Every Reasonable Doubt (33 page)

I glanced at Neddy. She was holding Tina’s hand now. Her eyes locked on Tina’s face. I still could not tell how or what she was feeling. There was no way I could have listened to another woman describe being with Jefferson.

The day that Neddy had recounted her vicious divorce battle and her plans to take a leave of absence from the firm, Tina realized that
her
Lawton Joseph Brown was the same man who had destroyed Neddy’s life. That meant that Lawton’s professions of love to her, like his promises to Neddy, had been nothing but lies. Not only had he cruelly and intentionally deceived her, he was also about to cause her to lose the attorney who could help her go free.

When Neddy and I left her house that evening, Tina spent most of the night and much of the following day in tears. When she couldn’t cry anymore, she decided she had to confront Lawton. She called him on the telephone and told him she knew about how he had treated Neddy. Lawton did not try to explain or offer an apology. Whatever tales Neddy had told her, Lawton said, were all lies. He then reminded Tina that she was a married woman herself, and they were both cheating on their spouses, so she had no right to act so sanctimonious. In the end, he laughed at her for being so gullible and hung up.

She sat there, stunned, refusing to believe he could be so callous. He had hurt her deeply, more deeply than Max had with his affairs, and she wanted him to know that. She called back, but he didn’t answer. Though Lawton had never invited her to his home—they had always rendezvoused at expensive hotels, places she had paid for—she knew exactly where he lived. Still reeling from his harsh words hours earlier, she pulled up outside his house, Neddy’s house, just before midnight. She sat behind the wheel for nearly thirty minutes before gaining the courage to walk up to the door.

When she finally did, she was surprised to find the door cracked. Pushing it open, she stepped inside and called out Lawton’s name. When he didn’t answer, she stopped, afraid that she would catch him with another woman. She could smell the odor of marijuana and thought about turning around, but instead headed down a narrow hallway and into a small living room, which was empty. Farther back, along the same hallway, she spotted the kitchen, which opened into a spacious den. She was about to turn around and head upstairs when she spotted a trail of blood near a sliding glass door about five feet from where she was standing. She took a few more steps, then froze. When she saw Lawton’s body sprawled in an open area behind a long couch, she let out a gasp.

She rushed over, squatted down, and pressed her hand to his neck, hoping to feel his pulse. But there was none. His chest was covered with blood and she could see that he had been shot several times. A gun lay next to his head. She looked down at her hand and the blood, Lawton’s blood, brought back visions of Max in the hotel room bathtub and fear gripped her. She stood up and wiped her hand on her blouse. She was about to be charged with Max’s murder. Her presence in the house of another murdered man, one who had also cheated on her, could not be explained away. She had to get out.

She checked to make sure that she had not stepped in any of the blood and snatched a paper towel from a metal dispenser on her way out of the kitchen. When she reached the front door, she wiped her prints from the spot where she had pushed the door open, then calmly walked to her car and drove home.

“I couldn’t call the police,” she cried to Neddy. “They would’ve tried to pin his murder on me. But I wouldn’t have let them charge you with murder. I would’ve come forward. I swear.”

Both Tina and Neddy were sobbing uncontrollably now. Tears were streaming down my own face and I wasn’t sure why. Either I was caught up in the emotion of everything I had just heard or the pain I felt over the absence of my own husband had overwhelmed me. I think it was probably both.

“H
ey, everybody, it’s time,” an unfamiliar male voice yelled from the back of the packed twentieth floor conference room. “They just did a tease. It’s the next story after the commercial break.”

Once again, David and I, and this time Neddy, too, occupied center stage at a legendary O’Reilly & Finney victory celebration. It was less than twenty-four hours after the verdict and it had been a day of nonstop congratulations. David and Neddy were brimming with pride. I wanted to run for the nearest emergency exit.

A rapt silence fell over the room as everyone focused on the sixty-inch plasma TV hanging on the north wall. We all listened intently to the reporter’s dramatic recap of the Montgomery trial. My stomach turned when the scene switched to Neddy, David, and me flanking Tina on the front steps of the Criminal Courts building.

“The jury in this case did exactly what they were supposed to do,” Neddy said, speaking into a sea of microphones. “They listened to the evidence and rendered a decision based on that evidence. And relying on the facts alone, the jury found our client innocent. The prosecution, meantime, wants to complain about legal maneuvering. The truth is, justice prevailed in that courtroom today.”

When the report ended, the entire room applauded.

O’Reilly was smiling from ear to ear, no doubt already counting the new criminal cases that would come pouring through the door because of Tina’s acquittal.

He walked over and stood near the television monitor, diverting all eyes in his direction.

“I want to congratulate Neddy, Vernetta and David for the finest piece of criminal trial work I’ve seen since Johnnie Cochran told the jury, ‘If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit.’” The room vibrated with laughter.

“Trial work is not just about the facts,” he continued. “It’s about how you spin them and how deep you dig for the truth. Unfortunately, in this country justice is not always about right or wrong. It’s about who has the best legal defense. And without a doubt our team here out-lawyered the prosecution by leaps and bounds.”

O’Reilly raised his glass in the air. “Now let’s party!” he shouted.

As our colleagues encircled us to extend more congratulations, I eased away and pretended to be surveying the selection of food on a table near the window. I turned back to watch as David and Neddy gracefully accepted their kudos. Neddy acknowledged me from across the room with a weak shrug.

“Too much celebration?” O’Reilly asked, walking up behind me.

“You might say that,” I replied.

“Well, I just want you to know I’m glad you convinced me to let you remain on the case. I hear you gave a helluva closing argument. And you may not believe it, but that glowing review came from your nemesis, David.”

That was surely a surprise. I owed David a compliment as well. “Without David’s analysis of that autopsy report,” I said, “Tina would probably be behind bars right now. So he did a pretty fantastic job himself.”

“You might want to tell him that,” O’Reilly suggested.

“I will,” I said. And I planned to.

O’Reilly looked at me with pride. “You know this trial puts you on the A-list of criminal defense attorneys, don’t you?”

“No way,” I said, holding up both hands. “Criminal law is not for me. It takes too much out of you. Right about now, I’d love a nice, simple sexual harassment case.”

“You’re kidding me, right?” O’Reilly’s face turned grim.

I shook my head and picked up a shrimp. “No, I’m not kidding at all. I don’t think I have what it takes to do criminal work.”

O’Reilly grabbed me by the shoulders and peered down at me. “You just need some time to recuperate. Right now, you’re like a pregnant woman who’s just delivered. The pain is too new. But in a week, all you’ll remember is the good part. Like the amazing result you guys achieved for Tina Montgomery.”

His mention of pregnancy seemed to jar my entire body. I thought about Jefferson and a heavy lump formed in my throat. I swallowed hard and choked back a tear.

O’Reilly gave me a fatherly pat on the back and headed over to Neddy and David. Within seconds, Detective Smith filled the space that O’Reilly had just vacated. “Shouldn’t you be over there getting a few pats on the back, too?”

“I’ll pass,” I said, trying but failing to muster up a smile.

I was still stunned by Tina’s disturbing revelations. Although I empathized with the betrayal she’d experienced, that didn’t change the fact that she had brutally stabbed her husband and that I had helped get her off. I felt sick inside. The thought of having to spend another night without my husband made me feel even worse.

I had dedicated nearly every waking hour to Tina’s trial for the past few weeks. And what did I have to show for it? Some wonderful media attention, a great chance at making partner, and increased visibility in the legal community. But so what? I’d always assumed I could have it all. The great career, a loving husband, brilliant children. But as I looked around the conference room, there wasn’t a single attorney there, to my knowledge, who had achieved that utopia. Most were divorced or married to their jobs. Why did I expect my life to be any different?

I packed a plate with strawberries, cheese cubes and rye crackers and made my way back to my office. I sat the plate on the corner of my desk and began piling documents from the Montgomery case into storage boxes. I only wished I could erase all memory of Tina’s trial from my mind as easily as I could clear the documents from my desk.

About ten minutes later, Neddy barged through the door.

“How dare you run out on our victory celebration?” she said, smiling. She was certainly handling all of this a lot better than I was.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m just not in much of a mood for celebrating.”

Her smile slowly dissipated. “Are you okay?” she asked, closing the door.

I sat down behind my desk, while Neddy took a seat across from me. “I guess I’m just drained.”

“Vernetta, you have to forget about everything Tina told us yesterday.”

I gave her a hard look. “How can I? How can you?”

“Easy. It’s just something we have to do. We did exactly what Tina Montgomery hired us to do,” she insisted. “We gave her our best and the jury found her innocent.”

“Correction,” I said, “the jury found her not guilty. That’s not the same as being innocent. And we know for a fact that she’s not.”

Neddy inhaled sharply. “Max suffered an aneurysm. You do believe that, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I believe it,” I said, “but that’s nothing but a technicality. She was trying to kill the man and she would’ve if that aneurysm hadn’t beat her to it.”

“Maybe not. If he hadn’t suffered the aneurysm, he probably would’ve been able to overpower her and take the knife from her.”

I shrugged. “What about Lawton? Don’t you care that his killer is still out there?”

“Not really,” she said softly. “Lawton was probably killed by somebody he owed money to or some other woman whose life he ruined. It doesn’t much matter to me whether the police catch his killer or not.” Neddy hesitated, her face suddenly solemn. “I know this might sound like a cruel thing to say, but things happen for a reason. Maybe Lawton got what he deserved. Max, too.”

I understood the agony Lawton had brought into Neddy’s life, but her words still shocked me. She saw my eyes widen, but she didn’t back down.

“Lawton lived his life intentionally hurting people,” she said adamantly. “You can’t live like that without facing repercussions for your actions—sooner or later.”

I didn’t know what to say. If this was the kind of detachment it took to be a criminal defense attorney, I was definitely in the wrong line of work.

“So, let’s just stop all this sadness.” Neddy stood up. “Guess where I’m going tomorrow morning?” she nearly chirped.

I tried to smile. “Sorry, Neddy, I’m not in the mood for any guessing games.”

“Up to Santa Barbara for a long relaxing weekend,” she said, ignoring my melancholy mood. “And guess who’s joining me?”

I could see genuine happiness in her face. “Don’t tell me,” I said, growing more excited for her by the second. “Detective Smith?”

A big grin lit up her face. I got up to embrace her.

“So, I was right,” I teased. “He does have the hots for you. He seems like such a nice guy. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks,” she said, beaming like a woman in love.

There was a knock on the door and to my surprise, Special walked in.

“Girrrrl,” she said, both hands planted on her hips, “I had to bring my ass down here to congratulate you in person! Y’all just pulled off the acquittal of the century!”

Neddy and I both laughed.

“This is my best friend, Special,” I said, introducing the two of them.

Special was wearing a sleeveless lavender sundress and an awestruck expression on her face. “When I get in trouble, I’m calling y’all. I never would’ve believed anybody could’ve gotten that woman off in a million years. Y’all are the bomb!”

“Thanks,” Neddy said, inching toward the doorway. “Well, I’ll leave you two alone. And Vernetta,” she said, before closing the door, “please cheer up.”

I slumped back into my chair, but Special remained standing. “Cheer up? After what y’all just pulled off, you should be ready to party. Why’re you looking so down and out?”

“Because I feel like crap,” I sighed. “Special, I really miss Jefferson.” My eyes started to moisten.

She walked over and squeezed my shoulder. “I know you do, girlfriend. That’s why I’m here. Don’t get mad at me,” she said, taking a cautious step backward, “but I have a guy I want you to meet.”

I rolled my eyes at her so hard they should’ve bounced out of my head. “What? Are you nuts? I don’t—”

She held up a hand cutting me off. “Just hear me out.”

“I don’t need to hear you out because you’re nuts,” I growled. “I’m still a married woman. The only thing I’m doing tonight is crawling into my big empty bed in my big empty house.”

“C’mon,” she begged. “He’s a really nice guy and he knows you’re separated. He’s just looking for somebody to hang out with. I don’t mean to make you more depressed than you already are, but you did say Jefferson took all the clothes out of his closet, right? It doesn’t sound like he’s planning on coming home any time soon. So ain’t no need for you to be sitting home crying in your soup.”

Her prediction of Jefferson’s unlikely homecoming was not something I wanted to hear. But I was too mad to even speak.

“As a matter of fact,” Special said, walking toward the door, “the person I want you to meet is right outside.”

My mouth fell open and I shot out of my chair. “No way! I can’t believe you’re trying to fix me up.”

She waved me back into the chair. “Just go out with us for one drink. Then you can go home.”

“No!” I shouted. “There’s no way I’m going out tonight. And definitely not with some man you dragged in from who knows where. You’ve lost your damn mind!”

“Calm down, girlfriend, calm down,” she said. “I’m just trying to help take your mind off Jefferson.”

“Well, you’re doing a lousy job. I’m not doing it!”

“Fine then.” She grabbed the doorknob. “If you won’t go out with the man, the least you could do is meet him.”

Before the expletives in my head could reach my lips, Special had opened the door and poked her head into the hallway. “C’mon in,” she said.

I was ready to ring Special’s neck. “You and your friend can just—”

When I saw Jefferson standing in the doorway, my heart skipped at least six beats. He was wearing a big goofy smile and his eyes told me he was just as happy to see me as I was to see him.

“How you doing?” he said, sounding uncharacteristically shy.

My smile was twice the size of his. “Now that you’re here, I’m great,” I said, trying not to cry. “How about you?”

“About the same as you, I guess.”

Special put her hands on her hips and grinned sheepishly. “Guess, you like my friend after all, huh?” She pointed a long, manicured finger at both of us. “I’m leaving now, but y’all are going to stay your asses in here until you make up. And that’s an order.” She walked out, then stuck her head back inside to give me a wink.

“Have a seat,” I said to Jefferson after Special left.

He sat down in one of the chairs in front of my desk. I perched myself on the edge of the desk directly in front of him. I wanted to reach out and touch him, but something held me back. We just stared at each other, grinning.

“Congratulations on your verdict,” he said.

“Thank you.”

I was tired of playing games. I wanted him to know exactly how I felt. “I really miss you,” I said.

“I miss you, too.”

“Then why don’t you come back home?”

His whole body seemed to relax. “Okay.”

“So it’s as easy as that?” I asked.

He chuckled softly. “No, I don’t think it’s going to be easy at all.” I could tell he was nervous. “I think we’ve got a lot of stuff to work out.”

“Maybe we should think about getting some professional help,” I said.

“Aw, man,” Jefferson groaned, scrunching up his face. “I’ll give it a shot,” he said, “but I ain’t telling my business to no white dude. If we gotta go to counseling, you have to find a brother. A down brother. And not some soft Poindexter-type dude.”

I smiled. “Deal,” I said.

He began looking around my office. “You know,” he said, lowering his voice, “I understand how important this stuff is to you. If I was a big-time lawyer and had a slammin’ office like this, I’d probably get off on it just like you do. But I need to feel like I’m important to you, too.”

I could feel his anxiety. “You are important to me,” I said.

He folded his arms and tugged on his bottom lip with his teeth. “You say that, but you never really show it.” He sounded like a timid little boy.

“What do you need me to do?” I asked, looking him straight in the eyes.

“Nothing special. Just be there for me sometimes.”

“I promise you I will.”

He chuckled. “Girl, your track record ain’t too good when it comes to making promises.”

“I know that,” I said earnestly. “But this time I’m ready to show you I’m serious.” I stood up. “As a matter of fact, I can start showing you right now.”