open a second time. The two men moving into the room surprised both Joanna and the union representative. Joanna recognized the man who stepped forward, greeting her warmly.

  “Joanna, I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Ellington Black. Simone’s brother.”

  Joanna nodded. “I do remember you. We met once at an Alpha Kappa Alpha event. I appreciate you coming.”

  Ellington smiled. “Simone said you needed an attorney. She thought I might be able to help.”

  “She’s not coming?”

  “She can’t represent you. She works for the state prosecutor’s office and it would be a conflict of interest. But she’s waiting to take you home.” He extended his hand to the other man. “Ellington Black, and you are...?”

  “Pearce. Richard Pearce. I’m with the teachers’ union. I’ve been assigned to Ms. Barnes’s case.”

  “Wonderful. We can use as many people on the team as we can get.” Ellington reached into the breast pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a business card. “Here’s my number. I’m sure we’ll need all the help available as we rev up the investigation. I look forward to working with you.”

  Pearce traded business cards, seeming flustered by the turn of events. “I was just telling Ms. Barnes that we might want to consider a plea deal if one is offered.”

  “That’s not an option,” Ellington said. He extended his hand in a firm handshake. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I’d like to speak with Ms. Barnes privately. So, if you’ll excuse us, I’ll be in touch when we need you.”

  The moment was immensely awkward as Pearce rose reluctantly. He’d been summarily dismissed and as the three of them stood staring at him, he said his goodbyes and sulked. When the door was closed shut behind him, Ellington took the seat across from Joanna. It was only then that she turned her attention to Mingus, who stood against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. He’d eased in quietly, settling into the background as he stood in observation.

  There was no missing the family resemblance. Both men stood well over six feet with lukewarm complexions that were a rich tawny with just the barest hint of mahogany undertones. They had the same chiseled features—sculpted cheekbones and strong jawlines. Both had solid builds and broad chests and shoulders. Ellington wore a navy-blue suit, the silk fabric expensive, pristinely tailored and polished. The other man was dressed more casually in black denim jeans, a collarless black shirt and black varsity jacket. His hair was cropped close and he sported a hint of mustache and a goatee. He met her stare, his expression hiding any trace of emotion. But there was something simmering in his eyes. Something hiding behind the blinking of his lashes. Something that captured Joanna’s attention and held it tightly.

  “I didn’t do it,” she said softly. “No one believes me, but I did not sleep with my student.” She was still staring at the second man, her comment more for him than her attorney. She introduced herself. “I’m Joanna. Joanna Barnes. Are you an attorney, too?”

  Ellington looked from her to the other man and back. “I’m sorry. I assumed you two had met before. Joanna, this is my brother, Mingus Black. Mingus is a licensed private investigator. He’s going to help work this case. We’re going to trust him to help us figure out what’s going on and why you’ve been targeted.”

  The slightest smile pulled at Joanna’s lips. Her bottom lip quivered and tears pressed hot behind her eyelids. She gave him a slight wave of her hand. “Hi.”

  Mingus nodded in response, his expression unchanging. But something burned hot in the pool of light dancing in his eyes. Had he been anyone else, his silence would have been unsettling, but Joanna found his presence eerily comforting and she had never before been attracted to the strong, silent type. It gave her a moment of pause as they seemed to be measuring each other up.

  Ellington continued, Joanna focusing her attention back on him. He reached across the table for her hand and held it. “Here’s what’s going to happen,” he said softly. “When I open that door, the police are going to come in and you’ll be formally charged and arrested. They will handcuff you and then they’re going to take you downstairs to the jail to fingerprint and mug-shot you. After you’re processed, we’re going to go before the judge and I’m going to ask for bail. I don’t think we’ll have a problem getting it. Once we’re able to bond you out, Simone is going to take you home.”

  Joanna closed her eyes. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she muttered. “Don’t I get to make a statement or something? I thought they wanted to ask me some questions?”

  “What they were hoping was that they could push you into making an admission of guilt. They believe they have more than enough evidence to prosecute you. Them asking you questions was only a polite formality, the end goal being to discredit you.”

  “But what evidence do they have? How can they have anything? I didn’t do this!”

  “We’ll know more at your arraignment. I do know they believe they have a credible statement from your accuser.”

  She took a deep inhale of air, blowing it out slowly. “Will I have to spend any time in jail? I mean, how soon will I be able to get bail?”

  Ellington shook his head. “I’m going to do everything I can to make that happen very quickly. It’s still early. The judges are back from lunch, so once the police do what they need to do, there is no reason we can’t head right to the courthouse for a bail hearing. If all goes well, you’ll sleep in your bed tonight.”

  He cleared his throat before he continued. “Unfortunately the press is all over this. They’re going to try to get you to make a statement. You have no comment. You are not to discuss this case with anyone. Not your parents, not your best friend, Simone, not your husband or your boyfriend. No one! From this moment forward the state will try to find anything they can to use against you. We don’t want you to give them anything they can use. First thing tomorrow morning, you, Mingus and I will sit down and go through what we know and figure out how to proceed. Do you understand?”

  As she nodded her head in concurrence, Joanna’s tears finally slipped past her lashes, beginning to rain in a steady stream down her face. “I swear,” she said, her gaze shifting back to stare at Mingus. “I didn’t do this.” She wiped at her cheeks with the back of her hand. She then wrapped her arms around herself, hugging tightly.

  * * *

  A uniformed officer gestured for Joanna to stand and put her hands behind her back. She was a stunningly beautiful woman: long and lean with a petite frame and mile-high legs. She had delicate facial features, killer cheekbones, dark eyes and a warm umber complexion. Her skin was slick as glass with just a hint of pink undertones. Mingus imagined that if she ever blessed him with a smile it would be wide and full, showcasing the picture-perfect teeth currently biting her bottom lip anxiously.

  Mingus watched the detective read Joanna her Miranda rights, his voice echoing around the room like an annoying fly buzzing in the space. Zip ties were secured around her wrists and then a female officer clutched her by the elbow and guided her out of the room.

  Mingus was still standing like stone as he watched them take her away. Something he didn’t recognize pitched through his abdomen, a wealth of emotion swirling like a cyclone through his midsection. Before anyone had come into the room, Joanna had asked his brother for a tissue, tired of swiping at her tears with her fingers and not wanting anyone else to see her cry. For a brief moment, just before she was escorted out, his eyes locked with hers and held. Her expression was stoic, her lashes batting up and down to stall the wave of saline from fall
ing a second time. The look on her face yanked at his heartstrings. Hard.

  As Ellington exited the room, Mingus moved in behind his brother, listening intently to the conversations being held. The detective was saying that the student and his parents were scheduled to come in again the following morning. Two uniformed officers were cracking bad jokes on the low, amused by the salacious details of the crime Joanna was being charged with. Mingus gave both men a look that cut their conversation short, leaving them red-faced and slightly anxious that they might be called out for the indiscretion.

  Moving back to the lobby area where Simone sat anxiously waiting for an update, Mingus was surprised to find himself conflicted. Something about the case wasn’t sitting well with him. Despite the assumptions of guilt and what little he knew of the evidence, Mingus had believed Joanna when she’d said was innocent.

  Simone pressed him for information. “How is she holding up?”

  “She’s not unraveling, if that’s what you want to know.”

  “Joanna’s a very strong woman. And she’ll fight this with everything in her. She’ll be fine.”

  “How close are you two? She knew Ellington, but we had never met.”

  “She’s one of my best friends. She was around more that year you spent in South Africa after you left the force. We talk often, and we hang out every chance we can, but our career choices keep us running in different circles. I think you, and maybe Armstrong, are the only siblings she hasn’t met.”

  “Ellington mentioned her husband? Or it might have been a boyfriend?” Mingus looked nonchalant as he questioned his sister about her friend, but truth be told he was curious to know more about her. To know if Joanna had a significant other. If some man had her heart and her heart wasn’t available.

  Simone finally answered. “She’s not married and, the last time we spoke, she wasn’t dating anyone special. I don’t think that’s changed.”

  “Does she have an ex who might be looking to hurt her?”

  “No!” Simone said, shaking her head vehemently. “No one I can think of. She’s always been very particular about who she dates, and most have been upstanding men.”

  “Most? What about the ones who weren’t?”

  Simone gave her brother a look. “Are you asking professionally or personally? Because I don’t know how that has anything to do with this case.”

  “The more I know about her, the better I’ll be able to figure out who’s trying to hurt her. Is this kid acting out because she gave him a bad grade or has someone put him up to this? If someone is trying to frame her, then this is vindictiveness at the highest level. If there is absolutely no truth to the allegations, someone has gone to a lot of trouble to destroy her. A scorned lover would be at the top of my suspect list because this is as dirty as it gets.”

  Simone blew a soft sigh. “I’m sure she’ll tell you whatever you want to know. She’s one of the most honest souls I know.”

  Mingus pondered his sister’s statement. It spoke volumes that she thought so highly of her friend. That Simone attested so vehemently to Joanna’s character. For his sister to see Joanna as family meant he would welcome her as if they were kin. Family meant everything to him and for that reason alone, he would do whatever he could to help the beautiful woman.

  * * *

  Three hours later Joanna stood before the honorable Judge Margaret Walker and listened as the prosecutor proclaimed she’d had sex with a seventeen-year-old male student numerous times. Allegedly, sex acts had been performed in his car during school hours, in her home and off school property. The state was charging her with two felony counts of rape in the third degree and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor. After a statement against bail from the prosecutor and Ellington pleading for leniency, the judge granted bail. Her bond was set at one hundred thousand dollars. She was also ordered onto electronic monitoring and, with the slam of the judge’s gavel, Joanna knew her nightmare was just beginning.

  It took another hour for Ellington to meet with the bondsman. Joanna put her home up as collateral. Arrangements were made for her to be fitted with an electronic ankle bracelet. She struggled not to cry again as an officer explained the restrictions. When they were finally done, Ellington guided her to the front of the building where Simone and Mingus stood waiting to take her home.

  Chapter 3

  Women crying didn’t faze Mingus one way or the other. Truth be known, he’d probably made more than his fair share sob. But Joanna crying had him feeling some kind of way and he was having a hard time reconciling that feeling with rational thought.

  The technician installing her ankle monitor had left an hour earlier, ensuring the new device was transmitting a radio frequency signal with the location to the receiver and from the receiver to the service center. If Joanna breached the permitted range, the police would be notified of her whereabouts.

  Despite her best efforts to not let her emotions show, they were written all over her face, the wealth of it puddled in the water that clouded her dark eyes. She was angry and frustrated. She was also hurt, unable to fathom how anyone could ever believe she could do something so foul. She cried when she thought no one was looking and Mingus couldn’t stop staring.

  He stood against the pantry door in her kitchen, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He watched as Simone and Joanna made an earnest effort to prep the evening meal, both pretending like nothing had happened. His sister was tossing ingredients for a large garden salad into a glass bowl. Joanna stood at the stove stirring a simmering brew of meat sauce in a cast-iron pot. Pasta boiled in a second pot on the other burner. Joanna was going through the motions, pretending to be okay when she really wasn’t. She was broken and just barely holding it together. He found himself wondering how long it would take her to snap, betting that she was probably not far from her breaking point.

  Joanna’s parents sat at the kitchen table, visibly shaken by the news. Their frustration painted the walls a dank shade of blue as they peppered their daughter with questions she wasn’t able to answer.

  “I just don’t understand,” Lillian Barnes was saying, her silver-gray hair waving with each shake of her head. “How can this boy say those things about you?”

  “Boys lie,” Vincent Barnes snapped. “Young boys lie all the time. You’ve taught enough of them to know that.”

  “Some tell little white lies about losing their homework. This is something totally different. Did you do something to lead this boy on, Joanna?”

  “Of course not,” Joanna snapped. “Why would you ask me that?” She’d spun around to stare at her mother, her hand fastened around a wooden spoon. “You know I’d never do anything like that!”

  Joanna’s father stood from the table, moving to stand between his daughter and her mother. “Calm down. Both of you. Joanna, your mother didn’t mean anything. She’s just concerned about you. We both are.” His gaze moved from his daughter to his wife. “You know better than most that kids these days are a whole other breed. It’s not like when we started teaching. These kids will manipulate the truth faster than you can blink.”

  “It still doesn’t make any sense to me,” her mother persisted. “Clearly there had to be something she either said or did to give him the impression...”

  Joanna’s tears had risen for an encore, her sobs stalling her mother’s words. She was visibly shaking, her last respite of calm exploding with a vengeance. She suddenly excused herself, slamming the spoon onto the counter before sweeping out of the kitchen toward the master bedroom at the rear of the house.

  The matriarch stood abruptly, calling after her. “Joanna!”

  Mingus suddenly stepped forward, an outstretched palm stalling them all in their tracks. “Give her a minute,” he said softly, his gaze sweeping from one to the other. His eyes rested on his sister last, something he couldn’t say aloud causing him to lift his brows.

  He
shifted his attention toward Mr. and Mrs. Barnes. “Joanna really can’t discuss the case with any of you,” he said. “She’ll be better once she gets a good night’s sleep.”

  Mr. Barnes shook his head. “I think we’re going to go. We’ll call to check on our daughter later.”

  “Are you sure?” Simone questioned. “I know Joanna appreciates having you both here to support her. This is just a difficult time for everyone.” She threw her brother a look.

  “We’re sure,” the matriarch said, attitude ringing in her voice.

  Mr. Barnes rolled his eyes skyward. “Lil, this is not the time for you and Joanna to be at each other’s throats. She needs—”

  His wife cut him off. “Our daughter needs some time. Clearly our asking questions is a problem for her right now. Simone, call us, please, if anything comes up we need to know about.” She gave her husband another look, then shifted her gaze toward Mingus. She looked the man up and down and his own stare narrowed as he gave her a look back. “And, please, tell our daughter we love her,” she added.

  The moment was tense, and awkward. Mingus sensed Joanna’s parents were feeling completely out of sync and unable to be of any help to their only child. Since court, Joanna had been distant at best and neither could understand. Neither he nor Simone had any answers for them either.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Simone said as she watched the family make their way to the front door. “I’ll call but I’m sure Joanna will ring you both later, too.”

  Mr. Barnes gave her a nod of his head as he and his wife stomped out the door, the structure closing harshly behind them.

  Mingus hesitated as Simone stood in the doorway, watching as the couple headed toward their car. When she finally closed and locked the door, he turned and disappeared down the hallway.