Read Once You'Ve Touched the Heart Online
Authors: Iris Bolling
Once You'Ve Touched the Heart (13 page)
Gavin put his hands in his pockets. “It’s done. Who will you need on this case?”
“Give me a minute to review the file. My mind is not there right now.” JD sighed
“I can see that—personal or professional?”
JD looked at him.
“Look, regardless of what info you got from the Day case, I’m still the same person I was last week. If you need to talk, I’m here.”
JD didn’t say anything, so Gavin began to walk out.
“Gavin, are you going to take a run at the AG’s office?”
Gavin hesitated. “I’m considering the governor’s office. Why?”
“You plan on taking Carolyn with you?”
Gavin put his head down and smiled. “You know about that?”
“I know Carolyn. She only steps out when it benefits her.”
“You pissed?” Gavin asked.
“No, I’m done with that. It wasn’t serious, at least not for me. What about you, Gavin?”
“She could be very useful in a political campaign, ” he said, smiling.
“Yes, she could, but more importantly, she could win one by her sheer talents alone.” JD smiled, remembering the last time they were together.
“My Lord could she,” Gavin replied remembering last night.
Satisfied he had laid the foundation with Gavin, JD picked up the Gonzalez file. “I’ll get on this case and let you know what I need.”
“Whatever you need, you’ll get,” Gavin said and walked out.
JD put the file on the desk, walked over to the window as his mind went back to Tracy. He knew what he felt for her was real. Holding her today was as natural to him as breathing. Nothing in his life had ever felt so right. He looked up to the sky.
“God, help me with this woman.”
J
ames called Tracy and asked for a lunch meeting. He promised it was business that he did not want to discuss at the office. They agreed to meet at The Croaker Spot, a restaurant on historical Second Street in downtown Richmond.
“Hello, James,” Tracy said as he stood at the table to greet her.
“You look wonderful.” He smiled.
“Thank you,” Tracy replied. “So what’s going on in the office?”
“Unfortunately, my management team is not pushing the reform to the employees as we had asked. We have to find a way to get the employees on board without using the management team.”
The waitress came to the table. They placed their order and she left.
“Is it everyone on your management team?”
“No, just one or two of them,” James replied.
“Well, the best way to go around them is for you to go directly to the employees.”
“That would take a while. We have eight hundred employees across the state.”
“All right, then bring the employees to you. Have an event announcing the incentives. Once you get them there, the incentives will sell themselves.”
“I agree with that, but how do we get the employees there? Their trust level of management is unbelievably low.”
The waitress returned
with the food.
“Thank you,” Tracy said to the waitress, then turned back to Brooks. “Give them free lunch. Have a luncheon for all employees, with you serving them. While they are there, have Ashley do a presentation. Since all employees can’t be there all at once, have the lunches in shifts.”
Tracy said grace, bit into her sandwich and continued. “During each lunch shift, have a drawing for a hundred dollars to go towards the winner’s incentive package. If you foot the bill for the luncheon, Next Level Consulting will put up the door prize money.” Tracy started eating her fries. “You know what? I have the perfect company to handle the event. It’s a new company that we just took on as a client. As a matter of fact, you met the owners the other night.”
“At your office?”
“Yes, that’s why they came by, for a business plan.”
James raised an eyebrow.
Tracy smiled. “I know, they may seem a little wild, but they are really good. Cynthia planned every event there was at college. If Ashley, Cynthia and Rosaline were not involved in an event, it was not worth going to.”
“So I heard,” James said. “One of the members on the management team remembers Ashley from college.”
“Really? Which one?”
“Karen Holt, my assistant commissioner.”
“I don’t remember a Karen Holt at Harmon.”
“I don’t think she went there,” James said. “I think her husband did.”
Tracy stopped eating. “David Holt?”
“Yes, is that an issue?” James asked, noticing Tracy’s expression.
“No, it shouldn’t be,” Tracy said with a little hesitation.
James smiled. “Well, we have been here all of 20 minutes and you have found a solution to a problem that I have been thinking about for days. How in the hell do you do that?”
Tracy sighed. “It just comes to me, and I have no idea where it comes from. Ashley says I freak her out with that.”
“Speaking of Ashley, there’s her brother.” James stood then extended his hand. “Hello, Mr. Harrison, how are you?”
“I’m fine, thank you,” JD replied. “Hello, Tracy.”
while he was still looking at Tracy. James noticed how uncomfortable Tracy had become.
“Hello, Carolyn,” James spoke.
“Hello, James,” Carolyn said as she kissed his cheek. “It’s good to see you again. It’s been a while.”
“You two know each other?” JD asked.
“Yes, Mr. Brooks and I have met before.”
JD continued. “This is Tracy Washington. Tracy, this is Carolyn Roth.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Tracy responded while extending her hand.
Carolyn noticed the change in JD’s demeanor the moment they approached the table. “Tracy, it’s nice to meet you also,” Carolyn replied. “Now how do you two know each other?”
JD hesitated.
“I’m Ashley’s business partner,” Tracy replied.
“Your sister, Ashley?” Carolyn looked to JD for clarification.
“Yes.” JD smiled.
Carolyn loved it when other women checked her out. She could tell Tracy was doing just that, checking her out from head to toe. Carolyn was doing exactly the same thing. This cannot be the woman JD is interested in. This person is not even close to his type. She seems plain, ordinary, compared to me?.
Tracy felt like a rag doll, looking at the woman with Jeffrey. She was simply beautiful, graceful and confident. All the things Tracy was not. That’s the kind of woman Jeffrey is supposed to have on his arm. Even Cynthia would have to agree to that. Tracy turned away from the couple.
“How are you, Tracy?” JD asked.
“I’m doing well, thank you.”
“It was good seeing you. Enjoy your lunch,” JD stated and walked away.
James sat back down. He watched Tracy for a moment. That free thinking spirit that was there minutes ago was gone. “So” he started, “that’s why you are not available?”
“What’s that?” Tracy asked.
“Harrison,” James said as he took a drink.
Tracy laughed. “No, I’m not in that league.”
“You’re right. Believe me, you are far above Carolyn.”
Tracy smiled and looked at Carolyn again. “I don’t think so.”
James wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Oh, she is a beautiful woman, but it’s not always about what’s on the outside.”
“Of course it is.” Tracy smirked. “Any man who says it’s not, is not being honest with himself.”
“Is that so?” James exhaled.
“Sure.”
“I disagree,” James replied. “What’s on the inside is very important. I don’t care what a woman looks like. If she can’t carry an intelligent conversation, all you have is a shell with no substance. And the shell diminishes with time.”
“It’s rare for a man to think that way. Usually the body is the first thing a man looks at.”
“Oh, and women don’t look at a man’s body or bank account?”
“It’s not important.” Tracy shook her head. “Like you said, the body and looks will go. And I have my own bank account.”
“Like you said, it’s rare, especially for a woman, to think that way,” James responded.
Tracy looked at her watch. “You know, I need to get back to the office. I will contact Cynthia about the event and give you a call on their availability.”
James could tell seeing Harrison with Carolyn Roth was unsettling for Tracy. At least he knew who he was up against. “All right, I’ll give you a call a little later,” he replied. “Thank you for the solution. I think it will work.”
She smiled and extended her hand. “It will work; I’ll make sure it does. I’ll talk to you later.”
James watched her as she left.
JD watched until Tracy was gone, wondering what in the hell she was doing with Brooks.
“So,” Carolyn said while pretending to look at the menu, “that’s the person who took your attention from me.”
JD never acknowledged Carolyn’s statement one way or another. “How’s things with Gavin?” he asked and changed the conversation.
JD went back to the office and waited on Calvin to review the Gonzalez file. His mind went to Tracy and James Brooks. He wasn’t used to competing for a woman’s attention; he’d always had it. He could not imagine Tracy with any man but him. But James Brooks concerned him. From all accounts, Brooks was a decent, respectable man. Then JD remembered her reaction to Brooks the morning he was there; the interest was there on Tracy’s part. He exhaled. Now he questioned Tracy’s feelings for him. There was no way he could be wrong about her reaction to him. But then again, this woman confused him like no other. He thought back to the morning in her office. He had to step back from her; she never stepped back from him. He remembered the puzzled look she had when he did. She’d had the same look at the club a few years ago.
“No,” JD said aloud to himself, “there’s no way she would choose him over me.” He had to believe that.
“No, what?” A voice came from behind him.
JD turned and it was Calvin. “Hey, Calvin. You ready to go over this case?”
“Sure, as soon as you tell me why you are talking to yourself.”
JD walked over and closed the door. “I don’t know why I’m concerned about this,” he said, “but one of your revelations regarding Tracy turned out to be real.”
“What revelation?”
“The one about someone else being interested in her.”
“Please tell me you are not surprised by that?” Calvin said, laughing at him.
“No, I just never thought it would be an issue,” JD replied with a sigh.
Calvin shook his head. “Tracy is the type of woman most men dream of. She’s very easy to look at, attentive, easy to talk to about anything and makes you feel like you are the only man on the planet when she looks at you. In what world did you think no one else would notice her?”
JD smiled. “I don’t know, Calvin. Why is it that I’m just seeing all of that?”
“Because you’re just realizing what’s important in life. You weren’t ready to see it then; now you are.”
“I’m not sure how to proceed now. I had a plan, but now that I’ve seen her with James Brooks I’m afraid to take a chance on losing her.”
“James Brooks from Special Services? Whew, heavyweight. Is she really that important to you, JD, or is this a situation of JD just not wanting to lose out?”
JD smoothed his tie down and really thought about Calvin’s question. “Calvin,” he said with the seriousness he used in court to sway a jury, “I can’t tell you why, but I know down in my gut that Tracy is not just another woman for me.” He hesitated for a moment then smiled nervously. “I’m not used to being insecure about a woman. I’m lost here. I need help with this one.”
“Okay,” Calvin stated, “if you are serious, throw your plans out of the window. They don’t work anyway. Don’t play games with her. She’s not Carolyn or Vanessa and you know that. Step out on faith. Let her know what you feel.”
JD left the office late. He was reviewing the Gonzalez files and decided he would get more accomplished by using his computer at home. The system Tracy taught him years ago was still very effective for the type of research he needed on this case. This particular gang appeared on the surface to be dangerous and extensive. JD knew he was going to need additional help. He needed to make some calls to get his team together. Since this was a Latino gang, he was going to need someone on board that spoke the language. Then he would need a representative from the AG’s office on board full time until the case was done.
JD’s house phone was ringing as he walked through the door. He looked at the number and answered the call. “Hey, Mom.”
“JD, a package came here for you today. It’s heavy.”
“Where’s it from?”
“Lowe’s.”
Lowe’s?
JD thought. He didn’t remember ordering anything from there. “Okay, Mom, I’ll come by Saturday to get it. How are you doing today?”
“Just fine, son, just fine.”
“Mom, I need to make some calls, so I’ll have to talk to you later.”
“Okay, son, talk to you later.”
JD worried about his mom being at the house by herself. The neighborhood had changed so much. But she loved that house and was not leaving it. He refocused, and then called Brian.
J
D looked at his watch. It was well after six in the evening. He had spent the last two weeks focusing on the Gonzalez case. The event from the case was heart wrenching and he needed a break. Whenever his mind was free, thoughts of Tracy would creep in. JD walked over to the window of his office. He’d shared the scene with Tracy one night. He smiled as he thought about the gift she sent to his mother’s house. When he opened the package from Lowes, the note thanked him for his help with Turk and reminded him to wrap things up. JD checked his watch again.
It’s not that late
, he thought, and decided to call her.
“Next Level Consulting,” Tracy said into the phone.
“Hi, Tracy, it’s Jeffrey.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice.“Hello, Jeffrey.”
“Are you busy?” he asked.
“No,” she replied. “Everyone’s left for the day.”
“Am I holding you up?”
“No, I still have some work to do. What’s wrong?”
“Why do you think something is wrong?”
“I can hear it in your voice. You sound a little stressed,” she replied.
Damn, how did she pick up on that?
He wondered. “Sorry about that.” He smiled. “I was just going over a case that’s not sitting well with me.”
“What’s it about?”
“A 13-year-old girl died during a gang initiation.”
Sounding very concerned, she said, “I’m sorry to hear that. What happened?”
“It wasn’t good.” He sighed.
“Hmm, that much I know; she died, it can’t be but so good. What happened?”
JD smiled, then sighed. “She was um, gang raped. That was her initiation, a gang rape. Thirteen years old, probably still a virgin, but the people who did this did not care. They just had their way with her, without a moment’s thought of her well being. The medical examiner said she was probably unconscious after the 10th one.”
“Hmm.” Tracy sighed. She could hear the frustration in Jeffrey’s voice. “How many were there?”
“At least 20.”
“With so many assailants and DNA, it’s going to be difficult to get a conviction.”
“Yeah,” he replied, his voice rising, “it will, but I told the medical examiner I wanted everyone we could identify. I want each one of those bastards to pay for what they did to that child. Cases like this piss me off.” He caught himself. “Whoa.” He stopped and remembered whom he was talking to—no, yelling at. “Hmm.” He exhaled. “I am sorry. I lost it there for a moment.”
“You don’t have to apologize.” Tracy smiled. “You’re very passionate about your work. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“I don’t know about that. It’s cases like this that keep me up at night.”
“That’s not good,” she replied. “Have you talked to the girl’s parents yet?”
“No, we usually don’t deal with the parents from this office.”
“Why not? I’m sure her parents would like to know someone other than them cares about what happened to their daughter. It would ease their minds to know someone is seriously looking into what happened and won’t allow their daughter’s death to be in vain. Besides, it may help you to talk to someone who would be just as passionate about the child as you. Who better than the parents? Let them know who you are and what you are going to do to get justice for their daughter. Tell them what steps you are going to take to make sure this does not happen to another child. It will certainly help them to sleep better at night, and it will help you, too.”
JD hesitated. He had not spoken with her in weeks and here she was helping him cope yet again. It wasn’t so much what she said—as a prosecutor he knew this—but having her reiterate the sentiment was good to hear. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Know just the right thing to say to make me feel better.”
Tracy smiled. “Did I succeed?”
“Yes, you did,” he replied, hesitating to say anything more. “Thank you, for being there for me.”
“I’ll always be here, Jeffrey,” she said. Silence.
Too much
, she thought,
clean it up, girl, quick, clean it
up
. “What did you call me for?” She asked as she cleared her throat.
Trying to remember why he called, he said, “Oh yeah. I wanted to thank you for my gift.”
“Oh, it arrived,” she said with excitement. “Did you wrap things up?”
“As a matter of fact, I did.” He smiled.
“Have you forgotten anything about your dad?”
“Just the opposite,” he said, a little excited. “Memories started to flood my mind.” He laughed.
“That’s a good thing.”
“Yes, it was. Thank you.”
“You are very welcome.” Tracy smiled.
Silence again, but JD wasn’t ready to hang up the telephone. “Are you going to be in the office long?”
“I don’t know; it depends on how much I can get done on this project,” she replied.
“Don’t stay there too late.”
“I won’t.”
“Well, I guess I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay.” She started to say “bye,” but then she said, “Umm, Jeffrey?”
“Yes,” he answered, sounding a little anxious. Silence again.
“Nothing.” She shook her head. “That’s okay. I’ll talk to you later.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
“All right,” he said, disappointed.
Neither one wanted to end the call; it seemed like another moment lost.
“Tracy, have you had dinner yet?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Would you like to go grab something?”
Silent, Tracy was trying to gather her thoughts.
Have
dinner with him or go home to a lonely dinner; hmm, let me think
.
“Sure.”
Releasing his breath, he said, “All right.” He smiled. “I’ll be over to pick you up in about 15 minutes.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
Tracy went into her restroom to freshen up. She looked in the mirror. Her hair looked a mess. She plugged in the hot curlers, then washed her face, brushed her teeth and used mouthwash. A girl should always be prepared for whatever; one never knows.
Oh stop that
, she thought, remembering the last time she saw him with that gorgeous woman. She could not compete with that. Just like Cynthia said, “Jeffrey is a player and a high stakes player at that. You don’t get to play in his league. Remember your place.” Tracy curled her hair, and then changed her shoes. She had worn her white linen trousers with a white sleeveless tee, a red linen blazer and white sneakers to work. She had not intended to go out tonight. However, just in case a client stopped in, she had her red heels under the desk. Jeffrey was 6 foot 4; she was 5 foot 6. She changed into her heels, which gave her another three inches. Maybe that would help her look like she belonged with him. Tracy was looking in the mirror putting on some lip gloss, and then she stopped primping. “You will never look like you belong with him,” she said aloud to herself.
“Who are you talking to?” JD asked from her office.
Tracy stepped back to see him standing by her desk.
Damn, I’m going to have to put a bell on that
front door
.
She smiled. “Hello, Jeffrey.”
“Hello, Tracy.” He smiled. “Who are you talking to?”
“Myself,” she said as she unplugged the hot curlers.
He walked over to the bathroom doorway. “Are you going to continue this one-on-one conversation or can we go get something to eat?” Looking around the restroom, he said, “Man, this is nicer than some bathrooms in people’s homes. You two have some of everything in here.” He stopped and looked around. “Please explain why you have a shower stall in here?”
“Now, that’s a dumb question. You are talking about two women who like looking fresh. One never knows when the man of her dreams may walk through the door. Besides, an office would not be complete without a shower.”
“My office doesn’t have a shower. And there are no dumb questions, only curious people seeking to be educated.” JD leaned against the doorjamb. “And you know, more times than not, the person of your dreams could be standing right in front of you and you may not recognize it.”
Raising an eyebrow, she thought,
No truer words have ever been spoken
. “Touché, Mr. Harrison, I stand corrected.” She walked past him into her office. “And you are right.”
“On which point?”
“Both.” She smiled. “Are we ready to go?”
He walked towards her. “Yeah, let’s go.”
JD drove his car to a building on Fifth Street near the old John Marshall Hotel in downtown Richmond, not 10 minutes from her office and about five minutes from his. They walked down about five steps from the sidewalk to a double entry door. Jeffrey took a card out of his wallet and slid it down an electronic sensor. The door opened. An older, very distinguished looking gentleman dressed in a black suit greeted them in what one would call a vestibule. “Good evening, Mr. Harrison. Your table is ready and your meal will be served shortly.”
“Good evening, Mr. Brown,” JD replied. “Please, JD would be fine.”
The gentleman opened the door to one of the most elegant rooms Tracy had ever seen. There were a number of people inside, but it was not crowded. JD put his hand on her back and pushed her forward. “What is this, Jeffrey?”
“This is the Renaissance.”
“The nightclub?” she asked, very surprised.
“No, the nightclub is upstairs with the public entrance. This is the private club.”
“My goodness, this is really nice.”
The Renaissance was just that: a place where you could revitalize yourself. There was a bar area but no stools surrounding the bar; there were tables and chairs in the open area for those who wanted to take a seat. The décor was a rich burgundy, black and gold. The area made you feel like royalty just standing there. As they continued walking, they came to a section that was about midway through the building. The area to the far left had huge flat panel TVs mounted on three walls. Burgundy and black sofas were arranged in a semicircle around each TV for direct viewing. The room was sound proof with double glass doors leading into it. Closer to the left were six pool tables with enough room between them not to interfere in anyone’s game or conversation.
Pool sticks of all sizes and quality lined the walls. To the right were several plush card tables that were sectioned off, with four tables in each section. Each section had a tournament bracket board mounted on the wall. As they walked on, they came to another set of double doors. A man dressed in a black suit was standing behind a podium. Jeffrey handed his card to the man. He swiped it, gave it back to Jeffrey.
“Mr. Harrison, they are ready for you.”
Two other men opened the double doors. The area was exclusive, with enclosed booths. You could only see people as you walked past to get to your station. Each station had French glass doors with gold trim that slid open, individual music systems, soft leather sofas that allowed you to adjust the distance between you and your guest, and a personal waitress or waiter. Tracy was so in awe, she did not know they had reached their station. Trying hard not to act like she was out of her element, which she was and she knew it, Tracy stepped inside the station and noticed the gold plaque on the door was engraved “Jeffrey Daniel Harrison.” Tracy slid into a seat and waited for the waiter to leave before speaking. “Jeffrey, can they hear us in here?”
“No,” he replied, wondering why she asked the question, “why?”
“Well,” she began, “when they said your table was ready, they literally meant your table.” She pointed to the name on the door.
JD smiled, took off his tie and put it on what appeared to be a nightstand. Then he placed his cell phone and keys there.
“Are you getting comfortable?” Tracy asked.
He smiled. “That’s what this place is to me; somewhere I can be comfortable, just like home.”
“Jeffrey, if your home is like this place, you’ve got to be doing something illegal. Is there something you need to tell me?” she said jokingly.
“Are you impressed?”
“Yes.” She hesitated. “Are you trying to impress me?”
He didn’t answer, but he was.
Tracy looked around. “I have never seen anything like this.”
“You’ve been too sheltered.”
“Well, yeah, but sheltered or not, this is awesome. How do you know about this place and how did you rate your own private room?”
“My friend Douglas owns this place.”
“I believe your drinks are here.” The waiter stepped aside to allow the waitress in with an iced tea for Tracy and a Heineken for Jeffrey. Both waiters left the room and closed the door.
“You ordered ahead?” Tracy asked.
“Yeah, I do it as a courtesy. That way it won’t take so long to get your food.”
“What did you order?”
“A couple of steaks, baked potatoes and salad.”
She smiled, nodding her head in agreement. “Why do you get a beer and I get an iced tea?”
Damn, she was beautiful
, he thought. “Because I had a hard day and need a beer and you don’t drink.”
“Are you driving?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Then you should not be drinking either.”
“A beer has a point-two alcohol level. Point eight is the legal limit. I think I can have one or two.”
“Actually, for your size and weight, you can have four before you are remotely affected.”
JD laughed. “You kill me with that kind of stuff.”
Tracy smiled. “I turn most people off with that kind of stuff, but I can’t help it.”
“It doesn’t seem to turn James Brooks off,” he said.
Damn, he didn’t mean for that to come out.
Tracy looked at Jeffrey. “Where did that come from?”
JD sighed and shook his head. “I didn’t mean to say that.”
“James Brooks is a very intelligent man. He can hold a conversation about anything. But he’s a client, nothing more,” Tracy offered.
JD took a drink and looked around uncomfortably, clearing his throat. “I had no right to go there.”