Relentless Pursuit (6 page)

“Is that John Wolfe?” Tammy asked as she hoisted herself up from the depth of the couch.

“It’s nothing!” Miss Lily waved her hand in the air and smiled innocently. “Just go on, tell us about your day.”

“Well, the bail hearing is tomorrow. That’s all I can really tell you, except I was so upset with seeing Jasmine on television. I still can’t believe she did that.” Tammy shook her head.

“You know I don’t like to say a bad word about anyone, but bless her heart, she’s nothing but an attention wh…”

“Lily Rae! Open this door at once!” John called from behind the door. Tammy looked to Miss Lily who was just rolling her eyes.

“Go on, dear. You were saying?” Miss Daisy pressed.

“Well, then the detectives did a drug search out at the farm.” The Rose sisters gasped in disbelief. “They didn’t find anything, of course.”

“We had heard the police were out there, but drugs? Never.” Miss Lily huffed.

“Tammy? Will you be a dear and let an old man inside?” He called in a sweet voice.

“Ohhh! You old billy goat!” Miss Lily finally responded back.

Tammy decided it was time to throw in the towel. She was swaying on her feet and all she wanted was to eat and crawl into bed. “Okay! That’s it.” Tammy flung the door open. John’s portly frame practically fell into her small apartment. “Good evening, Mr. Wolfe. I'm sorry you can’t stay longer, but I was just saying good night to Miss Lily and Miss Daisy. I'm so exhausted I can hardly stand upright. Thank you so much for your gentlemanly concern to come all this way to check on me.” Tammy patted his arm and was satisfied by the faint blush of embarrassment that colored his cheeks.

“Well, you get some rest tonight. We’ll all be there tomorrow to show our support for our boy.” Miss Daisy gave her a rough hug with her wiry frame and then headed back downstairs to fill in the eagerly awaiting dinner crowd. John and Miss Lily looked at each other and then the door. Within seconds, they were both downstairs and regaling the story to the town. Tammy shook her head. She closed her door and locked it before sitting down for dinner. Tomorrow was going to be crucial and she needed all the rest she could get before facing it down.

CHAPTER FIVE

Two officers led Pierce from the cruiser into the back waiting room of the Keeneston Courthouse. It felt great just to be back in his hometown. He was seated with various other prisoners and the feeling of relief was quickly replaced with one of dread. What if Judge Cooper was replaced? What if he didn’t get bail? What if everyone thought he was guilty? What if he
was
guilty?

The questions assaulted him so much so that he failed to see Dinky come into the room. After hearing his name, Pierce finally looked up and saw Deputy Dinky standing in front of him.

“It’s time, buddy.”

Pierce nodded his head and took a deep breath. His hands were shaking as he stood up and followed Dinky into the courtroom. A quick look around confirmed what he feared—it was packed. He saw the Rose sisters in the front row next to his family. The sheriff’s department was standing off to the side. Jasmine was quietly dabbing tears away as she was ensconced in the middle of the Belles. Mrs. Oldham and Aiden were on the other side of the courtroom staring daggers at him. And Marianne was sitting with her pen and paper at the ready to take notes for the Keeneston paper.

Pierce swallowed hard and locked eyes with Tammy sitting at the defense desk next to Henry. She gave him a reassuring smile and he felt the panic subside slightly. Henry stood and buttoned his suit coat. The shiny contraption was almost enough to make Pierce laugh, except the man in that tacky ensemble was the one he was depending on to get him out of jail.

Standing at the prosecutor’s table was a very political-looking man in the standard black suit and red power tie combination. McKenna was sitting next to him talking to a third man. That third man was rumpled and looked slightly frazzled.

“Take a breath, Pierce. Don’t smile, but don’t look so petrified. Be confident in your innocence,” Henry said as he shook his hand.

They took a seat behind the desk and Pierce tried to look confident. He leaned over to Tammy and whispered, “Who are those men next to Kenna?”

“The pompous peacock is Alexander Griffin III, the Lexington D.A. He’s running for mayor and wants this case for the publicity. The other man is Jimmy Hickson. Kenna has asked for him to be appointed as the special prosecutor. He may not look it, but he’s brilliant. He also has the reputation as the most fair and incorruptible prosecutor in the commonwealth,” Tammy whispered back.

Noodle came into the courtroom from a door behind the bench and called the court to order. Pierce tried to remember to breathe as he rose to stand next to Henry. Judge Cooper looked through the file, but before he could call for the plea, Alexander stood up with his most politically serious face on. He buttoned his black suit coat and cleared his throat, all the while his perfectly swooped hair never dared to move.

“Your Honor, if I may? Alexander Griffin, representing the Lexington D.A.’s office.”

“Yes, I know who you are, Mr. Griffin. I’ve also received your lengthy motion to transfer the case to your jurisdiction,” Judge Cooper’s gruff voice rang out. Pierce had to hope that slightly annoyed voice boded well for keeping the case in Keeneston.

Kenna stood and smiled in direct contradiction to Alexander. “Your Honor, you’ll find my response in the file and I would ask that special prosecutor James Hickson be appointed. This will allow Mr. Davies’s arraignment and bail hearing to continue without undue delay to his rights.”

“I object!” Alexander puffed up and shot a dagger at Kenna’s smiling face.

“Mr. Hickson, I’ve heard many good things about you. Are you prepared to step into this case immediately?” Judge Cooper asked, ignoring Alexander’s interpretation of a fish as he gasped indignantly.

“I am, Your Honor.” Jimmy Hickson stood up and tried to smooth the deep wrinkles from his seersucker suit.

“Then, I’m ready to rule. Mr. Griffin, as the crime took place in Keeneston, so should the trial. I am denying your motion to change venue. Ms. Ashton, due to your conflict of interest with the defendant your Motion for Appointment of Special Prosecutor is approved.” Judge Cooper signed some papers and then turned to Pierce.

“This is your part. So far it’s good for us. Don’t say a thing unless directly asked,” Henry whispered before turning to Judge Cooper.

“How does your client plead to the charge of first degree murder, Mr. Rooney?”

“Not guilty, Your Honor, and we request bail to be set.”

Tammy tried to hold it together as she followed the family home. Pierce was never going to make bail.  She heard the audible gasp from his parents when the judge set it at one million dollars. Tears fell down Marcy’s face as Jake led her out of the courthouse. Henry had sent Tammy with them to see if there was a way they could pull the cash together for the required ten percent to secure a bond for Pierce's release from jail. She parked the car in the now-full driveway in front of the white farmhouse and headed into the living room where the family was gathering.

Paige placed her son, Ryan, on the floor with Annie and Cade’s daughter, Sophie, and then sat quietly on the sofa holding Cole’s hand tightly. Tammy felt as if she were intruding on a private moment for the Davies family and tried to hide against the front window as the family began discussing how much money they could get their hands on.

“Marshall, I know you have that money saved up to help Katelyn expand her clinic. You better not offer that until your wife gets here and okays it. I wouldn’t feel right otherwise.” Marcy’s small hand patted Marshall’s large one as she sighed and leaned back in her chair. Exhaustion and worry were written all over her face.

Tammy tapped Annie on the shoulder and leaned forward, “Where is Katelyn?” she whispered.

“Said she had a quick errand to run, probably to the clinic. She’ll be here soon,” Annie replied.

“Thank you all so much, but it’s clear we don’t have the cash to get Pierce home tonight. Tomorrow we’ll see about putting the farm up as collateral with a bail bondsman,” Marcy said, choking back tears. Jake pulled her up from the chair and into his arms as she broke down.

Embarrassed to see such an intimate moment, Tammy turned with her own tears heavy behind her eyes and looked out the window. With a gasp her eyes widened and her heart pounded so loudly she didn’t hear Annie asking what was the matter. Tammy fought the handle to the door and threw it open just in time for Katelyn and Pierce to walk into the living room.

No one moved. No one said a word. Everyone stared in disbelief as Pierce stood there smiling. Finally Marcy gulped back her tears and ran across the room and enveloped Pierce in a fierce motherly hug.

“How? Katelyn, did you do this?”

“What’s the use of a trust fund if you don’t use it every once in a while? Besides, we’re family,” Katelyn said with a smile and a slight shrug.

A soft knock at the door stopped Marcy from suffocating Katelyn in a hug. She opened the door and the Rose sisters filed in with casserole dishes piled high, followed by Kenna, Will, Mo, Dani, and Ahmed hidden behind large carrying cases packed with food.

Kenna and Will had a farm not to far away with Will’s parent’s, Betsey and William living close by. Tammy had gotten to know Will, a retired NFL Quarterback turned race horse owner, since she started working with Kenna and really liked him as a good country boy. Mo, or more formally Mohtadi Ali Rahmen, was a prince of a small country named Rahmi in the Middle East. Smooth was the only way to describe him. He was as relaxed as you could be in thousand dollar suits. Being the youngest son, he left the country and pursued his passion, horse racing. Now his passions included his wife, Danielle whom everyone called Dani, and their unborn child. If Mo and Dani’s child was a boy, he’d be the heir to the small island country due to problems of others in his family were having conceiving a male. Ahmed, Mo and Dani’s head of security and all around badass, gave her a wink as he carried the food to the kitchen.

“Don’t worry about a thing, Marcy. We got enough food for everyone! We didn’t want you worrying about nothing while we work this out.” Miss Lily walked past Pierce and shot him a wink as she headed into the kitchen followed by her sisters.

“I hope you all don’t mind us dropping by either,” Will said as he gave Marcy a peck on the cheek before shaking Pierce’s hand.

“Not at all, dear! You all are part of our family. Dani, bless your heart, take a seat and put those feet up. Just three more months to go to meet that little one. How are you two holding up?” Marcy asked as she escorted Dani to the nearest chair.

“I feel great, thank you. I’m a little worried about leaving, though,” Dani gave a little smile to Mo, who returned it with one of his own.

“Yes, we leave next month for Rahmi. The baby must be born there in case it is a boy and heir to the kingdom. There are all kinds of ceremonial events and procedures we’ll have to go through if Dani provides us with an heir. Luckily, our doctor agreed to fly out around her due date to take care of her. And of course, you all are more than welcome! Dani wants all her family there, which means we need to take care of little brother. How are you doing, Pierce?” Mo asked as he shifted into his no-nonsense business voice.

“I’m exhausted and starving,” Pierce said with a little laugh as he finished getting hugs from his brothers.

“I heard that! Give me one second and we’ll have lunch ready for everyone!” Miss Violet called from the depths of the kitchen.

Pierce savored every bite of the pecan-encrusted catfish as he listened to his brothers tease their wives and his mother fussing over the babies. It felt almost normal. Almost. The look on Tammy’s face when she opened the door said it all. They didn’t think he’d ever come home. When Katelyn knocked on the door as he and Henry were discussing the case, he thought he was imagining things. But his sister-in-law strutted into the room and placed a cashier’s check for the full bond on the table and told him it was time to go home.

He had asked her on the drive to the farm why she'd give so much of her money to get him out of jail. Katelyn gave him a smile and said she had a feeling that it would be refunded in no time when the charges were dropped. Then she winked and she said she’d then use the money as an investment in Pierce. Pierce gave up wondering what it meant and just enjoyed being out of jail.

“Pierce, do you think you’re up to telling us what happened?” Miles asked quietly, but it wasn’t quiet enough. All the comforting noises stopped and everyone froze as they waited to hear what he'd say. Did they not think he'd tell them if he could?

“I’m sorry, I just don’t remember.” Pierce set down his food and waited. He knew it would come.

“Have you tried working backwards? Start with your most recent memories and go back?” Paige asked.

“I don’t remember. I’m sorry.” Pierce took a breath and hoped it would be the end of it.

“It’s in there somewhere, you just have to find a way to get it out,” Cade said as he took a bite of his sandwich.

“Don’t you think I know that?” Pierce tossed down the napkin and slid his chair back. “But that doesn’t help me. Nothing has helped me remember. And why don’t you discuss with Kenna the consequences in court if I can’t put forth any argument except ‘I don’t remember.’”

Pierce knew his family was simply trying to understand what happened, but it was just too much. He couldn’t have them all staring at him as if the memories would come back at any second. “Excuse me for a moment, please.” Pierce stood up and avoided looking at his family before ducking out the front door.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He wanted to feel the breeze and listen to the world. Instead he heard a car door close and heels tapping along the walkway. Opening his eyes, Pierce didn’t even try to hide the curse as Jasmine approached him a denim miniskirt and white blouse.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Pierce growled as he put his hands on his hips and moved to the top of the porch stairs.