Chapter 44
Beau Lee was startled out of his sleep as the plane touched down in Houston.
His frequent flights were typically an opportunity for him to catch up on much-needed rest. But who was he kidding?
Nothing compared to being in bed and actually getting a good night’s rest. He yawned, gathered his briefcase, and exited the aircraft swiftly to make his way to baggage claim.
Beau Lee stood watching as the other passengers’ luggage crept around the carousel.
In addition to his fatigue, his mind was still on Hollis’s bail predicament, but he was also eager to see Gigi.
When he finally spotted his luggage coming down the conveyor belt, he snatched it and quickly headed toward the exit.
Outside, he spotted Nellie’s black SUV idling in the passenger pickup area and made a beeline toward it.
Nellie was in the driver’s seat, but he hopped out as Beau Lee approached. “How was your flight?” he asked. “Did you get some rest?”
“Not much,” Beau Lee said.
Beau Lee knew he was going to have to explain what he was thinking during his attempt at a foot chase back in Chicago.
While this was no laughing matter, Beau Lee chuckled about the fact that he’d almost caught those cowards.
But he quickly snapped back to the reality of what had just occurred with them throwing eggs at him after the press conference.
He understood all too well it could have been something much more dangerous than eggs.
He took a few deep breaths. Beau Lee offered a silent prayer thanking God that it didn’t end badly…
and braced himself. He was sure Nellie had plenty to say, and despite knowing he’d probably be right, Beau Lee was in no mood to be chastised. There was just too much else at stake.
After helping Beau Lee put his luggage in the car, Nellie wasted no time. “Frat, what the hell made you think it was safe to run after that shitty sedan? That reminded me of O.J.’s Bronco,” Nellie said, offering some levity at the situation. He and Beau Lee both laughed for a few moments.
“But, I think you’re in too deep. Don’t you realize how much you’re putting at risk? It’s not just your life on the line, it’s also everyone else’s around you,” Nellie declared.
“Look, Nellie. I know what I’m do—” Beau Lee tried to assert before Nellie interrupted.
“I don’t think you do,” he said. “Frat, I know you’re concerned with Hollis’s freedom.
But I’m concerned about your life. And just so you know, Gigi was almost inconsolable last night after she spoke with you.
She called and gave me a mouthful. She thinks all of our firm members are okay with your attempt at playing Superman in Chicago.
I told her that’s not the case. I had your back and did my best to calm her down.
But you have to know how worried she is. ”
Nellie continued. “I’m pretty sure she’s waiting to plead her case for when you walk through that door. That woman loves you.”
“And I love her,” Beau Lee said instinctively. Feeling exasperated, he tried to rationalize. “Yeah, Nellie, I already know. She gave me an earful over the phone last night.”
Nellie started, “But Beau—”
This time Beau Lee cut him off, saying, “Hold on, I let you say your piece, Frat. Now hear me out. If I let the enemies of equality win, then what does that say about me? Why did I become a civil rights attorney in the first place? Am I supposed to sit back and let injustice prevail? If I don’t fight for Hollis Montrose, who will? ”
Nellie took a deep breath and said, “Frat, I admire your conviction. We all do. But you need to be realistic. Have you considered what happens if you’re not here to keep fighting? You’re not Superman. You can be harmed…or worse.”
“My fallibility is never far from my mind.”
“Not only your fallibility, but the law firm’s vitality.”
“What do you mean?”
“The firm is now defending a defamation lawsuit filed by the Chicago police union, which is costing us money we don’t have. And it doesn’t matter how frivolous the lawsuit is, the cost of defending it is expensive.”
“You think I don’t understand that? I know what our firm is up against.”
“Do you? Because we’re having to spend a lot of the funds we just received from the bank settlement. I shouldn’t have to remind you that that money was earmarked for the expansion.”
“When we win the Montrose case, the settlement will be enough to replenish that account ten times over.”
“Gunshot residue was found on Hollis’s hands—you know what that means. Winning this case will be a long shot at best. But most importantly, Frat, the danger around you is clear and present. Do you want this to be the last case you fight?”
An airport cop appeared at Nellie’s window and tapped on the glass. “Move it along,” he said. “This is strictly a loading zone.”
“Got it,” Nellie said. “Sorry, Officer.”
He shifted into drive, waited until traffic was clear, and then merged into the line of vehicles headed out of the airport.
“Nellie, do you think for one minute that I, Beau Lee Cooper, am going to throw in the towel?”
“Jesus, Beau Lee, I’m not telling you to give up, but you’ve gotta understand there’s a price to be paid for all this, and you don’t pay it alone: We all do. Gigi, me, Capes, Brother Harpo, and even Alvarez.”
Beau Lee rebutted. “The fight for justice always comes with a price. It’s what we all signed up for.”
“I won’t pretend I’m not worried,” Nellie said. “I have an uneasy feeling that this isn’t going to end well.”
“I have those same feelings at times, too. But that worrying is what landed you in urgent care.”
“I told you, it was nothing. Just a little high blood pressure.”
“We all need to take care of ourselves,” Beau Lee said. “If I promise not to take any unnecessary risks, you’ve got to promise to look after yourself.”
Nellie rubbed his chest, as if to recall the pain he’d experienced a few weeks ago. “All right, Frat,” he said. “I get your point.”
“Likewise.”
Beau Lee offered a fist bump. “We good?”
“Yeah, we’re good,” Nellie said, reciprocating the gesture as they pulled up to Beau Lee’s house. “Not sure that’ll be the case for Gigi, though. I’m sure she’ll have a lot to say.”
Beau Lee chuckled. “Yeah, I know. I’ll holla at you later. Thanks for the ride, Frat.”
“No problem, we will connect later, Frat.”
As Beau Lee opened the front door, he heard Gigi call out, “Beau Lee Cooper, is that you walking through this door?”
“Yes, beautiful, it’s me.” He entered the living room, and Gigi was standing there with her arms crossed.
He walked up to her and gave her a long hug and said, “Baby you don’t know how much I missed you, as he kissed her on the cheek.
He could hear the sound of Bianca’s laughter and yells as she played Mario Kart.
Beau Lee went to his daughter and gave her a long kiss on her head.
Bianca giggled and said, “Dad! I’m playing!”
Beau Lee just smiled, walked back to Gigi, and leaned in to hug her again. As Gigi took in the sight of her husband, she saw the simultaneous weariness and determination in his eyes.
Gigi said, “Beau Lee, I am so happy to see you, but baby, we have got to talk about what I saw on the news yesterday. I seriously can’t believe you’d put your life at risk, knowing you have a daughter, wife, and family at home.”
Beau Lee rubbed the back of his neck. “Gigi, baby, I just got here, and I don’t want to have this conversation right now. I have a million and one things running through my mind right now, and I have to prepare these motions for the case by tomorrow.”
“No, Beau Lee, we’re not putting this conversation off.
” Her voice was sharp, but she walked behind him and helped massage the knotted area of his neck.
“What the hell were you thinking? You’re way too emotionally attached to this damn case, and it’s eating you alive.
Do you really think I’m going to stand by, watch you risk your life, and say nothing? ”
“Gigi, do you understand this isn’t just a case to me?”
“I know, but I should never have seen my man on TV putting his life in danger the way you did. You’ve lost your damn mind.”
“This is a Black man’s life—one who has been an upright citizen, who is well-respected in the community and the police academy, and he’s lying in a jail bed fighting for his life.
His family’s counting on me. Hell, he’s counting on me to fight for him, for justice.
You can’t possibly think I’m just gonna walk away from this case, him, and every Black person in America who’s been falsely accused by the system of whiteness.
Gigi, do you not understand what’s at stake with this case? ”
“I know exactly what is at stake. You ain’t gotta remind me of that,” she shot back.
“But let me ask you a question. What good will you be if you’re dead or seriously injured?
The whole system is corrupt, and Chicago is dangerous, and them white folks play with a different set of rules.
And baby, if you aren’t careful they’ll come for you and yours. ”
Beau Lee said, “Gigi, honey—”
Gigi interrupted and raised her voice slightly.
“Beau Lee, you’re a damn good attorney, and you know that what I’m saying is nothing but the truth.
The problem is, you don’t understand that you’re not invincible, and these godforsaken streets don’t care about you, your passions, or your principles.
The streets are the streets, and they don’t give anything about a Black man.
I’ll be damned if I sit here watching you lose yourself and not say anything about it.
Baby, I need you to use wisdom and understanding as you navigate this case. For me. For Bianca.”
Beau Lee really wanted to explain to Gigi, tell her she didn’t understand, but in his soul he knew she was right. “Well, I can’t recuse myself and let someone else handle this case. People are depending on me, and I just can’t see another Black man lose to the system.”
Gigi sighed, her expression softening. “I’m saying you need to think long and hard about what’s most important.
If your heart and head aren’t in the right place, you’re not gonna be able to give this case what it needs.
I’m not saying you need to step back, but what I am saying is don’t you dare keep moving forward without a solid plan and strategy.
It also must be a plan that doesn’t involve you chasing after cars like a man who ain’t got no sense. ”
The room went silent for a moment, and Beau Lee stared at the ceiling while his mind replayed Gigi’s words, his daughter’s laughter, and Capes yelling at him to stop running. What Gigi said remained at the forefront of his mind and heart, and without the shadow of a doubt he knew she was right.
Beau Lee exhaled, and his eyes met with Gigi’s. “You’re right,” he said. “I’ll think about how to move forward and not put myself or anyone else at risk.”
Gigi gave him an encouraging hug. “That’s all I’m asking, Beau Lee. We’re in this together, remember? Baby, you don’t have to carry this weight by yourself. We got you!”