Corrupted (19 page)

“Thank you, counsel.” Judge Kittredge banged the gavel, his expression impassive. “Court is dismissed.”

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“So how do you think it went?” Bennie asked Declan, as they pushed through the double doors of the courtroom, their parkas open.

“I think it went great.” Declan looked over, his dark eyes shining and his face alive with animation. He reached out his large hand. “Give me your bag.”

“Thanks.” Bennie handed him her heavy messenger bag, knowing he'd insist anyway, and they walked down the corridor of rose marble. They were alone, and the ancient frosted fixtures shed barely any light.

“You were awesome. You did a great job.” Declan grinned, hoisting the bag easily to his shoulder. “You even made me
like
lawyers. Really, I mean it. I get why you had to work so late, last night. When I saw the green light go on, I thought, damn. The green light makes it real. ‘Ready, set, go!'”

“I'm fine with the green light; it's the red light I hate.” Bennie smiled, and Declan smiled back.

“Because it's over then?”

“Yes, I have to shut up.”

Declan chuckled. “You gave me hope for Richie. For the both of them. I think we won.”

“How about we go with cautious optimism?” Bennie couldn't help but temper his enthusiasm, a practitioner's reflex.

“Hell, no. How could we
not
win? You were so convincing.”

“Declan, you heard the judge.” Bennie's heels clacked on the hard marble floor as they walked toward the glass exit doors. “He's with us on the substance, but not the procedure. He doesn't want to rule alone. Best-case scenario, we win, but not yet. Is that a win or not? Justice delayed is justice denied, isn't it?”

“I see what you mean.” Declan's smile faded. “You know, I'm going to explore becoming Richie's legal guardian.”

“What, really?” Bennie stopped in her tracks, and so did Declan. They stood in the sunlight coming through the exit doors. “When did you decide to do this?”

“It's been growing on me, from watching you.” Declan frowned. “I didn't get a chance to tell you. Doreen is refusing to meet with the new lawyers I found.”

“How is that even an option? Richie needs a lawyer.” Bennie didn't hide her anger.

“I know. I think she's sabotaging me. Honestly, I don't think she wants Richie out.”

“I wondered about that,” Bennie said gently.

“You dropped everything for Jason. That's what Richie needs, too.” Declan clenched his jaw. “If I were a lawyer, I'd do it on my own, like you did today.”

“But guardianship?” Bennie wondered if Declan knew what he was getting into. “You can't be declared Richie's guardian unless you show that Doreen is unfit. That's a high standard. She didn't seem unfit to me, and it would be an ugly court battle.”

“I don't think it will go as far as court. I already have Richie's okay. I'm hoping she'll go along.”

“Do you think she will? I mean, how close are you two, anyway?”

“Not very. We used to be closer. Our whole family was close. But then my parents passed, a year apart. She took it hard.” Declan's frown deepened. “She met her ex, and I couldn't stand him. I knew he was a loser from day one. I told her so, before they got married. That didn't help. You would think we got closer after they broke up. We didn't. It only made it worse I turned out to be right.”

“So, do you really think she'll agree?”

“Yes. She wants somebody to solve this problem for her. She's like that. Richie thinks she'll agree, too. He wants to get out of River Street. He said he'd rather live with me. I could get him the help he needs, whenever he gets out.” Declan managed a smile. “Even if he gets out later than we all want.”

Bennie realized she hadn't called Matthew yet. “Oh, I almost forgot, Jason's father is waiting to hear how the argument went. Can you give me a minute?”

“Sure.” Declan gestured outside. “I'll go get the truck and pick you up.”

“Okay, thanks.” Bennie slid her phone from her purse and pressed in Matthew's number, as Declan left the courthouse.

Matthew answered immediately. “Did we win?” he asked, anxious.

“The judge hasn't ruled yet. It's a difficult legal question, and even though we're right, the judge might be reluctant to decide it on his own—”

“Isn't that his job, to decide things on his own?” Matthew sounded confused. “Look, just tell me straight, is Jason getting out or not?”

“I don't know if or when he's getting out, yet, because I don't know when the judge will rule. I hope it will be before Christmas, but he doesn't have to do that if he doesn't want to.”

“I hardly slept last night. It's Friday already. Do they decide on the weekend?”

“It's only one judge, and no, he doesn't. I'm sorry, Matthew. I want him out as much as you do.”

“Don't they know the meaning of the word emergency?” Matthew sighed.

“I know it's hard, believe me, but this is as fast as courts move. In fact, I've never seen a court move as fast.”

“It's like they don't care.”

“They do, I think that's why we're making the progress we are.” Bennie could hear the hopelessness in his tone. “Did you visit Jason last night? Did you see his bald patch?”

“Yes, he showed it to me. He had the hat on.”

“So what do you think?”

“I'll see if it gets better on its own. The nurse made an appointment for him to see the doctor, but they couldn't schedule it until after New Year's.”

Bennie sighed inwardly. “Matthew, it's not going to get better, and his hair is going to fall out. The boys will tease him, even worse—”

“Uh-oh, Bennie, I gotta get back to work, my boss is on the floor. Would you do me a favor and visit him this weekend? I'll go Saturday, but I can't go Sunday. They offered me overtime, and if I work a double, I can get ahead of Jason's expenses.”

“Don't worry, I'll go Sunday.”

“Thanks. He was asking for you. He likes you.”

“I like him, too. He's a great kid.” Bennie's throat caught. “I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything from the judge.”

“Thank you. Bye now.”

“Good-bye.” Bennie hung up, shaking her head. She slipped her phone back in her purse and saw Declan's truck pulling up near the courthouse entrance, so she went outside.

“How'd it go?” Declan asked, coming around the front of the truck to open the door for her.

“Thanks. He's disappointed, and I get that.” Bennie climbed inside the truck and closed the door behind her. She set her purse on the seat, then noticed a gift on the console, wrapped with shiny red paper. An attached note card read,
For Bennie, Merry Christmas to my favorite lawyer. From, Declan.

Declan opened the driver's side door, got into the truck, and closed it behind him with a grin. “Merry Christmas!”

“What's this?” Bennie asked, delighted. She picked up the gift.

“Santa came early, I guess.”

“Aw,” Bennie said, touched. “You didn't have to.”

“I wanted to.” Declan smiled warmly.

“But I don't have anything for you.”

“That's okay. Open it.”

“What a lovely thing to do.” Bennie tore off the paper and lifted up the lid of a white cardboard box. Inside on a layer of cotton gleamed the silver bracelet she had seen in the store in Jim Thorpe. “Thank you!”

“You're welcome.”

“When did you do this?” Bennie asked, happily surprised.

“When I went running. Bear picked it out. Put it on.”

“It's so pretty.” Bennie picked up the silvery circle, which caught the lights as she slid it onto her wrist.

“Let me see.” Declan reached for her hand, brought it to his mouth, and kissed the side. “Beautiful.”

“Declan—” Bennie said, then felt a rush of happiness that rendered her speechless, maybe for the first time ever.

“Yes?” Declan said, smiling, and in the next moment, he leaned over and kissed her softly, and she kissed him back, feeling her heart give way.

“Yes,” Bennie answered, pulling away with a smile.

“Wow.” Declan smiled. “I've been wanting to do that for a long time.”

“Now you're talking dirty.”

“No, I'm not.” Declan smiled wider. “When I talk dirty, you'll know it.”

“Ha!” Bennie felt an unaccountable thrill.

“So how about I take you to lunch? I made a reservation at the place we canceled last night.”

“Too bad, you'll have to cancel again.”

“Why? You have to work?”

“No, but we have better things to do.” Bennie reached over and turned the key in the ignition. “Let's go home.”

“On it.” Declan laughed, putting the truck in gear.

*   *   *

They got back to the hotel, and Bennie hurried up the steps to the second floor with Declan at her heels. She had the room key ready when they reached her door, so she stuck it in the lock and twisted, then they both leaned on the door, so that when it opened, they practically fell inside the room, laughing.

“Arf!” Bear pawed them for attention, but they both ignored him, kissing while they wiggled out of their coats and fell back on the canopy bed, which was covered with photocopied cases. The dog barked a few more times, the papers crackled under their bodies, and the air smelled like stale pizza, but Bennie didn't care, kicking off her pumps and hoping they didn't land on Bear, who quieted, getting the picture.

Bennie lay back on the soft bed as they kissed, letting the world ebb away from her. She felt the softness of Declan's lips, the delicious weight of his body on hers, and the pleasure coursing through her system, relaxing her totally, making her feel a way she hadn't in ages. Her mind cleared and her thoughts vanished, even as Declan helped her out of her blazer, managing not to get it stuck on her new bracelet.

“Well done,” Bennie murmured.

“You ain't seen nothing yet.” Declan slid his hands under her blouse, so expertly that it made her shudder with arousal, and Bennie shivered under the warmth of his fingers as they ran over the top of her bra, which was when she gave herself over completely, surrendering to the happiness, the joy, and the sheer toe-curling pleasure that great sex could be, between two adults who cared deeply about each other.

There was more laughter than she expected, more sighs, and an unladylike cry that came from somewhere in Bennie's throat, loud enough that Declan had to cover her mouth to keep the inn manager from the door, leaving them both laughing. They made love until darkness had fallen and they were out of condoms, and they talked until the dog needed walking, then they realized they were starving, so there was yet another pizza, this time eaten together in bed, watching the end of some dumb college football game, cut short by more talking, more kissing, and ultimately, more lovemaking.

Bennie didn't care if they never left the room, and neither did Declan, so they didn't, agreeing that although Jim Thorpe was adorable, they'd seen everything there was to see, so they spent all day Saturday in bed, as well as Saturday night to Sunday just after dawn. They both fell back asleep, with nobody bothering to set an alarm, and Bennie woke up with her head on Declan's chest and his arm draped heavily over her, holding her close. She let wakefulness creep over her, in no hurry to move or change anything, just letting Sunday morning come on.

Sunlight warmed the bedroom, glowing in rays through the mullioned window. The only sound was the snoring of the dog at the foot of the bed, and the only movement the soft rising and falling of Declan's chest as he slept. Bennie closed her eyes again, trying to hold on to the peace of the moment and the happiness of being here, with him. That she was falling in love with him was a foregone conclusion, though she hadn't admitted it to him last night, nor even to herself until this very moment. She sensed that he was falling in love with her in return, though he hadn't said so either. She felt oddly sure of his feelings, and the only mystery was how she had gotten this far in her life without ever being this happy.

She thought back to her conversation in the office with Lou, and her early worries about how she and Declan would make the differences between them work, but she no longer felt the same fear. She sensed that they both cared too much about each other to let things get in the way, and she knew that she would make room for him in her life, and he would do the same for her. She simply felt too good to let the feeling go.

And he was a man worth compromising for.

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Bennie shifted forward in the front seat of the truck, and Declan steered onto the driveway to the juvenile detention center. They had showered, eaten, and walked the dog, reentering the outside world happy, if sleepy. She turned to him, shifting into work mode in anticipation of seeing Jason.

“Okay, so Declan, do you want to go in first or shall I?”

“Whatever you want.” Declan drove up the hill, eyeing the parking lot ahead, which held more cars than usual. “Sunday must be visiting day.”

“I'll go in first and get situated with Jason. We'll sit on the right, and you sit on the left.”

“The boys will see each other.”

“Right, but they won't relate the two of us, and that's all I'm worried about.”

“Okay.” Declan reached the top of the hill, parked, cut the ignition, and kissed her briefly.

“Let's go see the kids.” Bennie got her purse, climbed out of the truck, and closed the heavy door behind her. The sun felt warm and the wind blew gently off the river, a nice break in the weather. Declan put his arm around her, and they walked toward the entrance together. Another couple walked past them, looking back.