Two Years Later Page 19

  I’m interested to find out what happens tomorrow when she returns to the stand when she must choose to a) tell the truth, b) lie again, or c) plead the fifth. I certainly hope she chooses to tell the truth, but what is that truth? Her own guilt or perhaps knowledge of someone else’s? Until tomorrow, Cat.

  I think of Debbie and her lie. The lie hides the truth. Her lie hid the real father of her baby, to in turn deliver her a payoff. Desperate people do desperate things. Tomorrow, Reese is going to make a lot of people a whole lot more desperate, including the prosecutor.

  ***

  Morning comes with a jagged-edged energy. I’m hanging over the toilet and hiding it. Reese is hyped up on caffeine, and eager to step into the courtroom, where we all believe he’ll win the trial by way of reasonable doubt, even if he doesn’t end it by way of a confession. I dress in a black dress that fits loosely around the waist, while Reese wears a blue pinstriped suit he has me pick out because he’s on the phone with Royce and can’t seem to actually get dressed.

  “Well?” I ask when we’re finally in the kitchen with coffee in hand and he’s off a good half dozen calls.

  “Royce doesn’t have anything else for me,” he says. “It’s going to be all on me to break her.”

  “You can’t lose,” I say. “You’ll get your reasonable doubt.”

  The doorbell rings. “And it’s time,” he says, finishing off his coffee and setting the mug in the sink.

  We both gather our things and head to the door. Reese opens it and Savage stands there. Reese and I look at each other, memories of last night in the kitchen encounter between us and we both laugh. Savage runs his hand over his face. “What? Do I have lipstick on my face?”

  We all laugh now, and I feel the stress of the last week fading into the past. Even more so, when Royce is waiting for us downstairs. “Wilson was so freaked out about his attack that he confessed to blackmailing you two for money in exchange for police protection. He says the baby’s his.”

  Of course, I knew the baby wasn’t Reese’s but knowing that we have that closure is still a relief to hear, and when Reese pulls me to him and kisses me, I know he feels the same. “It’s going to be a good day in court,” I promise him.

  We settle into the SUV and Reese pulls me close. “And a good night, too,” he murmurs, the sexy promise warming me all over. We’re back to us, and the idea that someone tried to take that from us doesn’t go away because we won. It just reminds us to hold on and never take each other for granted, which is perhaps the best lesson we could have learned before having this baby.

  ***

  Lori calls me on the way to the courthouse. “I heard all of the news. My God, we’ve been in hell with a client. I feel horrible that I haven’t been there for you, but I’m so happy it seems to be over.”

  “Me too,” I say. “You and Cole are wonderful to be so supportive.”

  “Supportive? We haven’t been there for you since you heard at all, but Cole’s been talking to Reese. He’s been keeping me informed and I was afraid if I called too, I might just stir the demons and make you have to keep thinking about them.”

  We chat until the SUV pulls up to the courthouse. Reese and I head inside and once we’re there, he kisses me. “Wish me luck, sweetheart.”

  “You don’t need luck. They do.”

  He winks and I know he’s feeling confident. “Savage,” he says. “Protect what’s mine.”

  “Like she is mine,” he says.

  Reese arches a brow at him and Savage immediately adds, “But of course, she will never be mine.”

  We all laugh again and soon I’m in the courtroom with Lauren by my side. “I heard everything about everything.” She hugs me and then whispers, “I can’t wait to see how this plays out.”

  And she doesn’t have to wait long. The judge and jury enter, and it’s minutes before Martha takes the stand and Reese steps in front of her. Once she’s stated her name and swears her oath, Reese takes control.

  “Why did you lie yesterday?” he asks.

  “I was scared,” she replies.

  “Of what?” Reese presses.

  “I was afraid if anyone knew I was in a relationship with Mr. Warren, they’d consider me a suspect.”

  “How long were you in a relationship with Mr. Warren?”

  “Three years.”

  “Describe that relationship,” he says.

  “We were close,” she says. “He wasn’t the bear to me that he was to others.”

  “Did you fight?”

  “Never.”

  Lauren and I look at each other, and Lauren whispers, “There is no couple that doesn’t fight.”

  “Did you fight the night before he died?” Reese asks, ignoring her “no fight” reply.

  “No. We didn’t fight.”

  “Did you see him that night?” Reese asks.

  “Yes. I did.”

  “And what happened?”

  “I told him that Reginald Hicks came to me and wanted me to help kill him.” The courtroom blows up into a gasp that explodes into murmurs.

  Reginald jumps to his feet. “She’s lying! She’s lying.”

  Dana gasps and actually turns to try to find me in the audience. When her eyes meet mine, I mouth, “Easy. Let him do his job.”

  She inhales and turns around, but her fingers are squeezing the wooden chair arms, her knuckles white.

  The judge does a lot of banging on the desk and finally, Reese can continue questioning Martha. “Why didn’t you tell someone else? Like the police?”

  “Mr. Warren, Nelson, didn’t want me to. He said he’d handle it himself.”

  “How did he plan to handle it?”

  “He wanted to confront Reginald. He said he was going to confront him.”

  “Did he?” Reese asks.

  “I don’t know,” she whispers. “He died the night he was supposed to talk to him.”

  Reginald is on his feet again, screaming. “Liar!”

  More chaos ensues, and finally, Reese asks, “Did you consider Reginald’s offer?”

  “No!” Martha shouts. “No. I would never do that. I loved Mr. Warren. I loved him.”

  “Did he love you?” Reese asks.

  “Yes. He loved me.” Martha replies.

  I lean over to Lauren and whisper, “She told us sleeping with him was her job."

  Lauren eyes me with an arched brow. “And now he loved her?”

  “Exactly,” I whisper.

  “But you weren’t in his will,” Reese points out.

  “I didn’t want his money,” she snaps. “I didn’t care about his money, but he was very generous. I’ll never find a job that pays that well. He took care of me.”

  “And yet you’re not in the will,” Reese comments.

  “Is there a question?” Milton demands, in his first objection.

  “I’ll withdraw,” Reese says, looking at the judge.

  “What did Reginald offer you, Martha?”

  “Money,” she says. “He said he’d marry Dana, inherit, and pay me. He said Dana was going to walk away from the money, and he couldn’t let that happen.”

  “What do you think he thought was your motivation to help?”

  “I guess money,” she says.

  “Did he know that you weren’t in the will?”

  “He might have. Dana knew.”

  “And he believed since you were cut out of the will, you might want to kill your lover to ensure your good job continued to pay.”

  “I don’t like how that sounds,” Martha says. “I didn’t want a payday.”

  “Everyone just thought you did,” Reese comments.

  “Objection,” Milton shouts. “Again. Is there a question?”

  “Did everyone think that you wanted a payday?” Reese asks, rephrasing.

  “I don’t know,” she says.

  “What did you tell Reginald when he offered you money to help kill y
our lover?”

  “I told him I’d think about it. I was scared of him. I was afraid to say no.”

  “To clarify,” Reese says. “You said you’d think about killing your lover, the deceased, who was murdered?”

  “I—it wasn’t—”

  “Yes or no?” Reese presses.

  “I was—I—”

  “Yes or no,” the judge demands.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m through with this witness,” Reese says and walks back to his table. Milton doesn’t cross-examine. He can’t. Anything he’d ask would just make Dana look more innocent.

  Reese has won this case long before the trial ends.

  Lauren leans close. “He made that look easy.”

  I smile, pride filling me. “Yes. He did.” I lean close and whisper. “That’s the father of my baby.”

  She grins. “Yes, he is.” She reaches in her purse. “I got you this to give him.” She hands me a long, narrow box that might be a pen box. I open it to find a cigar that has pink and blue ribbons on it. Girl or boy. Which will it be? Which will he want?

  My stomach knots. What if he doesn't want this now? If he's shocked, if he's hesitant, this isn't the birthday present I want it to be. He won't be hesitant. Will he? I need to feel him out before his birthday. I have to know he wants this.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  Reese

  The minute I finish with Martha and return to my table, Dana is tugging on my arm. “What just happened?” she whispers leaning in close. “Did Reginald do this?”

  Milton stands up. “I’d like to request a short recess, judge.”

  “Once again,” the judge says, “I imagine you do. Fifteen minutes.” He pounds the gavel and the room erupts into more of the noise Martha’s testimony delivered.

  “What’s going on?” Dana demands again.

  “Let’s go to our private room,” I say.

  “Dana!” Reginald screams. “I didn’t do it. I swear to you. I love you. I wouldn’t hurt your father!”

  She presses her hands to her face, upset when she has reason to be happy. She has her reasonable doubt, and any jury doing their job will acquit her. My hand settles on her back and I twist around to find Cat, thankfully, at the railing. She has a way with Dana that I’m going to need right now and I motion for her to meet us in the back room. She nods and stands up, heading toward the door.

  Elsa kneels next to Dana and says something to her, and Dana nods then stands up. I intentionally allow Elsa to guide Dana forward, while Richard and I fall into pace behind them. “Nailed it, boss.”

  “If I nailed it the trial would be over,” I say. “I didn’t get my confession.”

  “Close enough to win,” he assures me, but that’s not good enough.

  “The longer the trial,” I say, reigning myself in right along with him, “the more chances to have it turn against us. Never be overconfident.”

  We exit to the hallway and I hear Reginald shouting again, “Dana! Dana, please talk to me.”

  The man must have run from the courtroom to get here this quickly.

  Dana bursts out of the conference room where Elsa has just managed to lead her. “I need to talk to him.”

  “No,” I reject instantly. “Not now.”

  “I have to talk to him,” she insists. “I need to hear the truth directly from him. Please.”

  “You’ll know the truth when he testifies,” I say. “If he turns on you, he killed your father.”

  “And if he doesn’t?” she asks.

  “That doesn’t mean he didn’t do it,” I say, and silently add: It just means he’s gambling on her protecting him with her money.

  “I’m here!” Cat calls out.

  I turn to find her and Savage rushing in our direction while Reginald’s voice fades as he’s clearly ushered away. “Our team took care of him,” Savage confirms as he and Cat join us.

  “I don’t want him taken care of,” Dana growls. “I wanted to talk to him.”

  I turn to face Cat, giving a barely-there shake of my head, letting her know how against that idea I am. She gives me a tiny nod. “Not if you want to help him and you,” she says, stepping around me and taking Dana’s arm. “Let’s go into the conference room. We don’t want to be overheard.” Cat ushers her into the room.

  “Jesus,” Elsa murmurs. “Can’t a client just be glad you saved her ass? Thank God for Cat.”

  “Agreed,” Richard adds. “You saved her. She’s losing her shit. That’s not how this is supposed to play out.”

  No, I think, and that doesn’t sit well with me. “Give us a few minutes with Dana,” I say, but I don’t wait for an answer. I enter the room.

  “Right now,” Cat says, as I shut us inside. “The prosecution believes you’re going to get a ruling in your favor. They’re scrambling to either convict you or save face. Anything you do will be suspect.”

  “If you’re talking to Reginald,” I say, “you could be coordinating lies. The police are watching right now. You’re protecting you and him by staying away from him.”

  “Why didn’t you warn me about that in there, Reese?”

  “I needed you to be just as shocked as the jury,” I reply. “And I needed Reginald to give us an honest reaction, not one you prepped him for.”

  “I don’t like that you didn’t tell me,” Dana snaps.

  “That testimony,” Cat says, her tone angry now, my wife rising up to protect her husband, “was your ticket to freedom. Reese set you free. He saved decades of your life.”

  Dana presses her hands to her face and then looks at me. “I’m sorry.” Her voice cracks. “I know you protected me. I just don’t want him to be guilty. I love him. He’s all I have.”

  “Which is another reason to give yourself some space,” Cat says. “You’re vulnerable with him right now.”

  “What happened to keeping him on our side?” she demands.

  “Martha turned herself and him into the reasonable doubt we needed,” I say. “If he’s going to turn on you, he’s going to turn on you. He’ll be in desperate mode right now and we can’t let him take you down with him.”

  “What if he’s innocent?” she says. “What if Martha’s lying?”

  “We think she might be lying,” Cat replies. “But we don’t know. You’re so very close to freedom.” Cat walks up to her and settles her hands on Dana’s arms. “When you’re free, if he’s innocent and needs a lawyer, you can get him one. You can help him, but you can’t help him if you’re disinherited and behind bars.”

  I don’t miss the fact that Cat didn’t suggest I become his lawyer, but Dana doesn’t catch the inference that I won’t be offering my services to Reginald. Dana breathes out and nods. “You’re right. You’re so right.”

  I take the opening I’m given. “Then you won’t mind if I keep you under lock and key for the next few days.” Cat steps back to allow me direct eye contact with Dana. “I want you in a hotel room with Walker Security protecting you.”

  “You think I’m in danger?”

  “More from yourself than anyone else,” I say. “One wrong conversation or move could ruin this for you and us.”

  “Do you think I’m in danger?” she presses.

  “There’s a killer on the loose,” I say when I’m really just trying to keep her away from Reginald. “I’m not taking any chances. Desperate people do desperate things,” I repeat. “Do we agree on the hotel and the security?”

  Dana hugs herself. “Yes. Yes, okay.”

  “I don’t even want a text message exchanged with Reginald,” I add. “I mean it. Nothing. Agreed?”

  “Yes. Agreed.”

  I study her a few beats, ensuring she really does agree. “Give me a moment,” I say, motioning Cat to the hallway.

  We step outside and shut the door. Richard, Elsa, and Savage join us. “I need her in a hotel with protection tonight,” I tell Savage.

  Savage nods. “I’
ll get a plan in place now in case court adjourns early.” His phone beeps and he grabs it, glances at a text message and then at us. “Royce has an insider who told him the DA just submitted for a search warrant for Martha and Reginald’s homes and offices.”

  “They know they’re going to lose,” Cat says. “They’re trying to either connect Dana to the murder, via an accomplice, or make a new arrest before they look like fools.”

  “In other words,” Richard says, “you didn’t get your confession, but you might have caught a killer.”

  “Don’t tell Dana,” I say. “We do not want her warning Reginald.”

  Savage looks at me. “You don’t think she’s afraid if he goes down, she goes down, do you?”

  “No,” I say. “Do you know something we don’t know?”

  “We searched his place,” he says. “We pulled random samples to look for DNA evidence. We didn’t find anything, but the police will do what we couldn’t do. They’ll tear his place apart.”

  “That’s not an answer,” I say. “Do you know something I don’t?”

  “No,” he says. “But you’re worried. I see it in your eyes.”

  “There’s not an attorney on the planet that isn’t worried they’ve misjudged a client.”

  Savage nods. “I’ll take care of the hotel arrangements.” He looks at Cat. “Page me when you’re ready to leave. I’ll be at the end of the hallway.” He walks away.

  I take Cat’s arm and motion to the office we met in yesterday. We step inside and I shut the door. “Was she too damn worried about him considering the revelations on the stand or am I being paranoid?”

  “I thought the same thing. She was too worried. For the first time since you started this trial, I’m worried she’s guilty.”

  I rest my head against the door and breathe out. Cat is quickly in front of me, her hands on my waist. “We’re both being paranoid about your perfect record and our dislike of helping killers get away with murder. Let’s consider option number two: She loves him. The idea that he is guilty, that he used her for money, on top of her father’s death, makes her feel really alone. And once you have someone in your life that you love, the idea of losing them destroys you.”