Gracie managed a smile as she looked up at the lanky cowboy. “Fine. Didn’t expect to see you here this time of night.”
“Just finished up a city council meeting. Guess you’ve heard the news?”
Matt took a cleansing breath and pushed past his anger. “What’s that?”
“Dani and I are expecting a baby.” He grinned broadly.
Gracie’s features took on a mixture of joy and jealousy. “How exciting! Congrats!” The shrill pitch of her voice held strain.
Matt took in her expression. She wanted a family, and not just a little. “Congratulations, Steve, and pass it along to Dani.”
The glint of envy in Gracie’s eyes softened somewhat. “I’ll bet Mama Beth’s elated.”
“That’s an understatement,” drawled Steve.
Coot—the guy who always wore brightly colored suspenders to hold his pants up over his potbelly—hollered from the other table. “Mayor, you’d better get over here and place your order before this Granny throws us all out on the street.”
Steve tipped his hat. “Guess I’d better mosey on. See y’all later.”
Once he left the table, Matt glanced at Gracie, who sat with her head lowered.
He rehashed the earlier tension between them, trying desperately to see himself through her eyes. Obviously she held some preconceived notions about him, which kept a wall built between them. How could he show her he was capable of being the man she needed him to be?
Gracie wakened from her reverie and checked her wristwatch. “I’d better get going so I can get to bed at a decent hour.” She scooted out of the seat, her purse in tow.
Matt followed her to the counter and paid the ticket. Soon they were back on the street, making their way back to the church. He longed to reach over and grab her hand again, but didn’t dare. In her current frame of mind, she’d only lash out at him, and he wasn’t sure his bruised ego could take it at the moment. “You wanna help out with the equine therapy ministry on Saturday afternoon?” At least until her date with Mr. Perfect.
“I’d love to.”
“You would?”
“Don’t sound so surprised. I love to be around the kids.”
“Right.” No mention of wanting to hang out with him.
They walked the rest of the way in silence. Just as they reached the church, Gracie sucked in an audible breath and halted, her gaze frozen on a car ahead of them, parked in the middle of the road.
Matt’s eyebrows wrinkled. Wasn’t that the same one they’d seen earlier?
In an unexpected move, the car peeled out, the air now reeking of burned rubber. The tires screamed and screeched as the car careened down the road.
“Who is that jerk?” Matt groused the words without even thinking and then turned back to Gracie.
What he saw reflected in her stoic face paralyzed him with fear. She knew the driver. Of that much he was certain. But that wasn’t what scared him most.
What sent terror coursing throughout him was the compassion and sheer sorrow swimming in her dark eyes. With a heart like hers, she was sure to get it broken.
11
A storm had blown in during the night, and now frigid temps chilled Grace to the bone early Friday morning. She hurried from the parking lot to the courthouse, tugging on the collar of her new trench coat to ward off icy winds that ripped between buildings in downtown Morganville.
She darted across the street, a car horn blaring down the block. What was going on with Elena? Earlier that morning, she’d waited patiently at the office for her boss, eager to share the results of her research, but as time for the proceedings inched closer, it became apparent Grace was on her own.
The sports car she’d seen last night belonged to Elena, of that she was convinced. But was she intentionally following them? The woman had made her opinion of a friendship with either Matt or Andy very clear, but surely she wouldn’t resort to stalking.
Her lips clamped in a resolute line. Well, whatever Elena’s motivation, perhaps she’d change her mind with the information Grace had uncovered in her phone calls to high school classmates of David Simmons.
As she climbed the long expanse of concrete steps to the courthouse, her mind rolled through last night’s time with Matt. They’d strolled along moonlit streets in total quiet, with a contentment she couldn’t discount. Yes, Matt sometimes got on her nerves, but with no one else did she experience such a comfortable peace.
Time with him was like wearing a favorite pair of shoes. They might be a little worn and frayed around the edges, but they fit like none other. His comment about God’s sovereignty had sent chill bumps down her spine, once more impacting her heart with his profound words. Her cheeks warmed as she recalled how he’d wrapped his jacket around her shoulders. Never had she felt so cherished. But how could she allow herself to have feelings for someone who didn’t have a plan?
The enormous wooden door creaked as she leaned her weight against it and stepped in the wooded warmth of the stale-smelling historic building. In spite of the building’s warmth, Grace shivered, her body’s reaction to yet another day of the Simmons case. This time she’d be on the opposite side of the courtroom. Had it only been two short weeks since she’d wished for this? How ironic that her desire to be a prosecutor had been granted, yet now she’d give anything to be sitting behind Andy.
Grace inhaled a breath to steady her frazzled nerves before she entered the courtroom. As expected, Elena was already there. Grace gulped and made her way to the table. “Good morning.”
Her boss didn’t acknowledge her presence or greeting, but continued to write.
Lord, help me. How do I deal with this?
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Her mind flitted back to last night’s Bible study. What was it Brother Mac said? Something about believers being most like Christ when they loved those who were difficult to love.
After she removed her coat, Grace took a seat next to Elena, opened her brief case, and pulled out the notes. The papers hissed as she slid them across the table. “I think this might help your case. It appears Mr. Simmons had a similar prior charge in high school. He served time in juvy to expunge his record.”
Elena laid her pen on the legal pad and calmly picked up the notes without saying a word or making eye contact.
Grace continued. “I found a couple of people who remembered the incident. Their names and contact info are listed, and both said they’d be willing to testify if needed.”
The attorney fingered the document and leaned back in her chair while she read it, her expression remarkably calm.
The back door swung open. Andy and Jason entered, shoes a-tap on the parquet floor. They moved through the swinging gate which separated them from the gallery. Jason shot her a brilliant smile, but Andy sent only a tight-lipped nod.
An unexpected knot of emotion wedged in her throat at Andy’s lack of greeting. How she missed him. Missed the camaraderie they’d shared. Maybe one day he’d understand why she made this decision, but even if he didn’t, she took comfort in knowing she’d done the right thing for the right reason.
The jury members arrived, and everyone stood as the bailiff and Judge Clark made their way into the courtroom. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.” The judge peered out over the gallery as he took the bench. “At our last session, the prosecution rested. Defense, are you ready?”
Andy nodded. “Yes, Your Honor.”
“Very well, you may call your first witness.”
“We call the defendant, David Simmons, to the stand.”
With every hair of his blonde head in place, and dressed in a conservative navy blue suit, Simmons walked to the stand.
Grace’s blood ran cold as David, his blue eyes wide and innocent, raised his right hand and promised to tell the truth. The jury had most likely already formed judgments, despite their promise to wait until they’d heard the evidence. She wiped her sweaty palms against her skirt, her stomach turning cartwheels. They couldn’t help but
like him with his boy-next-door image.
Simmons took a seat as Andy approached. “Please state for the court your recollection of the events from the evening of December twelfth.”
“Yes sir.” He looked at the jury. “After I finished my volunteer work at the soup kitchen, I went back to my room to clean up and go out with friends.”
“Which friends?”
“Greg Johnson, Scotty Evans, and Michael Bedford.”
“Go on.” Andy leaned against the table.
“We had dinner and drove around for a while, just talking and having a good time.”
“Did you drive around the entire evening with your friends?”
“No. We stopped at Jerry’s bar for a few drinks.” Simmons possessed an innate charm that made him very likeable.
“Then what happened?”
He gave a brief shrug. “We drove around some more, you know, just cutting up and laughing.”
Andy checked his notes. “According to Mr. Evans’ testimony, you were the designated driver for the evening.”
“I was supposed to be, but we were in Scotty’s car. When we left the bar, he wouldn’t give me the keys. I got in the front seat with him just in case. I knew he’d had too much to drink.”
Grace glanced over at Scott Evans. If looks could kill, David Simmons would be meeting his Maker right about now.
Andy crossed his arms. “What time did you leave the bar?”
“Between ten-thirty and eleven.”
“What happened next?”
David’s face paled, and he lowered his gaze. “We were downtown by the old depot. Michael started feeling sick. We let him out and he went behind the building to throw up. We decided to play a trick on him, so we turned off our headlights and drove to the other side like we were leaving. Scott got carried away and started driving too fast. Out of nowhere, Michael appeared in front of us and we hit him.”
Scott Evans jumped to his feet, his face livid red. “That’s not true and you know it!” He made a move to climb the seat in front of him, but was immediately restricted by the bailiff and guards. As they escorted him from the room, he yelled over his shoulder. “I’ll get you for this, David. I’ll get you if it’s the last thing I do!”
The courtroom erupted, and Judge Clark brought his gavel down on the stand with several hard raps. “Order.” Silence gradually prevailed.
Grace brought a hand to her chest, her gaze on the jury. If she didn’t know about his prior conviction, she’d buy every word. Judging by their faces, it looked like they’d done just that.
Judge Scott turned to a visibly upset David, his hound dog eyes soft with compassion. “It’s okay, son, finish your story.”
Andy stepped closer, his voice low and calm. “David, can you tell the court why you originally lied to the police about driving the car that night?”
David sniffed and nodded, swabbing tears with the back of his hands. “Scotty already had a DWI from a few months earlier. A second offense would have been bad. We’d all gotten out of the car to check on Michael. He was groaning and moving so we thought he was gonna be okay. A siren went off and I panicked. I climbed behind the wheel to protect Scotty.”
“Thank you, David.” Andy sent a soft smile, then strode back to the defense table. “Your Honor, I’d like to enter Scott Evan’s prior DWI conviction as evidence.”
The words faded into background noise in Grace’s ears as she thought through the testimony. Not only was David Simmons convincing, but Scott’s emotional outburst made him appear guilty. She snapped back to attention.
Andy faced the judge. “Your Honor, I request a recess for my client to gather himself.”
Elena sprung to her feet. “I object. The client is still able to answer questions.”
The judge didn’t hesitate. “Objection overruled. We’ll adjourn until two o’clock this afternoon at which time the prosecution may cross-examine the witness.”
As the gallery cleared, Elena angrily stuffed papers into her briefcase, obviously unhappy with the recess.
Grace moved closer. “Is there something I can help with?”
“No, I think I know how to put my things away, but while you’re here, we might as well discuss something else.”
The hairs on the back of Grace’s neck stiffened in anticipation, and a nasty taste developed on the back side of her tongue. This couldn’t be good.
“Didn’t I make it clear I wanted you to stay away from Matt and Andy Tyler and anyone else involved with the defense?”
“You did.”
“Then why were you walking through downtown Miller’s Creek with Matt last night?” Her voice lowered to a sibilant hiss.
“He’s my friend.”
“Not if you intend to work for me. We’ll discuss this further in my office, and you’d better not keep me waiting.” Elena turned and strode from the room, her high heels making angry snaps against the floors.
Grace slumped to a seat in the almost empty room to curb her anger. How dare Elena dictate her friendships! She breathed deep to slow her thrashing pulse. After several minutes she finally felt in control enough to leave.
In spite of her warm coat, she shuddered as she stepped into the bitter November cold, feeling world-weary. Less than a week until Thanksgiving, and maybe she could catch up on sleep and make some headway through the mental turmoil. Grace cranked up the old truck and quickly traversed the few blocks to the DA’s office.
Elena was waiting for her when she arrived. “It’s about time you showed up,” she spouted from her office door. “As soon as you put down your things, I need to see you in here.”
Though her knees trembled, Grace lifted a prayer as she traipsed to her boss’s office. Help me be who You want me to be. A floral scent attacked Grace’s nostrils as she entered.
Elena looked up. “Have a seat.”
She sank into the plush chair, dreading the verbal tirade about to come her way.
An inscrutable expression resided on the woman’s face. “I appreciate how quickly you did the research I requested.”
Grace clamped her jaw to keep it from snapping open. This woman had a serious case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
“It might be our best chance to put this creep away.”
David Simmons definitely topped her creep list. What made him even creepier was his ability to appear so innocent. “That’s why I’ve always wanted to be a prosecutor.”
Elena shifted her head to one side. “Is there something from your past—” She stopped, as though unsure of what to say.
“That makes this case especially difficult?”
Her boss nodded.
“Yes, my mother was killed in a car accident where the other driver was at fault. The guy got off with little more than a slap on the hand.” A thorn in her flesh that festered to this day.
“I’m so sorry.” Elena’s eyes moistened. She stared at her desk, but after a few seconds shook herself from the reverie. “I need to tell you something that I really don’t want to mention.”
Grace’s eyebrows crinkled. “What?”
“I know you’re upset that I told you to stay away from the Tyler’s. I guess I should be more specific about why.” She wet her lips. “There are rumors that Andy might be involved in illegal or unethical activity.”
There was no way to stop her gaping jaw. “I don’t believe it.”
“I don’t either, but in situations like this we can’t stick our head in the sand and pretend it might not be true.”
She shook her head in astonishment. “What kind of things are we talking about?”
“Some question why he wins an extraordinary number of cases involving high-profile people. Apparently the authorities are interested in how this case turns out for that very reason.”
“Are you saying he’s on the take?” Grace resisted the temptation to laugh.
“I know it seems ludicrous. I questioned it, too. But he does have high prominent connections. That’s why you need to stay awa
y. If the rumors are true, and they suspect you . . . ”
A feather could have pushed her over. While her heart didn’t believe, her brain told her anything was possible.
“I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news.”
“Is there concrete evidence?”
“I don’t know. The authorities will take care of it, but it would be easy for them to suspect you, since you worked for him and have now for me. It looks more than a little suspicious.”
Her head swam. How could an innocent career move hold such threat, especially in her attempt to seek justice?
“Anyway,” continued Elena, “just watch your step. I have to get back to work and figure out how to call David Simmons’ bluff before court reconvenes. I’ll let you go.”
Dismissed again. Still dazed, Grace stumbled to her desk, struggling with her thoughts. Was the information accurate or was something else at play here?
She considered her options all during lunch, and an idea took root. The spare key to Andy’s office hung from a cup hook in her bathroom. It wouldn’t hurt to visit his office early one morning to check his files. It wasn’t like she was actually breaking in, because she had a key. And she wasn’t doing it to steal anything. It was all about her attempt to reach the truth. If she found nothing it would only help her case against Elena.
A few minutes before two, Grace returned to the courtroom. As she took a seat, she gazed to where Andy stood talking to David’s dad and some other man. Where had she him before?
Elena joined her at the table. “Told you so.”
Grace frowned. “What?”
“About Andy and his powerful friends. The other man standing with them is John Dempsey, Attorney General for the State of Texas.”
Her eyebrows shot up. That’s why he looked so familiar. Were Elena’s suspicions true?
At that moment, the judge entered and turned their way. “Ms. Delgado, you may now cross-examine the witness.” He looked at David. “Mr. Simmons, as you take the stand, I’ll remind you that you’re still under oath.”
The defendant strolled to the stand and sat.
The Way of Grace (Miller's Creek Novels) Page 13
