Justice for Daesha

by Deanndra Hall

  “That would be Ainsley. The only reason he isn’t light in the loafers is because he makes them himself.” When something flashed in Mack’s eyes, Amos added, “Not that there would be anything wrong with that!” He waited a second before saying, “So last night, somebody followed Daesha to her band rehearsal and left a threatening note on her car. I’m driving her back and forth to work from this point forward.”

  Mack lifted a form from the desktop and held it up. “Can I assume that’s the reason for this report from the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Department?”

  “Yes. It happened in Shepherdsville.”

  “Just don’t let driving her around interfere with your job.”

  “No, sir. I won’t. Thank you, sir.”

  “You’re welcome. Now get on it. The faster you can close this case, the fewer calls I get from our head honcho, and I don’t like getting those first thing in the morning.” Mack pointed to the door, and that was Amos’s cue to leave. But he noticed as he did that Mack was deep in thought. Blew his mind with that mention of a foursome, Amos chuckled inwardly.

  Meeting with Ainsley again would tell the tale. As soon as he had one admission, he’d get the other two. By the time he got finished, surely somebody would have to cough up details. He’d get them to spill.

  After all, who was he to judge?

  “Hey, cupcake, I need to speak to the unfortunate soul who took pity on you and gave you a job.”

  “You again? Gah. I have this bad dream over and over. It’s you.”

  “Ahhh, you’re thinking of me. I’m flattered. Ainsley―now.”

  “Jesus, you’re demanding. A,” she said into the house phone, “this cop-type person wants to talk to you again.” She glared at Amos. “I’m sure he’ll be out in just a few seconds. He likes you, although I have no idea why.”

  Amos used his sexiest voice. “Because I’m such a lovely twat.” That got an eye roll from the girl he remembered Ainsley called Madrid.

  Ainsley appeared at the head of the short hallway. “Agent Fletcher! Please, come in!” Amos waited as Ainsley went through the same security ritual as before, and followed the Kelso brother into the office. “As I recall, this is your favorite place to sit, n’est-ce pas?”

  Amos dropped onto the seat. “So how about you come clean with me?”

  There was a great swishing of robes as Ainsley sat down. “In what way?”

  Amos shook his head and clucked. “Tsk-tsk-tsk, Ainsley. I know.”

  “Know what?” He was trying to look confused, but it wasn’t working.

  “Cut the crap. I know about you, your brothers, and Dorinda.”

  Ainsley gave a little fake-sounding chuckle. “Whatever are you talking about?”

  “I just want to know, did you make any promises or say any vows when you gave her that ring?”

  Right before Amos’s eyes, Ainsley’s lower lip quivered. “I don’t know―”

  “So you didn’t love her? She wasn’t the woman you wanted to spend the rest of your life with? She meant nothing to you?” As he spoke, he watched Ainsley’s previously-animated face begin to droop. “So she was just a friend, someone you were sorry to see go but that was it? You don’t miss her, don’t think about her, don’t wish you could see her one more time? The things you said to her, the promises you made, they meant nothing? Is that how you treat someone you love?” The fashion icon’s face had started to redden and his eyes were filling with tears. “So she meant absolutely nothing to you?”

  “Stop!” And that was it―Ainsley began to sob, and Amos knew he’d done it.

  “Ainsley, tell me what you know. Please. Don’t you want to see Dorinda’s killer brought to justice?”

  “Yes! But I can’t!”

  Step out on a limb, Fletcher. “Because it was your dad?”

  “Oh, please! This is going to destroy me! I know it will! I miss her so much, and I can’t stop thinking about her, and she’s gone forever. And I think he did it. But if you tell him I said that, he’ll take the company away from me and I’ll starve.”

  “Ainsley, look at me.” Amos waited, and eventually the crying man lifted his head, his swollen, tear-filled eyes locking with Amos’s. “I had a few go-rounds with threesomes in college. I’m not here to judge you. We love who we love. But you loved Dorinda, and I need to find the person who killed her. What about your brothers?”

  “No! They wouldn’t have killed her. They loved her as much as I did. My god, Chance worshipped her.” Ainsley reached for the bejeweled tissue box on his desk and pulled out a tissue to dab at his eyes. “The three of us didn’t hurt her. None of us would’ve done that.”

  “So are you saying I should talk to your father?” Ainsley nodded. “Okay. That’s all I need. And I’m sorry for your loss. Really, I am. Please tell your brothers I know and that I’d appreciate any information they might have.” He nodded again and Amos stood. “I’ll see myself out. If I can help you in any way, let me know. And Ainsley?”

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t let anybody give you any shit for being yourself. You have as much right to be yourself as I do to be myself. Stand tall and be proud of who you are. You’re obviously a very creative individual, and I admire that.”

  Ainsley’s sobbing had gone to mild sniffling. “Um, thank you. I think that’s the nicest thing anybody’s said to me in a long time.”

  “You’re welcome. Goodbye, and call if there’s anything you need to tell me.” Amos walked out of the office and through the reception area.

  “Leaving so soon, douchebag?” he heard Madrid call out, and he spun to face her.

  “You know, I bet under all that fakeness you’re a decent-looking young woman with a decent personality. But we’ll never know, now will we? Goodbye, Madrid. Parting is such sweet sorrow.” She was mumbling something vulgar as he stepped outside. He didn’t know what, and he didn’t care.

  By the time he got back to the office, he’d gotten two phone calls, one from Chance and one from Benson, both apologizing for lying to him. He had to admit, at least they were polite. That was something.

  Now he had to do the one thing he didn’t want to do. Congress wasn’t in session. Senator Kelso would be home. And he had every intention of talking to the man.

  Amos rolled up to the big stone and steel gate and pushed the button. A feminine voice answered. “Who is it?”

  “Agent Amos Fletcher, KDCI. I need to speak with Senator Kelso.”

  “Under whose authority?”

  “The authority of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, office of the attorney general, and supervisor of the KDCI field office in Elizabethtown.”

  “Just a minute.” After several seconds, the big steel gate began to roll to the right and when it cleared the stone columns on that side, he drove the Jeep through and straight to the house.

  And what a house it was. He’d never seen anything so amazing. Castle-like. That’s how he would’ve described it. He rang the doorbell and waited. When the door opened, a woman in her late sixties in an ermine-trimmed robe stood there. “Hello. May I see some credentials, please?” Amos flashed his badge and ID, and after scrutinizing both, the woman opened the door wider to let him in. “He’s in his study. I’ll take you.” Amos looked around. Was she some kind of house help? In that robe? No. This had to be the wife.

  They reached a dark wood door and she rapped lightly. “Yes?” a male voice called softly.

  “Marshall, there’s an Agent Fletcher from KDCI here to talk to you.”

  “Show him in. Please.” She swung the door open and Amos almost gasped.

  Those shots on TV of a study, all dark wood, brass, and filled with books? That was where he found himself standing. It smelled of leather and cigar tobacco, and Amos stood there and drew in a deep breath to capture it. There was even one of those lamps on the desk, the kind with the emerald green glass shade that was white underneath. A magazine picture couldn’t have been more perfect, right down to the picture of the stodgy old rich guy
over the mantel. A man stood and came toward him, and in his face Amos could see Ainsley’s features. That’s when he realized who the woman reminded him of―Benson and Chance. She was obviously their mother. “Good morning! Pleasure to meet you, Agent Fletcher. I’m Marshall Kelso. How may I help you?” The man extended his hand, which Amos shook. He was pretty sure the bookshelves on the back wall spun to reveal a secret passageway, and he hoped if he disappeared, somebody found it so they could rescue him.

  “Pleasure to meet you as well, sir. Daesha has nothing but good things to say about you.”

  “You know Daesha? What a lovely girl. I’ve known her since she was born.”

  Amos wanted to scream, Oh, cut the crap! You threatened her and told her to keep me away! Instead, he smiled and nodded. “She is. Very. I’ve grown to love her. So I’d really like to ask you some questions, if you’ve got a few minutes.”

  “Certainly. I―”

  “Darling, remember, you have that meeting,” the woman said from behind Amos.

  “That’s not until this afternoon, and I can surely sit for a few minutes and talk with this young man.” The two of them stood and stared at each other for an awkward minute before the woman finally turned and left. Marshall leaned toward Amos and whispered conspiratorially, “Women. Always trying to manage our time. They mean well, but sometimes we’ve just got to go rogue!” Then he laughed.

  “Yes, sir. I think that’s right.”

  “Have a seat. Would you like anything?”

  “Oh, no thank you, sir.” Amos dropped into one of the leather armchairs. “I wanted to talk to you about Dorinda Blackmon.”

  Marshall sat down and almost disappeared into the big desk chair. “Of course, when I think of her, I think Wilkerson. That’s how I knew her most of her life.”

  “Yes, sir. So I’ve talked to your sons and―”

  “My sons.” Marshall sighed deeply. “I suppose they told you I killed her.”

  “They’ve certainly suggested that, sir.”

  “After all this time, they’re still so grief-stricken that they can’t believe it wasn’t me, but it wasn’t, Agent Fletcher. I didn’t kill Dorinda.”

  Time to drop the bomb, Amos told himself. “Not even to hide her relationship with your sons?”

  He wasn’t sure what reaction he’d expected, but it wasn’t the one he got. “Yes, her relationship with my sons. A thing most people would have a hard time with. What about you, Agent Fletcher? How did it strike you?”

  Amos shrugged. “I dabbled in three-ways when I was in college. Rather enjoyed it, as I recall. I’m not one to judge.”

  “Neither am I, although I can say I’ve never done that. Lucy is the only woman with whom I’ve ever been intimate. I know that’s hard to believe, but it’s true. And when I found out that my three boys were sharing the same woman, that was hard to believe, but I could tell they were the happiest they’d ever been in their entire lives. And I knew Dorinda loved them. In some ways, I was relieved, I suppose. I’d always thought Ainsley was gay. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I just mean, it finally clarified that for me.”

  “But I’m sure that would ruin you politically, if people found out your sons were all sleeping with the same woman, at the same time,” Amos pointed out.

  “Do you know how old I am, young man?”

  “No sir.”

  “I’m eighty-five. At the time Dorinda died, I was seventy-one. At that time, I’d been a senator since I was thirty-one. My wife raised our sons mostly on her own. Many of their firsts, from walking, to talking, to dances, and driving a car, and fishing and hunting? I missed it all. I serve my constituents proudly, Agent Fletcher, but honestly, if people decide they shouldn’t vote for me because of my sons, it’s time for me to go. I don’t care anymore. I’m tired. I was ready to retire when I turned sixty-five, but politics doesn’t work that way. I’d hoped the businesses I funded for them would make enough money that I didn’t have to worry about that part anymore, but two of them went into specialty markets that are more focused on quality than price. The only one who really turns a profit is K-Fabuleuse, and that’s only because of Ainsley playing the odd creative metrosexual, bless his heart. I don’t want one of my sons to go to jail, Agent Fletcher, but whoever killed Dorinda needs to be apprehended, and if that ruins my political career, well, fuck it.”

  Amos’s eyes went wide. Those words seemed so weird coming from that gentleman’s mouth, but he agreed. That length of time was a very long time to work a job so emotionally and mentally demanding. The old gent deserved to be able to fish and spend time with his family. “Sir, if you didn’t do it, and you don’t think your sons did it, who did?”

  Marshall shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve wondered if she was cheating on someone else with them and that person got mad. Otherwise, I have no idea. But I can tell you, I had nothing to do with it. Lawrence and I have known each other for years, and Alice and Lucy were friends. We were hurt when Dorinda died, and then Alice was right behind her. And what happened to Daesha―words can’t even describe. I wish she could find someone who’d truly love her. She’s a wonderful person.”

  “She has,” Amos blurted out without thinking.

  “Really? That’s great! Who?”

  “Um, me, sir.”

  Congressman Kelso gave him a warm smile. “Well, let me tell you, she’s quite a catch. You’re a lucky man. That girl is smart and generous and loving. Are you in love with her?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Then you should ask her to marry you. She’ll make you a good wife.”

  “I’m seriously thinking about it, sir.”

  “Good, good! You tell her I said hello and I wish she’d come visit me. Haven’t seen her or Lawrence in a long time. Maybe I should invite all of you for dinner some evening.”

  “Well, sir …” Amos saw it as a great segue. “She’s having to be especially careful. Someone has threatened her because of the investigation.”

  “Oh, my. I hope you’re taking care of her.”

  “I am.”

  “Good. Well, I don’t know what else I can tell you, except that if I can help in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll be here in town until Congress reconvenes, so I’ll be easily available until then, and after that, if you need me, just contact my office and I’ll come back here if I need to.”

  Amos took that as his cue and stood. “Yes, sir. Thank you. And I appreciate your time.”

  “You’re most welcome. Hope to see you again sometime under better circumstances. Maybe at a wedding?” he said and winked.

  Amos let out a little chuckle. “Maybe!”

  “Let me see you out.” Marshall stood and walked with Amos to the front door. On the way, he pointed out some of the architectural features of the house and talked about when it was built. They reached the door, shook hands, and Amos was on his way.

  He drove straight to the office and was glad to see Mack’s car still sitting there. When he reached the office doorway, he stuck his head in. “Got a second?” Mack pointed to a chair and Amos closed the door before he sat down. “I went to see Ainsley Kelso and he spilled his guts. Then I went to see the senator.”

  “And?”

  “I have to tell you, I don’t think he killed Dorinda. I know he’s a politician, and I know they all know how to lie and lie well, but I really don’t think he would do that. The man seemed to adore her. He spoke highly of her and her family, told me I should marry Daesha, wanted us to come to dinner some night. I don’t know who left that note, but I don’t think it was him.”

  “Hmmm.” Mack sat back in his chair and tented his fingers over his mid-section. “So if it wasn’t him, who was it?”

  “I’m guessing one of the brothers, but damned if I can figure out which one.”

  “Gonna have to.”

  “Well, just so you know, if the AG calls again, I did go talk to him, and I don’t think he was the one who called her. He was very, very nice, and
I don’t think I’ll have a need to talk to him again. So I most definitely am not harassing him.”

  “Duly noted. Get on it and see if you can figure this out.”

  “Will do.” It was a tall order, but it was the order of the day, and Amos wasn’t giving up. Not yet anyway.

  “I’ve heard this place is nice.” The Jeep came to a stop in the parking lot and they both got out. Flannery’s Grill & Pub was the band’s gig for the weekend, and it was supposed to be the best night spot in Bardstown. Landing a gig there was quite a coup, and they had, thanks to Greg.

  “I’m glad we’re getting to go back to what we really do. Last weekend was fun, but it was draining. New Country is a lot easier on the body of a thirty-something.”

  “When that thirty-something is as hot as you, it shouldn’t be a problem,” he said and kissed the back of her hand. She just smiled the smile that made his insides melt.

  The evening was great. Jack and Aleta showed up about thirty minutes in. They ordered potato skins, cheese sticks, Swedish meatballs, and boneless wings, and the three of them sat and talked, ate, and laughed as the band played. It was a packed house, but the bartender knew Amos was with Daesha, so he kept their drinks refilled all evening. They stayed until almost midnight and left during one of Daesha’s breaks so they could tell her goodbye.

  At the end of the evening, it was an easy getaway, since the equipment could stay until they broke it down on Saturday night. Hand in hand, Amos and Daesha strolled across the parking lot to the Jeep, but when they got to the passenger side door, Amos could feel his blood pressure skyrocket.

  Both passenger-side tires were flat and, based on the sidewalls, somebody had slashed them. “Son of a bitch!” he muttered.