Tempted by the Badge

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  Mingus leaned to whisper in her ear. “Breathe...”

  The two exchanged a look as she took a deep breath.

  Principal Donato was the first person to step to the podium, adjusting the microphone before she spoke.

  “Good evening! My name is Valentina Donato and I am the principal at Riptide High School. But I am here tonight to also speak as a parent and member of the community who supports Joanna Barnes. As principal, I hired Ms. Barnes to come teach at Riptide High School. I still believe that was a wise decision. She came to Riptide and immediately meshed with the community. She distinguished herself. She is an outstanding person, someone who has worked with me very closely, and who I feel very strongly about. She has served as a constant to staff and students during difficult times. As a parent, my experience with Joanna is that she is consistent and fair in her discipline with both students and teachers. Honest, stable and dependable are words that come to mind when I think of Joanna.

  “Her dedication to the school and love of the students is without question. She is part of the fabric of our school and our community. To have that ripped from us, when the allegations against her have yet to be substantiated, is truly unconscionable. I hope the board will consider her past performance records and her admonishments of her innocence in their decision. Thank you.”

  Principal Donato’s statement was met with applause as she returned to her seat.

  Angel muttered under her breath, “Well, now! I guess I’m eating a little crow tonight!”

  Joanna smiled, nodding her head as she wiped a tear from her eye.

  A parent at the high school was called next to the podium. “Thank you. First, I’d like to thank the board members for this opportunity. Although I can appreciate Principal Donato supporting one of her own, I fear that the moral fabric of our society is being taken to task. What message do we send our children to allow a predator to remain in the classroom and on the public payroll?”

  The next five speakers espoused personal and religious opinions about child abuse, personal experiences and public safety within the classroom. Two additional persons extolled Joanna’s résumé, insisting that her exemplary career path be a factor in any decision. They exalted her academic degrees in education leadership and management. Others questioned her integrity and professionalism. It was a mixed bag of opinions serving only to assuage public trepidation about what they did and did not know about the case and the charges.

  The president of the local chapter of the NAACP was the last to speak on Joanna’s behalf. “At a time when we need more minority role models in our public school system, this is not the time to perform a career assassination on one of the best minority teachers we have,” he said to applause and hecklings. “We will stand with Joanna Barnes, believing her innocent until proven guilty,” he said of the NAACP, “and not hope, but demand that her termination be rescinded.”

  As the distinguished gentleman walked off, he paused for a moment to shake hands with members of the crowd. It was only then that Joanna and Mingus both saw her parents, her mother expressing her gratitude to the man for the kind words he had spoken on her daughter’s behalf. Joanna hadn’t spoken to either since the day she’d been arrested and the argument with her mother had sent her parents storming out of her home.

  Three hours had passed from the first comment to the last, some forty-plus persons having expressed an opinion or a concern. When John Talley declared the meeting concluded, slamming his gavel against the table, a loud rumble filled the room, the noise level rising exponentially.

  Mingus leaned over to whisper into her ear a second time. “Go talk to your parents. I’ll be right back to get you.” Then he kissed her cheek, stood and followed the crowd toward the exit doors.

  Angel grinned. “So are you two a thing now?”

  Amusement danced in Joanna’s heart as she gave her friend a slight shrug. “We’re still getting to know each other,” she said. “I don’t know if you can call us a thing, yet.”

  “Well you two are definitely something,” Angel said with a soft giggle. “And I like it. Whatever it is, I like it a lot.”

  Joanna shook her head and laughed with her friend. “Let it go, Angel! Mingus and I are just friends.”

  “Friends with benefits, I hope!”

  Joanna gave her a look. “I hope so, too!”

  Both women came to their feet, easing into the aisle. They slipped past people going in the opposite direction, trying to reach her parents, who were still standing at the front of the room. The trek was made challenging by people stopping to express their support and the one or two who felt it necessary to give her a piece of their mind. When she finally made it to the front of the room, Joanna’s father greeted her with a heavy bear hug, squeezing her so tightly that Joanna could barely breathe.

  “I need air, Daddy,” she gasped as she hugged him back.

  Her father laughed. “I just needed to make sure my baby girl was okay. You are okay?”

  Joanna nodded. “I’m really good,” she said.

  “We been worried about you. You should’ve called us.”

  “I’m sorry, but it’s been a rough week.”

  “That’s no excuse, Joanna,” her father admonished. “You really need to do better.”

  “Yes, sir. I really am sorry.”

  Behind her, Angel waved. “Hi, Mr. Barnes! How are you, sir?”

  “Doing as well as can be expected, Ms. Graves. How have you been?”

  “Very well, sir.”

  “And your parents? We haven’t seen them in a while. I do hope they are well?”

  “Yes, sir, they are doing exceptionally well. Traveling a lot. They’re on an Alaskan cruise as we speak!”

  “That’s some good news! Please tell them hello from me the next time you speak with them.”

  Joanna’s mother suddenly pushed her way to her husband’s side. She greeted both women politely, reaching to kiss Joanna’s cheek. “I wasn’t sure we were going to see you here,” she said.

  “I wasn’t sure I was going to come,” Joanna responded.

  “It’s good you did. You cannot let these people bully you into hiding. You haven’t done anything wrong. You hold your head up.”

  “So now you believe me?” Joanna responded, a hint of attitude in her tone.

  “Don’t start, Joanna,” her father snapped. “Your mother is trying.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that,” she said, contrition spinning with her words.

  Her mother gave her a nod and wrapped her arms around her daughter’s shoulders. “Apology accepted. And I hope you can forgive me, as well. I wasn’t doubting you the other day, but I did not do a good job of explaining myself. I just hope you know that I love you.”

  “I do, and I love you, too.”

  Mrs. Barnes turned and gave Angel a look. “Ms. Graves, who is that handsome young man I saw you and Joanna sitting with?”

  Angel’s eyes widened as she shot Joanna a look. “He’s a friend of Joanna’s, Mrs. Barnes. His name’s Mingus Black.”

  For a second Joanna’s mother looked stunned. “Joanna, that’s the same young man we met at your house the other night?”

  Joanna shook her head. “Yes, Mother.”

  “The private investigator working for the law firm? Simone’s brother?”

  “One and the same.”

  “Oh, my goodness! Doesn’t he clean up nicely!”

  “You say that like there was something wrong with the way he was dressed before.”

  Her mother continued. “Not at all. He just looks so nice in a suit!”

  “I’m sure he’ll appreciate the compliment. I’ll be sure to pass it on,” Joanna said as she rolled her eyes skyward.

  “So why is he here?” Mrs. Barnes questioned.

  “I guess he’s doing what everyone else here is doing,
Mother. There are no restrictions on community concerns,” she said snidely.

  The Barnes matriarch’s gaze narrowed as she looked from her daughter to Angel and back. “Well, at least he comes from a good family,” she muttered.

  Joanna nodded. “Because that’s definitely important.” Her words dripped with sarcasm.

  Her mother bristled ever so slightly. “I really don’t want to fight with you, Joanna.”

  “I wasn’t trying to pick a fight, Mother. I really wasn’t. It’s just that sometimes—”

  Mr. Barnes interjected. “I think you two should just hug and wish each other good-night and we can pick this conversation up at dinner next week.”

  “I’m not sure...” Joanna started.

  “It’s not optional,” her father stated. “I expect to see you at dinner in the next five to seven days. You decide which day.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Ms. Graves, as always, it’s been a pleasure. Please do take care and we hope to see you again soon.” Mr. Barnes shook the woman’s hand.

  “I could always come for dinner, too,” Angel joked.

  “Not funny,” Joanna muttered. “You are so not funny, Angel.”

  Angel laughed. “Just trying to lighten the mood!”

  Mr. Barnes winked at the two women and gave his daughter one last hug. Mrs. Barnes reached out to adjust the collar of Joanna’s jacket, brushing her shoulder gently as if to move a shard of lint. She gave her child one last kiss and a hug before making her exit. The couple headed toward the door together.

  “She never quits,” Joanna said, tossing up her hands. “If it’s not one thing, it’s another.”

  “You can be a little hard on her,” Angel interjected. “But that’s just my opinion.”

  Joanna sighed. “I really don’t mean to be such a pain. But she’s been pushing my buttons since I was sixteen.”

  “I won’t say your mother’s ways aren’t a little funny sometimes, but she loves you and she’s being the best mother she knows how to be. You need to give her some slack. Just a little.”

  “You know she’s going to find a million and one things wrong with Mingus, right?”

  Angel laughed. “Hell, she wouldn’t be your mother if she didn’t!”

  * * *

  Mingus followed the lawyer into the men’s restroom. He and the other man both stood at the urinals pretending to ignore each other and everyone else in the room. Mingus moved to the sink to wash his hands first. Frank Sumpter followed just minutes later, both men heading out the door at the same time.

  Back out in the hallway John Talley stood waiting for Sumpter to return. His eager expression was almost comical. Mingus moved off to the side, pretending to be waiting for someone else to join him. He pretended to scroll through his cell phone, angling his body just enough to put both men in his view. He stood eavesdropping on their conversation, the two stepping behind a half wall to obscure them from view.

  “It’s almost a done deal,” John said enthusiastically.

  “Whatever you do, it needs to happen soon,” Sumpter responded.

  “All the board members received a copy of the proposal. I’m calling a special meeting for us to discuss it next week.”

  “There’s over one hundred million dollars on the line here. We need that property,” Sumpter said, his voice dropping an octave.

  “You’ll get it! I assure you. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “I’m not the one who needs to be worried. If you want your money, then you make this happen. Screw this up and there will be hell to pay for all of us.”

  Sumpter adjusted his suit jacket, buttoning the single button closed, then he turned and disappeared out the door. Talley looked around, seeming uneasy, then he, too, turned back toward the conference room.

  Mingus waited until they were both out of earshot and then pulled his cell phone from his pocket and placed a call to his office. When his secretary answered, he barked out orders. “Get me everything you can on the Tower Group. I also need a complete dossier on a man associated with their firm. His name is Frank Sumpter. And I needed it yesterday.”

  Chapter 13

  Something between them had shifted and even in the silence, which had previously been only slightly awkward and very comfortable, both Mingus and Joanna could feel it. There was a current of energy that wafted like a cool breeze between them. It was energizing and draining, honest and deceptive, heated and calming. They allowed themselves to relax in it one minute and sat uneasy in the midst of it the next.

  Both had questions but neither was interested in shifting the mood. The balance they’d established had been regained and no one wanted to upset the cart and turn things over. For the moment everything between them felt good and neither Mingus nor Joanna saw any reason to ruin it.

  “Dinner? Are you hungry?” Mingus asked.

  “I could actually eat,” Joanna answered. “I was too nervous to eat anything earlier.”

  “Is there anything in particular that you have a taste for?”

  Joanna shook her head no. “I’m easy,” she said. “We could grab a Happy Meal from McDonald’s and I’d be good with it.”

  “I don’t do Happy Meals,” Mingus said with a soft chuckle. “I need a real meal.”

  Joanna smiled. “What’s your favorite food?”

  “Meat.”

  She laughed. “Just meat, not a particular meat? You’re not a chicken man?”

  “I like great food and I like it simple. It doesn’t need to be fancy or have a lot of stuff with it. Grill me a steak, fry me some chicken, give me a burger and I am a happy camper. I loved your spaghetti because it was simple. Just pasta and meat sauce.”

  “Well, I’m not picky, so you choose. Whatever you have a taste for, I am good with.”

  Mingus nodded. He made a sharp right turn and then a quick left. It took less than ten minutes for him to pull up to what appeared to be a deserted street. There was a row of abandoned buildings and a few parked cars lined the street. Exiting, Mingus rounded the front of the vehicle to the passenger side and opened the door. He extended his hand to help her out, leading her to the door of an old brick structure, Passing through the entrance, they headed down a flight of well-worn steps to a second door. The ornate entrance was painted a vibrant shade of glossy red with a heavy gold knocker. Three knocks and Mingus waited for someone on the other side to open the door and let them in. A doorman looked Mingus up and down before allowing him entry.

  “What’s up?” Mingus said as he and the man slapped palms and gave each other a fist bump. “My brother around?”

  “Nah, man! Haven’t seen him around here tonight. You need him?”

  Mingus shook his head. “No. I’m good.”

  The man gave Joanna a nod. “Good evening, ma’am.”

  Joanna gave him a smile back. “How are you?”

  He nodded and then pointed them toward a third door at the end of a short corridor.

  Mingus pressed a warm palm to the small of her back and guided her through the entrance. As the third door closed behind them, Joanna stared in awe. The space was a complete surprise. The clublike atmosphere was unexpected, the lighting was low and slightly seductive. The oak-paneled walls were polished to a high shine and looked like an expensive old library. Tables were neatly arranged around a dance floor and there was a full bar against a side wall. An eclectic mix of adults filled the room, everyone seeming to be having a good time. The staff greeted Mingus warmly, calling him by name. Mingus guided her to a rear table, pulling out a chair for her and then taking a seat for himself.

  “This is so cool! What is this place?” Joanna asked as she settled in her seat.

  “Welcome to Peace Row,” Mingus answered. “It’s a membership only establishment for law enforcement officers. My brother the cop owns it. He designed it specifically for oth
er cops to give them their own space to hang out and relax.”

  “And nepotism gets you through the door?”

  Mingus laughed. “Nepotism and my former police badge.”

  “I keep forgetting you used to be a police officer. You never did tell me why you left the force.”

  Mingus shrugged, pushing his shoulders toward the ceiling. “It was no specific reason, just a culmination of bad experiences. I didn’t always follow orders and there were times when I needed to do things a little underhandedly to catch the bad guys. It was easier to leave the police force than risk doing something that would sully my family name.”

  “Your family is very important to you, aren’t they?”

  “They are. They’re everything.”

  “I don’t have any siblings, but I get it. I just wish my relationship with my mother wasn’t so contentious. It’s like the minute we’re in a room together things go left.”

  “How much of that has to do with you?”

  Before Joanna could answer a waitress dressed in black slacks and a black turtleneck moved to the table and dropped a bottle of Corona with a wedge of lime to the tabletop. “Good evening, Mr. Black! How are you tonight?”

  “I’m very well, Brenda. How about you?”

  “I’m good, sir. Thank you for asking.” She shifted her gaze to Joanna. “What would you like to drink, ma’am?”

  “Can I get a shot of Hennessy, please?”

  The young woman nodded. “I’ll bring that right over,” she said as she turned toward the bar.

  “Thank you.”

  Joanna settled in her seat. The atmosphere was completely relaxing. The waitress delivered her order and promptly excused herself. Joanna savored the first sip and blew a sigh of relief. “So, tell me, where did you disappear to after the meeting?”

  Mingus swallowed a sip of his beverage. “The lawyer from the Tower Group—”

  She interrupted. “The one that didn’t get to speak?”

  He nodded. “Yes. I recognized him from the strip club and I wanted to see who he talked to before he left.”