A Verdict for Love (13 page)

She came around to find that she was
naked and tied down on the bed. He’d had a crop and some sex toys.
He called her a whore and a slut and told her she needed to be
punished. He’d hurt her and when her screams got too loud her
panties had been shoved in her mouth.

It was almost a relief when he finally
climbed on top to use her. Elizabeth had been afraid for her life
but when he was done he’d simply untied her. He’d poured himself a
drink and, without even looking at her, told her to get dressed and
get out.

Realizing he had no intention of
killing her Elizabeth’s anger displaced her fear. The idea that
this animal thought a few hundred dollars gave him the right to do
whatever he liked made her want to hurt him back. As she’d hurried
into her clothes she threatened to charge him with rape. He’d
laughed at her and pointed at the phone.

“Call them. I’m on a first name basis
with almost every cop in town. I’m a lawyer and you’re a whore.
They’ll show up and after I talk to them they’ll haul you off to a
cell and probably screw your bitch ass again on the way
there.”

Mrs Hill stopped talking long enough
to refill the tumbler.

“She showed up on my doorstep and
locked herself away in her old room until I finally got her to tell
me all that” the woman finished.

“So the man never learned that
Elizabeth had become pregnant?”

“Oh yes he found out but only because
of me. She was afraid of that crap he’d given her about the cops.
But when she came up prego I made her get his name and number from
the creep at the club who sent her out that night. Smith his name
was. It was me that called him. Turned out he really was a big deal
lawyer after all but he didn’t scare me.”

“So what happened?” Chiara
asked.

“Ten grand crash in a FedEx envelope
happened. It was for an abortion and for her keeping shut about it.
But she wouldn’t listen to me again. Silly girl took the money to
move out west and then had the kid.”

“Did Smith find out that she had the
child?”

“Not that I know of. Liz insisted she
just wanted to get away somewhere and forget him.”

“We’ll be leaving now. If we can help
we’ll be in touch.” Tamika said rising.

“I hope so. I told her to have the
abortion. Ten grand don’t raise no kid.”

Chiara turned at the door, “What is
the boy’s name?”

Mrs Hill waved the tumbler, “David, I
think.”

T
hey had returned to Chiara’s and found Grace somewhat upset
over having been left out.

“I know you two have been playing big
sister to me and I’ve gone along with it because you are both more
experienced. I trust you Chiara and we both trust Tamika but it’s
about time the two of you placed a little more faith in my ability
in return.”

They knew she had a valid point. Her
future was also tied up in the battle they were waging. So they
shared what they had learned with her.

“What a gem that Mrs hill is. Not even
sure of her grandson’s name. No wonder Elizabeth was so mixed up.”
Tamika said.

“And now we know that Peter Smith, in
addition to being a selfish, evil son of a bitch, is also a secret
sadist with an illegitimate son.” But none of it bears on the
trial. Milton disallowed the tape I made and he definitely won’t
let us bring this to bear. It is dirt but totally disassociated
dirt.” Chiara complained.

“And even if we could get Elizabeth to
come forward it would never happen by Monday. I had best go home
and rest up. I’ll have to be sharp to challenge Clay’s
barrage.”

Tamika was making to rise when Grace
forestalled her. She had been listening without saying much but her
mind had been racing.

“I have the answer!” she declared and
began outlining her plan.

P
eter Smith had escorted his wife to Sunday services as usual.
His reward for that weekly chore was always a round of afternoon
golf and some cards at the club.

He had just folded a low pair when his
cell chimed. He glanced at the readout and smiled. It the Brown
woman, Chiara’s minority attack bitch. He stood up from the green
felt.

“Deal me out next hand, boys. I think
the box fairy who thought she could bother us in court is ready to
wave a white flag.” He moved off to a corner before
answering.

“Well, well, Ms. Brown, what can I do
for you this fine afternoon?”

“I think you might want to come down
to my office this evening.”

Smith laughed, “And just why on earth
would I want to do that? I’ll see you soon enough in court
tomorrow.”

“That’s exactly why you should see me
before then. I have a show and tell that will probably change
whatever plans you and Clay had for tomorrow.”

“You could save both of your clients a
lot of pain and embarrassment by getting them to just withdraw.” He
said.

“Nice phrase that.” Tamika countered,
“Pain and embarrassment is just what I want to save you from. Let
me give you a hint…Elizabeth Hill.”

“What the hell are you suggesting
here, Brown…are you trying to blackmail me? Who’s gonna give a shit
what a little stripper has to say? Besides, Cyrus Milton will block
any sideshow like that. You saw what happened to the recording she
tried to hang on me.”

“Well, maybe so but it’s not our court
case you need to be worried about. I’m thinking about a divorce
court. It would be a shame to see your pretty little redheaded wife
leave you and walk away with half of every thing you
own.”

Smith was no longer laughing. He was
thinking fast. The little stripper bitch’s mother must have read
about the trial and contacted this damn Brown woman to put the
squeeze on him again. Tamika spoke to his silence.

“This is no bluff, asshole. We have
more than Elizabeth’s word to offer your wife. We have hard
evidence.”

“What evidence?”

“You coming over or not?”

“Where the hell is it and what time do
you want me there?” he asked.

Tamika was gloating…she could almost
smell the arrogant prick sweating. She gave him the address and
advised him to be there within the hour. She snapped her phone shut
and smiled across at Chiara and Grace, “He’s coming.”

O
n
his way there Smith had regained some of his composure. If all they
had was the stripper’s word he could fight it. Hell, it had been
two years ago. He had bluffed her out of going to the cops so there
had been no rape kit taken. It would be a he said against she said
case. But if they really did have something then he was going to
have to bargain with them.

He found the place and walked in with
as much confidence as he could muster. All three women were waiting
for him at scarred old oak table. He was glowering as he sat down.
Chiara, Grace and Tamika smiled at the stone faced man across from
them. There was absolutely no sound in that room except the swish
of an overhead fan.

“I’m only here to be polite. I figure
the girl’s drunken hag of a mother put y’all up to this. She
already put the bite on me once. It’ll be their word against mine.
Worst case scenario is that years ago…in a foolish moment…I got
drunk and had consensual sex. If I have to I’ll apologize to my
wife and she’ll forgive me. End of story. But I’d rather not hurt
my wife so if we can work something out I’ll listen.”

Chiara had seen enough of the man’s
wife over the years to know better. No way would that woman forgive
such a scandal. His face reddened in anger when Chiara burst out
laughing.

Tamika bore in on him, “We didn’t ask
you here to dicker. We just want to tell you what you will do and
why you will do it.”

“
Yes, so shut up and
listen.” Grace piped in.

Tamika brought three manila envelopes
up from her lap and fanned them out.

“One of these is Elizabeth’s sworn
deposition with all the nasty details of how you like to play with
whips and ropes. The whole horrible ordeal that left her pregnant
by you. Another is Mrs. Hill’s statement relating the money you
paid for an abortion. This last one is the most
important.”

Tamika opened it and extracted a clear
plastic baggie. Inside it was a cotton swab. She waved it
tauntingly at Smith.

“Elizabeth did not go through with the
abortion. She had the child. This is a swab from young David Hill’s
mouth. When your wife sends this DNA for a paternity test it will
be game over.”

The fight went out of Smith and he
sagged in his seat.

“Ok. What do you want?”

It was Chiara’s’ turn and she made the
most of it.

“What your net worth
Peter?”

“Hell, I don’t know exactly.” He
hedged.

“Lucky that I have a pretty good
notion of it then, huh? You’ve piled up about sixty million in
various assets, Peter. So a divorce would cost you thirty minimum.
And airing all your smut would hurt the firm’s earnings. Soo…I had
said five million. Now it is another five for Grace. Three more for
our legal expenses with attorney Brown and last but not least two
for Elizabeth and her son, David. You’ll be cutting your loss by
more than half.”

Silence for a moment. Then, Smith
said,

“Is that all?” and as he asked his
ears got even redder.

“No, you muzzle your dog Clay and have
him move to stipulate to the suit as charged in return for an
agreed settlement.” Grace chimed in, “And tomorrow as you leave the
reporters will be waiting again. You will stand on those steps and
announce that though the firm will settle for damages out of court
it admits to having knowingly and willfully discriminated against
us for being gay.”

“What the Christ you two! Isn’t
blackmailing me for $15 million enough for you?”

“Not blackmail at all.” Chiara said,
“More like delayed justice. Think of it as a plea
bargain.”

Tamika stepped in again, waving the
baggie, “If you don’t think you can manage that last bit I’ll
messenger these envelopes over to your wife on the way to court
tomorrow.

“Oh fuck it all. Fine.
Agreed.”

Tamika pushed an office phone across
to him.

“Smart man. Call your boy now and
break the news.”

She switched it to speaker and they
could hear it ringing.

“Clay here.”

“Adam, it’s Peter.”

“Hey, Hoss. Now don’t be losin’ any
sleep over tomorrow. I got it all set.”

“I’ve decided the publicity sucks,
Adam. We’re going to settle with them.”

“Tell me I’m not hearin’ that right!
That’s crazy. I can win this for y’all!” Clay was
adamant.

“Maybe, maybe not. But I’ve already
been in conference with them and made up my mind.”

“What! You did a deal without even
waiting for me to beat up on ‘em in court. Hell, I had some med
student the girl dated back in college. He was ready to say she all
but dragged him into the sack with no intention of marriage.
Picture of a pure slut if painted right. And I had that Alex
Callaway from Emory. She fucked him and ditched him. He was gonna
call her a tramp and a liar. You should have at least waited until
I pulled the angel mask off of her before you offered them a
cent.”

“Look… just tie it up fast with no
more fuss in the morning.”

“How much you giving ‘em?”

“You won’t be involved so it’s
confidential.” Smith answered.

“This flat out pisses me off, Pete. It
makes me come off as a loser.” Clay fumed.

“Oh grow the fuck up!” Smith growled
and hung up on him.

No sooner was Smith safely out the
door than they were up and hugging in celebration. Tamika was
laughing as she tossed their supposed evidence into a trash
bin.

“Grace baby doll, your idea for a
phony DNA swab was inspired!”

“Totally inspired. That was the
clincher and he bought it hook line and sinker. You are definitely
the heroine of the hour.” Chiara agreed.

Grace beamed as she basked in their
praise.

A
s
Chiara and Grace entered the courtroom the next morning, the sun
was shining and the world seemed to have become a fairer, nobler
place.

From their seats they could see that
Clay was still arguing in harsh whispers with Peter Smith, but the
older man remained unmoved. Brooks and Weinstein were sour faced.
Smith had coerced their agreement as well. The Judge’s entrance
ended Clay’s entreaties.

“All rise for the honorable Judge
Cyrus Milton. Court is now in session.”

Adam Clay was glaring venomously over
at the Plaintiff’s table. All he received in return were three
sweet half smiles. Trapped, he stood and choked out a
capitulation.

“If it please the court…the defense
stipulates to the plaintiff’s complaint. The parties have agreed to
reach a private settlement. The defendants will accept the levy of
court costs.”