by Lee Taylor
“Eric, I came today to tell you how I am going to manage this case. I am not only your client, I am appointing myself the lead attorney. And yes I know I am not a lawyer, but I am Trey’s mother. First, the ground rules. If you discuss this case with anyone, and that includes Dameon and my father, I will immediately fire you.”
Eric jumped up from his chair placing his hands on the desk and glared at her. “What the hell are you talking about Jesse? You are going to manage the case? Fuck! Do you have any idea what the firm of Lawson and Schemer is known for? Honey, they are one of the largest and most feared criminal litigation firms in D.C. They are scorched earth lawyers. They take no prisoners. They win at all costs. And goddammit, Jesse, they have a ton of stuff, piles of evidence that we are going to have respond to. Jesse, for Christ’s sake, they are making the claim that you are a prostitute, and that that’s what you did while you were in the Army.”
Jesse knew she’d sounded shrill earlier, a little crazy even. But she had to make him understand. She forced herself to sound calm which wasn’t easy. She’d barely slept for the past two days and she didn’t remember when she ate last. She was shaky but her determination brought her through. She glared at Eric and spit out her ultimatum.
“Stop, Eric. You have a choice. You are my attorney on my terms OR you resign. There’s no third way. Those are your options. I’ve spent my life dealing with difficult issues. I learned hard lessons along the way. There is one person I can depend on and it is me. I know how I work, Eric. I know how I succeed. And I know how I am going to manage this case.”
She wavered when she stood, fighting an unexpected tide of dizziness. She grabbed for the edge of the desk to keep from falling. She cursed herself for her weakness and took out her fear on the man who was staring at her, his face tight with concern.
“Choose, Eric. My terms or resign. I’ll expect an answer by 8 a.m. tomorrow morning.”
She wasn’t sure how she made it out of his office or to her car. For a moment she considered calling a cab. She knew it was stress, but driving while dizzy wasn’t wise, but then what choice did she have?
~~~
Dameon was shocked that Jesse wasn’t at the basketball practice. He’d left three messages during the day, none of which had been returned. He’d stopped by her house on the way to practice but she wasn’t home. He’d left a note on the door: CALL ME! Seeing that Trey also was missing for the second time in a row, Dameon’s anxiety rose. Since he’d joined the team, Trey had never missed a practice. And now to miss two? He’d left a message for Trey, but like his mother, Trey didn’t return the call. No longer annoyed, Dameon was now deeply concerned. He turned the practice over to one of his assistant coaches, claiming a personal emergency. He made a quick stop along the way to say goodnight to Zoey and to make sure that Marina knew he’d be late.
As he headed over to Jesse’s he clicked on her number one more time, and was stunned when she answered.
“God, Jesse. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to hear your voice. Damn, woman. I’ve been worried about you. I thought you might be sick. Are you okay? I’ve come by twice—”
She broke in. Her voice was distant, flat, without emotion.
“Dameon. You are not going to understand this. But I can’t see you.”
“What the hell are you talking about? I haven’t seen you for three days and I’m going out of my mind. It’s bad enough not to see you—but not even to talk to you? Hell, honey, I’m practically certifiable.”
“Dameon. Please. Please, I can’t talk. You just have to understand that I can’t see you. If you care about me, you won’t ask any questions.”
A knot in his chest reminded him that he’d heard that tone in her voice before. It was a combination of fear and determination. Dameon knew that it didn’t bode well for him. He tried to be calm but it was no use. He couldn’t hide his frustration or his rising anger.
“Well, Major O’Donnell, you better listen up. I do care about you and I am going to ask you some questions. Questions that you sure as hell better answer. Now, Jesse. What is going on?”
Her voice was eerily calm. “Dameon, I can’t see you. Please understand and leave me alone.”
To his shock, she hung up.
Dameon was in his truck and at her house in mere minutes. He was up the stairs and at her front door before his truck engine stopped. He tried the door, knowing that if it was locked he’d break it down. It opened easily. He called her name as he came into the house. She was in the kitchen, her back to him. When she turned, he stepped back, stunned at her appearance. Jesse was ghostly pale. There were dark purple circles under her eyes. She looked shaky, distraught.
As shocked as he was by her appearance, he couldn’t tamp down his anger and frustration.
He started toward her.
“Jesse, Jesus God, are you okay? First, baby, you hung up on me. You can’t do that. Do you understand? We don’t do that to one another. That’s not who we are. It’s not the kind of relationship we have. Promise me that you won’t do that again.”
When he reached out for her, she held up her hands.
“No, Dameon. Please. Don’t touch me. I asked you to leave me alone. Please, please go. I can’t talk to you.”
“Jesse, for God’s sake. I have been frantic worrying about you and—” It hit him then. It must have something to do with Trey. “What is it, honey? Is it Trey?”
She gave him an empty stare. “Garrett has filed for full custody of Trey. I… I’m preparing for a court case. I need to prepare—”
“Jesse, honey, I can help you. You don’t have to do this alone.”
“Yes, Dameon, you can help me. You can give me space.” When he advanced on her, she backed away, a wild look in her eyes.
“No, Dameon! Listen to me. I need you to listen to me and to hear me. I need to do this my way. On my own. Trey is my son. Please understand. The way that you can help me is to respect my request. I have to work through this… through what is happening, in my own way.”
Dameon saw her falter, tremble. He forced himself to keep his distance. Even if she hadn’t been as pale as she was, he could see that she was riding a thin rail between despair and determination. He put his hands up to give her the room she requested.
“I’m listening, honey. I hear you. But Jesse, will you listen to me? Give me a chance to talk?”
She shook her head fiercely. “No, I won’t. I can’t. Please understand that this is the only way I know how to get through issues like this. I need to concentrate on keeping my son.”
Her voice rose, it was almost a plaintive cry. He saw her pain and her determination. He’d never seen her more vulnerable or fragile. It made her determination an unlikely and challenging addition. He could see there was no use arguing with her. She was deeply troubled and he knew instinctively that this was how she handled crises. He’d seen it in the past. Hell, her father had warned him. And Jesse herself had told him that she never asked for help. Now in this most difficult challenge, she believed that she and she alone could handle it. Even though he profoundly disagreed, he held up his hands in assent.
“Jesse, I will do anything you ask me to do. But please understand. I can help you. I know I can. You need someone to talk to… to work things through. Please let me….”
She closed her eyes signifying that she was done. Done listening and done hearing.
“Dameon, the best way that you can help me is to respect my request. I need to do this on my own. In my own way That’s what I need, what I have to have. Please, will you do that? I’m asking you, begging you.”
Forcing himself not to go to her, Dameon nodded.
“Jesse, you are asking me to do the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I long to put my arms around you. Hold you. Let you know that you are not alone.”
Seeing her waver, he inched toward her, knowing that if he could hold her, even for a moment, he had a fighting chance of convincing her that he could help.
Confirming how tig
htly she was wound, she jumped back, bumping up against the counter. Her eyes flared. The wildness he saw earlier intensified.
“No! Dameon. Please, don’t. Go, go now.”
Dameon pulled in a deep breath and released it slowly. Not allowing her to look away, he held her gaze.
“I will leave, Jesse, reluctantly. I’m leaving because you are asking me to. But you need to understand something: I am here for you and I’m not going anywhere. I care deeply about you. I will do anything I can to help you and Trey. You are an incredible mother. And no one is going to take your son away from you.”
Chapter 27
“Goddammit, Eric. What’s going on? “
“She told you?”
“No, dammit, unless you mean by telling me she told me that she can’t talk to me and that she wants me to leave her alone.”
Eric’s sigh was pained. Without seeing him, Dameon knew him well enough to pick up on his frustration.
“Much as I hate to say this, buddy, at this point I think that’s your only choice.”
“Jesus, Eric, you can’t be serious. What the hell did that fucking Chambers do to scare her like this?”
“Hmm, bro. You’re as smart as you ever were, even when it involves Jesse. Not many people would pick up on the fact that beneath all that bluster is fear. I hate like hell to tell you, but I can’t discuss it with you. I’m on a very short leash. If I so much as breathe a word about the case to anyone but her and Garrett’s lawyers, I’m done. Out the door. And then she’s really on her own. That is the choice our little Major gave me. Her way or resign.”
“Surely, Eric, you can tell me what was in the subpoena?”
“No, Dameon, I can’t. She’s put a gag order on me. Everything between us is attorney client privilege. She insists she will boot me if I disclose anything. And I gotta tell you, I believe her. Let’s give her a couple of days at least, Dameon. She’s in shock right now. I hope that I can convince her to open up, but at this point that’s not an option.”
When he got home, Dameon sent Jesse a long text message telling her how much he cared for her and that he was here to help her in any way possible. Once again, he affirmed that she was not alone. The next two days he sent her a message every three hours. Some were funny, most simply said, ‘I’m here.’ The following day, he was tied up throughout the day dealing with a major drug bust that turned out to include a cargo van crammed with young girls on their way to parts unknown. When he finally looked at his phone, his heavy heart knew before he looked that Jesse hadn’t called.
There wasn’t a practice scheduled, which meant that he couldn’t talk to Trey. Dameon had now left several messages asking why Trey’d missed practice and asking if he could help. As the silence from both Trey and Jesse persisted, Dameon’s unease rose. Clearly there was more going on than he’d realized. The blackout from Jesse, Trey, and even Eric, had his frustration flaring. When he’d worn a groove in his office carpet trying to decide on next steps, Angela rang.
“Chief, there’s a young man here to see you. It’s the Chambers boy. Shall I send him in?”
“Please.”
Dameon met Trey at the door. Seeing the expression on Trey’s face, his relief switched back to concern.
“Come in, Trey. I have to tell you, son, I’m glad to see you. I’ve been worried about you. Here, sit down. Trey. I need to know what’s going on. First, why haven’t you called me back? I’ve left you six messages. You need to remember, Trey, you’re on probation. It’s essential that you follow the rules of your probation or you are in violation, which is a serious issue. One of the rules is that you go to practice. If you can’t, you need to let me or one of the coaches know….”
Dameon stopped in mid-sentence seeing the tears welling up in Trey’s eyes. He moved from behind his desk and pulled up a chair next to the trembling boy.
“What’s going on, Trey? Talk to me, son. Whatever it is, I can help you.”
Trey started to speak but shook his head when the words wouldn’t come. He buried his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking with sobs. Dameon went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. He put it on the conference table.
“Come here, Trey. Let’s sit over here. You look like you need someone to sit close to you. And I can tell you, I am that guy.”
Trey choked on a sob and then began to cry. The deep gulping sounds tore at Dameon’s heart. Dameon put his arm around him and stroked his back. It took a good five minutes for Dameon to get the shattered boy settled down to where he was able to control his sobs. When Trey lifted his tear-streaked face, Dameon’s heart clenched. Trey looked so damn much like Jesse, Dameon had to fight against the lump in his throat.
“Tell me, Trey. Tell me what you’re trying to say.”
“I… I… couldn’t call you. I didn’t know you called. My… my dad took my phone. I can’t have it any more.”
An angry fireball hit Dameon in the gut. With a huge effort, he spoke calmly, encouraging Trey to talk.
“Why did he take your phone?”
“My dad thought I’d try to call my mom. He warned me if I did, he’d take it away. I did try to call her but she didn’t answer. I… I didn’t know my dad was monitoring my calls.”
“When he found out you’d tried to contact your mom, he took your phone?”
Trey nodded and took a gulp of water. Clearing his throat he hesitated then gave Dameon an imploring look.
“Coach, I’m scared.”
“Why, son?”
“My dad said I can’t see Mom or talk to her. He… he said they’re going to court on Monday and…”
Dameon tried to hide his shock. Monday? Holy Christ. They were going to court in three days? Three fucking days from today? That wasn’t possible. He didn’t know who he was angrier with, Garrett or his so-called buddy Eric. Knowing that Eric wouldn’t live to see the dawn helped him keep a temporary rein on his fury.
Turning to Trey, Dameon managed to speak calmly “Go ahead, Trey. Tell me the rest. I can help.”
“Coach, Dad said I am in his custody now and that he can make the rules and that I have to follow them. He said I can’t see my mom or talk to her until after the court date.”
Trey’s voice broke and he finished with a rush, “And, Coach, my dad says he’s sure that the judge is going to say that I need to live with him full time…” His voice rose to a wail. “But I don’t want to! I want to be with my mom!”
It took Dameon several minutes to get the young man to stop crying. He was so enraged it was a challenge to comfort Trey. All he wanted to do was leap in his truck and head over to the hospital. If Dameon had his way, Dr. Garrett Chambers wouldn’t be doing plastic surgery for the next few weeks. He’d be too busy trying to figure out how to rearrange his own face. With a supreme effort, Dameon focused on Trey.
“Okay, son. I’m not surprised that you are upset. Hell, I’m upset listening to you. But here’s how it’s going to be. Your father is able to set the rules when you are in his custody. If he says you can’t see or talk to your mom, he can do that. The only way your mom or I can fix that is in court. So going to court on Monday is a good thing, Trey. We’ll be able to tell the judge what is happening and she will listen. I’m going to go out on a limb and make you a promise. When we’re done with the court on Monday, you will be seeing your mother. Do you hear me?”
When Trey nodded, Dameon continued.
“Did your father tell you that you couldn’t come to basketball practice?”
Trey nodded and ducked his head. “He said I couldn’t because you would be there.”
“I see. Well, son, he doesn’t have the right to do that. I’ll talk with Marsha Vargas, your probation counselor. She will arrange for you to come to practice.”
Seeing the boy relax for the first time, Dameon stood up.
“Come here, Trey. Sometimes as we get older, we think that we don’t need hugs. But we do. Not only do you need a hug, but I need one too.”
Dame
on held the boy firmly for a long moment and then walked him to the door, his arm draped paternally around his shoulders.
“If you hurry, you can catch the #4 bus and be at your dad’s within the hour. You don’t need to tell your dad you came here unless you want to. That’s your choice. But before you go, you need to hear me. Remember: after court session on Monday, you will be seeing and talking to your mother. You know how much she is missing you, don’t you?”
Trey swallowed hard and his eyes filled again with tears.
“Okay, just remember, come Monday, you and your mom will be together again. You got that, Trey? You’ve got my word on it. And son, if you know nothing else about me, know that when I give my word, I don’t break it—ever.”
~~~
Dameon barked into his cell phone. “Where the fuck are you?”
Eric paused. “Uh… in my office?”
“Stay there. I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
Seventeen minutes later Dameon strode by the surprised receptionist and barged into Eric’s office, slamming the door behind him.
“Okay, Eric, what’s going on? None of this makes sense. I’m going to tell you this and you better hear me. I’m in love with her, Eric, and I haven’t even fucked her yet. I haven’t thought about anything or anyone since I met her. She’s so far under my skin you’d need a bone scan to see it. And, buddy, I just spent 30 minutes with Trey Chambers crying in my arms, terrified that after his parents go to court on Monday, three fucking days from today he will never see his mother again.”
Dameon planted his hands on the corner of the conference table and glared at his friend.
“Now Eric, for the second and last time that I will ask you: What the God dammed fuck is going on?”
Eric hesitated then nodded. “Thank you, Dameon. If you hadn’t called, I was going to call you.” He pointed to the chair across from him. “Sit down, friend. This is going to be an off-the-record conversation. There are some things I still can’t tell you but I’ll tell you as much as I can.”
