Thin Ice 5 - Checkmate (23 page)

The man nodded slightly, acquiescing to Ryan’s sentiment.

“
He has two weeks from the day the case is decided,” the man replied, letting Ryan know he did indeed know exactly what was going on with Ian.

“
OK,” Ryan replied simply as the man again nodded and the door opened once more.

This time he sat as Ryan turned and strode out of it, hearing it close behind him and not turning around.

“
You think he’ll come,” the other man asked, stepping out of the shadows now.

“
Yes, Ryan loves Ian more than his own life,” the man replied. “He understands what’s at stake, he’ll be here,” he added simply before rising and leaving the room himself, waiting and again biding his time.

*****

Kaitlyn rose to walk to the stand as Akil called her name to testify. She wanted this ordeal over as quickly as possible. Kaitlyn felt all eyes on her as she sat and raised her right hand, swearing to tell nothing but the truth.

“
Mrs. Taylor,” Akil began kindly. “Can you tell us about your relationship with Mr. Taylor,” he asked allowing Kaitlyn the opportunity to show the stability of her life with Tariq.

She told the court a very antiseptic, rose colored version of their meeting, courtship and subsequent marriage. She told of their losing a child and making it through it together. Kaitlyn shared how happy she and Tariq were finding out about her pregnancy.

“
Since this suit has been filed, has your husband been any different with the children,” Akil asked.

Kaitlyn assured that Tariq’s behavior had not altered in the slightest.

“
He loves the children, without question,” she told them as Volena nodded slightly and made a quick note on her pad.

“
What do you think would happen if Mr. Bailey is awarded custody of the child in question,” Akil asked.

Sighing deeply Kaitlyn told the court how much it would devastate her, as well as the other sibling. “They’re extremely close and they can tell when one is missing,” Kaitlyn told him. “They look for each other,” she added quietly.

The judge again nodded and jotted a quick note.

“
Thank you Mrs. Taylor, that’s all I have,” Akil told her as he sat. Kaitlyn steeled herself, seeing Ray rise and walk toward her.

“
Mrs. Taylor,” he began, looking her directly in the eye. “Tell us about your relationship with Mr. Bailey,” he threw out as Kaitlyn again described an antiseptic version of her time with Ian.

“
So, you were married to Mr. Taylor, when you and Mr. Bailey conceived the child in question,” Ray asked pointedly.

“
Yes,” Kaitlyn reluctantly replied.

“
Hmph, I see,” he replied. “So you had an affair with Mr. Bailey,” he fired off.

Kaitlyn swallowed hard. She wasn’t sure how to answer the question without condemning herself in some way or another.

“
Yes or No, Mrs. Taylor,” Ray fired again, sensing her hesitancy.

Before she could answer, Ray switched gears, having proven his point to his satisfaction.

“
Have you ever been treated for mental illness, Mrs. Taylor,” he grilled.

Akil was in helpless. He knew that at some point Ray would bring up Kaitlyn’s breakdown. He couldn’t object since it definitely played a part in her ability to raise the child safely and rationally.

“
I had a breakdown a few years back,” Kaitlyn replied, her tone changing.

Ray missed the switch, but Ian immediately noticed. Her defenses were locked now and Ray was about to get a rude awakening.

“
Were you an outpatient,” he asked again.

“
No,” Kaitlyn replied flatly, no emotion.

“
So you were committed to a mental hospital,” Ray asked condescendingly.

“
Yes,” she again answered without elaboration.

“
Why,” Ray returned once more.

“
I needed intensive counseling obviously,” Kaitlyn replied, slightly surprising Ray with the sarcasm.

“
Intensive counseling for what,” he asked, going for the kill.

“
Intensive counseling for the four plus years of being fucked every night by my father,” Kaitlyn replied in a dead monotone.

The courtroom gasped, and Judge Baiswell banged her gavel, visibly shaken herself.

“
Order,” she boomed giving Ray a warning look.

Startled himself at the admission, Ray looked into her face again and saw nothing. It was if the woman wasn’t in the room with them, yet she was functioning. Ian looked at her and saw her father. Kaitlyn was every bit as cold as Hangman had ever been described. If she could have, Ian was sure Ray would be dead right now.

“
I’m well now though,” Kaitlyn continued without prompting, loving the discomfort on the attorneys’ face.

“
I’m whole and fully capable of taking care of my children,” she completed before Ray nodded slightly and told her thank you, he had no further inquiry.

Kaitlyn’s eyes met Ian’s before she left the stand. He wasn’t shaken; Ian simply matched her stare, an unspoken communication passing between them, before she rose and stepped down. Volena spoke and recessed the court for fifteen minutes, admonishing everyone to return on time. Akil asked Kaitlyn if she were all right when she returned to their table.

“
I’m okay,” she told him calmly, some of the emotion returning.

Tariq came to her as their eyes met. Kaitlyn allowed him to hug her, holding her close as they embraced. She felt him kiss her cheek gently telling her it was okay in her ear. Feeling eyes, Kaitlyn opened hers, looking directly into Ian’s face as he watched them. She gave him a look before turning her head and continuing to remain enveloped in Tariq’s arms.

*****

Ray felt his phone vibrate as he and Nikki headed to the small meeting room outside of the main courtroom.

“
Go ahead, I’ll be there in a second,” Ray told her as Nikki nodded and walked on without him.

“
Yes Brent,” he answered amiably, seeing his son’s name on the ID.

“
We’re on our way to General,” he told his father, referring to the hospital.

“
What happened, are Necie and Diamond all right,” Ray asked, concerned.

“
They’re fine,” Brent returned. “It’s Santana,” he clarified, going on to give his father details of the ambush at the warehouse.

“
Did you take care of the problem,” Ray asked, maintaining consciousness of where he was.

“
Yeah, that lying scum is at the morgue,” Brent returned as Ray let go a whistling breath.

“
How is Santana,” he asked.

Brent told him one of the bullets was in and out, but the other did some damage and he was unconscious. “The EMT’s were saying he’s critical,” Brent told him, concern evident in his voice.

Ray told him he was on his way as he disconnected. Heading back to court he found the bailiff, asking to see Volena. The judge allowed him into her chamber, only with Akil also being present. She didn’t want there to be any question of integrity at the final ruling.

“
There has been a grave family emergency and I need to request a postponement for at least two days,” Ray told Volena.

She looked to Akil and asked if he had any objection.

“
I understand counsel’s issues, but I’d like to have a reexamination in 24 hours,” Akil told them both.

“
If, Mr. Lockhart, you find the situation sufficiently contained, I’d like to continue and finish this proceeding so my clients can return to some semblance of a normal life,” he added.

Volena told him she thought it was a good idea and Ray agreed as well. Granting them the 24 hour postponement the two attorneys left the judges chamber. Ray quickly found Nikki and explained he had an emergency and they were in recess for the rest of the day and tomorrow. She nodded understanding as he gave her a few last minute instructions and headed toward Ian. Explaining quickly the situation, Ian and Ray turned together walking out of the front courthouse doors and headed to the hospital.

20

Shells walked quietly into his son’s room, finding the infant fast asleep, covers kicked off as usual. Smiling he tenderly covered Aidan, kissing his cheek gently. The tears came without warning as he blinked rapidly. The thought of something happening to his child hurt deeply in the recesses of his soul. Shells was immediately filled with rage once again, thinking of Jalen kidnapping his woman and his son. Calming himself, Shells left the room and headed to the master bedroom. Gingerly opening the door he noted Tae was also still asleep. Shells quietly made his way to the bathroom, closing the door before engaging the light inside. He stripped quickly, taking a scalding hot shower, happy to finally be off the road and back home. His mind replayed the meeting with Jaron as he sighed deeply.
Top has got to be more selective from here on out,
he thought as he lathered. He’d called Mook and they were meeting later this afternoon. Mook wanted to wait until Tariq was out of court so they could do a conference call and everyone be brought up to speed at once. Having no issue with it, Shells told him that was fine.

Finishing his shower, Shells dried himself, wrapping the towel around his waist as he quietly exited the room. Tae shifted slightly, but drifted quickly back to sleep. Smiling to himself, Shells carefully slid into bed beside her after removing his towel. Tae shifted again, turning facing him. He leaned in and kissed her lips softly. She didn’t wake so he kissed her yet again, sliding closer to her. Tae felt the lips on hers and the closeness of the body. She awakened fighting, disoriented and panicked.

“
Stop gurl, it’s me,” Shells told her, holding her down as she breathed hard, blinking rapidly.

Finally recognition took place and Tae began to cry. Shells pulled her into his arms and held her, stroking her hair soothingly as she cried. He knew from her reaction that Jalen had violated her. He was absolutely furious again, wanting to kill the man all over for a second time.

“
It’s ok gurl, I’m here,” Shells whispered sweetly in her ear.

Tae finally gathered herself and apologized for hitting him and crying.

“
I understand,” Shells told her looking deeply into her eyes. “Him hurt you, didn’t he,” he asked, making her tell him what he already know.

“
Yes,” Tae replied softly.

She told him she wanted to go wash her face and Shells told her to go ahead. Slipping on his boxers, he went to the kitchen and made her a cup of tea.

Tae smiled seeing the steaming cup when she returned to the bedroom.

“
Thanks,” she told him as he kissed her cheek, telling her she was welcome.

“
Tell me what happened,” Shells prompted, wanting to as a final point, know the complete story of their abduction.

Tae took a deep breath telling him about the accident, and how Jalen rendered her unconscious taking both her and Aidan with him.

“
Thank goodness I was talking to KiKi when it all went down,” Tae told him as Shells agreed.

Otherwise no one would have ever known she was missing.

“
You know who kill him,” Shells asked.

Tae told him she didn’t. “He’d drugged me,” she told Shells. “When I woke up from the water the guy poured on me, I was already being pushed toward the bathroom.”

Shells spoke again, telling her he was just glad they were all right.

“
Tell me about the other thing,” Shells began again, giving her a look.

The tears came again as Tae recalled it, explaining and apologizing throughout.

“
Not your fault gurl, wut you apologizing for,” Shells told her lovingly. “I know you love Aidan, I know you love me,” he went on. “I know wasn’t about love wit him, was survival,” Shells assured her as Tae’s heart lifted from the floor.

“
I do love you so much Shells,” she told him softly as he kissed her lips again.

“
I been missing you gurl,” he replied huskily.

Tae told him she definitely missed him as well.

“
I can tell gurl, this pussy nice and wet,” he told her crudely as he fingered her.

Shells rubbed his fingers over her clit, eliciting soft moans from Tae, as she saturated the sheets beneath her.

“
You know wut I want do to this pussy don’t you,” Shells continued to talk dirty and turn her on.

“
Mmm, what,” Tae asked as he began whispering in her ear.

She was on fire as he talked and stroked her. Tae came hard moments later, her body trembling.

“
That’s a good start gurl,” Shells told her, putting his mouth on her still throbbing sex and sucking greedily.

Tae moaned deeply holding his head in place as she came yet another time. The memories of Jalen tried to enter her mind as Shells made love to her, and she violently pushed them away. Tae was safe and with the man she loved. No darkness was allowed. Shells kissed his way back to her lips, connecting and kissing her passionately as he opened her legs and slid deeply inside her gushing wetness.

“
Mmm gurl, you feel good,” Shells murmured.

Tae kissed his neck softly as he thrust into her and continued to voice his pleasure. Shells began riding her high, hitting her clit with each thrust. Tae loved it, their moans of pleasure joined with the soft gushing of her sex while they joined.