Chapter 9 #2
Squaring her shoulders, she turned to the judge, the battle light in her eyes.
"Your honor, I would like to remind the court that this woman, Mrs. Black, issued threats and assaulted me, an officer of the court, just yesterday.
I have the bruises to prove it." She touched the marks on her cheek lightly.
"Sending Simon to live with her after what she put the child through would be foolhardy and reckless.
" Ignoring the anger on the man's florid face, she pressed on.
"Simon has clearly stated that he was afraid to go back home with her.
And there's the matter of the drug charges as well as charges of assault that I will be filing shortly. "
She paused when she happened to look out of the corner of her eye and saw the malevolent expression that flashed across the woman's face but was quickly schooled.
Taking a deep breath, she realigned her thoughts and tried to ignore the frisson of fear she felt at that look and continued.
"I would like to assume that the justice system is completely on the side of the minor and will rule accordingly. "
The judge peered at her over his horn-rimmed glasses and made no comment.
"I will make my ruling in thirty minutes. Court's dismissed."
All she could do now was hope and pray. Avoiding the glare from the mother, she made her way over to the boy and his uncle and spoke reassuringly.
*****
"For a woman who won a victory, you certainly don't look the part."
Allison started and focused on her boss as she ambled into the room.
Plopping down on the chair, she stretched her legs out and took a sip of her latte.
She really should cut down. Her doctor was warning her about not taking care of her health and blah, blah, blah.
Doctors, she shook her head in disgust. They were the worst.
"Simon is now with his uncle."
Gerry eyed her over the foam cup. "But?"
She shrugged and felt the weariness invading her bones. "The mother could be a problem."
"You filed charges against her."
"I did."
"She's behind bars where she belongs. What's the problem?"
"You should have seen the way she looked at me in that courtroom. When the ruling was announced, she did not scream invectives the way she did before, but there was an eerie calmness on her face. A look of pure hatred directed at me."
Gerry scoffed. "You're not a wilting violet. I've seen you in action and you're never intimidated."
"No." Picking up a glass elephant, she rolled it around in her palm. "But there's something about Betsy Black that strikes me as evil." She shrugged. "And you're right. She's right where she belongs."
Allison let out a shaky laugh, but her eyes betrayed her concern.
"I know, Gerry. But this feels different.
There's a part of me that can't shake the feeling that she's not done, that she'll find a way to make trouble, no matter where she is.
" She absently rubbed her arm, as if still feeling the sting of the encounter. "I just want Simon to be safe."
"He is. You checked out the uncle thoroughly, of course."
She nodded. "He's solid." She hesitated and wondered if she should reveal that Dimitri had offered to lend his support in the form of monetary assistance. The uncle had told her with a flush of excitement that he had already been in touch.
"I know who he is, of course. Dimitri Petrov.
He's paying for a place, a nice home near Simon's school.
A place with a yard for him to run around in.
I don't know if I should accept that very generous offer.
" She had told the man she would let him know.
She supposed that a man with Dimitri's unlimited resources would have no trouble buying not one, but several houses.
He had said he wanted to assist and she supposed she should let him.
She was just going to have to explore the ramifications, if there were any, first. And her emotional response to what he was doing.
The man had gotten under her skin in more ways than one. She had stood there inside the courtroom, expecting him to be there. And she was sitting at her desk, waiting to hear from him. It had to stop.
"What's next?"
Stirring herself, she picked up the file she had been perusing. "The children's home on Silver Street."
"Ah." Gerry took another sip. "The mayor is making noises about displacing the children."
"The mayor is a political ass. The place is in deplorable condition, and the children are badly mistreated."
"Don't get on your high horse with me. I'm on your side. Any plans?"
"I'm gunning for the admin staff. The administrator is a dried-up old prune, married to a senator. I don't give a rat's ass if she's married to the President. I'm taking her down."
Gerry laughed softly, amused at the battle light in the younger woman's eyes. "I'm rooting for you. Have at it." She rose and stretched. "I have a meeting with a potential client. See you later."
*****
She was elbow deep in paperwork when she got the call.
"Yes?" She looked up distractedly when the receptionist came to stand inside her doorway. "You were not answering your phone."
"I'm busy."
"I told the lady that, but she insisted on speaking to you. Elizabeth McKenzie."
She looked up from the file and stared at the woman framed inside her doorway. And wondered briefly if she could get away with not taking the call.
She was smart enough to figure out the call was due to Elizabeth's grandson spending the night. Allison was not big on coincidences.
Stifling a sigh, she nodded. "I'll take it. Close the door please."
She waited until that was done, before picking up the receiver and forcing cheerfulness into her voice.
"Elizabeth, hi. I hope you're not calling to tell me you're having troubles with one of my charges."
"No such thing, my dear." The woman's cultured voice was light and breezy. "How have you been doing? I have not seen you since the function."
"Busy." Leaning back against the chair, she let out a careful breath. Dimitri had not called her, and she was wondering if that was deliberate. "Too much work and too little compensation."
"We both know you don't do it for the money."
"I don't. How are you and Alvin?" She was also careful not to mention the woman's grandson.
"My husband is just recovering from a cold. I wasn't certain Dimitri mentioned it."
The gauntlet had been dropped, and it was followed by silence on her part.
So, she knew and in her own subtle manner, the woman was making her aware that she knew.
She could do one of two things: ignore the unspoken question and move on to something else or acknowledge it.
She was usually a very forthright person, but in this instance she was going to hide behind falsehood and ignorance and hope for the best.
"How is he now? Alvin?"
"Fit and fine as a fiddle. I won't take up much more of your time. We would like you to come to supper on Sunday. We usually dine at seven."
"I don't..." She began but was firmly mowed over. "Nothing formal of course. I told Dimitri I would do the asking."
"I see," Allison said carefully as she reached for the paperweight and hefted it. "I don't know what he told you..."
"Nothing much. I'm aware he spent the night with you."
The statement hung in the air, and she wanted to assure the woman she was not a slut. But dammit, she was a grown-ass woman and could pretty much sleep with anyone she pleased. But this was Elizabeth McKenzie.
"I'll be there," she heard herself saying.
"Perfect." She could swear the woman clapped in satisfaction. "I'll see you then. Don't work too hard."
Allison hung up the phone and sat for a few minutes in silence. She was going to murder him. Next time she saw him, she was going to be going to jail for homicide.
*****
The next time was later that evening and he was already ensconced inside her kitchen when she got home. The scent of beef stew hit her the minute she opened the door. He had not parked in the driveway like a normal person, so that she could know he was there and had picked her lock again.
Anger simmered inside her chest, warring with the hunger settling inside her stomach.
Aside from three cups of horrible coffee and a questionable beef sandwich, she hadn't eaten anything.
Her day had been crappy. She had met with the administrator at the horrible home for children and the woman had ended up pissing her off.
Threats had been made, with the woman dropping some powerful names, which had pissed her off even more.
Dropping her jacket, briefcase, bag and boots at the doorway, she marched into the cozy kitchen and stopped when he turned to face her.
He had lit candles on the table tucked beneath the window.
The table was set with a white tablecloth, which she had never seen before and there was wine chilling in a bucket, one she had never seen before either.
And he looked yummy, deliciously yummy in dark blue denim and a matching sweater that clung to broad shoulders and his wide chest.
"Hi." His deep accented voice turned her knees to jelly and her insides into mush. "How was your day?"
She wanted to blast him for invading her privacy and assuming she would want to see him, but the words were lodged inside her throat.
"I..." Her voice petered off as he crossed the room in three long strides and lifted her off her feet.
Laying his lips on hers, he drank from her, the way a thirsty man, one who had not seen water in several days, would.
Her hands came around his neck as she sank helplessly into the kiss.
Heat curled into her, scattering the lingering cold from outdoors and setting her on fire.
Good Lord, she thought as she clutched at his sweater and yearned for more. The hunger for food was replaced by one far stronger and more powerful. When his hands scattered the pins from her hair and gripped the coils, she moaned against his mouth.
Backing up, he sat down on the stool and cradled her against him without breaking the kiss. She smelled of the outdoors and was as addictive as fine wine and he wanted to devour her.