Limiting Liabilities: Book Two - The Martinique Files

by Colette Alaine

  Billy is notorious for focusing solely on the case and leaving his emotions out of it. He often does the same with his relationships. He focuses on getting what he wants from the poor girl madly in love with him then drops her when she wants more than a casual affair. Being with Tawny and dating her for a short period has forced him to see the error of his ways. Well, a little of the error. He still does not understand how bad he really is but Tawny hopes time will cure him.

  “The case is most important and if you get too involved in the personal aspect of what’s going wrong your emotions will lead you astray. I still believe that sentiment but I guess I’ve seen more in the last cases that involve human tragedy and it’s affected me some.” Billy realizes he is opening up more than ever before.

  “Thank goodness. I was afraid you might not be human at all.” Ken can jostle Billy and get away with it. “Don’t become too much like Billy, Nick. You don’t want to lose all your heart.”

  “I have a heart,” Billy insists.

  “You just don’t let it feel very much,” Ken continues to badger his attorney.

  Billy takes a drink of his wine. “You’re the sentimental one. I have to keep things on track.”

  “True, I do get emotional when I see people hurting. Tawny and I are the same in that regard. But we do a fine job of staying organized. You need to open up a little.” Ken gently but firmly reminds him who is in charge.

  “I’ll hang around Tawny more and that should make me a regular marshmallow,” Billy fires back but only gets powerful stares in response. He knows he has to back pedal. “I’m not saying Tawny’s a cry baby, only that her emotions are prevalent in why she’s involved in a case. It’s not bad. It’s the way it is though.”

  “I don’t want to be someone with a heart of stone. Or a black heart,” Tawny retorts.

  “I don’t mean it that way.” Despite being pulverized, it is clear Billy is still sure of himself. “I do feel for some people. I could do better, I admit.”

  “If you don’t notice other people’s pain then what kind of person are you? We’re all human beings that can feel physical pain and emotional strife. It doesn’t matter where you live or what your experiences are or who you are because we all have these things in common.” Now Tawny is on her soapbox and is not afraid to let go. “We can try to push them out and replace them with a coldness and even brutality but deep down very few of us are as vicious as we appear. We’re acting out because we’re missing something in our lives and the anger, grief and loneliness appear in different disguises. As time goes on and there isn’t any relief or release, those low emotions overtake the goodness and stifle charity.”

  “You would’ve made a good social worker, Tawny. I mean that in the best way. You have too much heart to be an attorney. Our work can be cold at times. We have to examine the facts of the case and keep our emotions out of it.” Billy may be attracted to her softer side but he knows the reality.

  “I think the law can be very cold and isolated, it’s true, but I also believe that the way I respond is to examine the facts but not forget about the human side of what’s happening. I feel like that is all inclusive and not just about what’s tangible and in front of your face.” In the relatively short time she has been an attorney, Tawny realizes how cold corporate business and litigation can make a person. She does not plan to fall into that trap. She has feelings and has no intention of hiding them.

  “Tawny’s right Billy, you can have heart in these cases. The tragedies are right in front of you.” Ken points out what Billy can see if he just widens his view of the situations of his cases.

  “The pirates are a perfect example. What they knew and wanted to pass on to their children was stolen from them. They still want to provide and survive but the circumstances have turned their hearts and now they see others as objects to be conquered. Their hearts have turned and it’s about the money and their pride now.” Tawny tries to defend one aspect of their miserable lives.

  “What they’re doing is completely wrong.” Billy does not give up the argument. “Not only because they’re stealing but because they’re causing havoc for everyone. Even pleasure cruises have to be aware of becoming targets.”

  “Of course what they are doing is wrong. I never said it wasn’t. I only stated that poverty, grief and loneliness can help anyone justify the bad they’re doing. After doing bad over and over it gets really easy to forget what is good. The money becomes a drug and probably the adventure, too. But then they’re caught or killed and now it’s no longer a game or something to make a buck. Now it’s their lives.” Tawny is controlling the conversation much to Nick’s demise.

  “But they still know right from wrong.” Billy is not giving up the fight just yet. He loves sparring with Tawny, even though he usually winds up learning a lesson and losing the argumentative edge.

  “Yes, but they get in too deep and they can justify the wrong. The right disappears when it doesn’t get them anywhere. I would think it bothers the old fishermen when they watch what their sons have to do to survive. Then again maybe that makes them angrier at the system that forces them to steal and blackens their hearts even more.” Again, Tawny attempts to get into the heads and hearts of people she does not know but with whom she sympathizes.

  “It would be tough to have to leave your lifelong profession, take your sons with you and go pilfer innocent people to make ends meet, I suppose,” Billy concedes.

  “See if you think about it in human terms, it’s easier to care for these people instead of resorting to hating them and condemning them.” Tawny makes her point.

  “I’ll try harder to remember the human elements of the cases but in the meantime, I’m happy to hear that the lab is functioning once again. I hope it yields some great finds that help mankind more than I have.” Billy lifts his glass almost as a toast but mostly to change the subject.

  “That’s not too difficult.” The comment almost slips out of Nick’s mouth too easily. It is apparent to all that he is appalled at himself for saying it but the damage is done. Billy becomes immensely silent and the evening ends soon afterwards.

  Nick cannot stop apologizing but Billy really never excuses him. Their leader becomes introspective and Tawny wonders if he is thinking how others must perceive him. Ken too seems to notice the change and decides he is ready for bed. It’s been a long day.

  Tawny is excited to get home before midnight but as she reaches her car Nick joins her. He is scared to death that he has jeopardized his partnership. He never counters Billy. They are two of a kind; at least Nick tries to be like his mentor. What happened tonight shows that you cannot hide your true colors, especially when you’re covering up heartfelt emotions. Nick has a heart but has tried to let go of his feelings to either appease Billy or to avoid Billy’s hostility. Tonight the alcohol acted as truth serum and Nick spoke honestly but harshly. It was that purity of speech that caught Billy off guard. Truly, Billy’s had a rougher night than Nick.

  Tawny stays to calm down Nick. She is not really sure how Billy will react but she hopes it is favorable. Nick has been in her corner most of the time, although he has not made it a secret he is not happy that Tawny is on this case. In the end, Nick goes home to his wife and he will have to find out if he suffered any damage in the morning when Billy arrives at the office.

  This second night out with Ken and the boys keeps her from getting home until almost midnight. It is going to be a short night. Trying desperately hard not to wake Jaclyn, she tiptoes around the kitchen. To her surprise she hears a key in the door. Grabbing the butcher knife, she is ready to greet whoever is coming through the door.

  “Put that away! It’s just me.” Jaclyn’s eyes grow wide as she opens the door and flips on the light.

  “I thought you were home already.”

  “I thought the same thing about you.”

  “I was having a very late dinner with our client and Billy. Nick joined us.” Tawny informs her as she replaces the knife in the butcher
block.

  “Poor Nick. Getting left out of all the big cases.” Jaclyn mimics her roommate and closes the door.

  Tawny joins Jaclyn in the living room. “Tonight he was different than I’ve ever seen him. He said the dumbest stuff. He wasn’t prepared at all. That’s not like him. He tried to over talk everyone.”

  “Even Billy?” According to Tawny, Nick is Billy’s boy and will not do anything to ruffle his feathers.

  “And Ken.”

  “He’s nervous.” Jaclyn decides she knows the problem.

  “Maybe. They’ve made him wait for his partnership and he’s probably on pins and needles. He drank more than any of us. I think he decided to let loose but picked the wrong night to do it.” Tawny has other ideas.

  Jaclyn drops her purse to the floor. “And the wrong venue. He should’ve gone out with his friends or his wife and drank. Not his boss and the biggest client.”

  “He’s so stressed out. I hope Billy doesn’t do anything to him. He’s gotta know that Nick’s feeling badly about what he said.” Tawny’s concern is evident. “Hey, what are you doing home so late on a work night?”

  “Weeelll, I had a date.” Jaclyn is coy.

  “A first date?”

  She shakes her head. “No.”

  “Second date?”

  “No.”

  “It’s midnight!” Tawny throws up her arms. “I need to get to bed so I can get up in six hours. Are you gonna tell me or what?”

  “I was out last night, too. And two nights before that.” Jaclyn comes clean.

  “With who?”

  “Eric.”

  “Really? That’s great.” Tawny plops down on the sofa. “Just the two of you finally.”

  “Yeah. When we went out that Friday night, you know when you and Jay were along, well we realized that the two of you were only going out because of us.” Tawny smiles. “Neither one of you was having much fun so we decided to figure this out with just the two of us and not drag you or Jay into it.”

  “Jay and I were having problems finding stuff to talk about. He’s okay but I’m not interested and he’s only looking at me as his sex buddy. I’m not gonna be his SB or anybody’s. Mostly, I’m so happy for you. You should’ve told me,” Tawny chastises her best friend and roommate for not being completely open with her.

  “I wanted to make sure. You know how fast I fall for guys and none of them want me.” Jaclyn is finally facing her inappropriate behavior.

  “That’s not true, Jaclyn. I mean, yes, you do fall fast sometimes but it’s only because you push too hard that they back away. So many guys like you. You needed to slow down and I really like Eric. He’s fun and nice. You two make a cute couple.”

  Jaclyn grins from ear to ear. She has been dying to tell Tawny but her roommate has been so busy. “I think so.”

  “I’m so happy you’ve finally found someone to date. Maybe he’s the permanent guy you’ve been trying to find.” Jaclyn appreciated Tawny’s consoling words when all her past, short-term relationships have fizzled.

  “You may have to spend more time with Jay when we do get-togethers,” Jaclyn warns her.

  Tawny grabs a throw pillow and hugs it. “Hopefully, one of us will meet someone and will have a date so we don’t have to pretend to want to be with each other.”

  Jaclyn dances around the room a bit and it is evident she is very happy. “I think we’ll be spending time alone together so you won’t have to deal with Jay too much.”

  “You were out last night? Were you home when I got home?” Tawny changes the subject after realizing she may have been quiet for no reason.

  “Noooo.” Jaclyn’s grin widens as she singsongs the word.

  “Did you come home at all?”

  “Yes. I got here about three in the morning. I was gonna call in sick, but I was so wired. It was one of my best days at the boutique. Jake was thrilled. I sold over three hundred thousand dollars’ worth of jewelry in five hours. It was a record.” Jaclyn twirls at revealing her news to her roommate.

  “It’s all coming together for you and I’m thrilled. You deserve a good man in your life. I think Eric is great guy.” Jaclyn knows Tawny is sincere. Eric is by far the best guy she’s dated in years.

  “I do like him a lot.”

  Tawny tosses the pillow to the edge of the sofa. “Now I have to go to bed. You can dream about Eric and I’m going to dream about chromium 6.”

  “I’ll stay far away from your bedroom. What is chromium 6?”

  “Hexavalent chromium. It’s a cancer causing toxin.”

  “So sexy,” Jaclyn replies sarcastically and heads toward her own room.

  CHAPTER 9

  T he next night is another late one for Jaclyn. She told Eric that it has been a long time since she dated someone seriously. Always hoping to find the perfect man, she mostly found guys who are more interested in a quickie with her or a chance to get to know Tawny. Jaclyn waited years for a man who is genuine and she thinks Eric is true to himself.

  Jay and Eric are good friends from college, but they are not much alike. Jay is a player and Eric is looking for love. . .eventually. Not actively seeking a woman but living with Jay he knows he does not want Jay’s life. Jay does not really know what he wants. He jumps from girl to girl and spends next to no time getting to know any of them. He is a good looking guy and he goes for the pretty girls.

  Eric is not anxious to find love. It will come when the time is right and he is not going to rush it. When he met Jaclyn last year at a bar, it was really Jay who wanted to meet Tawny and Eric went along for the ride as he usually does when the girl Jay is pursuing is out with her friend. Since Jaclyn is Tawny’s friend, it means Eric will try to get to know her as long as Jay is still in pursuit. After spending the evening with her, he decides Jaclyn is nice but a little too eager. Despite her over attentiveness, however, there is something about her that Eric cannot forget.

  Eric persuades Jay to go with him to a Mexican restaurant party that Jaclyn invites him to join. He has not heard from her since the night they met and it is a surprise to get her call. He decides to say yes just to make sure there isn’t something between them he is missing. The evening proves to be enlightening. Jaclyn is not the same overzealous girl he met in the bar. She is so much calmer and it certainly attracts him.

  Eric calls Jaclyn and invites both she and Tawny out with he and Jay. Jay figures he will give the sexy siren another shot but she still is not interested. Tawny is too serious for his taste. Not so with Eric. Jaclyn has this quality about her that he cannot forget. She is high energy. She loves deeply and she is loyal. She is a bit envious of Tawny but then her roommate does live life on a silver platter.

  Jaclyn is a tomboy living in a world of beautiful gems. Besides being an awesome salesperson, she loves helping people feel good and jewelry makes most people happy. They either buy it for a loved one or they buy it for themselves to feel good and to look good. No one leaves a jewelry store in a bad mood. The shiny pieces put everyone in a happy state of mind.

  Eric is drawn to her personality and to her heart. He is much quieter than she is but it is a refreshing change to be with someone who loves life. She calms down after the initial greeting. After half an hour of being together, she is comfortable and opens up without overpowering him. Her excitement is infectious.

  Eric notices that Jaclyn overcompensates whenever Tawny is around just to make certain that people realize she is there. It became the issue for him whenever the four of them were together. Jaclyn assumes that Eric is watching Tawny and she wants his attention. So she over talks, flirts too much and makes herself look a little foolish at times. Now that he is spending time alone with her, all that pretense disappears.

  Discovering the real Jaclyn is so satisfying. He knew there was something about her that attracted him but he could not quite grasp it while she was pretending not to care that Tawny got all the attention. Since the attention is on Jaclyn now, Eric likes this girl more than ever. It will be a
while before Jay and Tawny are invited out with them again.

  Three late nights this week with Jaclyn are killing him at work the next day. It is hard to be without her. They have so much fun together and the two of them can talk forever. They never run out of topics to discuss. So the evening stretches into the night before she goes home. She does not have to be at work until nine-thirty but his day starts at eight. Four hours of sleep just is not cutting it.

  Yawning as he enters the metal shop, a pile of work is waiting for him on his desk. Wanting to close his office door and take a nap, he is almost tempted until he sees his boss, Will Dawson, the director of the plant. Shouting at a worker who has been consistently late, Eric knows getting to work right away is the better plan.

  Being younger than most everyone in the plant, Eric knows the business well. A car enthusiast, he has been around every type of vehicle that runs. If it has a motor, Eric has been in it and juiced it up. He is a sucker for a shiny set of hubcaps or decorative hood ornament so it is no surprise he got into the electroplating business.

  His plant is one of the largest in Chicago and chrome plates everything that can be plated. Kitchen and bathroom piping, faucets and auto parts are the biggest product areas but ‘Chicago Electroplating Corp’ dabbles in other sects as well.

  Eric started as a lower level assistant five years ago, right out of college. Will noticed his hard work and his enthusiasm and when his own assistant died from lung cancer a year ago, he decided to take a risk and hire Eric to replace him. It has been the best decision Will could have ever made . . .for Will. Eric takes a lot of flak for being so young but he handles himself with the dignity of an Assistant Director and the employees comply. Let them say what they will behind his back as long as they follow his orders.

  Will is an old codger and does not always play by the rules. He singularly decides which rules apply to him and which ones he can bypass. He has been with the shop for so long the owners have pretty much let him do as he pleases. ‘Chicago Electroplating Corp’ does quite well. While the money continues to flow, no one checks up on Will.