Guilty Pleasure (9 page)

Michael listened to Nicole go on about what
happened to Adam. He told her about him spending time with Adam
last night, which made her very happy, like he knew it would.

They headed into the courtroom where Mr. Lee
was waiting. Nicole felt sorry for him, he looked so nervous. Of
course, if he didn’t rob that liquor store while he was drunk as
hell, he wouldn’t be in this predicament.

As the prosecutor presented his case Mr. Lee
looked like he was about to throw up.

“
It’s okay, Samuel. I told
you the worse you will get is three years in the county jail then a
few years probation.”

“
I hope you are right. They
are pushing for seven years in prison.”

Nicole watched Michael plead Mr. Lee’s case.
He was so charming and engaging with the jury. Michael emphasized
that Samuel had no prior convictions, that he didn’t discharge his
weapon and that he was severely intoxicated at the time of the
crime. He asked for leniency from the jury.

After both sides pleaded their case the jury
went to deliberate. It only took an hour for them to come back with
a verdict. They gave Samuel, three years in the county jail with
two years probation. Michael smiled at the jury then shook Samuel’s
hand.

Nicole was in awe. The prosecutor’s case was
compelling, but Michael’s was more so.

“
I don’t want to see you
again, Samuel,” Michael said.

“
Oh, you won’t. Thank
you.”

The court guards took Samuel away.

“
I like the way you are
looking at me, Nicole.”

“
You were
amazing.”

“
Well, I wouldn’t go that
far, but thank you.”

“
You were comfortable and
sure of yourself.”

“
You helped get Samuel a
lighter sentence, Nicole. Your thorough research made my job
easier.” He smiled seeing a slight blush come to her cheeks. “You
are uncomfortable with compliments?”

“
I’m not use to
them.”

“
Get used to it,
woman.”

They left the courtroom and headed back to
the office. Emily looked excited.

“
Well, I’m intrigued about
what has got you so excited,” Michael said.

“
You know that serial
killer case, well, guess who wants you to represent
them.”

“
You are shitting
me.”

“
Nope. Mr. Smith is too
scared to take the case on and is leaving it up to you.”

“
Well, Nicole, looks like
we have a real challenging case on our hands.”

“
You are going to take a
serial killer’s case? I read about what he did to his
victims….”

“
Everybody deserves a fair
trial, isn’t that what you have said to me.”

“
Yes.”

“
Well, set things up to
meet with…what is his name?”

“
Johnny Turner,” Emily
said.

“
Set things up. I’m curious
to see if he proclaims his innocence or takes ownership for
it.”

“
What if he is innocent?”
Nicole asked.

“
That is what you and I
will find out, Nicole. If this case is going to be too much for you
I can have Jerry’s paralegal help me out, that of course means you
will have to help Jerry out during this.”

“
No, I will help you. I can
handle this.”

“
Come to my office,
Nicole.”

She followed Michael into his office.

“
If at any time it gets to
be too much dealing with this case I want you to tell me. These
kinds of cases are hard. You will know every detail about every
murder he is charged with and I guarantee if Johnny did this we
will find out about more of his victims they don’t know about
yet.”

“
I want to help you. I want
you to see that I can do my job no matter what.”

Michael pulled her into his arms. “Promise
me if I think it’s getting to be too much for you that you will
step back from it. I don’t want to see you overly distraught.”

“
I promise.”

There was a knock on the door. They step out
of each other’s embrace. Michael went to his desk and sat down on
the chair. “Come in.”

“
Sorry, I don’t mean to
interrupt, but I want to make sure that you are taking the case
before I call the jail.”

“
Yep, I’m taking the
case.”

Emily left the office.

“
I would bend you over this
desk and fuck you hard, Nicole, but I’m afraid we have too much
work to do.”

“
Then why did you mention
it?” Nicole felt her pussy moisten at the thought of his cock
pounding away at her.

“
To tease you.” Michael
smiled devilishly.

Chapter Nine

Nicole ate the brownie Monica made for her.
She was visiting with Monica at the bakery shop she worked in.

“
I’m glad you finally
stopped in and watched me create my hip expanding creations,”
Monica said.

“
If I eat too many of these
delicious brownies my hips will certainly expand. This is a cute
shop.”

“
Isn’t it. The owner was
talking about selling this shop to me after a graduate. I’m so
freaking excited.”

“
That is cool news. Why
didn’t you tell me about this earlier?”

“
I just found this out this
morning, which makes your visit perfect timing.”

Nicole visited with Monica
for about an hour, letting Monica relish in her good news. Nicole
was so happy for her. Afterwards, Nicole headed to the
Tears & Beers
bar for
lunch. She didn’t really want to go back to the apartment alone.
Tomorrow Michael and she were interviewing Johnny Turner. Michael
insisted that she take today off and hang around with her friends.
Since Monica and Adam were her only two friends in Chicago it
wasn’t going to take long to do. She wanted to help Michael at
work, but he used his boss card to insist that she take today off.
It was sweet that he was thinking about her well-being, so she
didn’t want to be too big of a bitch about it.

She sat at one of the smaller tables. She
loved the burgers here.

“
Hey, little
Nicole.”

“
Damn, you scared me,”
Nicole exclaimed as she nearly dropped her burger.

Adam sat on the chair across from her.
“Michael give you the day off?”

“
Yep. We have a big day
tomorrow.”

“
I heard he is representing
Johnny Turner. Michael is tougher than I am. I sure the hell
wouldn’t want to be in the same room with that Johnny. Oh shit…you
aren’t going to be around that dude are you?”

“
Well yeah, it’s my
job.”

“
Michael is cool with
that?”

“
No, not really, but he is
letting me make that decision for myself. I’m really glad he is. I
am an adult,” Nicole said in a slightly defensive tone.

“
Hey now, don’t get your
panties in a twist. Michael is your man, I am sure he wants to
protect you, is all I’m saying.”

“
I know. I’m sorry for
getting a bit defensive. It’s just…I’m so grateful Michael is
nothing like Nathan. You want to have lunch with me?”

“
Sure. I got a few minutes.
Is that why you chose this place to have lunch?” Adam smiled
brightly at her.

“
Yep. I was hoping you were
here. How are you doing?”

“
I’m tough I can roll with
the punches. Though I have to admit Mindy’s murder was almost a
knockout punch. You seem happy with Michael.”

“
So far so good. But
remember Michael wants to keep our relationship
private.”

“
I know he told
me.”

The waitress brought Adam over a burger. She
flirted shamelessly with him, yet he was oblivious to it.

“
When are you and your band
playing?”

“
We played here last night.
I was just in here getting our pay. The guys want to go on the road
and play a few gigs to get my mind off of things.”

“
That sounds like a good
idea.”

“
I think so too.” Adam
watched her finish her burger. She ate so daintily it was cute. She
was like sunshine in this dark place. Adam was grateful for the
warmth she gave. He didn’t want to say anything to her, but she
didn’t seem to fit with Michael. Michael was standoffish and a bit
cold at times, it was almost like he was putting on an act, yet
Michael’s actions were so generous. Not everybody is a people
person. Adam just chalked it up to that. Hell, the guy has really
helped him out so who was he to complain.

“
You are deep in thought?”
Nicole said.

“
I seem to drift off a lot
here lately. Sorry about that.”

“
You don’t have to
apologize I understand. You have been through a lot.”

“
So have you. Nathan must
have been a real piece of work.”

“
I’m just glad I’m away
from him.”

“
If he ever tries to
contact you I will take care of it for you.”

“
Nathan is too big of a
coward to come seek me out.”

“
That asshole didn’t hit
you, did he?”

“
No, but sometimes I think
it might have hurt less if he hit me instead of fucking with my
emotions. To be honest, I’m not sure what gave me the strength to
leave. By the end he made me feel so worthless and
unlovable…”

Adam reached over and gently grabbed her
hand. “How does Michael make you feel?”

“
Beautiful.”

Adam smiled warmly. “Then focus on that.
Fuck Nathan, he will get what he deserves.”

“
You are right.” Nicole
gave Adam’s hand a squeeze then let it go.

“
Michael is going to be
right by your side when you talk with Johnny right?”

“
Of course he
is.”

“
Good. How about I walk you
home.”

“
I don’t really want to go
home just yet.”

“
Well, then let me take you
somewhere. That’s if it is cool with Michael.”

“
Why would he care if I
hung around with a friend?”

“
Good point. Where would
you like to go?”

“
Let’s go to Millennium
Park. I haven’t had a chance to explore it yet.”

“
Millennium Park it
is.”

“
Hey, but wait, you said
you only had a few minutes. I don’t want to keep you from what you
had planned today,” Nicole said.

“
I will leave the guys a
message and tell them to practice without me today.”

“
Oh, I don’t want to keep
you from your music.”

“
Little Nicole, it’s cool.
Besides my mind isn’t in to my music today anyways. Let’s go.” He
stood then followed her out of the bar. There was no place he
rather be than with her right now. He texted his bandmates letting
them know he wouldn’t be going to the studio today.

***

Michael looked over what Nicole had gotten
from the police about the Johnny Turner case. He had to study every
detail, not so much for the defense case he needed to build for
this asshole, but how exactly the police caught this guy.

Michael made sure Nicole was out of the
office today. She was too much of a distraction and besides it made
him look the part of a caring lover to her. It didn’t take much to
make Nicole happy and he was grateful for it.

He leaned back in his chair as he rubbed his
neck. Johnny was quite sloppy in his kills. He left tons of DNA by
not wearing a damn condom. How freaking stupid. He hunted hookers,
how cliché and easy. Michael didn’t like easy prey, even when he
was a fledgling killer. And by everything he had read, Johnny was
just that, a fledgling killer. The stupid idiot let one of those
hookers get away and that was how he got caught. Leaving his DNA
everywhere will make it easy to convict him.

Michael read over the details on how Johnny
killed. He would rape then strangle his victim. He made no attempt
to hide the bodies. He left them where he killed them. This idiot
was begging to get caught.

A slow smile came over Michael’s face as he
read the statement from the hooker that got away. She was ready and
willing to testify against Johnny, which meant Michael could
interview this witness. He was excited about meeting this would-be
victim. The mind games he could play with this bitch and in turn
with Johnny thrilled him. He had to control himself, yet his inner
demon was begging to come to the surface.

He was distracted by the phone ringing.

“
Hello,” Michael answered
the phone trying to hide his annoyance. He told Emily not to let
anyone disturb him.

“
Michael.”

“
Nicole?”

“
I don’t mean to bother
you. I just wanted to know if you were going to be at your
apartment later on tonight.”

“
Why?”

“
Well, Sir, I recall you
promised to bend me over something and fuck the hell out of
me.”

“
I did say something like
that. Just go to my apartment when you are done doing what you are
doing and wait for me. I will make sure the doorman will have a key
for you.”