She sighed, closing her eyes. “Trust me. I didn’t want to take a four hour drive to come up here to see you, but we have a problem. Please have a seat.” Ready to find out what the hell was going on I sat before her and waited for her to speak.
“I’m sure you’ve watched the news and heard about Judge Stanley. What they haven’t released yet and probably won’t until after Attorney Beauregard delivers his speech is that they found the same evidence you turned in.” She leaned into whisper. “Remember the Ziplocks locked in your security deposit box? It’s there, I checked. But that same evidence is what got this shit storm started in the first place. Someone submitted the DNA you were going to use to the Attorney General’s office.”
My eyes narrowed in annoyance. “How is that possible? No one knew that information and if they did they were paid by his people to not say anything. NDAs and a bunch of other shit. I gave you a copy of the files. You saw them.”
“Right, but apparently someone else knows. Beau called me at four this morning with the news. Think about it Amell; the judge, the jury, even the states attorneys that worked your case. Because of the evidence against them all of the cases are being retried or overturned.” She dug in her purse to place a folder on the table. “Pacino, Chief Chatterjee, Noelani, and I were the only ones that knew about the DNA. This same file was emailed to me this morning.” She whispered like we weren’t the only two in the room.
Taking the file I went through the contents. I knew this file by heart and for someone to have the same information I had with even more details, fuck!
“Are we being blackmailed?” If whomever knew all this and knew this was how I was going to get my case overturned, then they had to want something back in return.
“Not that I know of.” She sighed heavily and began massaging her temples.
“Look, the cats out the bag on this one. You’re getting out in a day or two. Probably even sooner depending on Beau.”
Out of every badge I had on my payroll I never could get the Attorney General. Beauregard was a hard man to crack and I respected his honor and valor, but times like this I wish I worked harder.
“Why is the AG taking control of the outcome of my case? I know it’s the state’s lawyers that worked it but they were from Broward County, district one. He never steps in.”
Scoffing with a roll of her eyes, she pointed back to the folder. “I’m unsure, Amell, but we have to think about everything here. If someone else knows then you need to figure out who because last I checked this was only a four man show.
Whoever this fifth party is has a vendetta on making you look like a damn fool.”
“So, what now?” I asked, rubbing my chest. “Wait, before you answer that, have you been able to get in touch with Pacino?”
She nodded. “I called him on my way up here and he’s in Washington, DC. Jeremy is crossing the burning sands tonight and he wanted to be there for it.” Hearing that JD was entering Greek land and I wasn’t there to see it made the pain in my chest intensify.
I wanted to ask about Krishna and Clover but I refrained from doing so.
“What now?”
She blew out a breath and looked at me with hesitation. “You may have to plead insanity.”
I’m sorry? Is she serious?
“Why the hell would I do that? Didn’t you just say that the case was overturned?” I’m so damn confused right now.
“Yes, but Amell, think about it. You had way too much evidence and knowledge about those cases for you to walk Scott free. The AG will overturn the conviction, but you confessed to murders, Amell. I don’t know if that’s the route he’ll go but most likely.”
“This is some bullshit.” I groaned standing and knocking on the door.
“This whole thing has been some bullshit since you walked in my office so get over it. I’ll be in touch if I hear anything else. Face it, you’re about to be a free man. I hope whatever you needed to do was a success.” She gave me a fake smile.
Once the guard opened the door I told him that I was ready to go back to my block. My mind wouldn’t stop running. Yes, this was supposed to be the end goal but not like this. Someone had infiltrated our information and that made me uneasy.
Krishna
“Krishna. Krishna, baby wake up.”
My dreams were becoming too much like the real thing. Every night I went to bed dreaming about Amell. Dreaming about the last time we spent together. Talking and getting inside that brain of his. Understanding who he was and what made him, him. Nineteen days have passed since the last time he kissed my lips.
Our kisses were my favorite.
As menacing and strong as he is. As powerful and dangerous as he is. Regardless of who feared him the streets he kissed me with such gentleness that I melted each time in his arms.
How could a man of his caliber kiss me softly like the words of a Langston Hughes poem?
“Gazelle, wake up.” His timber sounded so real dancing in my ears. Even the tickle on my cheek from his five o’clock shadow.
“Amell,” I moaned out in my sleep.
His chuckled made my eyes flutter open. “Hey, baby.” A mouth full of pearly whites greeted me.
He’s here.
He’s really here.
Sitting up in my bed I looked around to make sure that I wasn’t really dreaming, he was indeed here. “What…what are you doing here?” I wiped the sleep out of my eyes before climbing into his lap and snuggling in his arms.
“I wanted to see you and ask a very important question.” His tone was normal with a matching heartbeat, so I knew whatever it wasn’t an emergency.
Giggling once I realized it was damn near four in the morning and he once again broke into my house, I looked up into those onyx eyes and smiled. “What is so important that you couldn’t wait until I woke up? I know you have a key to my place and all but the least you could’ve done is lay next to me and then ask your question once I woke up when the sun is out.”
He nodded his head with the cutest grin on his face. “I could’ve done all of that but when the sun rises I want us to be in the car on the way to the courthouse.”
Courthouse?
I tried to sit up on his lap but he held me against his chest. “Are you in trouble? Do I have to testify? Am I your alibi or something?” What had this man gotten himself into?
His laughter felt like the perfect dosage of Folgers in the morning. It tickled my soul and awakened my spirit. “No, Gazelle. We’re going to the courthouse because I’m hoping that you will accept my hand in marriage and be my wife.” Pause.
Step on the breaks.
How could he propose with a straight face and that sexy ass smile?
Wait…he did just propose right?
This time he let me go so I could sit up and look at him. “Ouch,” I hissed, rubbing the spot on my arm I pinched to make sure I wasn’t really dreaming.
“You…you want to marry me? You want to get married?”
The back of his hand caressed my cheek before he leaned over and kissed my lips. I know he got a taste of my morning breath. “Yes. I want to make you my wife. I want to give you the last name that you deserve. Though I don’t need to stand in front of a judge to profess my love to you and recite vows because I do that anyway, I want to make you officially mine. Legally and before God.”