“Hold on,” Cadence exclaimed with a raised voice. “I need to know what the heck happened. Why that woman was involved.” She frowned, pointing in Gloria’s direction. “And how Lester came to be a part of this.”
“Breathe easy, Sissy,” Crystal soothed. “They’re gonna ask us to leave if you don’t keep your voice down.”
“I need answers. Now.”
The room got so quiet that the only sounds heard, came from the monitors, footsteps in the hall, and phones ringing in the distance at the nurse’s station.
Detective Carter tapped on the glass, and Gloria entered the room and shut the door.
“Yes.”
“It’s time for full disclosure,” Detective Carter stated. “What I’m about to say effects, everyone, in this room. That includes you.”
Cadence had been waiting for this moment. Jackson moved over, and she climbed in next to him. Crystal sat at the foot of the bed, and Sly and Tony stood next to one another. Detective Carter and Gloria had everyone’s undivided attention.
“Thanks to Sly and Tony, we learned that Judge Duncan is Lester’s uncle,” Detective Carter said, leaning against the sink. “And he’s responsible for getting Lester out of jail.”
“What?” Cadence hollered, covering her mouth.
“I heard Lester mention his Uncle Clark while he held me captive. I wasn’t sure if it was the drugs or if I was dreaming.”
“Drugs,” Cadence repeated, glancing up at Jackson.
“I was in and out of consciousness for days,” he said, staring at Gloria.
“Who drugged you?”
“I did,” Gloria admitted. “It was for his own safety.”
“The more you talk …” Cadence shook her head.
Detective Carter snapped his fingers, and the room fell silent. He shot a glance at everyone before he continued. “Judge Clark Duncan is Lester’s biological uncle. He visited Lester in the room designated for prisoners to meet with their attorneys the night he was arrested. The correctional officer that escorted Lester to the room is my confidential informant.”
“The plan was to say that Lester had been in protective custody when he was actually missing from the jail,” Gloria added, stepping forward. “Lester confessed that to me, while Jackson was sedated. He said that Judge Duncan would have him back in custody once the trial began, pretty much giving him the freedom to do whatever he wanted, then slipping Lester back in lock-up, guaranteeing him an alibi.”
“They were using Jackson as a pawn to break me?” Cadence asked.
“Yes,” Gloria responded. “I had been infiltrating Lester’s drug ring for six months. I got in close with him. Established a relationship. Became his woman.”
“Shared his bed?” Crystal smirked.
“Made him believe I was trustworthy,” Gloria shot back, narrowing a gaze on Crystal. “When he came up with the plan to get Jackson away from Cadence, I jumped at the opportunity. Who knows how the abduction might have gone down had one of his other associates took Jackson?” Gloria glanced at Cadence. “I had to make it believable. I’m sorry for any grief I’ve caused you.”
Jackson stroked Cadence’s arm.
“I borrowed a burner from one of the inmates in exchange for adding money on his books,” Tony said, glancing at Detective Carter, who returned an incredulous stare. “I snapped pictures of Judge Duncan and the warden talking in the kitchen after the final count. I didn’t know who the judge was at the time, but anytime the warden is having a meeting.” Tony lifted his fingers, making air quotes. “In the kitchen––– after hours.” He smirked. “I knew nothing about that was kosher.”
Cadence couldn’t believe the things she was hearing.
“That’s when I told Sly about what I’d seen, and showed him the photos.”
“I had made my rounds on Block D where Lester’s cell was, but something told me to check again,” Sly said, adjusting the eagle medallion on the gold chain around his neck. “When I did, Lester was gone.”
“His cellmate didn’t say anything?” Cadence asked.
“It doesn’t work like that,” Sly informed her. “You could beat them within an inch of their life, and ninety-eight percent of the inmates still wouldn’t snitch.”
“That’s the night you called me,” Jackson remarked.
Sly nodded. “I’d been on duty watching your house the day Jackson was arrested,” he added, angling a glance at Cadence and Jackson. “Something about the exchange outside didn’t feel right, so I followed them to an old boarded-up furniture warehouse. I didn’t know at the time that Lester was involved.”
“But the probability was there, seeing as though he was no longer in jail,” Cadence snapped, outraged by the entire situation.
“So, this is where we’re at,” Detective Carter said, splaying his hands in front of him. “The warden agreed to testify that the judge coerced him into releasing Lester as a way to scare Cadence into not testifying, hopefully resulting in a mistrial for Detective O’Brien since she was the star witness for the prosecution,” Detective Carter said, folding his arms across his chest. “In return, the warden gets immunity for his cooperation.”
Chapter 26
“Do I have to sit in the hall until Reed calls me back to the stand to finish the cross-examination?” Cadence asked Knox as she, Jackson, Crystal, Gloria, Sly, Tony, and Detective Carter approached the courtroom.
“No,” Knox replied. “You will not be retaking the stand.”
A huge weight had been lifted from her spirit. Jackson squeezed Cadence’s hand and smiled down at her. Cadence found solace in his caring eyes, even though she was worried about him.
“You had no business checking yourself out of the hospital,” Cadence scolded as they entered the courtroom, claiming the first bench behind the prosecution table. “I told you I’d be fine.”
“Stop fussing and let Jax be the man and husband he’s needs to be,” Sly chided, nudging Cadence. “You know he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else other than beside you––– supporting you.”
“Mind your business,” she teased, slapping his knee.
“He’s right,” Jackson leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Right here. Next to you. Is where I wanna be.”
He’s so stubborn. “I love you too.”
Cadence glanced over her shoulder just as Detective O’Brien and Reed were walking up the aisle. The sight of him made her stomach lurch. Before she could turn her head, Detective O’Brien locked eyes with her, then winked. Instantly, Cadence’s mood changed.
“I can’t believe this jerk,” Jackson commented, glaring at the back of Detective O’Brien’s head.
“You saw that, too,” Sly growled through clenched teeth.
“Baby, ignore him,” Jackson said to Cadence. “Effing unbelievable.”
“All rise. The Honorable Judge Clark Duncan presiding,” the bailiff announced.
“Honorable,” Cadence whispered, getting to her feet. “That’s disputable.”
“Please be seated.”
“This is the people versus Detective Paul O’Brien,” Judge Duncan said, sitting upright like a statue, sliding on his glasses. “Any questions before I bring in the jurors?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” Knox said, standing, buttoning his suit jacket, and folding his hands in front of him. “The prosecution would like to put forth a new motion.”
“For?”
“We want you to recuse yourself from this case for conflict of interest. It has come to our attention that you are related to Lester James, the known drug kingpin associated with Detective O’Brien’s case. In addition to that, we have irrefutable proof that you blackmailed the warden into releasing Lester James from jail on the same night he’d been arrested,” Knox stated, scanning the documents before him. “Which resulted in the kidnapping of Jackson Goldsmith, the husband of the prosecution’s witness, Cadence Goldsmith.”
The spectators in the gallery gasped.
Cadence glanced over at Detective O�
�Brien and Reed, and the stunned expression on Reed’s face was similar to how Cadence felt when she learned of the information. She was convinced that he didn’t know anything about it. But Detective O’Brien was a different story. He looked as smug as he’d always did.
Judge Duncan glared at Knox so hard that Cadence thought his eyeballs would pop out of their sockets.
“Really,” Judge Duncan said, leaning back in his seat. “Why not mention this on the first day of trial?”
“We only learned of the conflict yesterday after court was adjourned,” Knox shot back.
“Do you have any proof of this accusation?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” Knox replied, sounding self-assured. “We have a witness who will testify to the conflict.”
“And when can you produce this witness?”
“Right now,” Knox fired back; his chin tilted heavenward. “The people call Cook County Jail Warden, Nathan Griggs to the stand.”
A synchronized shift in the seats echoed in the courtroom as everyone turned around. The gray-haired man with oily-colorless skin and hardened facial features, probably from years of surmountable stress, came forward.
The chatter from the gallery became louder. Someone called the judge crooked. Another person said this feels like entrapment. A woman’s voice shouted, “Finally something that will stick.”
Cadence glanced at Jackson, then whispered. “It’s much more to this than we knew.”
Judge Duncan banged his gavel. “Settle down before I have everyone removed,” he warned, looking out toward the gallery. After the noise ceased, Judge Duncan took off his glasses and said in the sourest of tones, “I recuse myself.”
Warden Griggs stopped mid-stride.
“Bailiff.” A woman in an identical black robe with beautiful salt and pepper, curly-textured hair, emerged from Judge Duncan’s chambers. “Cuff him.”
Judge Duncan’s head whipped in the direction of his colleague. “What happened to professional courtesy? Where’s my due process?”
“Who’s that?” Cadence whispered to no one in particular.
“Chief Judge, Dorothy Tate,” Knox said over his shoulder. “I met with her late last night.”
“Are you questioning my authority?” Judge Tate snapped, interlocking her fingers.
“No, Chief Judge Tate,” he coward.
“Damn.” Sly nodded, crossing one leg over the other. “Now, that’s power.”
“Detective O’Brien, your bond has been revoked,” Judge Tate announced, as the bailiff placed handcuffs on Judge Duncan. “Mr. Reed, please advise your client on what happens when he breaks the law while awaiting trial. He should already know, but apparently, he needs a reminder.”
The corners of Cadence’s mouth lifted, resulting in a full smile that made her cheeks hurt.
“Sheriff,” Judge Tate called out, and two men came forward. One stood in front of Detective O’Brien, pulling his hands forward while putting cuffs on his wrists, while the other stood alongside him. “A new judge will be appointed to this case. Until then, court is adjourned.”
“I know this prolongs the case,” Knox said, turning to Cadence, still holding the documents in his hands.
“But it feels like a win,” she countered, smiling at Knox. “Lester’s off the streets, and now, so is Detective O’Brien.”
“We don’t have to be on guard constantly,” Jackson added, kissing Cadence on the temple.
The stress and anxiety that had been accompanying Cadence daily had lifted some. Before she felt like justice wouldn’t be served, she now could see the possibilities.
“You should’ve died in that accident,” Detective O’Brien spat over the sheriff’s shoulder. “Your lucks running out.”
“What did you say?” Cadence shouted, pulling away from Jackson.
“Did you just threaten my client?” Knox barked, throwing the documents in his hand on the table.
“What are you doing?” Reed asked through gritted teeth. “Be quiet.”
Cadence flashed back to the accident. Everything was a blur after the impact. Her body felt heavy and wet. She heard voices. One man. One woman. No… two men.
She squeezed her eyelids shut.
You’re not supposed to move them. You can cause more damage. Wait for the paramedics.
“It. Was. You,” Cadence growled, opening her eyes and pointing at Detective O’Brien.
He grinned, then maneuvered, knocking the sheriff on the side of him off balance while yanking the other sheriff’s service weapon from its holster. Detective O’Brien angled the gun in Cadence’s direction, but before he could pull the trigger, four shots whizzed past Cadence’s head, hitting Detective O’Brien center mass.
The people in the gallery screamed as they ducked behind the benches and fled the courtroom. The cops in the gallery drew their weapons and stood their ground until they realized who fired the shots.
Cadence tasted the Sulphur from the gun smoke. Her body trembled, and her ears wrung from the close proximity of the gunfire. She’d take a little hearing loss in exchange for her life.
“Somebody call an ambulance,” Detective Carter order, hopping over the divider with his weapon still drawn, approaching Detective O’Brien.
Reed fell to his knees, pressing his index and middle fingers into the groove of Detective O’Brien’s neck to the side of his windpipe. He sighed, dropping his chin to his chest. “He’s gone.”
Cadence stared, gripping the back of the bench.
“Baby, you okay?” Jackson asked, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“I’m good,” Cadence replied, sliding her hand over his. “I say justice was served.”
Epilogue
One year had passed since the mayhem of Detective O’Brien’s trial, and Cadence and her family couldn’t have been happier. The fact that yesterday, Lester was sentenced to twenty years in prison for Braelyn’s murder, and serving a consecutive twenty years for kidnapping Jackson, on top of the pending investigation for the five bodies found on the gun, had sweetened the return to normal life.
“Thanks for letting the kids spend the night,” Steven commented, bringing in two cases of wine and beer.
“I hope they weren’t much trouble,” Deb added, crossing her fingers.
“None at all,” Cadence replied, swooping down to catch Caden, who was wobbling by on those fast toddler feet. “He loved having kids here closer to his age and size.”
“I bet he did,” Steven remarked, making silly faces at Caden. “I think it’s cool that you’re throwing this party.”
“It’s finally our time to celebrate,” Cadence said, hiking Caden up on her hip while he played in her hair. “This may sound strange, but in hindsight, I’m glad Caden wasn’t home during Detective O’Brien’s trial while we endured all that craziness.”
“Me too,” Jackson said, walking over. He pinched Caden’s tiny nose, then relieved Steven of one of the cases. “The NICU was the best place for him from a security standpoint.”
“Liquid courage,” Knox teased, walking through the front door, pointing to the alcohol in Jackson and Steven’s arms.
“Hey, Knox,” Cadence greeted. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it. We’ve earned this celebration,” Knox replied, taking Caden out of her arms. “And it’s time that you start calling me Aaron. We’re way past formalities.”
“Gotcha, Aaron.” She laughed, throwing her head back.
“That goes for me, too,” Detective Carter chimed in, stepping around Aaron with a beautiful woman on his arm. “This is my wife, Patricia.”
“Nice to meet you,” Cadence smiled, giving her a hug. “You guys are always welcomed to our home. I will forever be indebted to your husband.”
“That’s my Xavier,” Patricia beamed, taking off her ankle-length fur coat. Xavier took the garment and laid it over his arm.
“I’ll put that up for you,” Cadence said, retrieving the coat. She went into her bedroom, l
aid the fur on the bed with the other guest’s outerwear, then returned to the living room. “You fellas make yourself at home. Thomas has the football game on in the media room, and my momma and Ella are taking bets.”
“Say what?” Xavier leaned back.
“Oh yea,” Jackson countered, signaling Aaron, Steven, and Xavier to follow him with a tilt of the head. “Them mama’s ain’t no joke. Phylicia will take all of your money while Ella’s plying you with homemade finger foods and drinks.”
“Sounds like a good time.” Aaron chuckled, handing Caden back to Cadence. “I’m in.”
The men disappeared to the rear of the house, dodging three little people, and Crystal as she chased the kids, nearly knocking Cadence into the wall. Caden wiggled his way down her leg, trying to catch his sister, cousins, and auntie.
Cadence inhaled, taking in the harmonious love, laughter, joy, and new friends in her home. She couldn’t be more grateful for the blessings that surrounded her.
“Thank you, God, for sparing my life and making it fuller and richer than before.”
If you haven’t already, read Sugarcoated Deception Book 1 of the Deception Series, and take the journey with Cadence and Jackson to see the obstacles they overcame to get to this point in their lives. You won’t be disappointed. If you want to know more about Detective Xavier Carter and his unconventional lifestyle with not one, but two wives, check out The Husband We Share.
Both excerpts follow the story. Happy reading!
Sugarcoated Deception (Deception Series Book 1)
Four words would put an end to Cadence Goldsmith’s perfect life.
“That’s Mr. Goldsmith, Mommy.”
She searched out the source of that small childlike screech, an unnatural occurrence in the Adali Global Reveal. The event was an exclusive affair for people who worked in the European auto market.
Cadence peered around the velvet curtain from her spot backstage of the McCormick Place Convention Center, surprised to find that her husband, Jackson, and mother, Phylicia were sitting in the front row next to a scowling Steven Bekker, her work nemesis.
Deadly Deception Page 13
