He didn’t say anything, his stare focused on a CNN news story that played on the flat-panel television on the gym wall. Mingus didn’t bother to respond because he knew her mind was already made up and there would be no dissuading her. He had much respect for her resolve and was whole-heartedly impressed by her gumption. So he simply nodded.
Understanding swept between them, filling the room like a warm breeze. Mingus increased the speed on his treadmill as Joanna engaged the elliptical machine, resuming her workout. Neither had anything else to say.
The rest of the afternoon went by swiftly. They both retreated to separate corners in his home, Mingus behind the closed door to his office and Joanna curling up on the recliner in the living room with a book.
He had other cases to catch up on and a staff of employees who hadn’t seen his face since the beginning of the week. His secretary, a retired insurance agent who sometimes worked from home, had been holding down the office without him, but he had investigators who need to run things past him for his approval. He needed to be on the phone for a while without distraction. Joanna needed time to herself to relax and not worry.
They had established an easy balance with one another. It was comfortable and together they were discovering that sometimes it was just about being in the other’s presence, no conversation needed. They were learning each other’s idiosyncrasies, quirks and aversions. Feeling each other out and discovering what made them tick. It was a game of give-and-take and it simply worked the way they needed it to work. It required effort he’d never before considered putting forth with any other woman.
Behind his closed door, Mingus sat staring at the wall. For two nights he had followed the stripper and her pimp, neither one leading him to anything he could use. He knew it was only a matter of time before they would have to show their hand or he would lose his window of opportunity to connect them to the case. He had no doubts Alicia was ready to rid herself of that tattoo, but that piece of body art also put Joanna in pictures she hadn’t taken. One photo of Alicia and David in the schoolyard wasn’t enough to prove anything. Mingus still had to place Alicia in bed doing the dirty deed with the boy. Whoever had staged that photo opportunity had gone to great lengths to completely obscure Alicia’s face to ensure the tattoo was the only identifiable factor that could connect Joanna Barnes to David Locklear. But who would do such a thing, and why go to such an extreme? What was their payoff?
Mingus still needed to find a motive. He believed her accuser held most of the answers he needed, but the prosecution had tightened a circle around the young man, making it near impossible for Mingus to get to him without jeopardizing Joanna’s defense.
He cursed, frustration furrowing his brow as he continued to try to connect the dots in his head and have it all make sense. None of his what-ifs thus far seemed plausible, one dead end after another. Although he had reservations about the school board meeting, he was beginning to think Joanna was on to something. Maybe, just maybe, the clues they needed would be there. If not, he wasn’t sure they had any other options available to them.
* * *
Joanna rested her cell phone against the chair arm. She’d spoken to Simone and then to Angel; both of her friends had been offering advice and support. Simone had focused her comments and questions on what was going on with her friend and her brother. She’d been able to make Joanna laugh, her sisterly advice including a long list of Mingus’s eccentricities.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Simone said with a soft chuckle.
Joanna laughed. “Mingus has been very sweet. I think you just like to give him a hard time.”
“He has moments! But he’s still a man.”
“Simone Black, all men are not bad.”
“I’d disagree, but we don’t have time for that debate. I need to leave for the courthouse in a few minutes. I really just wanted to check that you were all right.”
Joanna chuckled. “Have you called Dr. Reilly since he’s been back?”
“Dr. Who?”
“You know who I’m talking about,” Joanna said, referring to Dr. Paul Reilly, Simone’s ex-boyfriend. The good doctor had stolen Simone’s heart and was still holding tightly to it. But she was stubborn and determined to have the last word in a relationship in which neither was talking. The two women had polished off many bottles of wine together, crying their woes over the men who had come and gone in their lives. Dr. Reilly had been at the top of Simone’s woe list.
“He left me, remember? I have absolutely nothing to say to that man.”
“He was altruistic. He wanted to save the world. His making the decision to do mission work in Africa doesn’t mean he left you. Besides, if I remember correctly, Dr. Reilly asked you to go with him.”
“I don’t remember that, but we’re not talking about me right now. We’re talking about you and my brother.”
“No, we’re not talking about your brother!”
Simone suddenly gasped, an epiphany ringing through the line. “You two did it, didn’t you!” she squealed. “You slept with my brother!”
Joanna laughed. “We did not, I swear! I did not sleep with Mingus. He’s just been a stand-up guy when I needed a friend.” She was grateful Simone could not see the heat that colored her cheeks, a wave of embarrassment sweeping through her as she found herself suddenly thinking about it.
“I was just checking! But seriously, Mingus is a great guy. You could do worse. Besides, I have hated most of the women he’s dated. You would be perfect for him. I absolutely adore you!”
“I adore you, too. And I appreciate you checking on me.”
“Come to Sunday dinner. My parents would love to see you. I’ll make sure Mingus brings you.”
“I’ll let you know. I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“You would never be an intrusion.”
“Thank you, Simone. You don’t know how much you mean to me!”
“Yes, I do! Now, you take of yourself. I’m here if you need me but you still make sure my brother does right by you. Or else!”
“I’ll pass on the message.”
“I mean it, Joanna, call me if you need me. Love you.”
“Love you, too, my friend!”
After disconnecting the call, Joanna had dialed Angel, the woman answering on the first ring. She’d been anxious to catch her friend up on the gossip, hopeful that Joanna might be able to spill her own tea.
“It’s been crazy around here,” Angel gushed. “Marion’s been strutting around like she won the lottery and Principal Donato constantly looks like she’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown.”
“Who’s teaching my classes?”
“They brought in a substitute. Some guy who constantly smells like cheese. The kids have been brutal to him.”
“I miss them!” Joanna exclaimed, a moment of melancholy piercing her spirit. She was suddenly reminded of just how much she her students and teaching meant to her. She’d always found much comfort in the day to day responsibilities of her classroom.
“The little bastards are still annoying. But they miss you, too. And most don’t think you did it.”
“I didn’t do it,” Joanna said emphatically.
“Most of us know that. But you always have a few crabs in the barrel trying to pull everyone down with them. How is that investigator friend of yours? Girl, that man is too fine! If nothing else, tell me he’s been a pleasant distraction!”
Joanna laughed. “He’s good. He’s been working hard to prove I’m innocent.”
“He could work for me anytime! Is he married?”
“Down, girl!” She hesitated briefly before she added, “He’s unavailable.” The words slipped past her lips before she could catch them. Angel fawning over Mingus had Joanna in her feelings, a wave of jealousy doing sprints in her tummy. It felt natural to claim the man, even if she didn’t just come out and vo
ice he was hers. Saying he was unavailable was enough to get the message across, that no one else could have him.
Angel laughed. “Damn, I always miss out on the good ones. He even had Marion salivating and you know it takes a lot to get that ice queen to melt!”
Joanna laughed again. “Are you going to the school board meeting tonight?”
“Unfortunately! The teachers’ union wants as many teachers there as they can get.”
“What’s on the agenda?”
“Are you sure you want to know?”
“I asked.”
“You...and the future of the school. Apparently, Riptide has moved farther up the closing list.”
Joanna cussed. “This really is unbelievable.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’ll be surprised by how many people have your back.”
“I’m sure I will be.” She sighed heavily. “Well, save me a seat.”
“You’re coming?”
“I think so. I really think I need to be there.”
“You want to go grab drinks after?”
“No promises. Let’s see how things go.”
“I can’t wait to see you. I’ve really been worried. Then when I couldn’t reach you, it had me feeling some kind of way.”
“I really appreciate it. But I’m good. Definitely better!”
“Does that man have something to do with that?”
Joanna giggled. “Goodbye, Angel. We’ll talk when I see you!”
“You are so wrong! You know I want details, right?”
“Girl, ’bye!”
“Hugs, bestie!”
Joanna was replaying both conversations over in her head. Denying that there was anything between them had been well fine and good in that moment. But she couldn’t continue to lie to herself about the growing connection between her and Mingus. Something was definitely brewing between them and everything about the evolution of it felt good and right. But if she were honest, she wasn’t sure if they could ever have a future together. She couldn’t help but wonder if she might always just be a client he felt responsible for.
The flirtation and banter they shared passed the time. The levity between them kept her from being a basket case. But she had to question if the fibers of their relationship were enough to weave the two of them into something permanent. Could he be her happily-ever-after? Was she his? In all honesty Joanna wasn’t certain of anything, least of all if Mingus was interested in more from her.
Doubt was beginning to fester, and it had her slightly shell shocked when Mingus bounded down the steps calling her name. Something clearly had him unsettled and his agitation in turn put her on edge. He clutched a stack of papers in his hand as he stormed into the room.
“What’s wrong?”
Mingus pulled the coffee table directly in front of the recliner and sat on it. Both his hands rested on the chair’s arms, knocking her cell phone to the floor as he leaned forward, his face just inches from hers. “How did those photos get sent to Locklear from your phone?”
“Excuse me?”
His voice was raised. His face had turned a deep shade of red as he fumed with emotion. “You heard me! How did the porn get sent from your cell phone?”
“I don’t know... I didn’t...”
He yelled again, his voice rising another two octaves. “You have to know! They were sent from your phone, Joanna. How did it happen if you didn’t do it?”
“I told you I don’t know! They weren’t sent from my phone!”
“Ellington just called. He faxed over the police forensics report and it says positively that there is a digital footprint showing those photos were on your cell phone. They can also trace the transmission of images from your phone to David Locklear’s phone. All dated and time-stamped.”
“That’s not possible!” Joanna was incredulous. “There has to be some mistake!” She began to shake, her eyes skipping back and forth as she tried to make sense of what he was saying. None of it made any sense to her and she couldn’t begin to fathom why Mingus would think that she could be capable of such a thing. Him questioning her, judging her, suddenly had her feeling broken and scared.
She took the documents Mingus suddenly extended toward her. After reading the results, she felt like another nail had been hammered into her coffin. “This can’t be right!” she cried. “It can’t!”
“Unfortunately, that’s not what the report says. And someone has already leaked it to the press. You just led the five o’clock news!” Mingus flung the papers in frustration, the documents flying across the room.
“Stop yelling at me!” she snapped. “I told you I don’t know anything about those damn pictures! I didn’t send them. That hasn’t changed just because you’re screaming at me. I didn’t do it!”
Mingus took a deep breath and held it. Tears had risen to her eyes and she was still shaking. He suddenly realized he must seem like a madman, the way he had come at her. He stepped back, releasing the grip he’d had on the chair. A moment passed between them as he reached for the cell phone that had fallen to the floor. He rested the device on the table.
He was much calmer when he next spoke but there was still an edge of tension in his voice. “Ellington is going to ask for a second review, but this company is top notch. The law firm has used them before and he has always trusted them. They don’t make mistakes.”
A tear rained from Joanna’s eye and she wiped it away with the back of her hand. “Is this ever going to end? What is it going to take to prove I didn’t do this?”
Mingus took another deep breath. “Look, I know you didn’t send that kid any pictures. I believe you. I really do. But we really need to figure out how he made that happen. You have to know something!”
Joanna hung her head and dropped her face into her hands, leaning forward to stall the quiver of nausea rising in her midsection. She suddenly felt Mingus’s hand gently caressing the length of her back. His touch was warm, his fingertips burning hot, but she couldn’t even begin to enjoy the wealth of it. She shrugged him off, sitting back up to stare.
* * *
Mingus found the look she gave him disconcerting. Clearly a wall of friction had risen between them, bricks of discord, grouted with distrust, piling up a mile high.
She stood. Her tone was terse. “I need to go home and get ready for the board meeting.”
He nodded. “I’ll take you.”
She shook her head. “No. I’ll call for an Uber.”
“Joanna, that not necessary. I can—”
“I need some time to myself. I’ll be fine.”
The air between them was tense. Mingus exhaled. “Okay. I’ll pick you up at six thirty for the board meeting.”
“No. I can drive myself.”
“Don’t do this, Joanna. You don’t have to—”
“No! You don’t,” she said, voice rising slightly as she pointed her finger at him. “You don’t get to scream at me and then pretend like everything’s okay between us. You either believe me or you don’t, but you’re not going to treat me badly while you try to figure out where you stand. That’s not going to happen.”
“I didn’t mean to yell at you,” Mingus said, feeling contrite. “I just...well...” He shrugged, unable to explain himself. It hurt his heart to suddenly have her angry with him.
“Whatever... I have to go.” And then, just like that, Joanna picked up her cell phone, turned and stormed out of his home.
The Uber driver hadn’t known how to deal with her. All he had done was ask about her day and the floodgates had opened. She had cried like a toddler one moment then ranted like a lunatic the next. Between Mingus’s home and her own she had alternated between sad and distraught. By the time they reached her front door she looked disheveled and completely lost. Her eyes were red, swollen, and her mascara was running. She was one hot mess and the Uber dri
ver was clearly conflicted with what to do.
As the car pulled into her driveway they were greeted by the local news crew, the anchorman calling out her name. He was throwing questions like confetti, wanting her to make a statement about the photos and pornography charges. Pulling her hoodie up and over her head, she thanked the driver as she exited the car and hurried from the vehicle to her front door.
By the time she made it inside, it was all Joanna could take. She suddenly felt all alone, desperation and loathing consuming her. She wanted to rage but had nowhere to direct her fury. Mostly she was missing Mingus, wishing things could be different between them. Wishing they had met at another time, under better circumstances, when the weight of her problems wasn’t so oppressing. She missed him and missing him hurt like nothing she’d ever felt before. She hadn’t expected to feel so lost or so angry that he would have doubts about her. She had trusted him instead of keeping him at arm’s length. He’d become her anchor thorough this storm and she’d become dependent on him to help her through the dangerous undercurrent. Walking away from him had felt brutal and she couldn’t begin to know if they could recover from it. What if this was the end and they couldn’t recover from it? Thinking things might not ever be good between them ever again had her missing him something fierce. Joanna dropped to the tiled floor and sobbed.
* * *
Mingus flung his cell phone to the bed. He’d lost count of the number of times he’d called her, leaving as many messages for her to call him back. She was angry, and hurt, and he understood it. He was equally as frustrated and irate.
He had taken his feelings out on her, despite his efforts to not react so abysmally. He owed her an apology, and an explanation, but he didn’t have the words to express how completely worthless he felt. He had no answers, not one solution to make this all go away. Mingus wanted nothing more than to be able to give Joanna her life back, so she could return to a level of normalcy. So she could feel that all was right in her world again.
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