Soulful Strut (24 page)

She began to feel trapped by her own design.
What had those angry callers said? Pretty much that she was still a
’hood hoochie dressed up to pass as a decent person. Being brash
and smart-mouthed had gotten her far, but being strong all the time
was exhausting. Monette wondered when or if she could outlive her
past. Then she wondered if Jayson had listened to the show and what
he would think. Maybe he wanted a thrill ride with the bad girl.
Maybe he was just slumming, taking a break from bourgie sorority
girls. Monette’s suspicions and cynicism stewed as she went through
e-mails and phone messages.

***

Tuesday Monette worked at Second Chances from
nine in the morning until almost five in the evening. She started
out helping with paperwork. Danica had all kinds of accountability
reports to complete; a condition of the grants that funded the
program. Next they had lunch with a local Rotary Club chapter.
Monette did her thing; using her notoriety to generate interest
Danica graciously accepted a donation. By two the gills started
arriving from their schools. With help from Danica, Monette shook
off the bad karma from her radio show. With twenty-four hours of
distance, she could even laugh about it with the girls. They had
Monette in tears as they tried to teach her the latest insult teen
slang. The girls screamed with laughter as Monette imitated their
street poses and pretended to verbally smack down old Addison. With
her characteristic skill, Danica turned their antics into a
teaching moment Monette took her cue. They talked about anger
management. Monette explained that rules of the street could get
them nothing but more trouble. Being a role model was a lot of
work. After the girls left, Monette felt drained.

When she arrived at the halfway house,
Monette was ready to get casual and do nothing. But she couldn’t,
not with a book to write. She planned to spend the rest of the day
tapping out paragraphs that would get her closer to ‘The End.”
Barely ten minutes after she’d started typing, Trudy came
upstairs.

“Good afternoon. We haven’t had a chance to
talk for over a week. How are you?” Trudy fingered the reading
glasses that hung around her neck on a string of freshwater
pearls.

“Busy.” Monette realized her answer might
sound short. She looked up at Trudy with a smile, trying not to
appear as irritated as she felt at being interrupted. “But
otherwise I’m alright. How are you?”

“Good. Ms. Chen is downstairs. Is everything
alright?” Trudy gazed at her steadily.

“You heard the show, I guess,” Monette
replied. She turned off the word processor and stood.

“Yes. I also read that article in the
Advocate. I hope you’re not going to get discouraged,” Trudy
said.

“You know me. I just hope they spell my name
right and mention my book. I could use the royalties,” Monette
wisecracked as she walked by Trudy.

Trudy put a hand on Monette’s arm. “Even the
toughest person feels pain. It’s hard hearing people say nasty
things about your past,” she said gently.

“Even if they’re telling the truth?” Monette
affected a mischievous grin. Still, Trudy’s kindness touched a
tender spot. She blinked to fight the tears that formed.

“Even if they’re telling the truth. Because
that’s not the whole story. Look at what you’ve accomplished, what
you’re doing to help others.”

Monette nodded and swallowed hard. “Thanks,
Trudy.” She hurried off before the urge to bawl into Trudy’s prim
mint green sweater twin set could win. Monette went down the stairs
ahead of her and did not look back. She went into the smaller
visiting room. Lucy sat on the sofa flipping through a fashion
magazine.

“Look at this. Four-inch strappy sandals.
Perfect” Lucy held up a picture of impossibly high-heeled shoes.
“Makes your legs look fabulous.”

“Please don’t wear those to my pardon
hearing. Falling on your face would not help me.” Monette gazed at
the photo with a grimace. “My feet hurt just looking at those
things.”

“Hey, I’d tell you to wear them if I thought
the board would give you points for those great legs of yours,”
Lucy quipped. She dropped the magazine back on the coffee table.
She joined Monette at the card table, carrying her soft leather
portfolio.

“Sugar, flashing my legs at a public official
is what got me sent to prison in the first place. I’ll wear
sensible shoes, thank you,” Monette tossed back.

“Speaking of the scumbag, the FBI says they
can’t find evidence of a federal crime. Looks like Winn Barron is
off the hook. Except for losing his reputation and being forced
into ‘retirement’ ”

“Poor Winn. He spent years suffering in his
condo on the Florida coast,” Monette said with a grunt of derision.
“My only consolation is that his blue-blood wife is probably making
his life hell.”

“I’m not into gossip,” Lucy began in a lower
voice.

“Bull.” Monette rolled her eyes.

“Okay, so that’s a little white lie. Anyway,
I hear they’ve led very separate lives for years. She’s going to
wait a while longer, and then they’ll quietly divorce.” Lucy pulled
papers from her portfolio. “My sources say a condition of her
generous settlement is that she has to keep her mouth shut.”

“So she’s going to bail once the media
attention dies down.” Monette watched Lucy sort through papers.

“Sure. They don’t want more speculation about
Barron family issues.” Lucy nodded. “Which is why I don’t get him
stirring things up.”

“You’d have to know Winn. His arrogance and
poor judgment always trump his brains. The man isn’t stupid, just
morally defective. Besides, notice the article only mentioned him
once.” Monette’s fingernails made a rat-a-tat-tat sound on the
tabletop.

“Yeah, one teeny-tiny sentence that vaguely
referred to his resigning ‘under a cloud.’ Pretty crafty. He’s
taking aim at you like a sniper hiding in the shadows. But I don’t
think he can keep that up without eventually having to expose
himself.” Lucy found a page and pulled it out.

Monette frowned. “Don’t underestimate Winn’s
ability to operate like other snakes. He’ll slither right under
your nose, blending into the scenery. Before you know it, he’s got
those poisonous fangs in your flesh.”

“Yeah, but like any snake all you gotta do is
chop off his head and the end.” Lucy shoved the papers aside and
squeezed Monette’s hand.

“I hope you’re right,” Monette replied, still
frowning.

“Hey, I think you should give your own
interview. I know,” Lucy said before Monette could answer. “Jim
says we should lay low. Don’t heat up a confrontation until after
the pardon hearing.”

“For once I won’t go looking for a fight,
Lucy. I want to just get on with my life and finally leave those
chapters behind me.” Monette sighed.

“Enough of Barron. The hearing.” Lucy held up
a single sheet of paper. “You’ve been rescheduled. One of the
members got sick, the governor dismissed another one.”

“Do you have any good news, or did you just
show up to ruin my week?” Monette frowned at Lucy as though she
were to blame.

“I’m just the messenger. But the delay could
be good news. That article won’t be fresh in their minds by then.”
Lucy grinned. “These things have a short shelf life” “Maybe.”
Monette shrugged. She wasn’t so sure about that.

“The glass is still half full, sweetie.” Lucy
handed Monette papers.

“What’s this?” Monette scanned the legalese
printed on the documents.

“My idea. I suggested to Jim that we try to
get the original verdict overturned. We could try for an expedited
review by the appeals court. The basis could be the continuing harm
of your being in the custody of the Louisiana Department of
Corrections. Read over the petition.” Lucy took out a lightweight
notebook computer as Monette read. Muted clicks came from the
keyboard as she typed. “What do you think?”

“I think this is a long shot.” Monette read
two sections again.

Lucy hit several keys, then stopped and
nodded. “You’re right The United States Supreme Court ruled a while
back that evidence of innocence alone is not legal grounds for
appeal.”

“Yeah. That makes a whole lotta sense.”
Monette shook her head.

“But I think we have a chance based on
misconduct, mishandling of evidence and a conviction based on
perjury. We’ll argue that the justice system is adversely affected
by letting such a verdict stand. We don’t want to encourage those
unscrupulous few who might subvert the cause of justice.” Lucy
spoke with fervor, as though she were before the appeals court
already.

“Uh-huh. Not to mention how it screwed up my
life. But that’s a minor thing, I guess. We wouldn’t want the
system to suffer,” Monette wisecracked.

“Frankly, my argument will carry more weight.
But it doesn’t matter why we win as long as we win.” Lucy pointed
to the last page. “Sign those three originals.” “Can’t have a
little humanity creeping into the process, can we?” Monette signed
even as she expressed cynicism.

“That’s not what I meant. You will curb the
attitude in the next month. Practice before the Pardon Board
hearing, okay?”

“Promise.” Monette held up a palm, and then
put her hand over her heart.

“June twenty-eight is the big day. Ten in the
morning.” Lucy packed up to leave. “Now I’ll get out of your way so
you can continue on the path to reform.”

“Very funny,” Monette said as she squinted at
her.

Lucy gave her a sympathetic smile. “I know it
isn’t easy. You have to put up with this when you didn’t even do
the crime. Stay strong, girl.”

Monette waved away self-pity. “Hey, the
accommoda¬tions here beat prison by several miles. I got myself
into this mess, and I’ll get out of it; with a little help from my
friends.”

“You bet. Nobody thought you’d get out of
prison. Remember the look on my face when you told me Winn Barron
had set you up?” Lucy made a face. “I thought you were a nut.”

“You weren’t alone,” Monette said with a
laugh.

“Like I said, we’ve come farther than anyone
would have thought. Don’t count out that pardon. Jim will probably
talk to you next time. Bye.” Lucy hurried off while looking at her
wristwatch.

“See ya.”

“Everything okay?” Sherrial met Monette out
in the hallway just as the front door closed behind Lucy.

“That’s what everybody keeps telling me,”
Monette replied.

Monette wondered if all the pep talks had
basis in fact. The Pardon Board was only one step. The governor
would have to approve their recommendation. She only hoped Winn
Barron’s political influence had finally been killed off by the
scandal. Knowing Louisiana politics, she wasn’t so sure.

Chapter 12

Saturday evening Jayson took Monette to a
poetry slam downtown at the Shaw Center for the Arts. One of his
best friends performed. Monette enjoyed the raw energy of
back-to-back spoken word performances. Later they strolled over to
a restaurant at the top of another building. Seated near the
floor-to-ceiling windows, they had a wide view of the Mississippi
River. Cool spring evenings had given way to the heat of June. Hot
humid air hung on despite the setting sun. The blue sky deepened
into shades of orange and purple. Empty tables at River- view
Seafood soon were filled. Riverview had an atmosphere of casual
elegance. In spite of being surrounded by upper-crust types dressed
in designer labels, Monette felt at ease. Jayson’s serene grace
helped. Thoughts of work popped into her head all night. Monette
couldn’t help second-guessing every decision she’d made in the last
two weeks. When she realized Jayson was waving a hand in front of
her eyes, she blinked rapidly.

“Yes. Sounds good.”

“Do you know the question?” Jayson cocked his
head to one side.

“Sure. I’ll have the octopus on rye,” Monette
quipped as she dropped her menu. Jayson let loose a throaty laugh
that covered her like a satin caress. The room came into sharp
focus. Thoughts of work went bye-bye.

“So that’s your game. Make me laugh until I
forgive and forget, huh?” Jayson shook a finger at her.

Monette gazed at his smooth bronze skin. She
had a taste for something alright, and it wasn’t listed on the
menu. She put her craving in check, though. No sense in scaring the
poor man senseless. In her old world, mating meant skipping the
witty small talk. The fact was she didn’t miss it one bit Jayson
studied Monette as she studied him until she blushed.

“Yeah. That’s my game. Well?” Monette tried
to be glib, but the way his smile made her insides warm kept
getting in the way.

“Forgiven. Now tell me what made you risk
getting octopus for dinner.” Jayson put his menu aside.

“Just going over a few details in my mind.
Nothing worth spoiling a night out with good company.” Monette
lifted her glass of water as a salute to him.

Jayson smiled his thanks at the compliment.
“I won’t press. Talking about work isn’t a good appetizer.”

“Well, one little thing before we move on.
You don’t have to decide right now. If you can’t do it I’ll
understand. Really.” Monette started to go on.

“I got it. Saying no won’t damage my love
life. Ask.” Jayson propped both elbows on the table.

“Love life?” Monette got lost in the way his
full mouth curved up on one side when he was amused.

Before he could answer, a petite black
waitress bounced up. “Sorry for the wait. Y’all ready or need more
time?”

“Why don’t we get our orders out of the way?”
Jayson said smoothly. He picked up his menu again.

Monette skimmed the list and quickly ordered
grilled catfish. Jayson ordered seafood pasta, and they both asked
for lemonade to drink. When the waitress left, Monette wanted to
explore the comment about his love life. Instead she pretended an
interest in the decor. She knew Jayson was watching her.