“We leaned on a bloke to track the life of cases through the various courts, through all appeals until a decision was reached,” Sebastian said. “Trouble is he turned out to be the mastermind of the scheme and scrambled the information on the spreadsheets he’d provided.”
“Noel Lemmon,” McClure said.
“Fortunately, my sons were able to decode it, and they spent hours creating accurate reports for each case.” I tried not to brag on my boys too much. “You have those corrected reports in the folders you’ve received.”
“You say,” Grayson bawled. “All you’ve got is a paper trail you created yourself. You haven’t got one witness—”
I showed him a palm. Grayson stopped speaking mid-sentence, and Hunter and Sebastian stepped back. I’ve still got it. “One moment, please.” I plucked out my phone and hit the speed dial.
In twenty seconds, someone knocked on the door, and Hunter opened it.
Chapter Eighty-Nine
My oldest son, Jake, entered and introduced Jose Alvarez. Jose didn’t step up and shake hands, but he did nod politely to everyone in the room. I smiled my gratitude to Jake, and he left us.
“Jose, you know what the agents need to hear. Go ahead,” I said.
“Hello. My family business is a cleaning service,” Jose said. “The Ingham County contract to clean the courthouses—this is mine.”
I nodded when I heard him pause, he nodded back at me then continued with more confidence.
“You see, I am a little person, and important people like judges and law clerks—they don’t notice me. And while I clean, I hear things. I see meetings. Many, many meetings. Judges from different courts meeting long times.”
Agent McClure interrupted. “You mean like Supreme Court justices meeting privately with a Circuit Court Judge?”
“Si. With the Circuit Court Chief Judge and the Court of Appeals Chief Judge, but Judge Donnettelli die, and then they meet in Chief Judge chambers, but he’s not there.”
“Tell how you learned about the insider trading,” I said gently.
Sebastian interrupted. “Let’s take a little a break here. We’ve been at this for hours, and I’d like a private word with Agent McClure.”
I handed Jose a glass of water and watched Sebastian and Agent McClure leave the room. I slid the plate of food in front of Jose and made small talk with him while I watched him eat. Within fifteen minutes, just as Jose finished the last donut, Sebastian and Agent McClure returned to their seats. Sebastian dipped his head half an inch to indicate that Jose was protected. “Tell us what you did, Jose. The whole thing,” I said.
“I pull documents from garbage, recycle bin; one by one. Judges be sloppy. It add up.”
Jose named the judges, who were at the meetings he’d listened to.
“Did you overhear any reason why someone would want to kill Judge Donnettelli?” Sebastian asked.
“They talk about bringing in different cases,” Jose said. “Judge Donnettelli wanted to stay with only bank and asbestos cases. Judge Donnettelli voice stern. He say they get caught. Say they should stop everything, start fresh in the new year. They all chuckle. Two weeks later he is dead.” Jose gulped his water and laid the empty bottle on his plate.
“Great, you’ve got a felon for a witness,” Grayson said.
“Jose and his family have immunity and are in protective custody,” Agent McClure said. He stood, crossed the small room, signaled someone in the hall, and told Jose to go with the Agent. As soon as McClure took his seat again, he asked Agent Diamond to present.
“And we have a little bit to comingle into the evidence pot,” Agent Diamond said.
He lifted what I guessed was a report. “Nicoletta Kikkra didn’t regularly trade in the stock market. Her advisors handled everything for her and kept her informed.”
Agent Diamond held up a pen. “Your hundred-thousand-dollar accounts don’t match up directly to any insider-trading suspect. Nor did we find them associated with any of your withdrawals.”
I assumed that must have included Laurel. Yay! I wanted to do a ‘yippee dance’ and end it by popping dunce caps on the Detectives’ heads that flashed neon told you so.
Fredericks flipped a page in his notebook. “They are near dates of trades—”
Agent Diamond took off his reading glasses and pointed them at Fredericks and Grayson. “Wrong stocks, wrong amounts, wrong dates.” He pushed a stack over to the Hollywood team. “Read much?”
“They rely on their vintage fashion sense.” A tad of unchecked resentment lingered in my voice.
“Judge Donnettelli was involved with multiple women,” Agent Diamond said. “One of them has admitted shooting him.”
Agent McClure tapped the stack of bank documents on the corner of the table. “The twelve accounts in your name clearly indicate a contribution scheme designed to make you look guilty in the event their operation was discovered. Without connection, even circumstantially, we can’t tie it directly to anyone other than Donnettelli.”
“But what about the murders of Donnettelli and Dune and the masked men, who shot Judge Briggs and Pete and beat Noel?” I asked.
“I understand Noel beat himself with a cue ball in a tube sock. The rest is under investigation because of the ties to insider trading. We’ll be working with local law enforcement and keep you updated.” McClure’s attention focused between Grayson and Fredericks instead of me. “Just to be clear, we’ll be thoroughly investigating every aspect of this ordeal, and we expect your cooperation.”
I enjoyed this so much that I had to turn away from the red-faced Hollywood Twins.
“I’d like copies of whatever you can release,” McClure said.
Sebastian pointed to two stacks on the floor next to his briefcase.
I took Hunter’s car keys from him and scooped up one stack from beside Sebastian, thanked the Agents, and jingled the keys. “Me disappearing.” I finally felt in control.
“Hunter, your truck’ll be parked outside my home.” I strode down the hallway. Just before I got to the door, I saw Jurisa—cuffed and surrounded by officers. Damn, too close, I needed an immediate bubble bath.
Uniformed officers were chain-locked to her. Her husband and a man I assumed was her attorney followed intently behind. When she passed by, her defiant face bolted onto me. I smiled. I snapped a picture with my phone and forwarded it to Sebastian.
Before I exited into the lot, Jurisa hollered back at me, “Bitch, you killed him. I hope you burn in hell.”
“No worries, hell isn’t big enough for me and Donnettelli. But, I hear he saved a special heated corner for you.” I inflected my voice ending in a naughty sensual tone. Sweet honey ran through my veins watching her seething expression. I was suddenly struck with the realization of why Donnettelli had her Court ID. It was time to clear my name.
Chapter Ninety
Almost everything had been explained, but I had to know all of it, and I had some explaining to do about the bank accounts. After all, my life had been held hostage, and everyone I loved had been put in danger. My best friend had been shot.
Sebastian stayed in close contact with the Hollywood Twins, and eventually I had answers.
The Feds put Keldon McKeon—who I’d Tased—in protective custody. He was talking up a chartreuse streak. Police found my Audi at the airport and Wade Mazour aboard a flight to Montego Bay. I couldn’t imagine Wade on a beach in Jamaica trying to blend in.
I provided Jurisa’s Court ID with and explanation of how I found it and my theory she’d she dressed up as me and made her film-bank-debut to further Donnettelli’s scheme and framing of me. Her retirement comment when I visited her in the hospital finally made sense to me. A few more key questions to her by the Feds revealed she had in fact deposited the money but never understood why she was directed to do so. She also claimed no knowledge of the actual source of
the money, other than being directed it was to be gifted without question. Jurisa had received a cut of each deposit she made in my name.
Noel turned out to be the brains of the scheme. Once he and Donnettelli tested a few stocks, they were hooked. It was easy to snag underpaid over-egoed judges, who hadn’t gotten raises in over a decade.
The scheme quickly snowballed.
Then when I’d found out about the case-swapping, I denounced him for changing my Order, and he was getting too much attention. Donnettelli wanted out.
He had decided to take the $1.5 million he’d hidden in his chair and abscond with Jurisa. I was certain there was a lot more money abroad and tucked away elsewhere but had no proof. Their plan included Jurisa dressing up again and withdrawing most of the money in my name, but she’d been afraid to go near the bank after Donnettelli was killed. No wonder she didn’t get upset about giving me such a large sum of money. She planned to retrieve it and whether she said it or not, figured Donnettelli would frame me with it. She was no dummy, except to think she was above the law and to get involved with a dishonorable bully.
When Noel figured out Donnettelli was bailing, Noel threatened him with exposure. The trip was off, and Jurisa was pissed.
Then Pete, Noel, Keldon, and Wade conspired to kill Donnettelli. Keldon confirmed that it was 8 p.m. Thursday, when they’d drugged Donnettelli, and Noel shot him in the ear to ensure instant death.
Sometime that evening, Jurisa came in, found him asleep in his chair in the dark. No question she was beyond angry at him and didn’t take the time to try to wake him up. Had she done that, she would’ve discovered he’d already been shot. Nobody jilts Jurisa without her getting the last word. Her last word to him was pulling a trigger.
Of course, Jose found Donnettelli in the early morning when he came in to clean.
Various plea deals resulted in Noel, Keldon, and Wade being charged with two counts of open murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder. The Feds took over their cases and planned on adding SEC violations.
Because of his expected testimony, Keldon got a life sentence with a possibility of parole after thirty-five years.
Wade pulled the trigger and killed Pete. Keldon was the video mastermind and saved and destroyed video files as his skills were called for. That included getting into the underground parking and removing evidence of their truck.
“Anyone look at Noel’s SD cards?”
“He was documenting everything for blackmail of his own.”
“Keldon edited out the relevant parts.”
I needed to know. “Renee—she’s—”
“Guilty of bad choices in blokes.”
“This was never primarily about asbestos cases.” I raised my chin at Sebastian. “It was always about illegal insider trading?”
“Abso-bloody-lutely.” Sebastian picked me up and gently kissed my lips and every inch of my face he could reach.
There was an open investigation into the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court justices. But not one had been removed from office, censured, or sanctioned.
Federal appeals were being filed on hundreds of cases that were cited as having been tainted. All of that would take time. Talk would eventually die down. How many careers would be assassinated remained questionable.
While I was soured on the Judiciary and legal bureaucracy I’d worked within, I still believed in our legal system. The legal system I’d been trained to trust wasn’t as reliable as everyday wedding-day hairspray—but that was no real surprise.
Chapter Ninety-One
Two days after my name was cleared, I returned early to the salon tether-free, plane ticket to Colorado in my hand. I planned to keep my promise and return when my bruised body was flesh-tone and my mind was fully rejuvenated.
Trisha penciled my four-week vacation into the appointment book and typed it in bold red letters on the computer schedule.
I explained my rationale for leaving for so long. “My sons deserve my undivided attention.” I handed her an envelope.
She flipped it open. “Highly unusual.” She opened it wider. “And extraordinary.”
Seeing spilling tears, I ignored her.
Dinkie-Do and Renee, who was cleared of all charges, approached me.
“Honey, we need to chat.” Dinkie-Do pointed toward Renee and himself.
“Chat at me.” My heart swelled. These people had become my family.
“Honey, now that you, my Judge, are free, and I have my makeup line and a portfolio of red-carpet-worthy Dinkie-Dos to show Marie Clare, I’ll be treading back to New York.” Dinkie-Do’s eyes lowered. “No worries.” Blink. “I’m still here for you and Pussy JJ. Just click in my number or sky-write me a message, Honey-girl.”
I hugged Dinkie-Do. “You saved me. Your room will be waiting for you.”
“Renee’s joining me as my assistant.” An excited wave ran up Dinkie-Do. His blue hair streak seemed suddenly puffier. “With your permission, I mean.”
I hugged Renee. “I’m sorry about Noel,” I whispered. I felt stupid for having trusted him.
“Fresh start.” Renee looked excited, and a little scared. “New York is going to be a wonderful adventure. Dinkie-Do and I are sharing a place, at least for now.”
“You’re a gem. Dinkie-Do’s beyond wise taking you.”
“I’m so sorry I lied to you.”
I held up my trusty STOP hand. “My investment in you.” I handed them each an envelope. Cashier’s checks in the amount of $100,000 each.
When they opened the envelopes, they gasped.
“They let me keep the twelve accounts,” I said. “State and Feds say as far as anyone can prove, it’s my money. And Jurisa verified it was mine from legal sources. No one could prove otherwise. I enjoyed thinking about all the ways me keeping the money would upset her. Law enforcement can’t, or maybe don’t want to claim the funds under forfeiture. So, I decided we all earned it.”
I turned away from their open mouths, walked around the salon, and continued to pass out envelopes.
When Carlye opened her envelope she stuffed it into her bra and hugged me so hard I thought I might not have a chance to spend my share. “You the world’s best john, I mean legal-like.”
“What did you just call my Honey-girl?” Dinkie-Do asked.
I laughed. “I think that means we are all very good friends,” I said.
“Best friends,” Dinkie-Do and Carlye said in chorus. Finally, agreement.
I kept $200,000 tucked away for good measure, and with my secret cool million and change under my bed and the Visa cards, I planned on doing a lot of magnificent things helping people in the world.
It was the first time the salon was silent with all of us there, except for Shazam demanding pic-a-nic baskets.
I figured sometimes the gray areas of the law needed to work for the little people instead of collecting gray dust in an evidence room. This was my tiny way of tilting the legal spray bottle upright; making light in the dark.
“Sebastian,” I grabbed his hand and led him into my office closing the door behind us. “Would you please sit, next to me.”
Sebastian tilted his face like he did when he woke up and radiated his maleness at me in the morning, and I wanted to crawl under the sheets with him, but I had a matter of priority. Instead of sitting he pulled me to my feet and placed his hands around my waist like we were about to waltz. I grabbed his wrist and my right foot lightly stepped on his left boot.
“No wonder Hunter still calls you Toots.” Sebastian released a deep laugh.
I’d have to work on operation-get-rid-of-old-nicknames another day. “Don’t go there,” I said and hung a salon bag on his wrist.
“A gift? Being free has brought out the naughty mischievous girl inside you.”
“Open it,” I said, and crossed my arms denying him further
access to me.
Sebastian lifted the green tissue paper off the contents and locked his focus on the contents. Methodically he pulled out bills, sat them on my desk, and counted the stacks he’d made. He scanned the door, and then me. “Am I going to have to deal with Hollywood and Company again?”
“Really?” I tried to look upset, but I knew he saw through me. “Is that what you think of me?”
“I’d grown rather fond of your bedazzled ankle.”
“Two-hundred-thousand dollars. You represented me, and you didn’t ask to be paid.” I paused. “Don’t tell me if Dex paid you.” I felt a sick feeling rise at that thought, and the only word I could think of to describe it was ‘ick’ at the thought of my ex-husband and my lover getting along that well, so I talked through it. “I know you’ll use it where you need it—expenses, a vacation, to help those who can’t afford to pay you—like the ones Donnettelli harmed by changing Orders, whatever.”
Sebastian lowered a brow and lifted the corners of his mouth.
“Please don’t refuse because it’s from me. That money is business.” I unfolded my arms and kissed him deeply. “From now on it is pleasure. Promise.”
When Sebastian and I returned to the workroom and rejoined my staff, my phone rang. I clicked in. It was Dex.
“Lover—”
“Time to stop that. Airport awaits.”
“I know.” Dex laughed.
“Still having me followed?”
“Not exactly.” Dexter paused. “I arranged a ride for you to the airport. Walk out the front door. Merry early Christmas from the three of us.” He clicked off. I tossed the phone into my shoulder bag. I wondered if he’d misspoken and meant to say: ‘the four of us.’
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