Stand By Me (3 page)

“If my father knew what happened in the parking lot, this hospital would be crawling with men coming to take care of things.”

“Kenya,” Calder said setting a serious stare at her. “I wouldn't rule out calling in your family. Sometimes a bigger dog in the kennel is what calms the one barking.”

She regarded Calder's peaceful demeanor and could see where Jonathan's mild personality came from, his uncle. At least their child had a fighting chance of not being a hot-head.

“We'll work on clearing Jonathan’s name first, and I'll let the dark side be my last option.”

“Alright, we have a backup plan. What do you want us to do first, Kenya?” Fiona asked.

“If you are going to Nigeria for the Inn, then you should go with Randall because it won't look suspicious you two asking around about Graham. Your faces will already be on airport security tapes as frequenting Nigeria as business travelers.” Kenya was glad to see Fiona was just attention greedy not trying to harm Jonathan.

“You saw in the pub I write for the magazine. I've tried for years to get our countries to merge on the tourist dollar. I asked Randall not to mention this to you because I wanted this to be my project. Yes it was a little selfish, but everyone was so focused on making the Inn a tourist stop, I wanted the West end of Ireland to become the focus with the Inn being a special stop.”

Kenya narrowed her gaze. “Jonathan believed you never wanted guests on the grounds. You wanna clarify, Fiona, because somewhere there’s a miscommunication of your intentions? Which is it?” And Jonathan worried she was a traitor and here Fiona stood before her with dirt on her hands.

“Uncle Brian came to me, said he’d back me on the tourist angle if I looked the other way about Graham.”

Kenya stiffened behind those words thinking she’d found the mole that leaked her where-a-bouts. “And let him bleed the farmer’s dry of their funds?” Kenya sat alarmed. “And you stand here pretending…”

“Kenya, I only posed to help so I could find out more about Graham. I love Jonathan, I'd never hurt him.”

Everyone's attention turned to Randall as he touched Kenya's hand.

Those dark brows raised and he gave her that sinister gleam he saved for seduction, fortunately toward her it meant he’d happily oblige her request. “I'll be out in the parking lot, if anything happens, just come get me. I need to talk freely for this call.” He touched Fiona's shoulder then whispered something in her ear that brought on a private smirk, then left the room.

“What can I do honey?” Julia offered closing the door behind Randall.

“In my bag is a business card from Detective Diaz. He works at the fifth precinct downtown in Michigan. See if he can get a hold of the officers that work with Jonathan to set up the weekend trips for the kids. I need testimonials from officers, parents, kids, anybody that can vouch for his character.”

“I'll make the calls from the cafeteria.” Julia gestured a hand indicating the no cell phone sign on the wall beside the door. “If I can get the officer to record a conversation with the kid and what Jonathan does for them, his lawyer can show the judge. The more we can present now the less we'll need to have for the trial.” Julia twisted the watch on her arm distractedly.

Kenya watched Julia become rattled and that was out of character for her. “Why are you nervous?”

Flashing bright teeth Julia waggled her brows. “Because, Irish Poppie just text me to wait for him here.”

“Jamie?” she suggested. Julia grinned. “For such a conservative woman, you’re slipping under this one fast with your panties around your ankles.”

Julia's look cursed Kenya in three languages with flashy hand gestures, but Kenya felt the love. “I’m not gonna pull him into a room and mount him. Give me some credit girl, if he was stank, you wouldn't have been chit chatting with him in Seamus's hospital room. I'm just gonna have lunch with him...for now.”

Julia knew her better than she knew anyone. “He threatened to beat me with a stick once; I’d say that makes him right up your alley.”

Julia propped a hand to her hips shaking her head. “I tried being a submissive one time, just once girl, and about killed the guy when he clipped a chain to the collar.” Julia frowned and said, “I’m done with trying new stuff. If he can’t make it hum with the equipment on hand, there’s nothing he can do for me. I can buy my own props.”

Touching her stomach, Kenya said proudly, “As you can see Blakemore’s can make it hum and sing without props.” She teased and it felt good to lighten up for a minute. “But back to the calls. That would be great if you could get those done for me. I’m gonna contact David Spencer, see how legit he is and if he’s willing to help.” Kenya lifted the hospital phone onto the tray table retrieving David’s number from her office contact list on her cell. “And when did Jamie get your cell number?”

Julia smiled seductively, eyes twinkling with lust. “Letting Jamie man handle me earlier was a test,” she said. Licking out her tongue, she waggled her brows. “Every man needs a strength test. A man that can't carry me up a flight of stairs can't do what I need once we get in the room. And those guns filling out that sweater were ripped, roped and corded...just my requirement.”

~~~

Kenya watched as her meticulously groomed best friend sashayed out of her room followed by Sophie and Calder going to get something to eat. Jamie's met his match for certain with Julia.

The door clicked shut as she grabbed up her phone punching in David Spencer's number, from Global Learning. A chill did the wave down over her skin as she shifted into businesswoman mode.

“David Spencer, Kenya Claiborne, how are you?”

“Ms. Claiborne, a pleasure to hear from you,” his words melted through the line from the sound of her voice. Great! “I just spoke with your boss. He said you were going on a medical leave. I hope everything’s okay.”

Are we keeping tabs Spencer? “For now...it's a family matter, you understand.” Like she cared if he didn't. “I’m certain your account will be handled with care, Mr. Spencer.”

“I have no doubt. So can I presume this to be a social call, Ms. Claiborne? It’s always a pleasure speaking with you.” Kenya rolled her eyes. The man never quit. She might as well use it to her benefit.

“No, I’m afraid I need your help with something important and it’s imperative it stays confidential. Can I count on your discretion--David?”

His tone dropped two octaves to an improper tone, “Anything, Kenya.”

She’ll need a shower after this call. “When will you be in Ireland, next?”

“As a matter of fact, my plane landed two hours ago. I take it you’re here as well?”

“I am.” She adjusted herself on the bed to grab her cup of water. Taking a sip she washed down the sensation of swimming with an alligator, in over her head with this one. “If possible, could you meet me in St. Mary’s hospital? I'll give you directions.”

He cut her off, “St. Mary's...on the Westside?”

“Yes,” she agreed taking a breath; this meeting was probably the most important as far as clearing her and Jonathan's name, business and personally.

“You sound distracted, Kenya. Is everything okay? Has something happened?”

“I’ll inform you when you get here say,” eyeing her watch face, “ten am on Thursday?”

“Where shall I find you?”

Where could they meet to avoid Brian's goons? She suspects they were lurking in the corridors and hallways.Then it dawned on her.“David, in the restaurant in the states, you'd mentioned you're familiar with Jamie Blakemore of the Ireland Blakemore's, correct?”

“I am,” he voiced questioning her knowledge of Jamie.

“Perfect. I'll ask that he meet you down in the radiology waiting room.” She had to get him back to the hospital.

“Blakemore?” he questioned then gave a low whistle over the line. “Mr. Blakemore came to his senses and hired you on?”

Behind a deep inhale, Kenya tried not to let David’s star struck rapid breathing bother her. She let her attention follow the soft lines of the horizon out the window. Spring would wake up the beautiful flowers at the estate along with the sweet roses Jonathan picked from Gretchen’s garden. To think he’d asked her for four days when he gave her those flowers. Here she sat months later, pregnant with his child and setting up backroom meetings to spring him from jail.

“Kenya...Ms. Claiborne are you there?”

“Yes,” She answered distracted. “Can you make it, Mr. Spencer?”

Shifting on the bed, she waited for his response.

“I’ll see you at four, Ms. Claiborne...Kenya.” She'd wait until he arrived to tell him she was a Blakemore. She had to be certain he was on their side first.

Feeling tired, Kenya gave in to the sleep pushing at her and rested back against the thick pillows. The sheets rustled as she got comfortable thinking of her husband. What was Jonathan going through at the police station?

Chapter Two

Jonathan stalked into the police station, angered, hands cuffed behind his back, his mind spinning. Outside of the family and a small amount of hospital staff, who else knew Kenya was in Ireland and at the hospital?

The stale scent of the precinct pulled him to the present with Jamie at his side. Jonathan could feel the eight sets of eyes trained on them from the people filling the hard plastic chairs in the lobby. He didn’t look at their faces, but was certain they knew they were Blakemore’s, and their arrests would become Ireland’s next biggest headline news.

They crossed the dingy room and dull gray tiled floors to the six-foot high registration desk. The clerk looked down through the scratched and marred Plexiglas panel giving him a skeptical look.

“Mr. Blakemore...” Jonathan tipped his chin up viewing the many cameras poking out of the ceiling taking pictures of his every move.

“Sergeant Claymore.”

The tall man’s forehead nearly touched the barrier when he leaned forward shaking his head. “I heard there was a shooting at St. Mary's Hospital, but couldn't believe when the report came in that you two were the suspected shooter's. I thought they had the wrong Blakemore's,” he said in a hurried thick accent.

No, they only had one name wrong, Jamie’s. “Has my lawyer, Mr. Hines, arrived?”

“No,” he said gesturing to a putty gray door off to the right of the lobby. A buzzer shrilled and the officer at his back pulled the door open. “You can wait in here.”

“Sgt. I was the one to shoot the four men. Not me cousin,” Jonathan corrected before Jamie got pulled in any farther. He needed Jamie to go back to his family and take care of them while he waited on his lawyer, Hines.

The Sergeant turned his attention to Jamie, “Mr. Blakemore, is this true?”

“Me cousin was protecting his wife,” Jamie said stepping in beside Jonathan.

“Are you willing to sign a statement that you did not shoot one of the four victims?”

“He is,” Jonathan jumped in before Jamie had a chance to answer and Jamie shot him a look. “Do nae be a hero, cousin by taking me medicine. You did nae shoot either of those men?” The men shared a look and Jonathan knew his cousin would lie to keep Jonathan out of prison. “I need you to be with me family while I'm here.”

Both men stood facing the other, their arms handcuffed behind their backs. In that moment, that split second in time, Jonathan knew he'd turned his wife and child over into his cousin's protection. Protection he could no longer provide for the very blood that pumped through his veins, his family, Kenya, and his child. There was no other man on earth he’d give such an honor. After a few seconds, Jonathan gave a quick nod to Jamie. “Yer like a brother to me, have been all me life. Protect Kenya and me bairn, they’re family now.”

The faces in the lobby all watched the passing of the baton between the two men. Jonathan stepped back.

Jamie said, “No, Sgt. I did nae shoot either of the men. I was there, though.”

The Sergeant slid a piece of paper under the Plexiglas panel. “Then step over to this door and an officer will be out to take your statement. Sign here, then empty your pockets.” He handed him a manila envelope. “Slip any personal belongings including watch in there and wait for the officer to take you back. You'll get this back when you leave.” He nodded to Jonathan. “I'll need you to empty your pockets as well Jonathan,” indicating a separate door to the right. “Your lawyer will meet you over in there.” Jamie took a step back. A second door opened and he was taken into a separate room to give his statement. Jonathan crossed into the other room to stand just inside the door. A mechanical sound came from the door seconds before it swung open automatically. Inside were a metal table in the center of the room and two gray chairs.

In the interrogation room, he met with his personal lawyer. Hines went over every option he had to clear his name and the biggest suggestion was a character witness. First, they would retrieve the security camera footage from the hospital. If they could show Jonathan's reaction was in an effort to protect Kenya, the possibility of the charges to become defense as opposed to the extreme manslaughter gave Jonathan hope.

Jonathan couldn't get past the picture his mind formed of those men touching Kenya in that car. What his wife had gone through while he stood in the hospital checking his email would haunt him forever. He raised his eyes hearing his lawyer’s voice. “Right now the police are going off the callers report of what transpired in the parking lot. Once we have the full report we'll see what sort of bail they're talking about, if a bail is set at all.”

“Do we know who called the authorities at the hospital?” He asked clasping his fingers over the metal table in the cold room. It gave his hands something to do, when anger continued to drip from his heart down to his fists. Those men had touched his wife.

“Anonymous,” his lawyer said pulling up a chair. “They tracked the call back to a cell with a blocked number. A computer tech's retrieving the records now. If it's one of Brian's men we'll know soon.”

“I shot those men, Hines. I want names.”

“Let me handle this,” Hines said holding up a hand waving it over the papers. “I won't shit you Jonathan. The cards are not only stacked against you, but they're wet and curling fast.”