Chapter 9
“For the crime of money laundering, the defendant will serve twenty years in a state facility and pay a fine of one million dollars.”
The courtroom went into an uproar. Darlene Doll had laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars through the city for years. How no one caught it until now was still a mystery to me. After I banged my gavel and they’d calmed down, I continued. “For the embezzlement charge, the defendant will serve five years in a state facility. The sentences are to be carried out consecutively and not concurrently. We are adjourned.”
I walked out of the courtroom, angry about what had just gone down. Darlene had refused to implicate anyone else. I didn’t understand how she could leave the other criminals out in the free world to do that shit again. To me, it said she didn’t care, and hopefully, I showed her I didn’t care either. She got the maximum sentence for the money laundering charge, as she should. Evidence proved that she’d cleaned nearly a million dollars through the city of Beaumont. So, technically, I could have charged a fine double the amount of money she laundered.
When I got to my chambers, I came out of my robe and practically threw it to the coat rack. I was so damn frustrated. Darlene was funding a criminal organization right here in Beaumont. Regardless of what anyone said, someone else knew what was going on and was benefitting from it as well. The evidence presented was damning, to say the least. There was video footage, questionable documents, and changes to documents with her signature on them.
The banking information proved all the money she circulated. It was crazy. Everything she owned would be seized: houses, cars, and any other valuables. Her husband looked like he was going to fall apart at any moment, but I did notice he was wearing a damn Rolex. He may as well get ready to part with it. People couldn’t just do what was right. Darlene’s punishment was also stiff because of who she was. She was the leader of the city.
If the damn mayor was corrupt and didn’t suffer the consequences of her crimes, what would that say to the citizens of Beaumont? She deserved the maximum sentence, and had that max sentence been longer, she would have gotten more. There was no reason good enough to justify what she had been doing for years to the city of Beaumont. This type of corruption was unacceptable, and I planned to eventually expose all of it.
I’d been spending a tremendous amount of time with Genesis, and because of that, I hadn’t had time to investigate a thing. It seemed that whoever was sending the threats knew that, because I hadn’t been receiving them. It had been two months since the 9/11 memorial, and she was preparing for the turkey giveaway and Thanksgiving meal to feed the homeless. I told her I would gladly be a contributing part of their efforts.
I always tried to volunteer my time when I could. Even with being swamped at work, it was important to establish a presence in the community. I wanted people to know that I actually cared. I had a reputation for being a hard judge, but I wanted that to be preceded by how much I helped my community. I donated money to different initiatives, but I wanted to do more. Throwing money at a situation was helpful, but it didn’t show concern. It could just be a tax write-off. My goal was to make the place we lived better, and that didn’t always happen by just throwing money around.
As I sat in my chair, Tyson walked through the door and said, “That was rough. I just knew you were going to adjourn earlier and pick up tomorrow.”
“Man, we’ve been dealing with this all week. I was ready to be done with it. It seemed with each piece of evidence they presented, my anger escalated. What angered me the most was her protecting the bastards that were helping and covering for her.”
“I know. I could see it all over you through your demeanor. When you leaned back in your chair and leaned to the side, I knew you were close to snapping. I thought you were going to recess at that point, even though we’d only been back for thirty minutes.”
“I was just outdone when one transaction was for over a hundred grand to pour eight feet of cement. Where in the hell did anyone pay that much money for cement? Surely not Beaumont!” I slid my hand down my face, trying to calm down. Changing the subject, I asked, “The baby ought to be making his or her way into the world by now, right?”
“Yeah. Three more weeks, actually, if she makes it. Man, her feet look like pillows. I kid you not. I don’t know how she’s walking on them.”
I chuckled. “Women are the strongest creatures on Earth, especially black women. I don’t know how they deal with the constant ridicule from society, take care of kids, have a career, and take care of men like us. They balance it all with grace. Sometimes they barely have time for themselves. I watched my mother do it for years, and now I see Genesis handling it all. Whenever I need her, she’s there before I can even call.”
“You’re falling for her. It looks good on you. I never thought I would be able to say that. I mean… you’re still the same jackass in the courtroom. Just behind the scenes, I can see a change in you. You’re more relaxed.”
“Yeah, she’s had that effect on me,” I said in a somewhat reflective manner, thinking about how I’d evolved. I glanced at Tyson and said, “You’re right. I’m falling for her. I haven’t told her yet though. Maybe I’ll tell her after the feed the homeless event they’re having tomorrow.”
“Damn. That’s cool, man. Well, I’m gonna need you to be at our nuptials soon. We are going to be in Judge Raymond’s courtroom in a couple of weeks.”
“Congratulations! You didn’t tell me you were going to pop the question.”
“Honestly, I always wanted to. She was still legally married when we met though. I wanted to give her time.”
“I get it.”
I stood and shook his hand then sat back at my desk. My phone began vibrating all over the table, and I knew it was Genesis. When I picked it up, a smile played on my lips. Tyson said, “Well, that’s my cue to go.” He chuckled. “See you Monday, man.”
I chuckled as well and chunked him the deuce. I went back to my message to see what she had to say. Hey, baby. I have a wonderful evening planned for you. Show up at my place with an overnight bag.
I smiled at my phone, and when I looked up, the DA was standing in my doorway. He smiled big. “We got her. Thanks, man.”
I frowned slightly. “What are you thanking me for?”
“Not being easy on her, since she was the mayor. This is the second time Beaumont has had problems with their mayor. A statement needed to be made. The first got off easy, only getting a couple of years. This was why I personally requested you to try this case. You don’t play about the law, nor do you care what other people have to say. The law is the law.”
“Well, everyone should be that way. I go with what’s right. Being that she was the mayor, a hard lesson needed to be taught. Position nor status matter to me. Wrong is wrong, and it should be punished.”
I grabbed my phone and keys from the desk, indicating I was about to leave so he could get out of my chambers. He glanced at my desk, then said, “I’m sorry. It’s already late. I’ll let you go. Have a great weekend.”
I nodded. “You too.”
As I made my way to my car, my phone started ringing again. I refused to answer though. I needed to be aware of my surroundings. I couldn’t allow a phone call to get me killed. It was probably my mama or Genesis. I realized I’d never responded to her text. Once I was in the car, had locked the doors, and cranked the engine, I pulled it from my pocket to see it was a call from my mother. I called her back while leaving the parking lot.
“Kyrie! Oh my God. You gave that woman thirty years?”
I frowned, which seemed to be a normal occurrence these days. “Twenty-five years, and yes, I did. If I could have given her more, I would have. She’s the mayor. She’s the person the people trusted to lead this city. She needs to pay for letting them down as well.”
“My God, baby. I’m just worried about you.”
“I’m fine, Mama. I’m on my way home to pack an overnight bag to go be with Genesis.”
“Okay. Just stay alert, son. Kiss my girl for me.”
“I will, Mama. I love you.”
“I love you more.”
I ended the call and shook my head. That woman was going to worry herself into an early grave. I was just as worried. Now that Darlene had been sentenced, I had a feeling that the moment I started investigating more, the threats would pick up again. Right now, they thought they were off scot-free. They had better think again because I wouldn’t stop until I found out who they were or until I died. Get justice or die trying.
When I arrived at Genesis’s home, I could smell the aroma outside the door. It smelled divine. I rang the doorbell as my stomach growled, begging me to get inside as quickly as possible. When she opened the door, her short, black, silk robe quickly deterred my thinking. Food was the last thing on my mind. “Damn, baby. You look amazing,” I said as a bright smile made its way to her face.
I scanned her body from head to toe and back up. When my eyes met hers again, she said, “Thank you. You look amazing yourself.”
I twisted my lips as she stepped to the side, welcoming me inside. I only wore a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. Being that it was still somewhat warm outside, and we were staying indoors, I figured I’d better wear my shorts while I still could. It was rare I wore them, since I was always in a suit.
“Kyrie, you look amazing in whatever you wear,” she said while closing the door.
“If you say so,” I responded while wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her close.
I laid my lips on hers, grateful to be able to soak up her peaceful aura. When she separated our kiss, she grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen. The way her backside bounced as she walked had me in a trance until I smelled what I thought was a fried pork chop. My head snapped up, and sure enough, that was what was on the stove.
An uncontrollable smile broke out on my face. “You’ve been talking to my mama, haven’t you?”
She giggled as I pulled her close again. This woman was everything I desired. She always took my wants, likes, and dislikes into consideration. I was pretty sure she would cook seafood since that was what she liked most, but she catered to me, doing whatever she knew would put a smile on my face after a long day.
“Thank you, baby. I appreciate this so much.”
“You’re welcome. Let’s eat.”
She knew I wouldn’t be able to turn down that fried pork chop. As badly as I wanted to strip that robe off her, I would eat my pork chop first. When I grabbed a plate to fix my food, she turned to me with a frown on her beautiful face. “What are you doing?”
“I’m about to fix my plate.”
“No. Go sit.”
I watched her pour a glass of tea for me and set it on the table. She came back and took the plate from me. “I always fix your food, Kyrie. It’s my way of catering to you. Now, go sit.”
She pecked my lips and began fixing my food. I slowly shook my head and sat at the table. It was apparent to me now. I loved her. I took a sip of my tea and savored the flavor. It was mixed with lemonade. I loved a good Arnold Palmer. I closed my eyes as I did my best to evaluate my emotions. I was feeling overwhelmed with love, and I didn’t know how to respond.
“You okay, baby?”
I opened my eyes to see her setting a plate of cabbage, fried pork chop, cornbread, and garlic mashed potatoes in front of me. I looked up at her with a tight smile on my face and nodded. The truth was, I was emotional, more emotional than I’d ever been, and I was doing my best to hold it in. I didn’t really know how to be sensitive. I wanted to be because she deserved to see that part of me, but I didn’t know how to reveal it without looking weak.
She walked away and got her plate then sat across from me. She stretched her hands across the table and said, “I’m going to thank the Lord before I get carried away.”
I chuckled. “You probably ate some of it while you were cooking already.”
She frowned and said, “I had to taste it. How else would I know if it was seasoned good enough?”
I laughed, and she joined me. As I slowly shook my head, she began praying. “Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to come together to partake of this food you’ve blessed us with. Thank you for leading me to Kyrie. I say it every time I pray, but I can’t thank you enough. Please allow me to be a source of peace for him after a long day. Help me to understand what he needs from me, since most times he won’t say. Let him know that it’s okay to be himself around me… all aspects of who he is. I want to know every part of him, even the parts he doesn’t like.”
I swore I was going to cry any minute. This was too much for me. Just as I thought I couldn’t take any more, she said, “And help me to know when I’m doing too much and making him uncomfortable.”
Her eyes opened and met mine. “In your son’s name. Amen.”
I nodded repeatedly. “Give me just a minute, baby.”
She gave me a tight smile as I stood and made a beeline to her bathroom. I didn’t understand how I was given everything I wanted and not able to handle it. We were so in tune with one another that she could read my demeanor and mannerisms. As I stood at the sink, staring at myself in the mirror, there was a light tap on the door. I closed my eyes, saying a silent prayer, then opened it.
She stood there staring at me, as if trying to read me, then suddenly dropped her robe. I bit my bottom lip as I stared at her gorgeous body. It was like she was trying to get me to express anything, and she knew I wouldn’t run from this form of expression. I pulled the condom from my pocket and immediately unbuttoned my shorts. She grabbed my shirt and pulled it over my head.
After taking off my underwear, I quickly strapped up and pulled her to me. Our lips collided, and my tongue sought out hers upon first contact. Stooping slightly, I lifted her by gripping her thighs and pressed her back against the nearest wall. When I pushed inside of her, my eyes rolled to the back of my head. This had to be what Shannon Sharpe felt like in his few minutes of pornographic fame. I was about to growl any minute.
“Kyrie… yes, baby.”
“That’s it, Genesis. Give it to me. Don’t hold back, baby.”
I stroked her and watched her slide up and down the wall, taking all of me like I was made for her. At this point, it felt like I was. I wanted to be the man she needed me to be, just like she wanted to be the woman I needed her to be. The words I wanted to say to her just wouldn’t come out. It was like they were stuck in my throat, threatening to choke the hell out of me.
She placed her hands on my face as she wrapped her legs tighter around me. My eyes went to hers, and it was like she was coaxing the words right out of me. “I love you, Genesis.”
I closed my eyes tightly and increased my pace until I heard her say, “I love you too, Kyrie… so much already.”
I reopened my eyes as she orgasmed all over me. Her walls put a death grip on me and forced me to orgasm right along with her. I was panting hard, but I knew it had more to do with my emotions than physical exhaustion. I stared at her as I continued to hold her against the wall. As I opened my mouth to speak, she put her fingers to my lips, silencing me.
“I think we better go eat before it gets too cold to enjoy.”
I smiled at her, thankful that she knew what I needed and how I needed it. My only qualm was wondering why I didn’t meet her sooner. She was the woman I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. While I was confused as to why I couldn’t seem to express that to her verbally, she didn’t seem to be confused at all. I wasn’t surprised that she said she loved me, too, because I’d been feeling her love for a while. I knew she was protecting her feelings like I had been by not saying it first.
When I stared into her eyes during our moment of passion, the words fell from me. I didn’t even have time to truly think about them or what her reaction to my words would be. It felt right. It felt like a weight lifted off my chest when I said it, and I was able to relax completely when she said it back. I could only pray that it would always be this way between us.
I finally lowered her and allowed myself to slide from her depths. She gave me a slight smile as she got a towel from the cabinet so we could clean up. Finding my voice, I said, “You know this is for nothing, right? I’m going to go diving into your waters as soon as we’re done eating.”
“I figured as much. I can’t be messing up my dining room chairs though.”
I chuckled and pulled her to me. After kissing her lips, I released her and pulled off the condom, throwing it in her waste basket, then took the wet towel from her and cleaned up. Once I’d put my clothes back on and she’d put her robe back on, she grabbed my hand. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to just eat dinner first. I should have put on my moo-moo.”
I chuckled. “Girl, that wouldn’t have stopped a thing. I can disrespect a moo-moo just as easily. What’s underneath it won’t change.” I stopped walking, halting her in the process. When she turned to me, I swept a dreadlock over her shoulder that had fallen from the bun she had them in. “I love you, Miss Farris.”
She smiled, dazzling me with her pearly whites. “I love you too, Judge Patrick.”