Kitabı oku: «Tempted By The Badge», sayfa 4

Chapter 4

The law office of Black, Turner and Hayes was in the three hundred block of LaSalle Street, occupying the sixty-fourth floor of a glass-and-steel skyscraper. The office boasted floor-to-ceiling windows in the exterior offices, expensive interior contemporary decor, and a library and conference room reminiscent of an old English library with polished wood-paneled walls, hardwood floors and three walls of leather-bound law books lined meticulously on shelves.

Ellington Black greeted them in the front reception area then asked the young receptionist to direct all his calls to his secretary’s desk. “Were you able to get any rest last night?” he asked as he guided Joanna and Mingus to the oversize conference room.

Joanna shook her head. “No, not really.”

Ellington nodded in understanding. “Please, have a seat,” he said, gesturing to one of twelve high-backed, tufted brown-leather executive chairs.

Mingus ambled into the room behind her, moving to hold up the wall as he stood with his arms crossed over his chest. Joanna tossed him a look but didn’t bother to comment. His brother didn’t react one way or the other to Mingus not joining them at the table. But Joanna didn’t miss the look that passed between the two men, a silent conversation she wasn’t privy to.

“Unfortunately,” Ellington started, “we’ve hit a snag in the case that isn’t going to help us with your defense.” He gently placed the folder he’d been holding on the table as he took a seat. He took a deep inhale of air before he continued. “The state is levying additional charges against you. They’re adding twenty-one counts of distributing pornography to a minor.”

Joanna’s mouth dropped open, her eyes widening. “I’m sorry...pornography?”

Ellington nodded. “It seems they found photos of you on Mr. Locklear’s cell phone. Very explicit photos.”

Joanna was suddenly shaking her head vehemently. “That’s not possible!” she exclaimed, her words coming in a low hiss. “I never took pictures with that boy! Never!”

Ellington took another deep breath. “They are executing a warrant on your home this afternoon.” He shot his brother a look. “I’m going to ask Mingus to keep you away while they do their jobs. I’ll head on over after we’re done here and stay until they’re finished. I’m sure the district attorney is going to petition to have your bail revoked, or increased, based on the new charges. I’ll appear before the judge to answer if they do. Hopefully we’ll be able to keep you out of jail.”

Joanna jumped from her seat, spinning in a tight circle around the chair. “This is crazy! I would never do something like that! Never! Why is this happening?”

She shifted her gaze to Mingus, who hadn’t reacted, nothing in his eyes showing how he’d received the information or what he thought of it, or her. Frustration furrowed her brow and her jaw tightened as she clenched her teeth. She suddenly shouted, “Say something, damn it!”

Mingus stared, his eyes narrowing as they locked gazes. The moment was suddenly tense and awkward. He didn’t budge, giving her nothing.

Saline clouded her view, tears welling behind her thick lashes. Joanna shook her head, fighting the wealth of teardrops threatening to flow. She turned back to Ellington. “May I use your restroom, please?”

Ellington stood, extending his hand as he pointed toward the door. “I’ll show you where it is,” he said as he turned the knob and led her from the room.

He returned promptly, throwing a quick glance at his brother. “It’s not looking good for her,” he said, reaching for the thick file on the tabletop.

“She didn’t do it,” Mingus answered. “I believe her.”

Ellington nodded, pulling a photo from inside the manila folder. He passed it to his brother, watching him intently.

From the moment they’d arrived and he and Ellington had exchanged gazes, Mingus knew something was amiss. Something that had his brother more than concerned. As he gawked at the photo, he was taken aback by the image, but he didn’t show it. He never let his blank expression break.

The young man in question was wrapped naked around a woman, clearly in the throes of some serious sexual passion. Arms and limbs were exposed but you couldn’t see the woman’s face well enough to say it was Joanna or not. But what you could see clearly was a tattoo on the woman’s upper thigh. The same tattoo Mingus had been able to glimpse just an hour or so earlier as Joanna stood barely dressed in the center of her kitchen.

* * *

The silence in the car was stifling and it took everything Joanna had not to scream at the top of her lungs. She couldn’t begin to imagine what Mingus was thinking. Even she was beginning to have doubts as the evidence piled, making her look guilty.

She had seen the photos, the graphic images stunning her into silence. None showed her face, but the tattoo was identical, the brown skin the same tone as hers. The woman in the photos was even wearing her favorite nail polish, OPI color Barefoot in Barcelona. But even as she’d professed her innocence, doubt had punched her hard, knowing no one was going to believe her.

Now they were ransacking her home and there was nothing she could do about it. The police had already confiscated her cell phone and Ellington had warned that her computer, iPad and all her other electronic devices would be taken, as well. Despite knowing she’d done nothing wrong and had nothing to hide, knowing someone was searching through her personal possessions infuriated her.

“Why you?” Mingus cut his eye in her direction, suddenly disrupting the blanket of silence. “Why have you been targeted?”

Joanna shook her head. “I honestly don’t know.”

“Do you have any enemies? Have you been beefing with someone lately?”

“No. No one.”

“Really think about it, Joanna. Who would want to hurt you?”

There was a stillness in the air that seemed to rise and fill the car with angst and turmoil. Joanna was drawing a blank, unable to fathom how anyone could hate her so much. She was a good person, or at least she tried to be. She treated people decently, had wonderful friends and had never been ugly to anyone, even when it might have been warranted. She shook her head, no soul coming to mind. She suddenly felt deflated, blowing a heavy gust of air past her thin lips. She had no answer to his question, so she didn’t bother to reply.

“How long have you been teaching at Riptide?”

“My entire career. I graduated from Riptide and after college it just felt right to come and give back. They had an opening and I took it.”

“Is that normal? I mean...do a lot of teachers do that?”

“I don’t know about a lot, but a few.”

“How many teachers did you work with who also graduated from Riptide?”

“There were three of us. Marion Talley, who teaches English, and Donald Patterson, one of the administrators. Marion and I were classmates and graduated the same year and Mr. Patterson actually went to school with my father. He’ll retire this year, I think.”

“Your dad graduated from Riptide?”

“He and my mother. And my great-grandfather.”

“Interesting...” Mingus seemed to drift into thought as he considered her comment. “So, you and this Marion Talley were friends?”

“I wouldn’t say that. Personally, I can’t stand her! She’s just mean and nasty for no good reason. And I don’t doubt that she likes me even less.”

Mingus shot her another look. His brows were raised, his gaze questioning.

Joanna continued. “Long story short, James Pratt asked me to prom and not her. She’s resented me for it ever since.”

“Enough to want to frame you for something you didn’t do?”

There was a moment of pause as Joanna stared at him. “You believe me? That someone’s trying to set me up?”

Mingus had come to a stop behind a line of traffic, waiting for the stoplight to change from red to green. He shifted his eyes to meet hers. “Yeah, I do! Something about this doesn’t feel right. I just need to figure out why someone would go to so much trouble.”

* * *

Riptide High School was one of eighty-five public high schools in a system that supported some four hundred thousand students. The rivalry between some of the Chicago schools was renowned, but he was discovering that Riptide had recently been in the news about everything but the success or failure of its sports teams.

Two previous scandals at the high school involving teachers already had parents on edge. A former cheerleading coach was fired the previous year for posing naked in a men’s magazine, the images hanging in more than one young boy’s locker. Just months later an administrator had been terminated for racist views published on social media. Both incidents had made the front page of the Chicago Tribune, a host of national news outlets and had been the focus of school board meetings for longer than most would have thought.

Just weeks prior, that same school board had listed it as one of ten schools under consideration for redistricting and a potential closing. People were talking about Riptide and it wasn’t at all positive, despite its graduate success rate and the high number of college acceptances. They also had a stellar football team, frequently placing in the top 2 percent of all high school conference districts. But even that wasn’t enough to keep the clouds casting dark shadows over the school’s reputation at bay.

Mingus took a deep breath as he observed the rush of students moving from their last class toward home. They were loud, slightly obnoxious and he couldn’t begin to imagine having to deal with the lot of them all day. The office secretary seemed to read his mind.

“They can take some getting used to. Most of them are really not that bad. It’s the end of the day, though, and they’re all ready to be done and out of here.”

Mingus turned to meet the look the older woman was giving him. He smiled slightly. She reminded him of someone’s grandmother. Her head of thick, gray hair was tinged a strange shade of pale blue. Crow’s feet adorned the edges of her bright eyes and she wore her age across her face behind the barest hint of makeup. He gave her a nod.

“How long have you been here?” he asked.

“Twenty years in November. I was at the elementary school before that.”

“So you’ve known Ms. Barnes since she started?”

“I’ve known her since before her church confirmation. Her mother and I go way back. Joanna and my second son are the same age and our two families have been friends since forever.”

“Is she well liked here?”

“Immensely. She’s one of the more popular teachers at the school.”

Mingus started to ask another question when they were interrupted by the school principal. Valentina Donato looked harangued as she rushed into the room. Her face was flushed a brilliant shade of red and perspiration beaded across her brow. She threw Mingus a quick look, her eyes widening. She took a deep breath and then extended her hand.

“I’m so sorry. You must be Mr. Black. The district office called and told me to expect you. I understand Ms. Barnes’s attorney made the arrangements.”

He shook the woman’s hand, her palm slightly clammy. “I appreciate you accommodating me.”

“This is such an unfortunate situation. Between you and me, I’m glad Joanna has hired outside counsel to protect her interests. This is completely out of character for the woman I know and respect.”

“So you don’t believe the allegations?”

“I honestly don’t know what to believe. And, of course, I’m not in a position to offer a formal opinion that goes against the statement issued by the school district.” She and the other woman exchanged a quick look before she focused her attention back on Mingus.

The exchange didn’t go unnoticed. Mingus nodded. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to see her classroom.”

“Not at all. Most of the students are gone for the day. Ms. Graves was asked to pack up Joanna’s personal possessions. The two are good friends, so she may be able to provide you with information that I can’t.”

“And Ms. Graves is...?”

“One of our English teachers,” Principal Donato responded.

“Has David Locklear returned to class?” Mingus asked.

The woman snapped, “You can’t talk to any of the students without parental permission.”

Mingus suddenly felt scolded and his eyebrows lifted. “I only asked if he’d returned,” he snapped back, not at all intimidated by her brusque tone and the cutting look she was giving him.

She turned and hurried out the door, gesturing for him to follow. “I apologize, but we have an issue with one of the buses and I have twenty-seven students still waiting to get home. I had a student smoking pot in the boys’ room and a television news crew hovering like vultures at the corner of the property. Now the school board is talking about closing us and I have parents breathing down my neck because of the news coverage about one of my best teachers. I’ve had my hands full and today has just been one of those days!” She cut her gaze back in his direction, seeming to need a hint of understanding. “But yes, he’s back.”

Mingus gave her a nod in response.

They traversed a series of hallways and one flight of stairs into a second building. Metal lockers numbered consecutively and secured with an assortment of padlocks lined the halls at each turn. Posters meant to encourage and promote the high school experience decorated the walls. An occasional student and a few teachers eyed him curiously. One or two were even bold enough to question the school’s principal, who summarily dismissed them, sending them on their way.

Principal Donato came to an abrupt stop, the walkie-talkie on her hip vibrating for her attention. She paused, reaching to answer the man on the other end.

“Yes?”

“The bus has left, but we’ve got a reporter heading to the athletic fields.”

“I’m on my way,” the woman responded. “Let them know we’re calling the police to have them removed.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her head waving from side to side. “Will it ever stop?” she muttered.

Mingus gave her a slight smile.

“I’m sorry.” She pointed to the door on the left, at the end of the hallway. “That’s Ms. Graves’s classroom. This should only take me a minute. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“No worries,” Mingus responded as she did an about-face, disappearing quickly through the doors they’d just passed.

Mingus moved to end of the hallway, pausing to knock before entering the room. “Are you Ms. Graves?”

The woman was seated at one of the desks, completely lost in thought as she stared into space. She jumped, blushing ever so slightly as she stood abruptly. “Yes, I am. Angel Graves, but you can call me Angel. And you are?”

“My name’s Mingus. Mingus Black. Principal Donato told me I’d find you here.”

“You’re here to pick up Joanna’s things?”

He nodded as he moved to the woman’s side. She was tall for a woman, standing nearly as tall as him in flats, and he was a good six feet, two inches.

“How is she doing?”

“She could use her friends right now.”

“I’ve been trying to call but haven’t been able to get an answer. I didn’t want to just show up at her house unannounced.”

“The police confiscated her phone.”

Angel threw up her hands in frustration. “I still don’t believe this is happening. No one does.”

“How well do you know Joanna?”

“She’s one of my best friends. We’ve worked here together for years.”

“Do you think she’s guilty?”

“I think someone’s lying through his teeth. Joanna would never violate the trust she has with any student. She’s an outstanding teacher. Her peers respect her and her students adore her! She’s one of the most popular teachers in this place! Joanna Barnes is no sexual predator and, if need be, I will gladly testify to her character.”

“Do you know the kid who’s accused her?”

“I know she would not want his trifling little behind! That boy—and make no mistake, he is a boy,” she said, emphasizing her word before continuing, “has absolutely nothing to offer her or any other woman with an ounce of good sense. In fact, I can’t fathom any teacher wanting one of these nasty boys. No manners, barely past puberty and they always smell bad!” She wrinkled her nose as if a breeze of the offensive odor she talked about was suddenly wafting through her space. “I’d bet everything near and dear to me that boy is lying through his teeth.”

Mingus nodded. “Do you know where I can find him?”

“Right now? I’m sure he’s down in the gym or out on the baseball field with the coach, but you didn’t hear that from me. Our boys’ baseball team has made it to national playoffs. He’s one of the star players. Everyone’s coddling him right now to ensure he plays.”

Mingus was just about to ask another question when a woman suddenly barged into the room. She moved straight to the desk, pulling open a drawer and peering inside as if looking for something specific. Mingus noticed there was a standing file rack with a few file folders and someone’s purse inside. Realizing she wasn’t alone, the woman looked from Mingus to Angel and back, her gaze sweeping his length with curiosity.

“Oh, excuse me! I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said, a wide smile crossing her face.

Angel rolled her eyes skyward. “I’m sure you didn’t, Marion. What can I help you with?”

Ignoring the question, the woman stepped forward, extending her hand to shake his. “I’m Marion Talley. I head the English department. Are you a parent?”

Mingus gave the woman a look back, his gaze narrowing. Recognizing her name, he hadn’t known what to expect. He was slightly surprised, knowing that she and Joanna were the same age. She looked much older than he had imagined, hiding her years behind a touch too much makeup. Overbleached hair was cut in a pristine bob and the form-fitting dress she wore hugged her bulges tightly.

He shook her outstretched hand. “No, ma’am. I’m not,” he said, not bothering to introduce himself. He turned his attention back to Angel. “I appreciate you talking to me. I’ll take those things now.”

Angel moved to the desk and a box that rested on top. “Thank you, and if you talk to my girl, would you please let her know she can call me at any time? Day or night. And I’ll stop by to check up on her sometime this week.”

Marion’s eyes widened as if she’d had a lightbulb moment. “Oh, you’re here to pick up Ms. Barnes’s personal belongings. It’s such a shame! She just never looked like the type.”

“What type is that?” Mingus asked.

The woman fanned a hand in his direction. “You know...”

“No, I don’t. So why don’t you tell me?” He eyed her with a raised brow.

“The type to be accused of such a heinous act. She just never seemed like that type. And that poor child! I just hate to think what he has had to go through! It really is a shame. You think you know someone until you don’t.”

“So you think she did it?”

“Well, obviously I don’t know for sure, but why would the young man lie? He’s one of our brightest students, with a promising future. It breaks my heart to think how that woman may have traumatized him!”

“Marion, I just can’t with you right now,” Angel snapped, extending her palm toward the woman. She gave Marion her back, her head shaking slowly from side to side. She took a deep inhale of air and held it, speaking only after she’d released it slowly. “Thank you, Mr. Black.”

Mingus gave her a slight smile as he lifted the box with both hands. He moved to the door and made his exit. Behind him he could hear the two women fussing, their conversation rising a decibel as it echoed down the hallway.

Making his way back to his car, he deposited the box into the trunk, pausing to rifle through its contents. He wasn’t expecting to find anything significant but was curious to see if he’d learn something new about Joanna that he didn’t yet know.

Her friend Angel had rested a note on top, encouraging her to hang in there. The words were fluff and glitter, meant to make her smile. He decided he liked Angel. She was regular people and what you saw was what you got. He understood why Joanna considered her a friend.

Marion Talley, on the other hand, was a piece of work. Her hostility toward Joanna was corporeal, thick and abundant. The woman had barely been able to keep from sneering when she spoke Joanna’s name. Despite a vapid attempt to seem sympathetic, she instead came off as judgmental and disapproving. There had even been an air of revulsion in her tone that hadn’t gone unnoticed.

Mingus made a mental note to do a little more digging into Marion Talley. A woman like that had secrets and he was certain whatever she hoped to hide might prove to be beneficial to the case. Or not.