by G. K. Parks
“Mr. Cross?”
I looked up, tucking the phone back in my pocket. “Sorry.”
The receptionist waved away my apology. “Please, if I had a dime for every time a client’s been on the phone, I’d have millions.” She jerked her head at her boss’s office. “Mr. Almeada would like you to join them.”
“Thanks.” I stepped into the corner office, eyeing Jade who was curled up on one end of the couch. “How’s it going in here?”
Mr. Almeada sighed. For an attorney, that was a bad sign. “It could be better, but I’ve seen worse. Ms. McNamara clearly has a case. The first thing we need to do is file a restraining order.” Almeada’s gaze flicked to Jade, who hugged her knees to her chest and stared at the floor. “Like I said, Scott Renwin won’t be allowed within five hundred feet of you. That includes where you work, shop, eat, everything. If he violates the court order, he’ll be held in criminal contempt and could be arrested. As I’m sure Mr. Cross has explained, the police department takes allegations of domestic abuse seriously. It’s unlikely he’d risk opening himself up to an internal investigation by violating the terms of the court order.”
“What if he doesn’t care? What’s to stop him from hurting me?” Jade asked.
“You’ll have legal recourse,” Almeada said, but that didn’t satisfy her. I doubted that answer would satisfy anyone in her position.
“I will stop him.” I glanced at Almeada, who was not pleased by my comment, but he’d already gone over the legal ramifications with her until he was blue in the face. A piece of paper wouldn’t protect her from Scott’s wrath. And she wanted assurances these measures would keep her safe. “I specialize in security. Someone will keep an eye out when you return to work. Scott won’t get near you. I’ll make sure of it.”
“You don’t need to worry about that yet,” Almeada said. “You left safely. We’ll get you set up with a post office box since addresses have to be on official court documents. Are you planning on staying here? Do you want to leave town? What do you want to do?”
Jade blinked. “I don’t know.”
“Okay. That’s okay. You have time to think about it.” I turned back to Almeada. “What happens to Scott?” Once approved, the restraining order would prohibit Scott from possessing a firearm, thus making it unlikely he’d be able to keep his job. The bastard fucked himself over when he decided it was okay to hit a woman. Unfortunately, that meant Jade’s claims and case could cost Scott everything.
“I don’t see why we would have any problems getting the restraining order, and I doubt we’ll encounter any issues at the hearing. Of course, like I explained to Ms. McNamara, the restraining order won’t go into effect until after the hearing. We could request a temporary order of protection until then. The department will probably start its own investigation into Jade’s allegations once that’s filed.”
“Let’s do that.” I reached for my phone. “Send me a list of what we need to do in order to keep her hidden.”
“No problem.” Almeada made a note.
“What about pursuing criminal charges?” I asked.
Almeada looked at Jade. “Maybe you should talk to her about that.”
I glared at the attorney. “I asked you a question. I’d like an answer.”
Almeada snorted. He knew me well enough not to take offense. “The evidence is flimsy. No witnesses. No history of reported incidents. No hospital records or police reports to corroborate her claims. No neighbors calling to report anything suspicious. We have nothing except the doctor’s report from last night and her word against his. He’s a cop. Depending on what his record shows, the court is likely to find in his favor. The department might even find in his favor, so if he’s willing to play by the rules, we might not need to take this further than a TRO. It’ll depend on how vindictive Mr. Renwin chooses to be.”
Jade shivered. “I don’t know what he’ll do.”
“That’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay.” Though I said the words, they sounded like hollow platitudes. “This can’t be the first time he’s done this. Others will come forward.”
Almeada shrugged. “Digging into Renwin’s background is in your wheelhouse. So I’ll leave that up to you.”
“I just want him to leave me alone. I don’t want to push his buttons or piss him off. I want us to go our separate ways,” Jade said. “I don’t want to see him behind bars. I can’t imagine that would be good for a police sergeant.”
“It wouldn’t, which is why he will think twice before hurting you again.” I couldn’t help thinking maybe she wasn’t as over him as she claimed to be. Or she was a lot more forgiving than I was. My mind drifted to the waitress from last night. Renwin must have a history of violence and abuse. It was my job to dig it up.
“Until you learn more and we get the ball rolling on filing the court orders and getting a hearing on the books, the best thing I can tell you is to hurry up and wait,” Almeada said. “You’ve taken the right first steps, Ms. McNamara.” He glanced at me. “Mr. Cross might be new at this, but he knows his way around bypassing the system and dealing with criminal matters. I’d say you’re in good hands.”
Jade didn’t appear to have heard a single word he said. She looked paler than usual. “I don’t feel so well. Do you mind if I use your bathroom?”
Almeada pointed to a door visible through his glass office, and she ducked out, one hand clutching her stomach. “Nerves,” Almeada surmised. “She’s lucky. Based on her medical records and the report your doctor wrote, she hasn’t suffered any permanent physical damage.”
“She’s not lucky. He’s just careful.” I stared out the door, fearing she might sneak out or bolt.
“Lucien,” Almeada’s tone caught my full attention, “let her do what she wants and what makes her comfortable. It’s her life and her mistakes to make.”
“She can’t go back to him.”
“I don’t think she will. I’ve seen far too many cases like this. The ones who escape are determined. And she is. When you light a fire under her, you can see it. The determination. The grit. She’ll get away, but she has to do it on her terms. Not yours.”
“I wasn’t…”
He clapped me on the shoulder. “Don’t make your issues into her issues. She already has enough problems. Though, I am wondering why you decided to take this on. This isn’t exactly your kind of case or client. You won’t make a dime off this. If anything, you stand to lose quite a bit. Your company could crash and burn before it even gets off the ground. Are you prepared for that?”
“It’s not always about the money. Don’t you ever do anything pro bono?”
“Yes, and those are always the ones that bite me in the ass.”
Seven
“Now what?” Jade asked.
“Now we wait.” I looked at the array of furniture that had been delivered while we were out and gave her Justin’s number. “If you need anything else, text my assistant. He’ll get back to you within the hour.”
“Where are you going?”
I turned, unsure if she was afraid to stay by herself. “You’re safe. You didn’t have any problems last night after I left, did you?”
“It’s not that.” She took a seat at the kitchen table. “I just don’t know what to do.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure something out, but please, don’t leave the apartment until after the hearing.”
“Yeah, okay.”
I offered an encouraging smile. “Like I said, if you need something, Justin will bring it to you. You met him yesterday. He was the guy messing with the phones.”
“Right.”
“Okay. I’ll be in touch if I have any questions.”
“Can I call you?” she asked, a begging quality to her tone that pulled at something inside of me.
“Of course.”
She smiled. “I’ll see you later.”
Confused by the exchange, I wrote it off as a hazard of working with non-corporate entities and returned to the car. Th
is case was personal to Jade and to me too. Though I wasn’t entirely sure why I found myself so invested. It didn’t matter. What mattered was keeping Scott Renwin from hurting Jade or anyone else. And the first place to start was the precinct.
Before stepping foot inside, I checked the time. My mouth went dry, and my stomach muscles clenched. Sucking it up, I pulled on the door handle and entered the police station. A couple of people were speaking to an officer and a detective in the back corner. I ignored them and approached the desk.
The white-haired desk sergeant absently hummed as she pecked away at the keys. I cleared my throat, waiting for her to look up. “Just a sec,” she said. The ancient printer on the counter behind her beeped and devoured the blank paper from the tray, spitting it back out a second later. She picked it up, stamped it, and stuck it in a folder before looking up.
“Are you ready yet? Or should I come back?”
A smile tugged at her lips. “Lucien, quit sassing your elders.” She put her hands on the counter and stared at me. “Look at you in that fancy suit. Have you gotten taller?” She leaned over the counter to look at my shoes.
“What are you doing?”
“Just wondering if you’re wearing lifts.”
“Come on, Sara. Do you really think I need another inch or two?”
She quirked an eyebrow at me.
“The answer is no.” I glared at her, even though I had nothing but affection for the woman.
She straightened. “You look good. I don’t think I’ve seen you since your academy days. When was that? Three years ago?” She sobered. “Tough break, but it looks like it worked out for the best. The last I heard you were doing something with stocks.” Her forehead crinkled. “At least you put those computer science and economics degrees to use.”
“Unfortunately, I’m not doing that anymore either. I got blackballed after squealing on my boss for embezzling.” Among other things.
“I’m surprised the SEC didn’t offer you a job.”
“Why would they? I have a record.”
“I thought the assault was expunged.”
“Still.”
“Cut the crap. I don’t want to hear any of this ‘woe is me’ bullshit. You wouldn’t be dressed like that if life was crap. Did you come back just to rub it in our faces?”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
She snorted. “Who the hell are you kidding?”
I tilted my head to the side, considering her words. “Well, I wouldn’t do that to you.”
She stared at me for a moment before accepting it as true. I had plenty of reasons to despise the police department, but Sgt. Sara Rostokowski was a good and decent woman. I wouldn’t take my bias out on her just because she wore a uniform.
She crooked her finger, like she wanted to tell me a secret. “You were always too good for the uniform, Lucien. Even if you made it through the academy, you wouldn’t have stuck around long. The Feds would have swooped in and stolen you the first chance they got.”
“Whatever.”
She growled, deep in her throat. “Regardless, you’re definitely too good to be rubbing elbows with snakes and weasels on Wall Street. Your father wants better for you. So what are you doing now? What brings you here today?”
I scoffed and stared at the recruitment poster on the wall. Lies. It was nothing more than propaganda and lies. The police department claimed to have standards, but they let assholes like Scott Renwin into their ranks. My blood pressure spiked, and I shoved my hands into my pockets before they turned into fists. “Security and investigations.”
“Private?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you working?”
“Cross Security and Investigations.” The smugness crept into my voice.
She whistled. “Bet your father loves that.”
“He doesn’t know.” Shifty-eyed, I stepped closer to the desk and lowered my voice. “I could use your help. I need a favor.”
She glanced around and leaned closer. “What do you need?”
“Sergeant Scott Renwin’s records. Anything you can find. Civilian complaints, evaluations, a psych profile. I’ll take whatever you have.”
“You’re investigating a cop? Are you insane? What do you think this guy did?”
I licked my lips. I didn’t want to say. “Will you help me? No one can know about this.”
“Damn right, no one can know about this. I don’t need my ass in a sling.” She made sure no one was within earshot. “But I’ll see what I can do. Where can I send the records?” I picked up a pen and wrote down instructions on how to access my online dropbox. She tucked the note into her pocket and patted me on the shoulder. “Be careful, kid. I don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into, but it sounds like you’re playing with fire. Your old man won’t like it.”
“I don’t need his approval.” I shook off the resentment. “Take care of yourself, Sara. This place does things to good people.”
“Maybe that’s why I’m sticking around.” She grinned. “Someone has to keep these officers and detectives in line.”
“Truer words.”
I went back to the car and deflated in the seat. Aside from hacking into the police servers, I had done everything I could to get Renwin’s service records. Sara would do her best. In the meantime, I’d find whatever dirt I could on Renwin.
Eight
Rubbing a hand down my face, I stared at the computer screen. It had taken quite a bit of work and more effort than necessary, but I found plenty on Scott Renwin. I knew where he was born, who his best friend was in kindergarten, his GPA in high school, how he paid someone to write his college essays for him, and how he scraped by until he was accepted into the police academy. None of that was useful.
I dug deeper until I compiled a list of women he dated over the years, from high school until now. None of them ever filed a report or took out a TRO or protection order against him. I sent the list to my assistant, hoping he might convince one of the women to give up some dirt I missed.
As far as I could tell, Jade was the first woman he lived with besides his mother. I spoke to Mrs. Renwin, but she only had the fondest things to say about her son. When I asked about her late husband, she said he was a good provider, which read to me like he’d used his wife and maybe Scott as punching bags, but I didn’t have any proof. Though, it would explain the cycle of violence.
“Dammit.” I picked up Scott’s bank account information. He had enough to be comfortable without raising any eyebrows. His monthly expenses didn’t fluctuate aside from the occasional unexpected purchase, like new tires for his truck. From what I could tell, he didn’t do much except work, drink, and beat up Jade. Scott kept a low-profile, which would make things more difficult. Right now, it was her word against his, but I knew Scott had done this before. This couldn’t be the first time. And if someone didn’t put an end to his reign of terror, it wouldn’t be the last.
Dialing Almeada, I put the phone on speaker and stared out my door into the reception area. My receptionist had been on the phone most of the day, scheduling interviews and appointments. Cross Security had been in the midst of hiring computer experts and a platoon of security specialists when Jade walked into my life. I needed to get at least eight security specialists who could work guard duty and two or three computer techs before signing contracts with my corporate clients on Monday. Now wasn’t the time to take a domestic abuse case. I was already hemorrhaging money, and Jade McNamara wasn’t even a paying client.
“What the fuck are you doing, Lucien?” I muttered.
“Shouldn’t I ask you that?” Almeada said, having answered sometime during my internal monologue.
“Probably.” I filled the attorney in on the progress I made. “What have you found on your end? Did you discover anything substantial to hold against Renwin?”
“Cross, you aren’t listening. Ms. McNamara doesn’t want to pursue criminal charges. She doesn’t want to file any additional claims against her boyfriend
. She just wants him to leave her alone. She only wants a restraining order and assurances he won’t violate it. This might never go beyond a TRO. Frankly, that would probably be in everyone’s best interest. It would allow Renwin the greatest chance of keeping his job, and Ms. McNamara can move on. As long as he has something to lose, he’ll be less likely to violate the court order.”
“But this is how we make sure he doesn’t violate it,” I said, exasperated.
“You’re going to blackmail him into submission? That’s your plan?”
I hadn’t thought of it in those terms. “He needs to know if he touches her again, his life will blow up.”
“That’s a guarantee if he violates the court order,” Almeada said patiently. “The mailbox is set up. I have the paperwork ready to go. I’ll send it out in the morning.”
“Okay.”
Almeada didn’t hang up. “Your okay doesn’t sound very okay.”
“I said okay.” Annoyed, I disconnected.
According to the tracker, Renwin’s truck was at the precinct. Since he had a steady schedule, I had time to do more digging. So I went back to KC’s. The place was crowded with the men and women who’d come off second shift, but I found an empty seat in the corner.
Jim looked surprised to see me again. “We don’t stock the best quality gin here.”
“Tell me about it.” I watched as he poured from a bottle.
“If you’re planning on making this your usual haunt, you better let me know. I’ll order something that won’t burn the hair off your chest.” He smirked. “Although, a pretty boy like you probably manscapes.”
“I didn’t know you knew words like manscape.”
He shoved the glass toward me. “So is this gonna be a regular thing?”
“If it is, I’ll switch to beer.”
Jim rolled his eyes. “Let me guess. You want a fancy import.”
