It was well past seven thirty in the evening when Deputy District Attorney Jill Bernhardt tossed her pen on the desk and pinched the bridge of her nose in a feeble attempt to alleviate the pressure that had been building behind her tired eyes.
“Bernhardt, go home.” Denise Kwon’s voice broke the silence of the relatively deserted fifth floor.
Slightly startled, Jill looked up to find her boss leaning against the bookcase just inside her doorway. “Jesus Denise, you scared the crap out of me. How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to see that you’re exhausted. You’re of no use to me if you can’t keep your eyes open in court. Now go home, I’ll see you on Monday.”
Jill opened her mouth to deny the other woman’s claim, but before she could utter a single word, Denise had turned on her heel and left the office, leaving the DDA to stare at the empty doorway.
“They must be having a snowball fight in Hell right now, but who am I to argue,” she mumbled to herself as she reached under her desk to grab her purse. With a soft sigh, she pushed to her feet and started for the door. She couldn’t wait to crawl under the covers of her bed, but little did she know, her night was only just beginning.
As she rounded the corner that led to the bank of elevators, Jill heard the muffled ringing of her cell phone, and digging it from the bottom of her bag, she glanced at the caller ID, expecting either Lindsay or Cindy. Surprised when she didn’t recognize the number, she answered it anyway, her professional tone automatic.
“Bernhardt.”
“Hello Jill, it’s Nicole Honeycutt. I was wondering if you might have a bit of time to meet me for drinks tonight. I have something I’d like to discuss with you.”
“If this is about one of my cases…” Jill started, not in the mood to discuss anything with the other attorney, especially if it was case-related.
“No, this has nothing to do with a case,” Honeycutt interrupted smoothly, before the other woman could go off on her. She’d been expecting resistance from the DDA, but hoped her carefully constructed plan would at least earn her a face-to-face meeting.
“What? Did you max out your credit cards on male escorts? If you’re looking for a date, try the phonebook,” Jill snipped, inwardly pleased with her ability to formulate a witty, well-aimed remark and especially in her exhausted state.
“Ouch, so I guess it’s safe to assume you’re still mad about the Dow trial.”
“Mad, why would I be mad? You only tried to ruin my career. Just what could you possibly want to talk to me about anyway?” Jill didn’t bother trying to hide her irritation, although if she were perfectly honest with herself, she was all kinds of curious as to why Honeycutt was seeking her out, which was precisely why she hadn’t already hung up on the other woman.
“Well, if you really want to find out I suggest you meet me in . . . let’s say a half hour at the Element Lounge? I reserved a table,” was the curt reply. Nicole smiled to herself; she knew Jill wouldn’t be able to resist not knowing why she’d called.
“What the hell, I could use a drink. That’s on Geary, right?” Jill relented, allowing her curiosity to get the better of her.
“Yes, between Van Ness and Polk. Just tell them you’re with me. See you soon.”
****
Twenty minutes later, Jill arrived at Element and was quickly escorted to a private booth where Nicole Honeycutt sat in her designer suit sipping on a dirty martini.
“Jill, so nice to see you.” Honeycutt motioned to the booth opposite where she was sitting. “Have a seat, won’t you?”
“Seeing as how the last time we saw each other you were trying to make me sound like some kind of whore, I can’t really say the feeling is mutual, but I never turn down a free drink,” Jill quipped as she eased into the booth and tossed her purse on the seat next to her.
“I guess I deserved that, but in the end it was my reputation that ended up suffering, thanks to that damn reporter.”
Jill couldn’t stop - nor did she care to - the smile that spread across her face at the mention of Cindy’s antics in the courtroom. Nicole had been completely blindsided.
“You know it was nothing personal, right?” Honeycutt assured as she motioned their server over to the table.
“Evening ladies, my name is Kristie. What can I get for you tonight?” the pretty brunette asked as she smiled sweetly at Jill, her eyes straying momentarily to the undone top button of the DDA’s white silk blouse and, specifically, the creamy expanse of skin on display for all to see.
Noting just where the waitress was looking, Jill smiled back, ordered herself a bourbon, and waited for the young woman to leave, before returning her attention back to Honeycutt.
“So, as much as I enjoy a free cocktail, I’m curious as to why exactly you wanted to see me.”
“Promise you’ll hear me out before answering.”
“Okay...”
“I’ve had my eye on you for a while. A ninety-eight percent conviction rate on cases where you were lead, your dedication to the job…” Honeycutt began, pausing momentarily as the waitress returned with Jill’s bourbon.
“Thanks, Kristie,” said Jill, offering up a wink to the younger woman as she reached for her glass.
“No problem, you need anything else just let me know…and I do mean anything.” She smiled seductively at Jill, her green eyes sparkling even in the dim light of the club.
“I’ll be sure to do that,” Jill purred, enjoying the flirtatious innuendo. She couldn’t help but watch as the younger woman walked away. “Nice ass,” she commented quietly, more to herself than her tablemate.
“Wow, so I guess it’s safe to assume you don’t discriminate between the sexes as far as bedmates go.” The redhead grinned around the rim of her martini glass, its wide lip not able to conceal her obvious amusement.
“Look, if you’ve invited me here to get more information on my sex life you can just…”
“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean anything by that. Honestly, I was just surprised is all,” Nicole interjected before Jill could finish her train of thought. “I’ll get right to the point, Jill; I asked you here to offer you a job.” She quickly held up her hand to stop any interruptions to her proposal and continued, “Now before you turn me down, think about it. You work your ass off for that unappreciative bitch Kwon for a mere pittance. You’re worth more than that. A lawyer as impressive as you is wasted in the DA’s office. Think of all the people you can help working for the defense.”
“You’re joking right? The kinds of clients you represent are far from the type of people I want to help.” Jill took a healthy sip of her bourbon. Just the thought of representing the same lowlifes she put away on a daily basis made her skin crawl.
“Doesn’t every person, guilty or innocent, deserve the best representation they can possibly get?” the defense attorney reasoned, knowing full well she’d need more than just a simple plea that everyone deserved justice to convince Jill.
“Yes, but I don’t think I’m the person you’re looking for.”
“I’ll triple what you are currently making, full health benefits, six weeks paid vacation, and as a sign-on bonus, I’ll even throw in a new Mercedes. If it makes you happy, you can even choose the cases you want to work.” With the loaded cards laid out on the table, Nicole sat back and waited, hoping the appealing package she’d presented would be enough to entice the DDA to accept the new position.
“You can’t be serious?” Jill replied, more than a little bit stunned at the generous offer.
“Dead serious, Bernhardt. I don’t want an answer right now though. Take some time and think about it. No hurry, you know where to find me when you decide.” Standing, she tossed a hundred dollar bill on the table and shouldered her purse. “I’ll leave you to your night; as much as I would love to stay and chat, I have a date. Stay and have another one or two on me. Maybe you can get lucky - our waitress hasn’t taken her eyes off you since you sat down.” Honeycutt grinned and then turned toward the bar, heading straight for a well-built hunk in an Armani suit.
Jill was so wrapped in thought she hadn’t noticed the woman standing next to her table until she spoke.
“I’m off in a half hour, will you still be here?” The waitress asked, hopefulness evident in her voice.
****
Two hours and more than a few drinks later, the two women stumbled into the alley behind the bar. It was dark and private, the only light coming from a single bulb just outside the door. Jill could smell the stench of garbage wafting from the bins a few feet away, but she ignored the atrocious odor, one that usually sent her scrambling away in favor of fresh, clean air, and focused her full attention on why she’d come into the alley in the first place. Pinning the younger woman against the brick wall, she kissed her hard, tasting the whiskey the brunette had been drinking as her tongue explored hungrily.
The soft moan that escaped Kristie’s lips was all that was needed to spur Jill’s already overactive libido into overdrive. With one quick motion, she lifted the waitress’ leg around her waist and thanked whichever god had been responsible for Kristie’s decision to wear a skirt – quick and easy access to wherever she chose to roam, just what she liked. Breaking the kiss and pulling away slightly, Jill looked into beautiful green eyes that mirrored her own need.
“Tell me you want me,” Jill purred as her hand roamed up a muscled thigh, her arousal increasing ten-fold when she realized Kristie wore thigh high stockings, her touch unexpectedly going from smooth silk to even smoother skin.
Pulling Jill even closer, Kristie captured her lips again in an almost bruising embrace. “I want you,” she practically moaned her reply as Jill eased away once again.
Unable to control the overwhelming need that coursed through her body, Jill shifted slightly, allowing enough room for her right hand to slip between their bodies. Once again, she found the younger woman’s kiss-swollen lips, kissing her roughly, as she expertly slipped her hand into silk panties. Quickly finding the warm wetness she was searching for, she snaked her other hand underneath Kristie’s white button-down blouse and zeroed in on a swollen nipple, tugging hard and rolling it between her fingers.
Trailing kisses down the brunette’s neck, Jill suddenly latched on to the creamy white skin and thrust her fingers deep inside welcoming warmth. Fast and furious, she continued her piston-like motion and smiled at how quickly the young woman began to tighten around her fingers. Moving to recapture Kristie’s lips, she increased the speed of her thrusts, sending the beautiful brunette over the edge. Jill reveled in the feeling as the younger woman’s body tensed and bucked against her. Continuing to support Kristie’s weight as she returned from her state of bliss, Jill cursed aloud at the realization that her phone had begun to ring.
“Damn it! I’m sorry, I really have to get that.” She reluctantly released her hold on the other woman and reached for her bag, which she’d haphazardly thrown at their feet when she trapped Kristie against the wall.
“Bernhardt,” she answered, hoping she’d been able conceal her arousal from her caller.
“Hello Ms. Bernhardt, this is Officer Mitchell, we have a man in custody for assault who is claiming to know you. He insisted I call you. His name is William Car…”
“William Carter,” Jill finished his sentence and swallowed hard. “I’ll be there shortly.” With a shaky hand, she snapped her phone closed and turned her attention back to Kristie. The warmth from her earlier arousal had suddenly vanished as if a bucketful of ice water had been poured over her head. She shivered, the thought leaving her feeling chilled to the bone.
“I’m sorry. I have to go. I’ll call you.” Jill smiled apologetically and gripped her purse. Without another word, she quickly headed for her car, leaving a stunned Kristie behind to gather herself and wonder if the blonde had meant what she’d said.
Once she was tucked safely inside her car, tears began to pool in Jill’s blue eyes, and she concentrated with all her might to get her trembling hands to dial Lindsay’s number. Laying her head against the seat, she closed her eyes and listened to the ringing, fully expecting to hear her friend’s usual business-like greeting.
“Boxer,” Cindy’s familiar voice answered, having already recognized Jill’s number on the caller ID, and immediately started in on the conversation. "Hi, Jill. What's up?" Wondering when her friend was going to call her on her attempted joke, she listened carefully for a reply, but none was forthcoming.
"Jill?" asked Cindy, worry creeping in to
her tone. She’d realized the
other woman was crying even before Jill was finally able to form her words.
"I'm sorry, it's late, and... is Lindsay there?"
"Sure. I'll put her--"
"No, don't bother. Please, just tell her... um, tell her that William Carter has been arrested on assault charges. I need to see her at the Hall, my office."
"But don't you want to talk to--"
Jill hung up before Cindy could finish her sentence. Shivering slightly, Cindy felt a bad feeling rising within her, like a premonition of sorts, and turned toward her lounging lover.
"Jill said to tell you that a William Carter has been arrested. Assault..." She broke off her words when she saw Lindsay go pale.
"Damn it!" The expressed sentiment was obviously more anger than shock. Without giving any further explanation, Lindsay jumped out of bed and reached for her clothes, moving at a speed that had Cindy blinking.
"Who is this guy? And why was Jill crying so hard she needed to break off the phone call?” Cindy waited quietly, expecting Lindsay to elaborate, but it never happened.
"Bad news," Lindsay said in a dark tone, her long strides taking her through the bedroom door before Cindy could formulate any more questions.
****
ACT I
William Carter had worked a lifetime to get to this day. Twenty years as a NASCAR pit crew chief had allowed him a very comfortable retirement at age fifty-five. After years of constant travel and adventure, settling down into a quiet retirement was in no way going to be satisfying for him. Never one to just sit around, he and his wife had relocated to San Francisco eight months ago in the hopes of opening their own training facility for young drivers and mechanics. With the help of a partnership with his former employer, NASCAR driver Mark McMurphy, he now stood at the edge of his dream, anxiously awaiting the opening festivities that would take place later that afternoon.
“Looks like it’s going to be a nice day.” Catherine Carter smiled lovingly at her husband, as she joined him at the edge of the racetrack. Her blue eyes sparkled brightly in the morning light, her fair skin flushed pink in the brisk January winds.
“We got lucky. No rain in the forecast.” He wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed her forehead, pulling back slightly to look into her eyes. “Mark’s plane will be landing in about an hour; I should probably head for the airport,” he informed his wife with a genuine air of regret. Even after twenty-three years of marriage, William Carter still found his wife beautiful and always hated to have to say goodbye, even for just a few hours, but to realize his lifetime dream, he knew he had to. A successful first day would be the telling tale and paramount to whether the business would sink or swim. In the end, however, it appeared all his worrying had been unfounded.
The grand opening of Carter-McMurphy Racing Academy had gone off without a hitch; the first semester was already at capacity, and thanks to the day’s festivities, the weekend kid’s camp sign-ups were filling fast with only a few slots left. After a long day of meet-and-greets and tours around the facility, Mark had convinced William that a night on the town was exactly what they needed. Not that it took much convincing after months of stressful planning and construction issues, and a night out with Mark McMurphy was never boring.
The two business partners ended up at a typical sports bar on a Friday night; crowded, with bad lighting, a few pool tables, and ESPN on every TV in the place.
“Well, it seems that our little business venture is going to be a success. Time to celebrate.” Mark slapped William on the back as they grabbed two seats at the bar.
“Too bad you have to fly out tomorrow morning. I was hoping we would be able to get in at least one game of golf. Cathy won’t go out with me if the temperature is less than 60 degrees,” William joked, a smile forming on his face in memory of just how he and his wife usually spent those chilly mornings instead of teeing off.
“You’re a lucky man, Billy, you know that? A beautiful wife who loves you and supports you in whatever you want to do. Hell, she basically worships the ground you walk on. A lot of guys would kill for that.” Mark spoke honestly, the pain of his own recent divorce only just starting to abate.
“Yeah, I know I’m lucky. I’m really sorry about you and Julie. I still can’t believe it.”
“Think about how I felt when I walked in on her and the pool guy. I mean really, the pool guy? Couldn’t she have been a little more original than that?”
“At least you were smart enough to get her to sign a pre-nup.” William tried to lighten his friend’s mood.
“I guess it was a good idea putting that infidelity clause in there. She left with nothing more than she came with. I just thank God we never had kids,” Mark replied as he took another swig of his beer.
“Yeah, I hear ya there; kids can complicate everything.”
“Why didn’t you and Cathy ever…” before Mark could finish his thought, he felt William jab him in the ribs with his elbow.
“Looks like we’re about to get company. Maybe they can help cheer you up.” William pointed out two scantily clad college girls heading directly toward them.
“Excuse me, aren’t you Mark McMurphy, the race car driver?” The well-endowed brunette in the too tight red top and skin tight jeans asked, as she ran her hand up his chest.
“Yeah, that would be me.” He smiled warmly and gestured to the empty bar seats. “You and your friend care to join us?”
****
“What the hell is going on, Linz? Why did I have to follow you here?” Cindy asked in concern as she got out of Maggie. Locking the door, she raced to catch up with Lindsay, who was already making her way to the parking garage’s elevator.
“Jill might need a ride home,” Lindsay offered in reply as she punched the up button on the panel in front of her.
“Who is this guy?” Cindy stepped in next to her girlfriend and pressed the issue further as they watched as the doors slowly closed.
“As much as I want to tell you everything, I really think that’s a question you need to ask Jill.”
“It’s that serious?” Cindy felt her stomach sink. If Lindsay was insisting that she hear the news from Jill, it had to be something grim and, more than likely, quite complicated. None of the club members ever had it easy when it came to secrets and problems from their past.
“Yeah, it’s that serious,” Lindsay conceded as she took Cindy’s hands into her own and faced her. “Don’t push her though, Cindy. She’ll tell you when she’s ready.”
Lindsay’s cryptic response did little to help fight the inexplicable feeling of dread that had her insides tied in tight knots since answering Jill’s call. As the doors quietly slid open, Cindy slipped her hands from her lover’s and silently followed behind through the deserted hallway to Jill’s office.
“Should I wait out here?” Cindy whispered as Lindsay knocked on the door twice before opening it. Tilting her head around the taller woman, she peered inside, her breath hitching at the sight of Jill sitting at her desk, her fingers threaded haphazardly through blonde hair as she rested her head in her hands. She looked broken.
“Maybe you...” Lindsay started to suggest that perhaps it would be better if Cindy waited in the hallway, but the younger woman had already darted around her, heading directly for Jill. However, she pulled up short when a blonde head snapped up and blue eyes fastened on her darker ones.
“What are you doing here? I asked for Lindsay,” said Jill sharply, immediately regretting both her tone and her words when Cindy visibly flinched. She was so tired and stressed she didn’t know if she was coming or going, but she did know Cindy hadn’t done a single thing to deserve her wrath. “Damn it, I’m sorry.” She swallowed around the lump that had been steadily growing in her throat since she’d gotten the phone call informing her of William Carter’s arrest and softened her expression.
“I’m here. I brought Cindy along to drive you home.” Lindsay eased forward and placed her hand on her lover’s back, rubbing gentle, reassuring circles. She’d seen the hurt look on Cindy’s face when Jill had snapped at her, and even though she knew Jill hadn’t meant anything by her words, the overwhelming need to protect and comfort Cindy wouldn’t allow her to react any differently.
“Oh no, I’m going with you,” insisted Jill, her focus now on Lindsay as she struggled to her feet and reached for her purse. Her adrenalin was quickly wearing off, and her legs threatened to turn to liquid at any moment. She gripped the edge of the desk tightly to keep from toppling over.
It only took Lindsay a moment to assess the situation – Jill looked as if she was about to fall flat on her face. Stretching to her full height, she readied to stand her ground. “You’re going home. I’ll take care of this. You don’t need to get involved.”
“I want to make sure that son of a bitch doesn’t worm his way out of this!”
If Cindy hadn’t been looking directly at Jill, she’d have never believed the amount of vehemence and pure spite that had sprung from the other woman’s lips. She had absolutely no idea who William Carter was, but she could already tell that she despised the man. Anyone that elicited that kind of reaction from Jill was definitely no good in her book either.
“Jill . . .”
“Don’t ‘Jill’ me, Linz. I’ve waited my entire life for someone to finally nail that bastard. I want my time to gloat.” Jill suddenly seemed stronger, almost as if a second wind had come her way and pushed her back up to stand firmly on her own two feet. She’d not be denied her chance to witness Carter’s fall from his high and mighty pedestal – one built solely on his lies.
Lindsay glanced briefly at Cindy and then looked over at a very determined Jill. She knew this was a battle she’d never win.
“All right, but I’m going to be with you every step of the way.”
“Me, too,” piped up Cindy without hesitation. She was ready to stand beside her friend despite having no real clue as to what she was offering her support for. Feeling two sets of eyes boring into her, she quickly amended her statement before her friends could demand that she stay behind. “Um . . . just to the station. I’ll wait in the lobby.”
Jill smiled slightly. “I’d expect no less.” Moving her gaze to Lindsay, she added, “From either of you.”
****
White linoleum, worn with age and excessive use, appeared almost gray under the fluorescent lights that lined the ceiling of the narrow lobby from its entrance to the tall, equally worn, oaken desk that stretched across the far end of the room. On each side, high-backed wooden benches had been securely fastened to the floor and placed strategically between doorways to maximize seating while still allowing for adequate passage into the different offices. Cindy sat on the edge of one such bench and leaned an elbow on its end as she stared across at the large bulletin board on the opposite wall.
The bench itself reminded the young reporter of a church pew, but that was as far as the analogy had gone as photos of America’s most wanted stared back at her instead of the usual sacred statues that graced the interiors of most churches. Rapists and murderers, who’d managed to escape the long arm of the law, were a far cry from Jesus, Mary, Joseph, or any other saintly statue for that matter. A chill ran down Cindy’s spine at the thought of another criminal who was still at large, one who just happened to use religion to serve his own twisted purposes. She instinctively wrapped her arms around her middle and glanced over at the closed door that led to the holding cells, wishing, not for the first time, that she’d been allowed to accompany Lindsay and Jill through the glass doors that seem to hold all the secrets.
She’d kept quiet on the drive over to the nearby precinct, which was actually an easy thing to do seeing as how Lindsay had ushered Jill into her Jeep and instructed her to follow. The two had driven away into the bowels of the twisting and turning garage with Cindy practically glued to Lindsay’s bumper. In her mind, it was the only way she could keep close to a situation she had no control over, but that didn’t stop her mind from churning with all sorts of possibilities.
Had William Carter been someone who’d committed a heinous crime, only to get off on some technicality? Had Jill fought tooth and nail to keep him behind bars, but then ended up having to stand helplessly by as he strolled through the doors of the Hall, a free man? Had he taunted the DDA with his words? Or perhaps done something worse?
Cindy sighed and shifted to a more comfortable position, her overactive imagination back and smoothly shifting gears. Or had Carter been an old lover of Jill’s? Some guy who she’d fallen hopelessly in love with, promising her heart and soul until death do them part? Had he ripped her heart out and left her all alone to deal with the aftermath? Was he the reason Jill was so terrified of commitment?
Focusing her attention on the glass doors, she watched and waited. She’d give anything to know how Jill was faring.
****
“You sure you’re up to this? No one would so much as bat an eye if you decided not to face him,” said Lindsay, stopping just outside the last set of floor-to-ceiling bars that separated her and Jill from the holding cells. “I can tell him that you’re not available,” she paused long enough for her voice to drop to its lowest register, “ever.”
“Thanks, Linz,” whispered Jill, reaching over to squeeze her friend’s forearm. “But I’d rather tell him myself.” Her pale coloring and shaky voice belied her words, but Lindsay held her tongue and smiled reassuringly as she nodded to the guard to unlock the steel-barred door. Placing her hand in the small of Jill’s back, she guided her through the final barrier.
The walk to the end cells was eerily silent, save for the rhythmic clicking sound of Jill’s heels against the patterned concrete floor. Lindsay could feel the tension radiating from the DDA as it slowly intensified with each step they took, but she remained silent, instead offering support through her touch.
Jill’s ramrod-straight posture stiffened noticeably midway to their destination, but she continued forward, her head held high, determined to see this latest nightmare through to its end, an end that was now upon her as there were simply no more steps to take. With one final deep breath, Jill stopped in front of the last cell and turned to face the bars and the man she’d hoped to never have to lay eyes on again.
The interior of the cell was unlit, the two circular light fixtures, dangling from high above, extinguished due to the lateness of the hour and allowing for occupants of the holding cells to get a chance at some sleep. It took Jill several moments before her eyes were finally able to adjust and see into the darkness as the low lighting from the ceiling between the two rows of cells crept through the bars and projected just far enough to see inside. She focused on the still figure lying on a narrow concrete bench that was affixed to the wall and studied features that had suddenly become crystal clear.
William Carter lay on his back with his knees bent and feet flat on the makeshift bed, the bench way too short to accommodate his tall stature. He appeared to have maintained his well-built physique, the only obvious change in his appearance the gray that now peppered his once midnight-colored hair. Jill shivered in memory of just how much he’d towered over her, dwarfing her smaller size, and she felt the cold tendrils of fear gripping at her wrists and ankles. She took an involuntary step backward just as dark green eyes shifted their gaze from the ceiling above to focus on her blue ones.
A rough, gravelly voice, ruined by too much smoke and drink, cut through the silence like a knife and had Jill inching further away, the delicate hairs on her arms and neck standing on end. She almost stopped breathing.
“About damn time you got here,” said Carter, swiveling his body around into a sitting position. He rubbed his face vigorously with his hands, before returning his full attention back to the DDA. “This place reeks of piss and is hotter than Hell.”
Jill spoke slowly and chose her words carefully, thankful to have somehow found her voice amid the anxiety that threatened to swallow her whole. She’d later realize she’d drawn her strength from the intense anger Lindsay had silently projected toward Carter – all in her name.
“Sounds like the perfect place for you, if you ask me.”
“Cut the crap, Jillian, and get me out of here. These trumped up charges are bogus,” said Carter calmly and in a non-threatening tone as he slowly pushed to his feet and moved toward the bars. His smooth, easy gait and calm demeanor made him look less intimidating, but Jill knew firsthand not to judge this particular book by its cover.
“According to the police report, a witness saw you strike her friend. And then you had to go and make matters worse by getting physical with the arresting officers. Certainly doesn’t sound bogus to me.” Jill had taken a step closer to the bars, closer to Lindsay as well, but at least she’d made a bit of progress in confronting her fear.
“That little tramp? She’s lying to cover her own ass, afraid her reputation will be tarnished if her friends and family find out she’s nothing more than a whore. Both those girls were all over Mark, ready to screw him right there at the bar. It was me who suggested getting a room in the hotel next door. Hell, I saved their reputations,” said Carter, waving his hands in the air as he extolled on his magnanimous gesture.
His chosen words lit a fire inside of Jill, and she saw red.
“So, what were you doing in the alley?” Her anger brought her to the edge of the cell. “Oh, let me guess – you just happened to be passing by, heard crying, and went to comfort the poor girl and her friend. Nothing happened though, right? Those girls made everything up, read too much into your act of kindness, and wanted you so badly they fantasized everything.”
Jill was breathing hard, her chest heaving with the surge of emotion. She felt trapped as the room seemed to close in around her, the walls threatening to crush her. She needed out of there; she needed air.
“Find someone else to sing your lies to. As far as I’m concerned, you can burn in Hell.”
Holding back the tears that threatened to escape, Jill forced herself to maintain eye contact with Carter for a long moment, before she turned and walked away. She quietly swallowed sob after sob as she made her way to the exit, ignoring his voice as he called out to her.
“Jillian! Jillian, come back here!” Carter pressed his body flush against the bars, trying to see the DDA, but she’d disappeared from view. Only her rapidly receding footsteps kept him apprised of her location until, finally, silence reigned. He was all alone – except for the tall brunette and the uninterested man in the cell across the way.
“Karma’s a real bitch sometimes,” drawled Lindsay, speaking her first words to the man she hated more than any other, including Kiss-Me-Not and the Hallelujah Man. “I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more than you.”
Carter clenched his jaw and stared at the dark-haired inspector. If she hadn’t shown up, he may have been able to talk Jillian into helping out, but the bitch had stood by like some kind of watchdog, threatening to attack if he stepped over the line. He wisely chose not to waste any words on her. Lindsay, however, wasn’t of the same mind.
“Don’t you ever, and I do mean ever, call Jill again.” She locked eyes on him, her lips curling into a feral smile. “If you do, I’ll spread the word in whatever prison you land in and let the other inmates know exactly what you are. Let’s see how you feel when the tables are turned.”
With one final look of disdain, Lindsay broke off eye contact and walked away. She’d follow through with her threat whether Carter abided by her warning or not.
****
The night sky was pitch black, without a single star to offer any kind of hope to those who sought it out. Cindy sighed dejectedly and stepped back toward the building’s entrance, pushing through the doors and retaking her seat on the bench. She’d gone outside seeking a sense of peace and calm, having already tried to keep her mind occupied by counting all the ceiling tiles and the floor ones, too. Not that Lindsay and Jill had been gone that long; it was just that the reporter was out of sorts; her worry for Jill was so great that she’d not been able to focus on anything else.
A flicker of movement behind interior glass doors caught Cindy’s attention, and she flew to her feet when she spotted Jill on the other side. Her worry increased tenfold when she got a good look at her friend’s lost expression etched on a pale, pasty complexion, and she wished, for about the hundredth time since she’d arrived at the precinct, that William Carter had chosen to break the law in some other city.
Jill burst through the doors and didn’t break stride as she headed directly for the restrooms across the hallway. Her stomach roiled violently, and she felt as nauseous as she’d ever been in her life, even when compared to gruesome crime scenes that were notorious for making her green around the gills. She barely made it inside a restroom stall, and falling to her knees, lost every drop of alcohol she’d consumed earlier as well as the bag of chips she’d gotten out of the vending machine – her makeshift dinner when she’d been too busy to go out and get something more substantial.
“Jill?” asked Cindy, pushing the door open and standing half-in and half-out of the room as she kept an eye out for Lindsay. A retching sound drew her focus to the center stall, and she released her hold on the door and hurried inside. Racing through the swinging stall door, she leaned over and placed a gentle hand on the nape of Jill’s neck, rubbing the damp, clammy skin soothingly. “You okay?”
If Jill hadn’t felt like death warmed over, she’d have rolled her eyes dramatically and offered up the perfect comeback. Instead, she closed her watery eyes and leaned into Cindy’s welcomed touch. She just wanted this day to end.
“Hey, you guys in here?” asked Lindsay, sticking her head in the doorway and glancing around the room. She burst forward as if she’d been shot out of a cannon when she’d spotted one of Cindy’s better features poking out from the middle stall. “Jesus, what happened?”
“You tell me,” said Cindy, swiveling her head around, still a bit miffed that she hadn’t a clue as to what was going on. She did, however, continue her soothing, stroking motion. Now wasn’t the time to be petty. “We need to take Jill home, but I don’t think she should stay by herself.”
Jill stirred at hearing the exchange. “Just take me home. I’ll be fine.” She placed an unsteady hand on the toilet seat to hoist herself up, but Cindy had already slipped an arm underneath her friend’s and gently lifted as she stood to her full height. Jill finally managed to get her feet under her and pushed the rest of the way up. She felt like a newborn colt standing for the first time, but at least she was standing. Blowing out a shaky breath, she allowed Cindy to lead her out of the close quarters where Lindsay stood by, waiting to take over.
“You’re going to my place, no arguments,” said Lindsay, wrapping a protective arm around her friend, and with Cindy bracketing Jill’s other side, the pair started for the door as a grumbling DDA struggled to keep pace. The last thing she wanted was to infringe upon her friends’ time together.
“Just drop me off at Claire’s. I can crash on the couch.”
“Uh uh, Claire had a date tonight, and I’m not going to be the one to interrupt her if she happened to get lucky,” said Cindy, opening the restroom door for the trio to pass through. She started forward but was jerked to a stop. She could’ve pulled a stunned, weak Jill along with her, but Lindsay had planted both feet on the floor and wasn’t budging.
“A date?” asked Lindsay, sliding her hand to Jill’s waist just in case the DDA felt faint. “What do you mean a date?”
Cindy looked into dark eyes filled with concern and felt a twinge of guilt for her rather poor attempt at humor. “Ed… her date was with Ed.”
“Don’t scare us like that,” said Lindsay as she started forward once again. Jill just shook her head and followed along. It looked like she was going to Lindsay’s apartment after all. Keeping her eye on the tiled floor, she concentrated on her steps.
As they arrived at the exit to the precinct, Cindy reached out to push the door open when a stunning blonde hurried up the front steps and yanked the door back. She held it open wide and waited for the three women to clear the opening, before she stepped through, followed by a gentleman in a three-piece suit, and headed for the desk sergeant. Cindy turned back to thank the sharply dressed woman, but the blonde had already walked away.
“Okay,” said Lindsay, veering towards Cindy’s car, “I need to check with the arresting officers. I’ll meet you two back at my place in about half an hour.”
“Sounds like a plan,” replied Cindy, easing away from Jill’s side to open the passenger door. Jill stepped from Lindsay’s grasp and climbed inside, gratefully sinking into the seat. She fumbled with her seat belt as Lindsay shut the door and turned toward Cindy.
“I’ll be as quick as I can.” She looked through the tempered glass at Jill. “See if you can get her to eat something. Maybe some soup and crackers.”
“I can handle Jill, but I need you to promise to fill me in on this Carter character. I’m tired of being in the dark.”
“I promise.” Lindsay hoped that Jill might fill in some of the blanks on the ride over to her apartment, but if not, she planned to fully disclose everything to Cindy later. Her lover had definitely earned the right to know.
With a firm nod, Cindy jogged around her car and opened her door. She gave Lindsay a quick wink before disappearing inside and fastening her seat belt. Easing from the curb, she drove away from the precinct.
Lindsay waited until Maggie’s taillights disappeared from view, before she finally turned and headed back inside the precinct. She furrowed her brow when she caught the tail end of the desk sergeant’s words to the two individuals standing in front of his desk.
“…Mr. Carter can be released on ROR. A summons to appear in court to face the charges for assaulting a police officer will be mailed out and will denote the time and date for his appearance. The charges for the assault on Miss Anderson are still pending at this time since the victim hasn’t been able to give her statement.” The mostly gray haired police officer glanced over at the well-dressed lawyer. “Your attorney will need to contact the DA’s office for more information.”
“I’ll be sure to do that,” said Malcolm Abbott, knowing full well what the procedures were, but it was late and he really wasn’t in the mood to dress down a desk sergeant. His presence tonight hadn’t really been necessary anyway; he’d only come along with Mrs. Carter as a favor to his old friend, Mark McMurphy.
“DA’s office, you say? My daughter works for the DA, she’s . . .”
Before Catherine Carter could divulge the name of her daughter, a low gravely voice sounded from behind her, the speaker edging closer and closer with each word.
“You don’t have a daughter. You gave her up for a lying, abusive bastard. Well, he’s going to get his now. I’m going to personally see to it.” Lindsay towered over the shorter woman, and despite the obvious similarities to her daughter, she ignored blue eyes that so closely mirrored Jill’s and forged ahead. “Still think he’s innocent?”
“Now wait just a minute,” said Malcom Abbott, stepping between the intimidating inspector and his client’s wife. “You can’t threaten her like that. What’s your badge number?”
Lindsay clenched her jaw and pushed her leather jacket aside, revealing a shiny, gold shield. She rattled off the number etched along its edge from memory and then eased her jacket back into place. It wouldn’t be the first letter of reprimand she’d ever received, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last, but one thing was for certain, it would be the most satisfying.
“Tell your husband not to get used to life outside. It’ll make it that much harder when he has to go back in.”
Turning on her booted heel, Lindsay headed for the door.
****
