Death and a Life in Emerald Cove
Chapter 3
Copyright© 2014 by Jay Cantrell
With Bryant shifted to the side, the woman pushed the door open fully and exited.
"Bryant?" the woman asked. "Sorry, I didn't recognize you in a suit and tie."
"You!" Bryant returned.
"Me," she confirmed. "What are you doing here?"
"Me?" Bryant asked angrily. "What are you doing here?"
"I work here," she said, stopping beside him on the landing in front of the doors. "I'm the assistant prosecuting attorney."
"Fuck!" Bryant swore. "Jesus Fucking Christ! No wonder the crime rate is high. The police chief is a moron and Miss 'Criminals are Just Misunderstood' is the prosecutor."
"Bryant?" she asked again. "You're not in trouble here, are you?"
"I'm not in trouble anywhere, Allyson," Bryant answered coldly. His answer was interrupted when Steve Curtis hustled through.
"I caught you! Wonderful!" he said. Allyson turned to him to see what he wanted but Curtis was looking toward Bryant. "It's a done deal, Detective. Or should I call you Chief. We're having an executive session over lunch and we'll vote you in then. When do you want to start?"
Bryant and Allyson simply stared at Curtis. It took Steve a moment to notice the look on Bryant's face.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Curtis," Bryant answered. "I'll need to reconsider the job offer. I'm not sure I am willing to work with your assistant prosecutor. In fact, I'm almost positive that I won't be willing to work with her. I'm sorry I wasted your time."
"Now wait!" Curtis said quickly. "Maybe you two go off on the wrong foot. That happens. But I've known Allyson for a while. She's good people. I've only just met you but I can tell you're good people, too. Get to know one another and I'm sure you'll agree with me."
He was looking from face to face. He could readily see Bryant was angry — and that was an unpleasant sight. It had been Steve's experience that being near a six-foot-four, 230-pound angry man was a recipe for all sorts of mayhem.
"Oh, I know her," Bryant said. "And if you knew as well as you think you do, you would already know that she is anything but 'good people'. Believe me, I know how easy it is to mistake her for someone halfway decent. But she's a liar and a manipulator. She uses people to suit her needs and forgets about theirs."
"Bryant," Allyson said softly.
"Don't bother denying it," Bryant shot back. "It took me a while to understand it. But you hung me out to dry, Lady. You got everything you wanted out of the deal and then left me to face the consequences alone. I know you, Allyson. I know you all too well!"
Steve Curtis could only watch helplessly as Bryant spun on his heel and hastened down the steps. He got in an SUV and drove away.
Steve was surprised that the encounter made him more impressed with Bryant Hawkins. He could see the man was angry. But Bryant handled his temper. His voice didn't raise and he didn't make a single move that anyone would consider to be threatening physical harm.
He noticed that Bryant carefully checked traffic before pulling away from the curb and left at a reasonable speed. Although it was clear that Bryant had a temper, it was equally clear that his temper was well under control. That wasn't always the case with police officers, Steve had learned.
"Ms. Granger?" Steve asked, turning to Allyson. Her head hung down and there were tears in her eyes.
She shook her head sadly and ran down the stairs. Steve stood there with his hands on his hips. It was clear to him that Bryant had not been fabricating a story. Whatever happened between the two of them had happened pretty much the way Bryant said it had. He started to re-enter the building but stopped. Bryant Hawkins was the best candidate to come through his door since the job had been posted.
In fact, Steve Curtis thought Bryant was perhaps the perfect candidate for the job. Linda Roberts was positive about it.
Steve hopped in his car and plugged in his hands-free cell phone.
"Linda, take an early lunch," Steve said. "There is some history between Allyson Granger and Bryant Hawkins. I need you to figure out what it is."
"Uh, okay," Linda said. "But can it wait? I mean, we'll figure it out when he gets here."
"Right now, I don't think he's coming here," Steve said. "Whatever happened between them, well, I get the impression she somehow used him to further her career — at the expense of his. Can you call that detective back, up there, Jan Elliot? Maybe she knows. Then head over to your sister's place and keep him from leaving."
"Leaving?" Linda asked as she picked up her purse and car keys. "You mean... ?"
"I mean he told me he wouldn't work with her," Steve said. "He meant it. He won't work with her unless we can straighten this out."
"What are we going to do if we can't straighten it out?" Linda wondered. Steve was silent for a moment before he spoke.
"Well, I figure we got one decent applicant out of almost a hundred for Chief of Detectives," he said. "Plus he gave us a good candidate for a few months down the road. I also figure there are more than a million attorneys in the world. I'll remove the assistant's salary from the city attorney's budget. I think she would be easier to replace than he would be."
"She's pretty good," Linda advised.
"I know it," Steve said. "That's why I want you to straighten this out. In an ideal world, I'd want both of them here to clean up this mess."
Linda's first call was to Jan Elliot, who proved to be unhelpful.
"Granger?" Jan had asked. "No, never heard of her. It wasn't recent. I've been his partner for almost four years. I don't recall him ever mentioning the name."
"Well, thanks," Linda offered.
"I'll e-mail you my résumé tomorrow," Jan put in.
"You might want to wait to see if Bryant is here," Linda replied.
"He told me he was going to be," Jan said.
"That was before he ran into Allyson Granger," Linda told her. "Now it does not appear he will be."
"I don't know the woman but I know Bryant," Jan offered. "I've never known him to lie about something."
"No, we don't think he lied about anything," Linda told her. "And we don't want to lose Bryant. In fact, I'm on my way to make sure he doesn't flee the jurisdiction."
"I'll call and delay him," Jan said. "That will give you a little time to talk to this Granger woman and see what's what."
"Thanks," Linda said. It was obvious to her that Bryant Hawkins was someone people were willing to go to bat for.
Allyson Granger wasn't in her office, nor was her paralegal. Linda stood in the doorway and looked at the plaques on the wall in the outer office. She saw civic awards from Seattle and Los Angeles. There was nothing from Chicago.
Then her eye caught the item closest to Allyson Granger's door. A diploma from Northwestern University and a juris doctorate from the University of Chicago.
Both had the name of Allyson Granger-Hawkins on them.
"Well, shit," she said as she turned and hustled down the corridor to her car.
Jan Elliot's cell phone went straight to voice mail, so Linda figured she was doing her best to delay Bryant's departure. Linda left a message because she was pretty sure Detective Elliot was on a fruitless mission.
Her next call was to Steve Curtis who was already sitting down with his colleagues. Steve had decided to proceed as though nothing was remiss. He would get the approval and make a formal offer. If Bryant Hawkins turned him down, Curtis would offer to have Allyson Granger removed from her job.
He picked up the phone when he saw Linda's number.
"She's his ex-wife, I think," Linda said.
"You think?" Steve asked.
"She got her degrees from universities in Chicago," Linda said, pleased at her bit of detective work. "Her name was Allyson Granger-Hawkins then. So I'm guessing ex-wife or at least ex-sister-in-law. This is personal to him. It isn't professional."
"Okay, well, I'm prepared to deal with that," Steve said. "We'll have to wait to amend next year's budget until we're in open session. How close are you to visiting with him?"
"I have his friend Jan delaying him," Linda said. "I'll be at the inn in twenty minutes or so. I'll keep him here until Monday if I have to promise to wear a thong to the beach on Sunday."
"Uh, well, I'm not sure... ," Steve stammered.
"Relax, I'm kidding," Linda replied. "I noticed him checking out my hindquarters. You have to admit he's a good-looking guy. I'm sure my husband will be willing to play along if I tell him what's at stake."
She was greeted by silence.
"I'm kidding again," Linda said. "You've got it covered. If he wants the job but doesn't want to work with her, he won't work with her. I'll let him know, off the record."
Linda put down her phone only to have it ring in her hands.
"Hello," she answered. It was a Chicago area code.
"He shut me down," Jan said. "He said he'd stay there through the weekend but I have no idea what the problem is. I don't think he's going to take the job, though."
"I think she's his ex-wife," Linda said.
"Then I wouldn't work with her either," Jan declared. There was real anger in her voice. "He's never mentioned her name. He always just called her that – his ex-wife – but I know that bitch took a huge bite out of him. I don't know the particulars but I guess he paid her way through school and she dropped him as soon as she was out."
"Really?" Linda asked. She had met Allyson Granger a few times. She certainly didn't seem like the type to do that.
"I think so," Jan replied. "Shit. I was looking forward to living near the beach. Well, it was good talking to you but I guess this will probably be the last time."
"Maybe not," Linda said. She filled Jan in Steve Curtis' budget suggestion.
"You don't know Bryant," Jan said, the anger was replaced by sadness. "Maybe part of it is what she did to him. I don't know. But if you knew him, you'd know he won't go for it. He will not succeed at someone else's expense. He could have stepped over me a dozen times. Even before we became friends, he never once considered it. He'd give me credit for things that were all his idea. He could have been promoted a lot quicker but it would have meant holding me down. That is never his way."
"Let me tell you something," Jan continued. "About twice a month, Bryant brings in candy or popcorn or pizzas or fruit to the station house. Every kid in his neighborhood makes his house the last stop on the fund-raising tour. It took me a while to figure it out. But that's what he's bringing in — the crap that schools and groups make the kids sell. It's never the same amount. I would bet that so long as the kid makes an effort to sell it somewhere else, Bryant buys what's left over. Then he brings it in for us to enjoy. That's the type person he is. Other people bring it in to hit us up for money. Bryant buys it from the kid and gives it to us."
"I already figured out he was a good guy," Linda said. "But I can see where you're right. Still, I think Emerald Cove will be better served with him here than her."
"I'm sure you're right," Jan said. "He's only spoken of her a few times. I could tell she hurt him. In fact, you and I will see each other at least once. Because now that I know where she is, I think I'll pay her a visit for a one-sided ass-kicking contest. But I'll be sure to stop by to take you to lunch afterward."
Bryant wrapped his sunscreen in his beach towel and slipped his feet into a pair of flip-flops. They were new and they hurt his toes. But he was determined to enjoy the weekend. It wasn't every day that a Midwesterner got the chance to dip his toes in the Atlantic Ocean.
The city had put on the full-court press. Jan's call confirmed that. It really pissed him off that they had tried to use her to influence him. He didn't consider Jan a friend. They were coworkers. They didn't socialize. Until the previous week, Bryant had always thought that Jan merely tolerated his presence. She wasn't a warm person. She wasn't a friendly person.
But the past few days she had seemed to be both. Maybe the thought of getting away from him had put her in better spirits. It seemed to work for Allyson. She seemed positively at ease in Emerald Cove. Oh, she was surprised to see him. That was evident. And she quickly jumped to the conclusion that he was in trouble.
He couldn't remember the last time he'd been in trouble. Certainly not since he'd left home. At home, he was in trouble more often than he was out of trouble. That's what happens when a person with his own ideas runs across two closed-minded parents.
Since then, he'd been called on the carpet a few times. But every single time, his explanation of the events had been enough to quell whatever tempers had been frayed.
Even Allyson didn't look unhappy to see him, Bryant thought.
That thought was confirmed when he opened his door and almost ran straight into her. Her hand was poised to knock.
"Can I come in?" Allyson asked. She noticed the swimming trunks and T-shirt. She glanced down, saw the flip-flops and smiled. The smile left when her eyes traveled back to Bryant's face.
"No," he said.
Allyson sighed.
"I think we should talk," she tried.
"Why?" Bryant wondered. "We haven't spoken in almost ten years. We haven't had anything to really talk about in probably twelve. Why break the string when we're doing so well?"
"Bryant..." Allyson began.
"Ms. Granger," Bryant interrupted. "There is not a single thing in this world we need to discuss. You said everything you needed to say during our divorce proceedings. I said everything I've wanted to say to you today. I've agreed to stay through the weekend because I sorely need a vacation. After that, I'll be gone and we will never have to cross paths again."
"I'm sorry," Allyson said.
"Save it," Bryant responded. "I know you're sorry. You're a sorry excuse for a human and you were a sorry excuse for a wife. I probably wasn't much better as a husband but at least I tried. That's more than I can say for you."
"I know," Allyson said. "That's why I'm sorry. Bryant, you said today that you know me. You don't. I'm not the same person I was when you and I were together."
Bryant rolled his eyes.
"I seem to remember that you had a knack for saying whatever you needed to say to make yourself look better," Bryant answered. "It's good to see that hasn't changed. Look, I'm going to spend the rest of my time relaxing on the beach. How about if I take a page out of your book? I accept your apology. Go forth without guilt in your heart. You're a fine woman and wonderful person. You're kind to dogs, children and old people now. You've changed, Allyson. Why, I'm sure if you were a Catholic, you'd be canonized when you die. Better? Good."
Bryant stepped past Allyson, who was still in the doorway. It was tight but he was careful that he didn't make contact with her. He pulled his door closed behind him — and saw Linda Roberts in the hallway walking toward him.
"Bryant!" she said. The man's bulk hid Allyson from her view.
"I do not appreciate that you involved a professional colleague in a personal matter," Bryant stated. Linda stopped in her tracks.
"Well, I was desperate," Linda said. "I mean, I had to know why you were angry before I could fix it."
"You can't fix it," Bryant said. "And it is highly unlikely that Jan Elliot would have any knowledge of my relationship with Ms. Granger."
"She does now," Linda said. "I figured it out. She's your ex-wife, isn't she?"
"That is none of your business," Bryant said.
"It is damned well my business!" Linda said. "Look, I was going to do this quiet and nice. Okay, I shouldn't have gone behind your back. I was wrong and I admit it. But we want you here. We want you here so much that if it meant getting rid of Allyson Granger to get you here, we'd have found a way to do it."
"Not my style," Bryant said, and the anger in his voice was unmistakable.
"Nope, that's what Jan told me," Linda said. She had heard the gasp from behind Bryant but she didn't make the connection. "Jan said you'd never step over someone else. So we'll figure out another way. We'll appoint someone to deal with her so you don't have to. Hell, I'll take the job myself if it comes to it. Bryant, you are the right man for the job here. I know that. Steve knows that. You know that."
Bryant felt a hand on his back. He stepped aside before Linda said something that made it untenable for Allyson to work with her, too.
"And I know that, Linda," Allyson said, stepping around Bryant. "That's why I'm here. Yes, I'm his ex-wife. Yes, I'm guilty of everything Bryant accused me of. I needed security and stability while I finished law school. Once I was done, I thought I could do better than a cop. I wanted to be a defense attorney and I was married to a guy who had once shot a perpetrator. At the time, I thought that meant Bryant wasn't very good at his job. I thought that meant he was a violent person. I was wrong. I was selfish and I was stupid. I've grown up in the past few years. I was the one who made a mistake.
"I've paid for that mistake since then. Well, no, that's a lie. I've paid for that mistake for the past five years. That's how long it took me to realize what I'd done to him and to regret it. I wish I had a dollar for each time I've picked up the phone to call him only to put it down. I knew that he wouldn't care about what I had to say. I knew that today when I saw him."
She turned to Bryant.
"The last time was almost two weeks ago," she said. "I wanted to call you to make sure you were doing OK. I read about it online. For some reason, I knew it was you. I wanted to call you. I wanted to tell you that I understood that it was never your fault. I wanted to apologize for being so distant when it happened the first time. I wanted to let you know that if you needed someone, I was there this time."
"I wouldn't have cared," Bryant stated flatly. "I don't care now. Allyson, you got what you wanted. If you've changed, let me have what I want. Leave me alone. I've granted you absolution for you sins. Go forth and sin no more and all that happy bullshit."
Bryant glanced at Linda Roberts.
"I guess that goes for you, too," he said. "I accept that you did what you thought was best. It was wrong and I accept your apology. But I can't work here. I've been on the force long enough to know that I have to trust the DA to have my back. The DA has to trust me not to screw up. That is not the case here and it never will be."
"I'll quit and go back into private practice," Allyson offered. "I mean it. Bryant, today when you turned around at the courthouse, you looked so peaceful. I can't leave here. My parents are here and they need my help. But I'll leave the prosecutor's office."
"No," Bryant said. He ended the conversation by walking away from the two women, and driving to the beach.
Edited By BlackIrish & TeNderLoin; Proofread by ZoltanTheDuck.
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