“I haven’t committed a crime,” Jackson shot back.
“Then we shouldn’t have any problems.”
“Cadence can’t know what I’m about to tell you.”
“Alright,” he responded in a concerned tone. “She won’t hear anything from me.”
“Thank you,” Jackson uttered, releasing a heavy sigh. “I’m just trying to protect her the best way I know how,” he said, clearing his throat, then whispered, “I believe Detective O’Brien was behind our car accident.”
“So do I.”
Jackson damn near dropped the phone.
“I need absolute proof before I can bring it to the court.”
“Did you see the footage from the accident?”
“Yes. It’s not enough and can be easily disputed since Detective O’Brien never shows his face to the camera,” Knox said. “It would be our word against his.”
“What about the witnesses?” Jackson inquired, thinking back to that day. “They got a good look at him.”
“I’d rather not involve innocent civilians; besides, I have someone on the case.”
“Can you trust this person?” Jackson asked with legit skepticism. “My faith in law enforcement is cellophane thin.”
“He’s the best,” Knox responded; a confident air was in his tone. “Detective Xavier Carter is my go-to guy, especially when infiltrating gangs and dirty cops. He knows how to stay under the radar and can adapt to any situation. He reports to me, and only me, regarding this investigation.”
“That’s good,” Jackson whispered, walking the length of the short hall, and peeking into the nursery to see if Cadence was still asleep. He pulled the door closed, then reentered his bedroom. “Again, between you and me. My wife can never know that asshole tried to kill us.”
Chapter 12
“Long time, no hear,” Cadence said into the receiver, closing the laptop. “What’s it been … three weeks?”
“Unfortunately,” Knox replied with an uneasy chuckle. “And I believe the phrase is long time, no see.”
“I know what I said,” she shot back, pushing the laptop away from the edge and placing her elbows on the kitchen table. “Please tell me you’re calling with good news.”
“Well …”
“That doesn’t sound promising.”
“I finally have access to my office.”
“Why didn’t you lead with that?” Cadence chided him. “That’s great news.”
“I wish it was,” Knox countered. “I can’t help but feel hoodwinked.” He paused for a moment. “It took them three weeks to turn up nothing. No fingerprints. No evidence. The security cameras were scrubbed clean. Nothing.”
Cadence’s head dropped into the palm of her hands.
“This was merely a stall tactic on the crime scene investigator’s part,” Knox remarked in a low voice. “The order had to come from the top of the food chain.”
“But why?”
“We’re going after corruption in the police department,” Knox explained. “It’s too soon after the Van Dyke case. They want this to go away.”
“What does that mean for me?” Cadence asked, lifting her head. “I don’t get the justice I deserve. Braelyn’s murder goes unsolved and the detective that helped orchestrate the cover-up, gets off unscathed?”
“I know this is frustrating, but don’t give up on me,” Knox pleaded. “We have one week left.”
“Fuck this shit.” She banged the table with her fist. “I brought my family back here and put them in danger, for what?”
“Hang with me, Cadence,” Knox implored. “Are you still willing to testify?”
“Yes.”
“Mama Cee, come on,” Jackie said, running into the kitchen. “You said I could go see Caden today.”
“One minute, Jackie,” she responded, covering the phone. “Go finish up your room, and then we’ll be on our way.”
Jackie gave Cadence a quick peck on the cheek, then ran down the hall and stomped up the stairs.
“You take care of your family and baby Caden,” Knox said. “I’ll be in touch. I have some investigating of my own to do.”
“I can’t believe this shit.” Cadence fumed, disconnecting the call and sliding the phone across the kitchen table.
“What happened?” Jackson asked, rounding the corner and entering the room in a pair of basketball shorts and a soaked tank top with a towel draped over his shoulder.
“After all this time, Knox was let back into his office, only to be in a worse predicament than when he started the investigation.” Cadence leaned back into the chair. “We have nothing.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Jackson said, peeling off the tank top, and wiping his face, neck, and chest with the towel.
“I’m so mad I could cry.”
Jackson walked over and kneaded her shoulders. “Something’s going to turn up. It just has to.”
“I hope you’re right.” Cadence sighed, resting her head against Jackson’s washboard abs.
He bent over and kissed her lips. “I’m about to jump in the shower so that we can get out of here. You wanna join me?”
“Why do you keep torturing yourself?” she teased, reaching back and squeezing Jackson’s firm behind. “It’s only been three weeks, Sir. You still can’t have none.”
“I know,” he whined, sliding his hands over her breasts. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t pleasure you.”
“Jackie will never meet her little brother if we do that.”
“I’ll be quick,” Jackson countered, his tone throaty and heavy.
“The lies you tell.” Cadence grinned, pushing him back so she could touch his manhood. “You’re already aroused.”
Jackson’s eyes pleaded with hers.
Cadence stood, then glanced toward the kitchen entryway as she backed Jackson into the walk-in pantry. She closed the door, positioning him against it, then slid his shorts down until they pooled around his ankles.
Five minutes later, Jackson was singing her name off-key, holding onto the shelves while struggling to remain on his feet.
She fixed his shorts, then went on her tippy-toes and kissed him. “You good?” she asked, nibbling his bottom lip.
“Mmmm hmmm,” he groaned, gazing at her with hooded eyes. “You’re the best.”
“I know,” she purred, licking her lips. “Now, go take your shower.”
Jackson hadn’t gotten out of the kitchen good, before Cadence flipped open her laptop, retrieved the phone, and called Steven.
“Hi, Cadence,” Steven answered in a chipper voice. “I’m surprised to hear from you. Is Jackie nagging you as much as my kids are hounding me about getting together?”
“She’s been eager to spend time with them again,” Cadence said, opening the company email. “We’re all family, and she needs to know you and her cousins better, as well as your wife.”
“They did hit it off pretty well while we decorated the nursery,” he replied. “Deb brought us food every day during her lunch break. She loves Jackie just as much as I do. Maybe we can set up a play date at Odyssey Fun World or take them bowling, all of us as a family.”
“That can be arranged once I’m up and moving about. I spend my days at the hospital with Caden.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Great,” Cadence said, and she could feel the corners of her lips turn upward in a smile. “He’s gained a pound and is eating about three ounces every three to four hours. The doctors are happy with his progress.”
“That’s fantastic.”
Cadence scrolled through old work emails. “Hey––– can you send me the quarterly earnings for the downtown office?”
“Aren’t you on maternity leave?”
“Yeahhhhhh …”
Steven was so quiet that Cadence could hear his thoughts.
“Technically, I’m on leave, that’s why I can’t access any current files.”
If it weren’t for Steven’s name and the running timer on the s
creen to let Cadence know they were still connected, she would’ve thought he’d hung up.
“Full disclosure,” Cadence confessed, scanning through saved emails from four years ago. “I just learned that the ADA’s case against Detective O’Brien is blown, and I need something to keep me busy before I lose my mind.”
“Okay.” He let out a deep sigh. “I’ll send them to my personal email, then forward it to you.”
The phone slipped from Cadence’s hands and slammed onto the table. She rapidly pressed the volume button, then clutched both sides of the laptop and pulled the screen to her ear.
Triumphant tears poured from her eyes.
“I’m ready,” Jackie burst into the kitchen. “Let’s go.”
“Um.” She closed the laptop and placed it on the table. “Daddy’s going to take you,” Cadence said, wiping her face.
“I thought we were going as a family?” Jackie frowned.
“We are,” Jackson said, putting on his coat, glancing over at Cadence.
“Babe–– I’ll meet you there.”
“Go get your coat and wait by the front door,” Jackson instructed, playfully tugging Jackie’s ponytail. “I need to talk to mommy.”
Cadence smiled at Jackie, disappointed that she had to break her daughter’s heart.
Soon as she was out of earshot, Jackson asked, “What’s going on? You know she’s been looking forward to this for weeks.”
“Listen.” Cadence opened the laptop and played the recording.
Jackson ran a hand across his waves. “Is that Detective O’Brien?”
She nodded.
“I didn’t know I still had this,” Cadence explained, grabbing her phone and realized that Steven was still on the line. “Disregard. I’ll call you later.”
“Who was that?”
“It doesn’t matter.” She waved him off, disconnecting the call. “I need to get this to Knox.”
“We can do it on our way back from visiting Caden,” Jackson suggested.
“No,” she argued, sliding the phone in her pocket and gripping the laptop. “I need to do this now. The office will be closed by the time we’re done.”
Jackson glared at Cadence; his lips formed a hard line.
“Please don’t look at me like that. I promise I’ll be there as soon as I’m done,” she assured, retrieving four bottles of breastmilk from the refrigerator and handing them to Jackson.
“We’ll be waiting,” Jackson replied, pecking Cadence on the cheek. “Don’t let her down.”
“I won’t,” she promised, touching his chest. “Thanks for understanding.”
“Let’s hit it, baby girl,” Jackson said as he walked toward the front of the house.
Cadence took a deep breath, checked the time, then called Knox.
“Assistant District Attorney, Aaron Knox speaking.”
How long are you going to be in your office?”
“May I ask with whom I’m speaking?”
“It’s Cadence. Cadence Goldsmith.”
“Slow down, Cadence,” he said, clearing this throat. “Is everything alright?”
“How long are you going to be in your office?” she asked again.
“I was on my way out.”
“Don’t go anywhere,” she demanded, snatching her keys from the counter. “I’m on my way.”
Chapter 13
Cadence drove north, opposite of the rush hour traffic toward the Loop, shaving ten minutes off of what would’ve been a thirty-minute commute. She pulled into the expensive parking garage, grabbed her belongings, then hopped out of her vehicle.
The moment she exited the garage, Cadence stepped into a pool of businessmen and women in suits, heels, briefcases, and AirPods in their ears, moving with a purpose. The atmosphere was all too familiar. Adali Automotive office was two blocks north of the Dirksen Federal Building, where Knox’s office was located.
She strategically maneuvered amongst the people, jogging across the street, wincing with every bounce. Although she’s three weeks postpartum, Cadence had a long way to go before she was completely healed.
Rushing through the revolving glass door, she placed her bag, coat, and purse on the conveyor belt and walked through the body scanner. Cadence anticipated the censor beeping since that seemed to be the new norm whenever she entered a county or federal building, but it hadn’t. Maybe that didn’t occur because this was an impromptu visit.
She rushed to the elevator and pressed the button for the ninth floor.
Her heart raced on the ride up, and it had nothing to do with the exertion from running. Doubt crept into her mind. This was the very place where all the evidence did a Houdini. Maybe she should have asked Knox to meet her somewhere else.
The chime pulled Cadence from her thoughts. She clutched the bag at her side as the steel doors slid open.
“Good afternoon,” she said to the beefy young man with a low fade, sitting behind the information desk. “I have an appointment with ADA Knox.”
“Your name?” he asked, scanning her from head to toe.
She mentally rolled her eyes. Cadence didn’t want to say who she was. No one needed to know she was there.
“Ms. Goldsmith,” she said, glancing down at his name tag. “Rowan, I don’t have an official appointment, but he is expecting me.”
He glanced up at Cadence, then reached for the phone. “I have a Ms. Goldsmith here to see you.”
She hoped this wasn’t a mistake.
“Yes, sir,” Rowan said, then placed the phone on the base. “He’ll be right with you.”
“Thanks,” Cadence replied, moving toward the window, admiring the skyscrapers, and daydreaming about simpler times.
“Ms. Goldsmith,” Knox called out, moving toward her. “It’s good to see you.”
“Thanks for allowing me to come in on such short notice,” Cadence said, shocked by his relaxed appearance, in a pair of black joggers with a matching hoodie and bleached-white sneakers.
“It’s not like you gave me much choice,” he countered, giving her a side-eye. “Walk with me.”
They traveled down a long corridor, stopping in front of a door, manned by two armed guards. Knox pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the deadbolt.
“After you,” he said, gesturing for Cadence to enter.
Knox closed and secured the door, leaving the key in the lock.
She gave the office a thorough once-over. “This looks much different than before.”
“After what happened, I spared no expense,” Knox whispered, leaning in close. “I even installed my own private security cameras that I can access remotely.” He removed an oversized gym bag from the chair in front of his desk. “Please, have a seat.”
Cadence pulled the laptop from her bag, balanced it on her lap, then flipped it open. “I was going through old emails and found this,” she said, pressing the play button: Whatever you think you know about what happened today, you better have fucking amnesia tomorrow when you speak with Officer Douglas. Do I make myself clear? Good. If you’re feeling brave in the morning, just remember, I know where you live.
Knox’s eyeballs bulged from their sockets as he jumped, pumping his fist in the air. “We got him.”
She shared Knox’s enthusiasm. It was time for Detective O’Brien to go down.
“Send this to my personal email,” he instructed, scribbling the address on a yellow legal pad. “I can’t chance anything coming through here.”
“Gotcha.”
“This was undeniably worth missing my pick-up game with the guys,” Knox commented, opening the email on his phone. “I got it.” He paused, glancing at Cadence. “This will all be over soon.”
“At least this part,” Cadence muttered. “Lester’s still out there.”
“It’s just a matter of time until he’s caught,” Knox reassured her. “I can guarantee you; O’Brien will flip on Lester to save his own ass. He’ll use him as a bargaining chip for a reduced sentence.”
“I
hope you’re right,” she countered, closing the laptop and placing it in her tote.
Knox nodded, grabbing his gym bag. “Come on. I’ll ride down with you.”
* * *
Cadence put her things in the backseat, then texted Jackson to let him know she was on the way to the hospital. She started the engine but didn’t put the car into gear. Resting her head on the steering wheel, Cadence released a sigh. She couldn’t shake the eerie feeling that washed over her. Maybe it was all the talk about Lester and scummy O’Brien.
She put on her Ledisi playlist and cranked the volume. Nothing like soulful crooning to drown out negative feelings.
Even though she was in the heart of rush hour, it didn’t take Cadence too long to make it to Stroger Hospital. She parked in the dimly lit lot and rushed into the main entrance.
“How’re you doing tonight?” asked the woman whose face always looked like she was about to model for a professional photoshoot.
“Great, Keshia,” Cadence replied, waiting while she wrote her name on a visitor’s pass to the NICU.
“Here you go,” Keshia offered a warm smile. “As always, I’m praying for the day when I don’t see you on the regular unless you’re bringing that sweet baby to visit me.”
“Same,” Cadence replied, taking the pass. “Enjoy the rest of your night.”
Her inner spirit was at peace. The music played its part, but not as much as the feeling that coursed through her, the closer she got to spending time with Caden. She and Jackson were fortunate. Caden was faring well, and there had been talk about him coming home in the next couple of weeks. Some families would never have that chance. Cadence was there the night a baby born two days after Caden, had passed away. The heartbroken mother’s wrenching shrills still haunted her.
Cadence stood outside the NICU, observing Jackie sitting on her daddy’s lap with her hand inside the incubator while Jackson read, Goodnight Moon. Her heart exploded into a million happy pieces. She quickly took out her phone, zoomed in, and snapped a picture.
“Hi, mom,” Nurse Martha whispered. “Would you like me to take a photo of the whole family?”
Deadly Deception Page 6
