Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
YUMI
Iwoke up to the ringing of my cell on the nightstand beside me. I could feel the soreness from Emery’s workout last night and well into this morning. Since I wasn’t due in court until this afternoon, I planned to sleep in and then take a long, hot Epsom salt bath.
Apparently, that plan was being interrupted. I picked it up, noticing Jeremiah calling. “Good morning, Jeremiah. What’s going on?”
“Judge Cason has summoned us. The meeting is at 9:15.” I looked at the time on my phone, seeing it was already 7:40.
“Shit. Did he say why?”
“Of course he didn’t.”
I rubbed my eyes. “Okay. I’ll be there after I get dressed.”
“I can pick you up if you’d like.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll meet you at the courthouse.”
“Okay, beautiful. See you then.”
I hung up. I had to stop Jeremiah before he got any ideas. I didn’t doubt that Emery would put him in the ground if he heard him saying things like that to me.
Finally getting my world together, I looked around and noticed Emery wasn’t in bed with me. I got up, took care of my hygiene, got dressed, and then went in search of him. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, I saw Jake standing at the bottom waiting for me.
“Good morning, Ms. Yumi. Emery is out on the lanai, waiting for you,” he spoke.
“Good morning. Thank you, Jake.” He gave a curt nod as I tried to remember exactly which direction the lanai was in. Hanging a right, I walked past the different rooms until I reached the kitchen, where Chas, the chef, was putting away food.
When he noticed me, he smiled. “Good morning, Ms. Yumi.”
“Good morning. The lanai is through here, right?” I asked, pointing to the sliding glass door.
“It is. Mr. Emery is waiting for you. Enjoy your breakfast.” I smiled and headed onto the beautiful lanai.
I could tell Mrs. Aldana thought of this.
It had tan leather chairs, and a rectangular glass table that seated eight, with flowers and plants surrounding the area.
It also had views of the pool and a beautiful lake as the backdrop—a stark contrast between the dark tones inside the house.
Emery sat at the table with the beautiful spread of food, talking on his cell, looking out at the pool.
“. . . I want to post the positions on Indeed and Job Recruiter as soon as possible. I’m looking to open the school within the next three or so months, so it’s time to start getting the ball rolling .
. . Right. I want to open for the fall/winter semester.
I’ll give you a call sometime next week so we can meet and go over the plan.
. . Indeed.” He hung up and turned, seeing me leaning against the post.
He smiled. “Good morning, my love.”
“Good morning, handsome.” I blushed as he waved me over. Emery was too damn fine for his own good. I couldn’t believe I went years without him. I was foolish for allowing my parents to run me away from him, but it was by the grace of God that he still wanted me and was still single.
I straddled his lap as we engaged in an intimate and heated kiss. His hands rubbed up and down my ass, kneading them in the process.
“Mmm,” I moaned.
“If you’re not trying to get pregnant before your seventeen days are up, I suggest you stop kissing me like this,” he said, biting my chin as I laughed.
“Why are you still counting down, sir? You have me already.”
“I already told you what was going to happen within these thirty days, Yummy. You’ll be pregnant before the year closes.”
“Is that right?”
“Absolutely. Take another Plan B, and you gon’ be saying ya alphabets backward.” I guffawed and lifted from his lap, but he grabbed my hips to sit me back down. “Where are you going?”
“The judge wants to see us this morning.” I checked my watch. “I gotta go.”
“Did he say what for?”
“No, but I’m sure it’s regarding the trial. Once I leave the courthouse, I have to go into the office and prep for court this afternoon.”
“I went to visit Terrica last night.”
I looked at him and frowned. “Emery—”
“It’s not what you think. Just like I didn’t touch Leyla, I didn’t touch her either.”
“Then what happened?”
“Them niggas basically are coercing her to get on the stand and commit perjury.”
My frown deepened. “What?”
“That’s what she said, but I made sure to let her know that if she gets on that stand tomorrow and lies, she won’t have to worry about going to jail. She’ll be going in a dark hole right along with her mama.”
“Baby, you can’t keep threatening people.”
“It’s not a threat, Yum. That shit is a for sure promise, one I intend to keep.”
“What if she gets on the stand and tells them you paid her a visit and threatened her?”
“She won’t. I’m sure she loves herself and her mama too much to play with her life like that.” I shook my head. “What’s the judge’s name again?”
“This judge’s name is Samuel Cason.”
“What happened to Larkin?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll know more when I get there. It has to be something important for him to ask us to come this morning.” I stood from his lap.
“Eat something.”
“I can’t. It’s already eight-thir—”
“Yumi.” He gave me a stern look.
“Fine. Bossy ass.” I giggled and grabbed a bagel, spread some cream cheese on it, placed a few pieces of bacon on it, then wrapped it in a napkin. “I love you.”
“I love you more, Yum.”
“I’ll see you later?”
“You know it.”
I pecked his lips a few times before grabbing my satchel and purse, then headed out. When I made it outside, Kevin and Reggie were already waiting in the SUV, prepared to follow me. I acknowledged them before climbing in my car and pulling out of the gates.
Jeremiah stood at the end of the staircase, waiting for me once I entered through the doors of the thirty-eighth district court.
We greeted one another before heading up the stairs and down the hall toward the judges’ chambers.
Upon approaching, I saw AUSA George Smith and AUSA Austin Rivers standing by the door, conversing.
Their attention came to us, and they immediately stopped talking.
“Smith, Rivers, good morning, gentlemen,” Jeremiah greeted, holding his hand out for a shake. They looked at me.
“Good morning, Attorney Clark. Fine day, isn’t it?” Smith asked, giving a condescending smile. I wanted to be rude, but I decided I wouldn’t give him what he was begging for. He was trying to get a rise out of me, . . . always had.
“George.” I gave a curt nod as he chuckled.
“I wonder what we’re being summoned for,” Jeremiah said.
“We’ve found new evidence that may be admissible, so we wanted to meet before the trial tomorrow.”
What the hell? I swore, these prosecutors were way too determined to make these charges stick, and now I had to see exactly what the hell we were up against.
Jeremiah scoffed. “This just keeps getting better and better for you guys, huh?”
“Oh, absolutely. When you realize that you’re trying to get a bunch of criminals off, you may want to change your profession,” Rivers retorted.
“That’s one thing about facts; you have to make sure they’re credible,” Jeremiah countered. The door to Cason’s office opened, and his assistant waved us inside. My stomach was twisting in knots from the impending evidence these assholes swore they had.
“Morning,” Judge Cason greeted. We all said our greetings and took our seats.
“So, the prosecution team called this morning, saying they have some new evidence involving this case,” he said.
“Yes, Your Honor. We have another witness who refuses to get on the stand or for her voice to be heard. She has drawn up a written testimony and is willing to give substantial evidence involving the Aldanas.”
“Are the other two witnesses still willing to testify?” Cason asked.
Rivers cleared his throat. “They have, uh, we have not been able to get in contact with them, sir. We have reason to believe that these men are doing something to our witnesses.”
“That’s quite a reach, Rivers,” I said.
“It’s not far-fetched, Clark.”
“And what is she testifying for per se?” I asked.
“She works with the Aldanas.”
“Apparently, everyone wants to testify against them. These men are working-class citizens who have multiple businesses with tax-dated proof,” I declared.
“Then why are they on house arrest and have all of these people who have information on them willing to testify against them?” Rivers queried.
“Everyone knows the Aldanas own half the businesses in the city. They are wealthy because of old money and inheritance. Anyone who’s looking for a quick payday will get on that stand and lie to make a dollar,” I argued.
“Where is the written testimony?” Judge Cason asked. Smith reached inside his satchel and handed him the papers. I readjusted myself in the seat just as he looked it over.
I could see his face turn into a frown. “I don’t see a name on this testimony.”
“She wishes to remain anonymous, sir, for fear of her life possibly being in danger,” Rivers said.
“Your Honor, I would like to go on record stating that I don’t believe we should use that testimony in court. It’s hearsay, especially since she refuses to get on the stand,” Jeremiah said.
“I’m going to look over the document and make my decision based on what I see. Until then, we will postpone the trial for further notice. You all are dismissed.”
“Your Honor, I’d like to petition that the house arrests be removed from my clients. Some of their businesses require them to keep late nights. I can assure you that they’re not a flight risk,” I said.
“You’re pushing it, Ms. Clark. House arrest will remain, but I will extend their curfew to 1 a.m., no later than that.”
“Thank you, sir.” We all stood and left the office. As we walked out of the building, Smith called out to us.
“You can’t save them this time. With that testimony, along with the information she has on them, they are going to rot in prison.” He chuckled.
“Oh yeah? I’ll be sure to mention how you coerced Terrica James to get on the stand and lie on them.
You may have this anonymous witness in your corner, but let’s not forget my 90 percent success rate.
I’ll always come out the winner. Remember that.
” I winked at him and walked away with Jeremiah following.
“Those assholes sure know how to pull witnesses out of their asses, don’t they?”
“They do, but I bet it won’t hold up in court. I just hope that whatever this witness has, it doesn’t hold up, or else I just might quit my damn job.”
Jeremiah chuckled. “You wouldn’t dare. You love this job.”
“I do, but if I fumble being a partner, I don’t want to continue practicing. Being a partner is all I ever dreamed of.”
“You’re right. Well, let’s do all we can to make that happen.” We made it to my car as I hit the locks. Jeremiah opened my door for me as I placed my things inside.
“Thanks, Jeremiah. I’ll call the Aldanas tomorrow and break the news to them.”
“Okay, see you tomorrow.” He leaned forward, quickly kissing my cheek and smiling at me.
“Jeremiah, I—”
“Yumi.” I looked over to see Liam standing in front of my car.
Jeremiah quickly backed away and began walking to his car. “See you later, Yumi.” Then he disappeared.
“What the hell do you want, Liam?” I asked, still flabbergasted by Jeremiah’s actions.
“Does your little boyfriend know you’re out here kissing your colleagues in parking lots?”
“Does your little snow bunny know you’re still texting my phone, begging to eat my ass?” I countered. My brow raised, daring him to say some more stupid shit.
He smirked. “I told you she doesn’t mind you being our third.”
“Liam, get the fuck away from my car before I run your retarded ass over!”
“Yumi, I’m kidding, baby.”
“I’m not your fucking baby. Stay the hell away from me. I mean it.”
“I want you back, Yumi. I’ve been sick without you.”
“Really? Well, I hope you croak the fuck over. Move.” I shooed him away, got inside my car, and started the engine.
“He’s only going to break your heart! He doesn’t love you!”
I cracked my window. “I guess you didn’t love me either, because it was so easy for you to break it.
Go to hell, Liam, and stop texting me before you lose your fingers or your life.
” I rolled my window back up and pulled out of the lot.
I didn’t know what was wrong with these men, but clearly, they both had a death wish.