Love, Lies & The D.A.

by Rohman, Rebecca

  “Trust me. I do. Your being here tells me that.”

  “So enough about me. How are you?”

  “I’ll be fine. I’m going to go into this with a positive attitude, and I’ll make it through this.”

  “You’re a brave woman.”

  “So are you.”

  We spend the most of my time there together talking, except for when the doctors and nurses come in to do tests in preparation for her surgery tomorrow.

  At exactly noon, Daniel walks into the room, lunch bags in hand. After a short exchange, I stay for a little while then leave to let them have some private time together. I get the distinct feeling that Daniel isn’t comfortable with me. He barely made eye contact with me today. I’m not happy about it, but I can’t expect everyone to treat me the way Jonathan and the rest of his family does, even if it’s his brother. I push the thought aside and hope it is something we can overcome with time. I head home.

  I’m about to step into the elevator at my condo building when, in my peripheral vision, I see Phillip and Douglas approaching me. I hold the elevator door open and allow them to step in.

  “Miss McLean. Having a good day?” Douglas asks.

  “Please call me Jada. I was… but why do I get the feeling that you two are about to complicate it for me?” The doors open to my penthouse.

  “Can I get you anything?” I ask, walking into the kitchen.

  “Coffee please,” they simultaneously reply.

  “Have a seat,” I offer while preparing the beverage. They both sit at the island.

  “So tell me the news.”

  “First of all, those men weren’t there to harm you. They were hunters,” Douglas says.

  “That’s a relief.”

  “Do you recognize this number?” Phillip asks, handing me a piece of paper.

  “I can’t say I do,” I reply after scanning the sheet of paper.

  “That’s the number that call came from. It’s from one of those prepaid phones, but it looks like it was purchased almost five years ago. It’s going to take some work for us to trace who purchased that phone. And if they used cash, we may never find out who it belongs to.”

  “Just great. Anything else?”

  “Do you know Nathan Rice?”

  “The senator?”

  They both nod in reply.

  “I know who he is. I’ve seen him on the news, but I don’t know him personally. Why?”

  “We found out the names of the signatories on that account. It was just Mr. Preston. Coincidentally or not, the last person he made a payment to was found dead. A man from Nevada named William McNabb.”

  “What? Richard was—”

  “We know… having an affair with his wife. He was killed in a car accident a few days ago.”

  “My God,” I sigh. “What does the senator have to do with this?”

  “Richard sent various payments of large sums of money to him. The only other person he sent large sums of money to on that account is the SFPD Chief of Police and some other questionable characters.”

  “What?”

  This is too much. I have to sit. My head aches as I try to process all of what I’m being told.

  “I wasn’t aware that Richard knew any of these people, much less be involved in any sort of business with them. Do you have any indication at what type of business this is?”

  “They say real estate. We think that’s a cover. We think that account is somehow being used for money laundering.”

  “Laundering money for whom? And real estate? As far as I knew, Richard only owned his condo and a house in Utah.”

  “We have evidence to prove he owned at least three more properties: one in Las Vegas, one in Reno, and the other in Seattle. The one in Las Vegas is a property valued at over thirteen million dollars. But that’s besides the fact that there were some other payments to some very unsavory characters.”

  “I’m getting sick. Anything else?”

  “We have people on the ground investigating in Nevada, and we have the chief and the senator under surveillance.”

  “Won’t he know? Surveillance is supposed to be his business.”

  “We have our ways.”

  “What I’m I supposed to do when he calls on Wednesday? Do I continue to string him along… although he did imply that I had to make a decision?”

  “We’ll be in touch to let you know about that.”

  “Thanks for wearing that necklace. You should know that we’re nearby if you need us.”

  “Thanks for letting me know… I noticed you all following me this morning.”

  Within minutes of the FBI leaving, my Johnnyphone rings.

  “Hey, I’m about to go lie down. I have a massive headache.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ll tell you when I see you.”

  “How was Mom doing?”

  “She was great. Positive… in good spirits.”

  “Jada, I can’t thank you enough for spending time with her.”

  “It was my pleasure. How have you been?”

  “Okay. I’m on a quick lunch break. I have to head back to court in a while, but I have managed to reschedule or get someone else to handle my cases. I’m off for the rest of the week.”

  “Will I see you later?”

  “If I do, it probably won’t be till late. When I leave the office, I’m going to the hospital to see Mom. It will probably be about the same time I saw you last night.

  I left you a bunch of keys on the bedside table. There’s a key to the Bentley on there as well as the house. If you like, you can drive it to my place and I’ll see you when I get home.”

  I glance at the bunch of keys at the side of the bed and pick them up. The silver stiletto key chain brings a smile to my face.

  “Okay. Are those mine to keep?”

  Sometimes, even I surprise myself. How presumptuous of me…

  He chuckles. “Yes. Those are yours to keep. That’s why I left them there. You don’t think I’d be caught dead walking around with a key ring like that, do you?”

  I blush. “Of course not… and take away from your manhood,” I laugh. “Keep in touch… I’m going to lie down. We’ll see each other later.”

  Jonathan wakes and gets out of his bed. I look at my watch and notice it’s two in the morning. He spends a few minutes in the bathroom, then instead of returning to bed, he heads downstairs. I know he must be nervous about his mom’s surgery this morning. In about five hours, she will go under the knife.

  I trace his steps and find him sitting on the sofa watching the news. I circle my arms around his nude shoulders from behind.

  “Why are you down here all by your lonesome?”

  “Hey. I couldn’t sleep,” he replies, kissing me on my cheek.

  “You want some tea or coffee?”

  “Tea, thanks.”

  I make us each a cup and snuggle next to him on the sofa. We watch reruns of the late night news, and talk shows of the previous day flash by.

  “Is this all part of your normal morning routine?”

  “Sort of… I’m not usually up this early. I do start the day watching the morning news, though. What about you?”

  “Of course not. I’m usually at my place.”

  “That’s not what I mean, Silly,” he says, poking my ribs.

  “I know. I wanted to see you smile. You’re so serious in the morning… at least, during the week days.”

  “Am I?”

  I nod.

  “I guess that’s how I get myself in the zone for those crazy workdays.”

  “Do you prefer to be alone?”

  “No,” he replies, caressing my leg. “I’m usually in a contemplative mood in the morning, I guess. It has nothing to do with you. You don’t need to worry.”

  “I’m not worried… I’m just getting to know you.”

  “I’m sorry if I’m a little extra edgy this morning. I’m concerned about Mom.”

  “You don’t need to apologize. I’m
here to support you the best way I can.”

  He pulls me into his arms and hugs me. He holds me still. Soon, I hear his long lingering breaths, then I slowly fall asleep.

  Jonathan’s driving me home before he heads to the hospital. It’s a dark and gloomy San Francisco morning. He holds my hand as he drives.

  “I’ll be thinking about you all today,” I murmur. “Call or text me updates. Okay?”

  “You’re not coming with me?”

  “I didn’t realize you wanted me to. I thought you were dropping me home.”

  “Can you? Please.”

  “I’ll be there if you need me… but are you sure that will be okay with the rest of your siblings? I’m not family.”

  “I want you there. They’ll be fine with it.”

  “You can be so arrogant sometimes.”

  He returns my smile. “That’s a privilege older brothers enjoy.”

  “Is that so? Bobby never tried that one on me.”

  I dig through my purse looking for my makeup.

  “You’re beautiful just the way you are.”

  “So charming,” I respond, quickly brushing the shine off my face then applying some blush to my cheekbones. I apply some lipstick, and he is patient with me after he parks while I put on some eyeliner.

  We get to his mother’s room in time for a quick chat, and then we all say a prayer with her before she is wheeled off. I don’t think Daniel is too pleased that I’m here. Perhaps he doesn’t trust me, or it could be he feels that only family should be present, in which case I clearly understand. I was ambivalent about this anyway.

  Megan is scared and cries as she watches her mother disappear down the hall. The waiting begins. The doctors have warned that the surgery could go on for as long as six hours.

  I sit back and observe how each individual member deals with the anticipation over the next few hours.

  Megan curls up in Jonathan’s lap. While now there are no tears, there have been periods where they suddenly appear. It’s a difficult time for all of them. They are still very much grieving the loss of their father, and I would guess at this time, it’s difficult not to worry that their mother may join him.

  Daniel has been pacing the floors. For a short while, he worked on his laptop, but at some point, he seemed agitated and shut it closed. It seems that he may have wanted the distraction but was finding it difficult to concentrate.

  Pierce and Jonathan seem calm and okay. For the most part, they appear to be holding things together.

  Every now and then, Jonathan casts me a smile, but we all wait in a nervous silence. It’s been a few hours, and I go for a walk to stretch my legs and return with coffee and donuts for everyone. My phone pings, and it’s Phillip asking me to meet him.

  Jonathan looks at me questioningly. I mouth to him it’s Phillip and leave.

  I meet him in the lobby, and he escorts me to an empty conference room in the hospital.

  “I’m sorry I came to visit here. I know this must be a difficult time for you and Jonathan.”

  “I understand. What’s up?”

  “It looks like William McNabb’s death is a cover up. He was murdered.”

  I sink into the chair besides me, burying my fingers in my hair.

  “We need more information. Tomorrow, when they call, you can agree to give them money, but only on the condition that at least one of the charges is dropped. A lot of people are now under surveillance; we want to see how this dynamic will unfold and what the conversation will be like between the suspects involved… see if we can get to the bottom of this case.”

  “If he’s uncooperative, should I tell him I’ll cut my losses?”

  “Push him. Only cross that line if it’s necessary. We know who most of the players are, but there’s evidence to suggest someone is paying them. Who, we’re not sure. Richard was making those payments on behalf of someone else. We need to know who that someone is, and what they were paid for. This looks like it’s getting nastier by the minute. It may not be a bad idea to get you out of this after that conversation. Trust your gut… Whatever happens, we got the break we need because of you.”

  “I assume the case will go forward until you all are finished with your investigation?”

  “Yes.”

  “And I guess you have no idea how long that will be?”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t.”

  “I suppose we’ll be in touch tomorrow then.”

  When I return to the waiting room, Megan is MIA and Jonathan gazes out the window.

  “Hey. You okay?”

  He turns to me and gives me a quick hug.

  “I’m fine… just a little nervous.”

  “She’ll be fine. Doctors do this all the time.”

  He kisses me tenderly on my cheek.

  “Can you do me a favor and check on Megan, please? She went to the bathroom a while ago and she’s not back.”

  “Sure.”

  I walk into what appears to be an empty bathroom, but I soon hear her quiet sobs. After a short conversation through the stall doors, I am able to convince her to calm down. I help her freshen up and we proceed to return to the waiting room.

  On our way, I see a man who looks vaguely familiar looking at me, but I ignore him and escort Megan back. After she sits with Jonathan, I go get us some things in the gift shop down the hall.

  While I pay, I see the same man staring at me from across the corridor. I momentarily take my eyes off him to hand the cashier my card, but when I look up, he is gone.

  When I enter the corridor, he is nowhere in sight. I approach the waiting room. Suddenly, I feel like I’m being watched again, and as I look behind me… there he is again.

  Chapter 10

  Then I remember from where I know him. He was the reporter that accosted me at the restaurant in Lake Tahoe.

  “Look, I’m not giving any interviews,” I shout. “Please let me have my privacy and leave me alone.”

  “This is a public place. You can’t stop me from being here.”

  “You’re right, but if you keep this up, I’ll file a restraining order against you. Stay the hell away from me.”

  My voice must have carried, because moments later, I hear Jonathan’s voice and I see two guards approaching from down the hall. Jonathan walks towards us and stands in front of me.

  “Stay away from her and stay away from my family or I’ll have you arrested.” He is talking quietly, but his temple is twitching, and I can feel the anger emitting from his body.

  By then the guards are standing on either side of the man.

  “Sir. You can’t be here. We have to ask you to leave,” one of them says.

  “I’ll get you for this, Kole. You better watch your back,” the man shouts as the guards escort him out of the building.

  “Are you okay?” Jonathan holds my hand and asks.

  “I’m fine… That was the reporter that approached me at that restaurant in Lake Tahoe.”

  “He’s only coming after you because of me.”

  “I’m not so sure… He came after me before you and I started seeing each other.”

  He holds my hand and we walk back to the waiting room. I can still feel a pulse through his body. I get the feeling that there’s more to this story, but I drop it when the doctor approaches us.

  Caroline’s surgery has gone well. For now, she is in recovery in the intensive care unit. The doctor warns us that she might be there for a few days, and lets us know what we can expect once she wakes. He allows us to see her, but only for a moment.

  She is still unconscious and on a ventilator. Machines are everywhere. She’s a bit swollen, but I suppose after major surgery, that would be expected. I leave them alone for a few minutes to give them some private time with their mother. Jonathan has welcomed me into his life, but I don’t want to overstep my boundaries with his other siblings, especially Daniel.

  It’s nine in the evening when we leave the hospital. Caroline was conscious, but not nearly in any condit
ion to have a conversation or do much otherwise. After a quick dinner at my place, Jonathan returns home after an emotionally exhausting day.

  I am startled out of my sleep by my ringing phone. Switching on my bedside lamp, it’s almost five in the morning.

  “Hello,” I answer groggily.

  “Do you have an answer for me?”

  “What?”

  “Look lady… snap out of it. Do you have an answer for me?”

  “Hold on a sec.”

  I walk out of my room and head into the great room, looking for the tablet in my satchel. I switch it on.

  “You know, you can try calling at a more reasonable hour.”

  He completely ignores my comment.

  “What’s your decision?”

  “If I’m going to do this, you have to make sure one of these charges is dropped first, before I pay a dime.”

  He hesitates at the end of the line.

  “That’s not going to work.”

  “Well, I’m out. I have no idea who you are. You want me to fork up all this money without any recourse. I’m not going to do that.”

  I hear him sigh at the other end of the line.

  “Give me till the end of the week… And lady, if you think you’re going to fuck me over, you have another thing coming. Really bad things will happen to you if you don’t give me my money.”

  “Well, if you make a show of good faith, so will I.”

  He hangs up.

  That went easier than I thought it would. I must be exhausted, because I get back into bed and fall asleep.

  Over the next few days, Caroline makes remarkable progress. She is moved from the ICU and is now breathing and eating on her own. Everyone is a lot less tense now, and it appears that she is mostly out of danger.

  Today, I stay home, catch up with the office, and get some work done. It’s early evening, and I have not heard any news from my demander or my lawyers. Either this person was trying to swindle me or things definitely did not go according to his plan. Thank God, I didn’t shell out that money. Phillip did tell me, however, that since my call, they managed to collect lots of evidence, so if I never hear from my demander again, I won’t be upset.

  It’s been an exhausting week, and I need to relax. Thank God, it’s Friday. I haven’t heard from Jonathan since morning. He did say there was a chance that his mom would be released today, so I leave him alone to spend time with his family.