by Iris Bolling
#
"Did you take a look at the witness list Neal sent over?" Jasmine stood in Bruce's office doorway glancing over the document in her hand.
"No. I take it Isaac Singleton is the star witness," Bruce replied without looking up from his document.
"I think you might want to talk with him about this." She placed the document on his desk on top of what he was reading.
Bruce looked up at her. "What's wrong with it?" He looked down.
"He has the Brooks children on the list."
Bruce nodded as he glanced down. "We've been told Taylor Brooks heard her father threaten her mother." He shrugged then looked up at her.
"James Brooks, Jr. is on the list. What did he overhear?"
"James Brooks Jr.?" He frowned then took a closer look at the list. "Katherine Brooks? What in the hell is he doing?"
"Looks like he's going after the man's family."
"Aw hell." Bruce stood, shoving his arms into his suit jacket. "He's committing political suicide." Bruce walked out the door frustrated. "Let them know I'm coming."
When Bruce reached Neal's office, he thought he had calmed down enough to have a sensible conversation. He was wrong.
"You are putting James Brooks’ ex-wife and son on the stand?" he shouted as he burst into the office. "Have you lost all sense of decency? You haven't bothered to try and verify any of Singleton's one-sided testimony. If you put that child on the stand it will blow up in your face."
"Are you finished?" Neal stood, angrily. "I hope for your sake you are. Your job is to prepare the case for trial. Do it. And don't ever come into my office in this manner again."
"You've already had subpoenas issued on them, haven't you? Damn it, Neal, what are you doing? You don't go after a man's family. We don't know if half of Singleton's story is true." Bruce exhaled. "Look, I know this case is important to you. You want to get Brooks. Okay, I get it. But, take a step back and ask yourself what is Isaac Singleton's motive? What part did he play in the entire story he gave you? Think about it. Don't put on blinders to get revenge on Vernon. Hell man, we are supposed to care about the truth. We don't support gossip." He put up his hands in surrender. "That's all I'm saying. And you are right. I apologize for bursting in like I did." He held the list up. "This is a bad move."
"Well, you've had your say. This is the very reason you are not second chair. My second has to support my theories, not develop their own. You're not a team player, Bruce. You have to learn how to look at the big picture. Now take that list and prepare for trial."
Bruce stared at Neal. "Yes, sir. I'll prepare for trial. I suggest you prepare for the ass whipping James Brooks is going to dish out." Bruce walked out the door.
Madison Gresham was sitting on the sofa in Neal's office when Bruce came in. "Wow, he is so pissed at you. I doubt if he even realized I was in the room."
"Insubordinate."
She stood. "That may be. But he's right." She put her coat on. "You go after James Brooks’ family, you will be committing political suicide."
"You're leaving?"
"Yes, call me when this case is over. If you still have a political career to handle, give me a call."
"You're bailing out on me."
"No, I'm giving you a reality check. Go after James Brooks and you will get a lot of this." She walked out the door and closed it behind her.
Chapter Ten
The pain was still there, but for some reason God had shown favor with him. The stabbing was not as sharp as it had been the last time he was awake. Nick had learned not to move his head too much when he was awake. The pain was unbearable.
He felt Ericka beside him before she called his name. Every time he opened his eyes she was there. While he slept, he knew she was there. Even during the times when he thought he was talking to her, but she never replied, he still knew she was in the room. But this time, yes, this time he could hear her.
"Nicolas Brooks, you open those beautiful brown eyes so I can see them. Open your eyes, Nick. Please open your eyes."
They are open, he thought he said, but she kept squeezing his hand and telling him to open them. So he squeezed back.
"That's right, Nick. I know you can hear me." She kissed his hands. He could feel her stroking his fingers. "Do you remember playing a melody between my thighs with these fingers? I do." She began humming the smooth jazz tune he played that first night they made love.
"Ericka." His eyes slowly opened and he saw her smiling down at him.
"Hello, handsome."
"Bad girl..." he mumbled.
"It was the only way I could think of to wake you up. The doctor needs to talk to you."
He nodded, but soon regretted the motion. "Okay," he replied instead.
"Hello, Nicolas. I'm Dr. Dailey. Squeeze my hand if you can hear me."
"I can," Nick replied.
"Good. Patient is alert and responsive," the doctor said to the nurse who was recording information. "Nick, I want to run a series of short tests. I want you to squeeze the nurse’s hand when you feel something."
"Okay." Nick waited to feel something, but nothing happened. Then he thought his mind was playing tricks on him when he felt something cold scraping across his foot. His toes twitched. "Cold on feet."
"Good," Dr. Dailey replied.
"Ouch," Nick said before the doctor said anything.
"Ouch where," the doctor laughed.
"Knee," Nick replied.
"Very good, very good," the doctor said, then stood at the top of the bed so Nick could see him. "Nicolas, you are a very fortunate man. I am not going to sugar coat anything. You sustained some serious injuries. It will take months to get you back to feeling like yourself. I don't know the full extent of all your injuries as of today. But I am very pleased with your responses. You have multiple broken bones throughout your left side."
"Good thing I'm right handed."
The doctor laughed. "You have a good sense of humor. That will take you a long way. You also have a family and loved ones here to help you through the rough times. And make no mistake, there will be rough times. But you are alive and your mind seems to be alert. Let's see if we can get your body back to this beautiful fiancée of yours. What do you say?"
"Sounds like a plan, Doc."
"Good. We are going to start reducing your pain medications. That will allow us to keep you awake longer."
Nick nodded, but forgot he wasn't supposed to. A pain shot through his head. "Hurt."
"I suggest you not do that again."
"Smart-ass."
"Yes, I am," the doctor laughed.
Ericka did not appreciate the humor. "Are you laughing at him?"
"With him," the doctor replied. "She is ready to take me, Nicolas. You better hurry and heal so you can protect me."
"See what I can do, Doc. Need to see Vernon," Nick said.
The doctor looked at Ericka. "His brother. Vernon Brooks is his brother."
"Stay awake. Talk to Vernon."
"Okay. You sleep. We will wake you when he arrives."
Nick looked at Ericka. She looked beautiful but sad. "You rest. I rest."
She kissed his fingers. "Okay."
"Bring her a bed in here. Set it up next to his. He will sleep better and so will she."
"Yes, Doctor Dailey," the nurse replied then left the room.
"No hanky-panky when we are not looking. I will see you in the morning, Nicolas."
"Night, Doc."
Ericka exhaled then bent over and kissed his cheek. "I miss you."
"Me too." Nick smiled. "Call Vernon."
"Okay." Ericka pulled out her cell phone and dialed Vernon's number. There was no answer. She then called Nicole. "Hi. Nick is awake. He is asking to see Vernon. I called his number and didn't even get his voice mail."
"The police have his phone."
"Why?"
"We'll talk about it later. I'll get Vernon there."
"Okay." Ericka hung up the phone. "He will be here soon,"
she said to Nick, but his eyes were closed. Ericka took her place on the side of his bed and held his hand to her heart. "I love you, Nicolas Brooks. Please don't break my heart and leave me."
"Not going anywhere." He squeezed her hand. He could feel her tears running down his hand. "Pizza, Caramel, Coco Brown, Chocolate...Godiva."
She started laughing. "Stop before you hurt yourself."
"Stop crying."
She wiped her eyes, then laid her head on his arm. "Did I ever tell you the story of the one time my mother caught me climbing out of my bedroom window?"
"No. Is it going to make me laugh?"
"Yes."
"Then save that for when I get out of here."
"Okay." She kissed his hand. "I have a story for you."
"Are you a good storyteller?"
"I used to lie for a living."
Nick smiled. "Oh yeah, I forgot. Okay, give it your best shot."
"Well, it starts with this prince. His name was Nicolai."
"I bet he was good-looking."
She smiled. "He was and very well endowed."
Nicolas turned his head a little too fast to look at her. "Ouch...what kind of story are you telling me?"
"The kind that will ease your mind. Now close your eyes and stop interrupting."
"Yes, ma'am." Nick did as he was told and closed his eyes.
Ericka settled down in her chair and began again. "You see, this Prince Nicolai met the maiden of his dreams. But there was a problem. The fair maiden wasn't a maiden at all. You see, she had been around the barn a time or two. While Prince Nicolai’s family was not at all fond of this maiden, the Prince was fascinated with the way she made him feel. And to her surprise, the maiden was too. You see, with all her experience at dropping men to their knees, she had never been accommodated in the same way. Until she met Prince Nicolai, no King, or Nobleman had ever captured the one thing she longed to give...her heart. While others lavished her with jewels and furs, they never got her passion. However, Prince Nicolai shared something more precious and valuable- the touch of his fingers in the most enticing places. What made his touch so seductive was the way they moved within her. The sensations that captured her essence and allowed it to run free. Then you know what he would do? He would take the tip of his tongue and funnel her sweet juices down his throat. The maiden Ericka was so moved by the raw sensations that ignited in her that she had to find a way to show him what she was feeling so you know what she did? She took those fingers that were covered in her juices and sucked them as she mounted him, allowing him to slowly penetrate her. The deeper he traveled in her channel, the wilder she rode. He went deeper, refusing to stop until he reached that spot that opened the door that guarded the one treasure she protected against all intruders. Then when the agony of the building of bliss ruptured, her most precious procession was lost forever. No one before had ever taken the time to discover the essence of who the maiden Ericka truly was. So you see, in the capable hands of Prince Nicolai, Ericka was once again a fair maiden. For he and only he could make her scream with the illicit use of his hands by simply finding her heart."
There was silence in the room. "The end?" Nick asked.
"No, it's just the beginning."
And that's when he felt her hands around him. "Ericka, I'm not dead," he moaned.
"I can feel that." She smiled as she squeezed him. "Then this should go nice and easy." She moved her hands slowly up and down his erection until he pulsated. She gently closed her hand tighter around him, slowly pushing up to the top.
He gasped.
She held him until he subsided. When his breathing became deeper, Ericka walked over to the sink and washed her hands. When she walked out of the bathroom she turned to see Vernon walk into the room.
"Hi." Vernon smiled.
"Hi. He's asleep."
Vernon walked over to look at his brother's face and smiled. "Looks like he's having a good dream."
Ericka smiled. "I'm sure he is." She threw the paper towel in the trash. "I'll leave you two. He really wanted to talk to you."
"Thank you, Ericka." Vernon watched as she walked out of the room. He pulled a chair up to the right side of Nick's bed. He loved his little brother. Seeing him in the hospital with his leg in a cast and his neck in a brace hurt him deeply, but there was nothing he could do to help him. This was the little brother he stood up for against his father when Nick decided he wanted to go into sports management rather than civil law. This was the little brother he helped by finding his first office building, purchased it and then rented it anonymously to him to help him start his agency. This was the little brother who loved him unconditionally no matter how much he screwed up. Yet now, now there was nothing he could do to help his little brother. Vernon wiped his hands down his face to conceal the tears. His family was unraveling around him and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
"He is going to be fine you know."
Vernon looked around to see Ericka standing in the doorway. "I forgot my wallet. Had to come back for it."
Vernon nodded. "It’s hard seeing him like this. I'm looking for him to challenge me to a one-on-one basketball game."
"Why don’t you challenge him?"
Vernon frowned at her. "I think that would be cruel."
"To the contrary. He is going to need something to make him fight to get back to his full self. What's better than the thought of whipping you on a basketball court?" She picked up her wallet and walked out of the room.
Vernon watched her and smiled thinking, she's going to be good for Nick.
#
Nick awakened to find Vernon asleep in a chair at the foot of his bed. Ericka's head was on his shoulder and a nurse was doing something with his medication.
"Good morning, Mr. Brooks." The nurse smiled down at him. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Like a team of Sumo wrestlers jumped me on top of a bed of nails."
"That's an improvement." She smiled.
Nick looked at her as if she had lost her mind.
"You're feeling." Vernon stretched. "That's the important thing."
"Exactly." The nurse nodded, then left the room.
"You’ve been here all night?"
Vernon yawned and nodded. "Yes. Ericka said you needed to talk to me. So here I am, little brother." He ran his hand down his face to clear the cobwebs out, then stared at his brother. "Your color is back. You are looking better."
"Am I ruggedly handsome?"
"No. But then you've never been." Vernon chuckled. "No plane crash can help you with that."
"Just kick a brother when he's down," Nicked laughed and found it did not hurt as much as it did before. Then he suddenly remembered. "Vernon, Drummond and Singleton. He murdered Terrell Bell. Drummond said pre-meditated."
His sudden movement awakened Ericka. His distress alerted the nursing staff. The nurse entered the room. Vernon stood and tried to calm Nick down. "Slow down. Take your time. There is no rush."
Ericka stood over Nick touching his cheek with her hand. She bent over and began whispering in his ear. Seconds later the monitor stopped beeping, Nick’s breathing eased and his body became more relaxed. "Prince Nicolai."
Vernon looked at Ericka then Nick.
"That's better," the nurse remarked. "Now, Mr. Brooks, we need you to stay calm. You're getting out of that bed today and we don't want anything to upset our plans for you."
Nick slowly nodded.
"Okay," the nurse said then left the room.
"Listen." Vernon bent over his brother. "This can wait, Nick."
"No." He squeezed his right hand around Ericka's.
"Vernon will stay." She glanced at Vernon then back to Nick. "Say what you need to and then you can concentrate on you."
Vernon leaned over Nick's left side. "I'm right here, Nick. Take a deep breath." Vernon nodded then leaned closer. "What is it?"
"Drummond’s notes I read on the plane. A woman requested the files about two years ago. Mentioned t
he death of Felicia Kennedy. Not an accident. She has proof."
Nick felt the tension in Ericka's hand as he spoke. He squeezed it and held it as tight as he could.
"Was Singleton involved?" Vernon asked.
"No details. It was a fire investigation file woman stated."
"Do you know who the woman was?"
"It was on the note." He shook his head in frustration. "I can't remember."
Vernon nodded. "Okay. I'll get the fire investigation file and read through it. Maybe there is something there. You did good, little brother." Vernon smiled. "Now tell me this. Who in the hell is Prince Nicolai?" He glanced at Ericka. "What has Ericka been filling your head with?"
Nick almost choked as he grinned at his brother. "A very content man."
Vernon smiled. "You stay that way." Vernon stood. "One more question. James and I were wondering, how in the hell did you pull someone as fine as her? You have something we don't know about?"
"Yes, a pure heart, so I'm told."
"Make sure you keep it that way." Vernon waited and said to Ericka, “I will leave you in the capable hands of Ericka here. I will be back soon."
Ericka stepped out the door to say goodbye to Vernon. "They are going to get him out of bed today. This first day is going to be painful."
"You're going to say with him?"
"I will not leave this hospital until he does."
Vernon smiled. "You love him?"
"Yes," Ericka replied without hesitation. She took a deep breath. "Whew."
"First time for you?"
She smiled. "Something like that."
Vernon nodded his head. "I understand that reply better than you may think. Is there anything I need to take care of for you? Apartment rental? Mortgage? Any bills?"
"No. I'm good, but thank you."
"I wasn't insinuating you needed money or anything of that nature."
"I didn't take it that way. Since I'm here you wanted to make sure I wasn't neglecting anything else."
"Exactly."
"Well, I'm not. This is where I am supposed to be."
He could see her holding back tears. He pulled her to him and held her tight. "You're a strong woman, Ericka Kennedy. I will find out what happened to your mother. I know that's what Nick would do."
