by D. Camille
“What did I tell you?” Brandon asked.
Derek sighed. “I’m in the parking lot on my way in to your office.”
Brandon waited until he was announced in the lobby. Walking over to the door, he allowed Derek inside.
“You’d better have a damn good explanation,” Brandon told him closing the door.
Derek turned to him. “I told you I was going to have some pictures of you and the chief.”
“We were on a damn date! Our first one and you had somebody spying on us?” Brandon asked incredulously.
Putting his hands up, Derek answered. “It wasn’t spying and those pictures just show two people in love.”
Brandon’s eyes narrowed. “When you don’t know that you’re being photographed, it’s spying!”
“Look Brandon, whether you were running for Mayor or not, you’re the Head Prosecutor and Mac is the Chief of Police for this city and your relationship is news. I feel better getting ahead of the press and releasing the photos that we want the public to see.”
“The online comments section of the paper is filled with comments on how cute the two of you are together and how much in love you look,” Derek told him.
“Did you see the headline?” Brandon questioned. “The Beast Has Found His Beauty.”
Derek grinned. “That was good. Appropriate too…”
“I’m not going to let this become a mockery,” Brandon said walking to his desk.
Derek followed and took a seat across from the desk. “That’s why I’m on top of it.”
“The citizens are following your courtship like Prince Charles and Diana. Seeing you and Chief Green all hugged up and cozy has them loving you both.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that you had a photographer following us?” Brandon questioned.
“Because I wanted it to be natural, not forced.” Derek explained. “I selected those photos myself to send to the paper.”
He looked at Brandon. “There were a few that would have been uh…inappropriate for the morning paper.”
Brandon’s eyes hardened. “I’m going to fire you.”
“No, you’re not.” Derek told him. “I’ve got this. I know what I’m doing.”
Shaking his head, Brandon ran a hand down his mouth. “If I see one thing that I don’t like…”
“I’ve got it Brandon,” Derek cut him off. “You just concentrate on winning these cases.”
“The police are going to be a challenge,” Brandon confessed.
Derek agreed. “They always are. We’ve seen them walk away from cold-blooded murders, so I don’t know how you’re going to pull this off.”
“I’ll need the support and testimony of other officers.”
“Do you think you’ll get it?”
Brandon shook his head. “Right now, no one’s giving the information I need. Trying to make deals without really turning on anybody.”
“Can’t Patrice Dansby incriminate them? They were working for her.” Derek questioned.
“She’s not talking either,” Brandon told him. “She thinks that she’s going to beat this case, but Tauri has other plans.”
Derek frowned. “How long did she think she would get away with this? Was she going to continue as the Mayor?”
“She probably would have been worse as the Mayor. That type of control in the wrong hands is dangerous. We’ve seen it before and the city is still trying to rebound from that,” Brandon commented. “That type of corruption lasts for years.”
“The newspaper reported that she had ties to illegal dealings in Ohio,” Derek inquired. “Did you know about that?”
Brandon nodded. “When we dated, I found out about some of it. I told her then, that if she had anything to do with it, I wouldn’t be there to support her. She swore that she had nothing to do with that part of her family.”
“But now I know that Patrice lied about a lot of things, so there is no telling how deep she was into all of that,” he finished.
“Do you think she was paying off anybody else besides the police?” Derek wondered.
“It’s not unlikely,” Brandon answered. “That’s why I’m suspecting everyone.”
Derek watched Brandon look him over. “Hey, now come on! Don’t do that,” he cautioned. “I’m your man. I don’t get down like that.”
“Put out some more pictures without telling me and see what happens,” Brandon told him.
“Okay, I’ll give you a heads up next time.” Derek agreed. “You just keep making her smile like that and we’re good.”
“Goodbye Derek, I have work to do.”
Derek stood with a smile. “Me too, I’m planning the next steps for you.” He started walking to the door. “I’m thinking Congressman, maybe even Governor.”
“Bye Derek.”
“Then we can think about the White House,” Derek reached the exit. “Hey, we’ve done it before. We can’t let Obama be the last because there’s no telling what’s coming next.”
“That’s true,” Brandon acknowledged. “But for now, let me just handle this city before we take on the entire country.”
“Goals, my man. You have to dream it before you can make it a reality.”
Brandon nodded. “I agree and I have mine in sight right now.”
Chapter 22
The next few weeks were a blur for Mac and Brandon. Both were busy, not only with their everyday jobs but also the residual effects of the pending cases. Even with their hectic schedules, the couple had made the decision not to sacrifice their time together and had been on a few more dates. Luckily for Derek, no more pictures had made the paper without Brandon’s approval.
Today was the day Victoria Patterson was arriving and Brandon had mixed feelings. The Pattersons, including Tauri had agreed to meet with the woman who’d walked out of their lives nearly thirty years ago. From Rion’s description, there had been anger, tears and finally after a few weeks, a willingness to at least come face to face.
Before that meeting occurred, Benjamin wanted Victoria to have a few days to settle in and she would be staying at his home as his guest. This was also something Brandon had mixed feelings about. He would definitely have to get used to seeing his father in love with another woman, since he’d never even seen him dating. Yeah, seeing him in a relationship was going to take a moment to digest.
“Today’s the day, huh?”
Brandon looked down at the beautiful woman lying next to him. “Yes, it is.”
“You’re tense,” Mac ran a hand down his arm.
“I’m trying to put myself in the right frame of mind,” he explained looking into her concerned brown eyes.
Mac sat up and pulled the sheet around her. “Baby, it’ll be fine.” She stroked his jaw. “You’ll be fine.”
“My father wants us to come by tonight to meet her,”
She nodded. “I know and I’ll be there.”
Brandon took the hand that was on his face. “I think I’m going to need you.”
Mac leaned over and kissed him. “If you don’t like her, I’ll arrest her and lock her ass up.”
He laughed softly. “See that’s why I fell in the love with the chief.”
She leaned back and looked at him seriously. “Brandon, your father is the most level-headed and intuitive man I’ve ever met. So if he says Victoria Patterson isn’t a threat, I’m inclined to trust his judgement.”
“I agree, but I’ve also never seen my father’s emotions involved in a situation,” Brandon pointed out. “I learned to be a Tin Man from somewhere.”
Mac nodded. “But even now that we’re together, you’re still on top of your game and I think the Judge is too. You two are a lot alike.”
“If she hurts anybody…” he began grimly.
“She’s not. We won’t let her,” she assured him looking into his angry face. “Okay?”
Brandon nodded reluctantly. “We’ll see.”
“You’re so damn stubborn,” Mac shook her head. “But I love it.”
<
br /> He pulled her onto his lap. “Enough of that, are you making my eggs this morning?” Brandon whispered as he nuzzled her cheek.
Mac glanced at the ceiling in his bedroom and recalled the previous night with a sly smile. “Yes, counselor, I’m definitely making your eggs.”
******
Patrice Dansby sat in her living room across from her attorney. Her eyes went to the hideous device attached her ankle then looked back to her lawyer.
“Get me out of this damn thing!” she ordered.
“You’d rather be in jail?” he asked.
Her eyes narrowed. “What the hell am I paying you for?”
“Look, you’re lucky that you’re sitting here right now. If you didn’t have the connections that you do, you’d be behind bars,” he pointed out.
“Well I need my connections to do more than this.” She pointed at the device.
“We have a trial date set for next month. You can sit tight until then,” he explained.
Patrice stood. “Sit tight? Who the hell are you talking too?” she snapped. “I have business to run.”
“Patrice, if you’re caught doing anything illegal, a long jail sentence is a guarantee.”
She began pacing. “They don’t have anything.”
“They have the two brothers who are going to testify about your involvement with the guns and the drugs.”
“Those two little punks. You should be able to discredit them in your sleep.”
Attorney Hamilton ran a hand down his face. If she didn’t pay so well, he’d have never taken this on.
“They also have evidence that you were at the house where Terrance was found, right before he was discovered beaten and left for dead,” he pointed out.
“I don’t know how they got that. That one is stumping me, but I’ll figure it out.” Patrice tapped her cheek. “They had someone on me, not a tail though. I know no one followed me.”
“Well while you’re figuring that out, determine how you’re going to keep those cops from turning on you.”
She looked at him. “They’ll give Brandon little bits and pieces to try to get a plea, but they know not to roll on me because if I go down, there’s someone waiting to deal with them.”
The attorney looked concerned. “Who?”
“Look, I hired you on a need to know basis. You only need to know what I tell you to get me cleared. Understand?”
He stood to his feet. “And if I quit? Then what?”
“Then this might be your last case.”
His eyes widened. “Are you threatening me?”
Patrice took her seat again and looked him over. “Nah, I’m not threatening you Attorney Hamilton. I know your fine reputation in this city and you’re just what I need to go up against Tauri Patterson-Shaw and Brandon.”
“Then you should try to help me,” he told her.
“Sure, what do you need?” Patrice asked.
He sat back down. “How deep are you?”
She stared at her nails. “I have police, council members, and drug dealers all in the palm of my hand.”
Turning her gaze to him, she said, “And I’m not going down because of no bullshit ass kids. This arrest has already cost me the Mayoral race and possibly my position on the Council. I’m not losing anything else.”
“Do you want to try to plea bargain?” the attorney asked. “Because if you’re found guilty on these charges, you will be going down…for a long time.”
“Has Brandon’s office offered a plea?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No, he’s showing no mercy.”
She shook her head. “I’m going to need you to spin this. Tell a story of how a young girl grew up seeing nothing but Kingpins and illegal activities, yet she went to college, got a degree and tried to live a better life.”
“Tell them that I was coerced into the activities that I unwillingly participated in and that when I became Mayor, I would’ve exposed everything that I knew.”
The attorney looked at her. “You don’t want me to say that.”
“Why not?”
“Patrice you’ve been on the City Council for three years while allegedly, “unwillingly” engaging in criminal activities. You just said that you’re still paying off police, council members and drug dealers.”
He sighed. “The prosecutor would eat you alive.”
“Well what the hell is my defense then?”
He shook his head. “You actually don’t have one.”
She frowned. “Well then you’d better make one.”
“You used to date the Head Prosecutor. What do you have on him?”
Patrice rolled her eyes. “Don’t you think if I had something worthwhile on Brandon, I would’ve used it by now?”
Attorney Hamilton scratched his head. “I guess we’ll have to look forward to stacking the jury.”
“Listen, we both know how this shit works. You pay off enough people and you can walk on any charges. We see it every damn day. So find out who I need to pay,” she ordered.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
******
That evening Brandon arrived at his father’s home and instead of using his key, he rang the bell and waited. His father answered with a smile on his face.
“Don’t you have a key?”
“I didn’t want to intrude,” Brandon answered while stepping inside.
His father paused. “Brandon, Victoria being here doesn’t change anything between us.”
“I think it does, Dad.” Brandon countered. “But I understand and I want you to be happy.”
Benjamin patted his son on the shoulder. “Thank you son.”
“She’s anxious to meet you,” he finished.
The two men walked into the study where Victoria stood to her feet and watched them approach.
Brandon extended his hand. “Hello Dr. Patterson. It’s nice to finally meet you,” he greeted her.
Victoria smiled. “Thank you Brandon. You look so much like your father.”
Brandon studied her. “And you look so much like Granny Patterson.”
“Is that what you call her?” she asked amused.
He nodded. “Everybody calls them Granny and Granddaddy.”
A sadness crossed her face. “My parents have always been amazing.”
Benjamin moved to her side and smiled down at her. “And they made an amazing daughter.”
Victoria smiled up at him as he took her hand. Brandon watched the two uncomfortably until the bell rang.
“That’s probably Mackenzie,” he announced. “I’ll get it.”
Turning quickly, Brandon made his way to the door and opened it to the face he adored.
“What happened?” Mac asked immediately.
He showed her inside. “Nothing, I just got here.”
“Why do you look like that?”
“It’s just strange, that’s all.” He hugged her. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Mac kissed him softly then he took her hand. “Come and meet her.”
Brandon led her back into the room where his father was now seated on the sofa next to Victoria. Mac approached and greeted them both as Benjamin stood and kissed her cheek.
“Mac, I’m so happy that you could make it tonight.” Benjamin told her.
She smiled. “Thank you for including me, Judge Williams.”
“You’re my future daughter-in-law. Of course, I’d include you.” Benjamin looked at Brandon. “You’re my son’s heart.”
Victoria stood as well. “I’ve heard so much about you Mac. You’re the police chief?”
“Yes, for four years now.”
“Wow, I guess Detroit has changed a lot since I was here.”
Benjamin looked at Victoria. “I told you things are not as they were.”
Brandon stood next to Mac and placed an arm around her shoulder. “Mackenzie is the best chief this city has ever seen.”
“And Brandon is totally unbiased,” Mac said glancing over at him with a sm
ile.
“I must agree Mac,” Benjamin told her.
Mac laughed softly. “Thank you both.”
“Let’s sit down,” Benjamin told everyone then Mac took a seat in one of the vacant chairs with Brandon claiming the one next to her. Benjamin and Victoria reclaimed their places on the sofa.
“So Benjamin tells me that you two are engaged?” Victoria asked.
Brandon glanced at Mac. “Yes, we’re getting married the week after the election, so I win either way.”
Victoria smiled at the obvious love in his green eyes. “Congratulations.”
They both thanked her before Benjamin entered the conversation. “I’d like to take credit for getting such a wonderful daughter-in-law.”
“What did you do Benjamin?” Victoria asked.
“My father created a reason to put me and Mackenzie together.”
Mac nodded. “The Judge was real smooth too.”
Benjamin laughed. “These two were already near the edge. I just pushed them over the side.”
“Thanks Dad,” Brandon said sarcastically.
“You two would have been circling each other for the next ten years. I had to resort to drastic measures.”
Mac smiled. “Well I thank you Judge Williams.” She turned to Brandon. “If Brandon hadn’t acted on his feelings, I probably never would have.”
Benjamin smiled and glanced at Victoria. “See, I told you I know how things will turn out.”
“I hope you’re right about my family as well.”
Victoria looked at Brandon. “I understand that Tauri works for your office.”
“She’s my best prosecutor and married to my best friend,” Brandon told her.
“So you’re very close to her?”
He nodded. “I would say, yes.”
Victoria dropped her head. “When I left her, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.” She shook her head. “I thought I knew everything back then. I told myself that I would go and become this rich, successful woman then come back for my daughter and take her away from this god awful place.”
“To me, Detroit was the worst place on earth and there was nothing I wouldn’t do to get away from here. I thought I’d take her to see the wonderful world I thought was out there, but I learned that wasn’t the case, very quickly.”
