Deadly Deception

by London St Charles

“You still can’t have none,” she said mid-snore.

  He shook his head, then tried again.

  “What is it?” She stirred, glancing around. “Did Jackie have another bad dream?”

  “No.” He sighed. “Just go back to sleep. We’ll talk in–––”

  She was snoring before he could finish his sentence.

  Chapter 18

  Cadence awakened to the aroma of freshly brewed hazelnut coffee permeating the air.

  “Mmmmm, that smells so good,” she purred, entering the kitchen.

  Jackson already had a cup waiting for her.

  “Thank you.” Her nose hovered above the rim before taking a sip. “I slept so good last night.”

  “I know. I tried to wake you.”

  “Now, baby. You know all my good stuff is off-limits for another three weeks,” Cadence teased, doing a little sexy dance in a black gown that stopped several inches above the knee.

  “Funny,” Jackson smirked. “You told me the same thing when I tried to wake you, but you don’t remember anything else.”

  “Well, that’s usually what you’re aiming for when you disturb my slumber in the middle of the night.”

  That’s true.

  “Last night was the exception,” Jackson countered, pulling out a chair for her to sit.

  “Thanks,” she said, staring at her husband, analyzing his mood. Jackson didn’t seem like himself. “Why you look like you lost your best friend?”

  He claimed the seat beside her, removing the coffee mug from her hands. “Lester’s not in jail.”

  “What?” Cadence bounded from the seat, almost knocking over the chair.

  Jackson grabbed her wrist, holding Cadence in place. Her pulse slammed into the palm of Jackson’s hand.

  “Sly called last night and told me that Lester isn’t there. He thought Lester might be in the infirmary, but he wasn’t there either.”

  “Why didn’t you wake me?” She fussed, then remembered that he attempted to. Sitting back down, Cadence asked, “Can you tell me how that’s even possible? He was arrested. We saw it with our own two eyes.”

  “I’m just as stunned as you are,” Jackson replied, releasing her wrist.

  “Why can’t things go the way they’re supposed to? Is that too much to ask?” she said, taking the coffee from Jackson’s hand and leaving the kitchen.

  “Where are you going?” Jackson called out, following Cadence into the dining room.

  “I need to call Knox. He should be able to tell us something.”

  “Especially since he escorted Lester to the county jail,” he commented.

  “Come again?” Cadence frowned, turning to face Jackson.

  “Knox told Officer Douglas that he was following them there.”

  “What’s really going on?” she remarked, sitting on the bed and dialing Knox.

  “Good morning,” Jackie dragged, rounding the corner, glancing into the bedroom before making her way to the dining room.

  “Good morning, baby,” Cadence replied, waving Jackson out of the room.

  “Log on for class, and I’ll fix you something to eat,” Jackson said to Jackie, shutting the door behind him.

  “May I speak with ADA Knox, please.”

  “I’m sorry this is the answering service. Mr. Knox will be in at nine, if you would like to call back at that time, the receptionist will be able to assist you,” the woman said, sounding like she hit the power ball jackpot. “Would you like to leave a message?”

  “No, thank you,” Cadence replied, ending the call, then checked the time on her phone. It was seven in the morning. “What am I thinking?” she mumbled under her breath.

  As tempting as it was, Cadence resisted the urge to call Knox on his cell at this hour. She emerged from the bedroom, took a quick shower, then joined the family for breakfast.

  Cadence and Jackson cleared the morning dishes from the dining table as Jackie started her lesson with Ms. Schneider and the class.

  “Mama Cee,” Jackie called out, muting the laptop.

  “Yeah.”

  “Can I go with you to visit Caden today?”

  “Yes,” she responded, grabbing the butter dish. “Now, focus on what you’re supposed to be doing.”

  Jackie smiled, then turned her attention back to the screen.

  Cadence entered the kitchen as Jackson was loading the dishwasher. “What did Knox say?”

  “Nothing.”

  Jackson glanced at Cadence over his shoulder.

  “My mind is so blown over this that I’ve lost my senses,” Cadence said, opening the refrigerator. “It’s not even eight o’clock in the morning.”

  “Damn.” Jackson glanced at the illuminated display on the microwave. “I didn’t realize how early it was.”

  “I don’t know how much longer I can deal with this,” Cadence admitted in a low voice. “The stress of it all is starting to get to me.”

  The doorbell chimed, sending Cadence jumping toward Jackson.

  “See what I mean,” she said, straightening her shirt. “This is what I’m talking about. My nerves are shot to shit.”

  Jackson caressed her cheek. He didn’t utter a sound.

  The doorbell chimed again.

  “Mama Ceeeee,” Jackie shouted.

  “I got it,” Cadence responded, leaving the kitchen, sweeping past Jackie, and into the living room. “Who is it?” she asked, pulling the sheer curtain to the side, peering out of the frosted oval glass.

  “DCFS.”

  “Jackson,” she yelled, holding onto the doorknob, but not unlocking the door.

  “Who’s that?” he asked, rushing in the living room, moving Cadence aside, and looking out of the glass. “Who is it?”

  “Department of Children and Family Services,” answered a woman with a tenor voice, deeper than his.

  “Yes,” he said, opening the door, but not the screen.

  “We’re looking for Jackson Goldsmith, parent of Jacqueline Nevels,” the woman said, flashing an ID attached on a lanyard around her neck.

  Cadence moved in closer, examining the name on the ID. The masculine voice belonged to, Glenda Powers. She glanced over at another woman, Bea Evers, with the same identification, and two male police officers who were built like they tied for first place in a body-building contest.

  “May we help you?” Cadence asked, frowning.

  Glenda ignored her, then glanced up at Jackson. “Are you Jackson Goldsmith?”

  “Yes,” he responded, opening the screen door.

  “You’re under arrest,” said Bea, who was shorter in stature and a thousand times more attractive than Glenda.”

  “Excuse me,” Cadence interjected, standing beside her husband. “You don’t have the authority to arrest him.”

  “But we do,” a big, burly cop said, signaling his men, and they brushed past the DCFS representatives, grabbing Jackson.

  “For what?” he asked, and the bass in his voice rumbled the walls.

  That beating Jackson and the twins put on Lester has come back to haunt them. But why would DCFS be involved?

  “What’s wrong, daddy?” Jackie ran to the front.

  “Wait a minute,” Cadence shouted, trying to get between the cops and Jackson. “What are you arresting him for? What did he do?”

  “Let my daddy go,” Jackie shrieked.

  Immediately, Cadence stopped tussling, and she scooped Jackie in her arms.

  “Please tell me what you think I’ve done?” Jackson pleaded.

  They pushed him against the wall so hard that the side of his face was smashed in. Jackson’s right jaw disappeared into his mouth, which was forced open from the pressure.

  “Do you have to handle him like that in front of his daughter?” Cadence asked, covering Jackie’s eyes with her hand. “He’s not resisting. Please, stop. He just wants to know why you’re arresting him?”

  “Truancy,” Glenda stated, folding her arms across her petite breasts.

  “What?” Jackso
n mumbled.

  “Jackie’s homeschooled,” Cadence said, glaring at Glenda and Bea. “She has e-learning with her teacher every day. That’s what she was doing when you barged into our home.”

  “There’s no record of her going to school at all this term,” Bea added.

  “Didn’t I just say she was homeschooled,” Cadence snapped, and every nerve ending in her body was taut.

  Jackie tore from Cadence’s arms. Within seconds, she was back with her laptop showing them Ms. Schneider and her classmates in Stuttgart. “I was doing my math assignment. See. Look.” Jackie shoved the laptop in Glenda’s face.

  “Well, that’s not what our records show.” Bea shrugged, talking to Cadence. “You need to straighten that out with the school district, but as of right now, Mr. Goldsmith has to come with us.”

  “Please, don’t do this,” Cadence begged, tears welling in her eyes.

  “Don’t take my daddy.” Jackie dropped to her knees and pressed praying hands together. “Pretty pretty please, don’t take my daddy.”

  “Jackie,” Jackson called out as the officers cuffed, and yanked him off the wall. “Everything will be okay.”

  “This isn’t right,” Cadence shouted, pulling Jackie from the floor.

  “This can go one of two ways,” Glenda countered, standing with her legs spread apart. “Either we remove the child from the residence and place her in a foster home, or–––”

  “Noooooooo,” Jackie squealed, running toward the back of the house.

  “Or, Mr. Goldsmith spends thirty days in jail while you figure this out,” Glenda concluded. “The choice is yours.”

  Chapter 19

  The frigid January wind had no effect on Cadence as she stared, transfixed in the doorway, clutching her midsection as the police carted Jackson off. Her breakfast performed tricks in her stomach, and it took everything she had not to retch where she stood.

  The whole scene was a huge misunderstanding. True, Jackie wasn’t on the school’s file this term, but she hadn’t been in the Chicago Public School’s system since first grade. There was no reason why she should be flagged now unless a neighbor or someone close to them reported seeing Jackie home during school hours, but why would they do that? No one knew the circumstances of her being home. It didn’t make sense.

  She slammed and locked the door. “Jackie. Honey. Where are you?” Cadence moved through the house toward the enclosed sunroom where she saw Jackie run off to. As she passed through the dining room, Cadence lifted the laptop that was teetering on the edge of the table. “Jackie. Come out, please.”

  Cadence entered the kitchen just as Jackie emerged from the pantry on wobbly legs, holding

  the phone to her ear.

  “Who are you talking to?”

  “Grandma,” Jackie responded, her voice shaky. “She said nobody’s going to take me away. Is that true?”

  “Yes, baby,” Cadence maneuvered around the kitchen table and swooped Jackie in a tight embrace. “You’re safe here with me.”

  “What about daddy? We showed them people the laptop, but they still took him away.”

  “It’s a misunderstanding that we’re going to clear up,” Cadence said, extending her hand. “Let me talk to grandma.”

  “What if they come back for me?” Jackie’s lips trembled as she handed Cadence the phone.

  “They aren’t,” she said, squatting in front of Jackie. “Go pack a bag with one week’s worth of outfits and pajamas. You’re gonna stay at grandma’s house while I figure things out.”

  “I’m hiding at grandma’s just in case they come back.”

  “More like you’ll be in a place where I know you’ll be safe until I find out what’s going on and get your daddy back home,” Cadence explained, touching Jackie’s arm, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Go get your things while I talk to grandma.”

  “Okay,” she uttered, moving slower than a snail.

  Cadence waited for Jackie to leave the kitchen and round the corner before she spoke. “Mama.” She blew out an exasperated breath, standing and leaning her head against the pantry door frame. “I’m trying to keep my cool, but I’m freaking out. I don’t know how much more of this I can take,” Cadence exclaimed, picturing Jackson’s face slammed against the wall for no reason. “The police arrested Jackson because Jackie hasn’t been to school. DCFS wouldn’t listen to reason, and they took him away like he was a criminal.”

  “Pull it together,” Phylicia advised. “You can’t fall apart. Jackie needs you to be on top of your game now more than ever.”

  “I know.”

  “You hurry up and bring that baby over here, and go handle your business,” Phylicia said. “I don’t know why you didn’t call your sister while they were there. You know she works for DCFS.”

  “I forgot that Crystal’s a social worker,” Cadence replied, going to her bedroom, placing the phone on the dresser, and putting it on speaker. “She should be able to give me some information.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. Crystal’s been with the department for six years and should know the ins and outs,” Phylicia added. “And call the police?”

  “Why would I do that? They’re the ones who arrested Jackson in the first place.”

  “But a different set of cops may not know what’s going on.”

  “I don’t know about that. They’ve all been on dirt the entire time. I can’t prove it, but I believe the police have had their hand in everything that’s happened since we’ve been back.”

  Phylicia fell silent.

  “I don’t believe in conspiracy theories, but too many coincidences aren’t coincidences at all.”

  “Exactly, mama,” Cadence replied, brushing her hair back into a ponytail. “And it’s wigging me out how Detective O’Brien isn’t in custody awaiting this trial. He’s out there free along with Lester.” She paused at her new reality, and a shudder ravished her body. “And now I’m home alone, unprotected. Maybe that was their plan all along.”

  “You can always come stay with me.”

  “I’m not going to let them run me out of my home.”

  “Then I can come stay with you,” Phylicia countered.

  “Nah, mama. I want Jackie away from here for a few days, so she doesn’t have a constant reminder of what’s happened,” Cadence explained, wrapping the ponytail holder around her thick hair. “But, thanks.”

  “I’m ready,” Jackie said, standing in the doorway.

  “Mama. We’ll see you soon.”

  * * *

  Within thirty minutes, Cadence pulled into her mother’s driveway, parking behind a silver truck she didn’t recognize.

  “I wonder who’s here,” Jackie commented, lifting her bag from the floor and opening the door.

  Cadence grabbed her wrist. “Wait.”

  “What did I do?” Jackie winced, trying to pull away. “You’re hurting me.”

  “Shhhh,” Cadence whispered, loosening her grip a bit, checking the rearview and side mirrors for anything or anyone out of place. “Close and lock the door.”

  Everything seemed to be in order, but she was still wary.

  “Mama Cee, what’s wrong?”

  “Did grandma say she had company?” Cadence asked, dialing her mother’s number.

  “I don’t remember.”

  “What’s taking you so long?” Phylicia asked when she answered the phone. “Crystal’s waiting on you.”

  Cadence released Jackie’s wrist. “Does she drive a silver Pathfinder?”

  “It’s silver, but child, I don’t know what kind of truck she has,” Phylicia countered. “Are you outside?”

  “We just pulled up.”

  “Well, get on in here. Crystal has to go to work,” Phylicia shot back, then ended the call.

  Cadence turned to Jackie. “I’m sorry for grabbing you like that. My nerves are all over the place and with everything that happened this morning–––”

  “It’s okay, mommy.”

  Cadence�
��s heart swelled. That’s the first time Jackie had called her mommy, instead of Mama Cee. She’d slip up but always caught herself before the whole word came out. Cadence embraced her role as Jackie’s stepmother and never once tried to replace or make her forget about Braelyn. She never knew how sweet the word sounded being directed at her. Cadence thought she’d have to wait until Caden was old enough to talk, and though this was probably a one-time occurrence, she reveled in the moment.

  “Come on, baby,” Cadence said as they climbed out of the car and headed toward the entrance.

  Crystal stood in the doorway, looking even more beautiful than she remembered. Cadence smiled, taking in Crystal’s glowing pecan skin, warm hickory eyes, and a figure that white men would call fat, but a brother would die and come back several lifetimes for. Crystal’s golden-brown hair was curly and free-flowing around her face.

  “Hey, Sissy,” Crystal greeted, pulling Cadence into her arms. “God, I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you more,” she replied, letting happy tears flow down her face, then pulling away. “This is my daughter, Jacqueline Nevels, but everybody calls her Jackie.”

  Jackie giggled, hip bumping Cadence.

  “Nice to meet you, niece,” Crystal said, opening her arms, and Jackie hugged her. “We’re going to have so much fun.”

  “Where’s my girl?” Phylicia called out from a distance.

  “Go give grandma a hug before she gets jealous,” Crystal teased, winking at Jackie.

  “You’re funny,” Jackie commented, then ran off.

  “She’s adorable Cadence,” Crystal said, closing the front door and moving into the living room. They sat on the couch with their bodies angled toward one another. “What’s this momma’s telling me about Jackson being arrested and DCFS threatening to take Jackie?”

  Cadence shared all the details of the ordeal with Crystal.

  “I don’t know what to do.” Cadence shrugged, feeling defeated.

  “This whole situation’s terrible, and I’m sorry this has happened to you, especially that innocent child, but we’re going to fight this,” Crystal reassured, grabbing Cadence’s hand. “First of all, they didn’t follow proper procedure.”

  “What do you mean?”