Common Enemy (14 page)

“West Coast Construction Company in Tampa,” Bobby Ray answered.

“You and Ms. Holbrook were both employed there. Am I right?”

“That’s correct.”

“I have pay statements here, for the entire time that you were employed there.” Connor held them up at shoulder level. “I have Ms. Holbrook’s pay statements as well. They show that you clocked in and out every day until the day you were arrested. The two of you together were making a considerable amount of money.”

“There must be some mistake with the dates on those papers. Our expenses were high. We were dead broke.”

“What are the chances that your bank would make the same mistake in the dates? Let’s have a look at your bank statements for that year.” Connor removed the mentioned statements from the folder. “They show your balance at the time of your arrest. It looks like you had a nice little nest egg put away. You must have a good head for finances, Mr. Butler.”

“No, there must be some mistake,” Bobby Ray insisted. “I don’t know where you got those papers.”

“They were obtained from the bank by the joint account holder, Ms. Holbrook. I’m sure they’re in order. I’ll hand them over to the court to look at. We’ll see what they think.” He handed the stack of papers to the bailiff. “You have your finances in order now though, isn’t that what you said? You have a job to help support Lizzy?”

“That’s what I said,” Bobby Ray groused.

“What is the name of your new employer and how much money have they offered you?”

“I’ll start next week with Reynolds Construction.”

“So you haven’t had any income so far. How much money have they offered to pay you?”

“We haven’t discussed money yet, but I know it won’t be as much as I made in Tampa. Things are tougher, now that I’m an ex-convict.”

“We don’t have any way of getting documentation from Reynolds then, do we?”

“No,” Bobby Ray sneered.

“Do you see the man sitting directly behind my brother, Mr. Butler?”

“Yes.”

“That man is Mr. Adkins. He’s the human resource manager for Reynolds Construction, the only road construction company in town. He brought your application with him today. He says he has an appointment to interview you next week. You haven’t been offered a job yet.”

“I have a lot of experience. I know they’ll hire me.”

“Even though you’ve been convicted of a felony?” Connor asked. “You did include that on the application, didn’t you?”

“I don’t remember. I may have missed that.”

“It’s an honest mistake,” Connor smiled. “Sometimes those little boxes are hard to find. But now I’m wondering how you paid for a new apartment? The deposit, utilities and furnishings can be expensive.”

“My fiancée has been helping me out.”

“Oh yes, you mentioned before you’re getting married in two weeks. Congratulations. What is the lucky girl’s name?”

“Juanita Granger.”

“I know a man who lives nearby named Henry Granger. As a matter-of-fact, he’s here today to follow up on a police report. It seems someone stole his clothes, jewelry, and even cleaned out his bank account a couple of weeks ago. He thinks it was his wife. She disappeared the same day. You know, I think her name was Juanita, too. But it couldn’t be the same woman, could it? She wouldn’t be free to marry anyone when she’s still married to Mr. Granger. But, that’s beside the point now. The police got a tip on where she’s staying and they picked her up this morning. Still, it’s quite a coincidence. I’ll have to introduce him to you when we leave.”

Bobby Ray turned as white as the shirt he wore…the shirt that belonged to the man outside the courtroom. Bennett jumped to his feet. “I object, your Honor!”

Before the judge had a chance to reply, Connor turned to Bennett. “You’re absolutely right, I’ve gotten off track. Sorry, your Honor.” Connor walked back to the table to set the folder down. “Now, I’d like to know more about the convenience store robbery. I happen to have a copy of the video surveillance tape.”

“I object, your Honor.” Bennett was once again on his feet. “None of this has anything to do with the child in question.”

“I’m only going over the testimony that Mr. Bennett has already introduced, your Honor.” Connor shrugged.

“That’s true Mr. Bennett. You’re overruled.”

The room was abuzz when two deputies wheeled in a big screen TV. Connor made eye contact with Jordan as they hooked up a VCR. She nodded to him with a sullen expression. Cal put his arm around her. As the tape began, she buried her face in his shoulder. The section of tape was over in less than two minutes.

“I have a few questions about that video,” Connor stated. “It appeared that Ms. Holbrook was screaming and struggling during the robbery.”

“It was all a part of the plan,” Bobby Ray replied.

“You pushed her in front of you on your way out of the store.”

“She couldn’t keep up on her own.”

“The video wasn’t very clear to me, so I had a few still shots made from it.” Connor retrieved eight-by-ten photos from his briefcase. He held one up. “Here’s one of you leaving the store. It appears that you still had the knife pointed at Ms. Holbrook, but now it’s down at waist level. Didn’t you say that she was only a few weeks from having a baby?”

“Yes. I guess I was careless with her. It must have been all the adrenalin.”

“Now here’s a close-up of Ms. Holbrook in front of the cash register during the robbery. She sure looks frightened to me. There are tears on her cheeks. By the way, what had happened to her eye and mouth?”

“She’d walked into a door frame a few days before,” Bobby Ray answered.

“She must have walked into it a couple of times to hit her left eye and the right side of her mouth. Isn’t it funny how the bruising is round and scattered. You would expect a doorframe to leave straight marks. These look like knuckle marks to me. Was she always so clumsy?”

“She had a lot of accidents, yes.”

“The nearest emergency room to your apartment was St. Joseph’s. We have a copy of her records from there.” Again, Connor reached inside his briefcase. “She was in the ER six times. Each time, they listed a variety of injuries. Abrasions, contusions, broken ribs, even a concussion where she’d lost consciousness. And this had all taken place during the time that she was pregnant. It’s a wonder that baby survived. You might even think someone didn’t want her to, maybe even hoped she wouldn’t.”

Bobby Ray’s face was red and sweating profusely. He had just about reached his limit. Connor wanted to push him over the edge. “I sure hope she’s more careful while she’s having my baby. Did I forget to mention that we’re engaged?” He turned to Jordan. “Show him the ring, honey. She’s a beautiful woman, isn’t she?”

Bennett leapt to his feet, pounding his fist on the table. “I object!”

Bobby Ray dove over the rail in front of his chair and lunged past Connor and toward Jordan. “I’ll kill you, you cheating bitch. I’ll kill you and that fucking kid of yours. I should have taken you out before she was ever born.”

Caleb held her behind him until the deputies had him handcuffed. Bobby Ray screamed obscenities and threats as they dragged him from the courtroom. The judge banged his gavel to silence the excited observers.

“Mr. Bennett, I believe your client may need your assistance. Mr. McCrae, please approach the bench.”

After Bennett had followed Bobby Ray out of the room, Judge Bender and Connor spoke in lowered voices. “Connor, you know you goaded him into that outburst.”

“Yes sir, I did, and you enjoyed every minute of it.”

“Yeah, it was pretty cool,” the judge admitted.

“How long can you hold him?”

“Not very long, I’m afraid. Bennett will claim that he was under undue stress. But, I can get you some restraining orders.” He began writing in a notebook. “I guess Butler is lucky in a way.”

“How’s that, sir?” Connor asked.

“He doesn’t have to face Mr. Granger today.”

“Can we do anything with that situation?”

“I’m afraid not,” the judge replied. “It sounds like the wife initiated the whole thing.

You know I’m going to rule against him, but I have to appear to think it over. You’ll get my ruling by the end of the day.”

“Thanks, your Honor. I’m going to take Jordan home as soon as you call this thing over.”

“You got it.”

As they left the courthouse, Connor told Jordan the good news.

“I can’t believe it,” she exclaimed. “He lost? I don’t have to worry about him anymore?”

“I never said that. We’re going to have to watch our backs for as long as he’s still out there. A restraining order is only a piece of paper. Don’t lose sight of that fact. He’s pretty damn pissed off.”

“So what do we do now?”

“I’d say it’s time Lizzy came home. We’ll have to watch her like a hawk, but she can’t stay at the Douglas’s forever. I don’t know about you, but I miss that little munchkin.”

Chapter Sixteen

Lizzy chattered all the way home about the fun she’d had with Adam and Craig. She’d learned to tie her own shoes and make Kool-Aid. Miss Holly had said that Tom looked like dryer lint and Mr. Charlie gave her a piggyback ride every night on her way to bed. But, she also said she’d missed her room and her swing.

As soon as the car stopped in front of the house, she jumped out and ran inside. She skidded to a stop and backed up a few steps, finding herself faced by three large strangers. Mr. Coleman came from the kitchen wiping his hands on a dishtowel. “I sure am glad to see you, Lizzy. It stinks being the only person in the house under six-feet tall.”

Ted slid off the couch to kneel eye-to-eye with her. “Hi Lizzy, my name is Ted.” He motioned behind him with a thumb. “This guy, John, and I have been working for your mom and Connor. We sure are glad to meet you.”

“How come all you guys are wearing suits like Connor?” she asked meekly. “Did you go to a funeral? When Gram died, all the men wore suits to her funeral.”

“No, we had business to take care of. It was a good day. Your mommy must be so happy to have you back home.”

Jordan entered with Lizzy’s little suitcase. Lizzy hugged her legs still looking at all the big men.

John stood and walked toward the door. “Ted and I are going to get back to the hotel and change clothes. We want to start our surveillance shifts while we still know where Butler is. Where’s Connor?”

“He’s right behind me. He wanted to park the car in the barn.” After the two men walked outside, Jordan looked down at Lizzy. “What would you like to have for dinner tonight, sweetheart? You can have anything you want. I’ll go to the store and get it.” Lizzy still clung to her legs staring at Caleb. “Did you hear me Lizzy? You can have anything you want for dinner.”

“Shrimp, the crusty kind, and french fries with ketchup,” Lizzy finally answered.

****

Connor came inside carrying Tom. Lizzy climbed up his body and circled her arms and legs around him. He almost lost his grip on the squirming cat. “What’s the problem, monkey girl?”

“There’s a man over there that looks like you, but his face is plain,” she whispered.

“That’s my brother. His name is Cal. Don’t you like his plain face?”

“It’s okay, I guess,” Lizzy shrugged.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing, but I like yours better.”

“Why?” he asked, surprised.

“Because, it makes you special.” Lizzy cupped each side of his face with her tiny hands. “I love your face.”

Connor was so overwhelmed he couldn’t speak. He just hugged her tighter and kissed her head. Once the lump in his throat cleared, he said, “I love you too, monkey. I missed you an awful lot around here.”

“I’ll be clearing out of here today,” Mr. Coleman interrupted. “I need to get back to my own place. My garden must be overgrown with weeds by now. Call me if you want me for anything.”

“You’re welcome to stay for dinner, Coleman,” Connor offered. “There’s always plenty.”

“No, I’m kind of looking forward to some quiet time. Thanks though.” He retreated to the spare room to pack his few things.

“If you two don’t mind, I’d like to stay on for a little while.” Caleb stood. “I haven’t had a chance to do anything but concentrate on the case since I got here. I’d kind of like to get to know my new extended family a little better.”

“You’re welcome to stay for as long as you’d like,” Jordan was quick to assure him. “I think you and Connor have some catching up to do, and it looks like the guest room is available again.” She walked out the door with Connor close on her heels.

“Where are you going?”

“I told Lizzy she could pick what we’d have for dinner tonight,” she answered. “I have to go to the store.”

“You’re not going alone, are you?”

“Yes, I am. Bobby Ray will still be wrapped up in paperwork at the county jail. This is my chance to go out alone for the first time in forever.”

“Well, I guess you’re right, but we have a ton of food here. Why do you have to buy more?”

“Lizzy wants shrimp for dinner and we don’t have any.”

“Didn’t Cal say anything?” Connor frowned.

“No. Why?”

“If he eats shrimp you’d better have an ambulance on standby. He’s got an allergy to shellfish.”

“Oh damn, is there any limit to the way you men will spoil that child? I said she could have anything she wanted for supper. He must not have wanted to disappoint her. What do I do now?”

“That’s easy. Just pick up some steaks—surf and turf. That’s what Mom does.”

“I think I’d like your mom.”

“I’m not ready to find that out yet,” Connor remarked with a cocked brow.

****

Bobby Ray stepped out of the jailhouse in time to see the old Impala being towed away. “Shit! What am I going to do now?” he asked Bennett. “I can’t get the car back. I don’t even own it. At least none of my stuff was in it. Luckily, I’ve got Nita’s money in my pocket. I guess I’ll have to get a used car from one of those buy-here-pay-here lots down the street.”

“Just try to keep a low profile,” Bennett advised. “I’m sure you already blew the custody case.”

“Jordan is causing me way too much trouble. First jail, and then restraining orders, and now my car. I’ve even lost Nita. I’ll have to get my entertainment and money the hard way. Nita was going to come in handy soon, too. Jordan is going to pay for this. I’m not just going to make her suffer. I’m going to make her wish she’d never been born. And, I want that asshole boyfriend of hers, too. He humiliated me in that courtroom.” What Bobby Ray didn’t tell Bennett was that he was also in his crosshairs.