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CHAPTER – 49: Maneuvers
I woke up at the ringing of the telephone. Trying to get rid of the cobwebs of sleep, I turned to the nightstand, and reached for the phone. Realizing where I was, I turned to check on Dana, to give her the phone. She was awakened by the ringing, and extricating herself from Sarah’s embrace, she turned to me and took the phone, looking sleepy. After a few words, she handed it back to me, saying, “For you.”
I was still not completely awake. “Look, Kathy, can we talk some other time? We had a very late night,” I said with a slightly irate tone.
“Er... I’m sorry to disturb you, Mitch,” a male voice said. “This is Ulysses.”
That woke me up in a hurry!
“Uh... Sorry, Ulysses. I thought it was my sister calling. What can I do for you?”
“I know it was a long and eventful night, and I hate to call you at this hour, but I want to keep you informed about the developments. It would be best if we meet,” he said with an apologetic tone, but there was an edge to his voice.
“Sure. Where and when?” I replied quickly.
“Can you come to the club, say... in two hours time?” he asked.
“Yeah, sure! What time is it?”
“It’s half past ten, now. We can meet later if you want,” he added.
“No, no, that’s quite all right. I’ll be there. Can you tell me what’s going on?”
“I talked with my lawyer, and we are going to visit the assailants. I heard from the precinct commander that one of them called his lawyer, and it seems they will be taking legal action. Nothing serious to get worried about, yet. My lawyer and I will visit the commander. The DA will be there also and we’ll look at the situation. First, I want to assess the situation, then go over our options with you, and decide on a course of action.”
Now, I was wide-awake, and my mind switched gears. Although Ulysses indicated it wasn’t something to worry about, I was worried, and I knew I needed some legal advice, despite his promises of help. I asked for the names of his lawyer and the DA—mentally repeating them a few times so I wouldn’t forget the names—and told him I would meet him at the club around midday, before ending the call.
“Problems?” Dana asked with a quiet voice not to disturb Sarah.
“I’m not sure,” I temporized; my mind was still busy with what Ulysses told me.
Dana turned to check on Sarah, who was half-asleep, but stirring. Brushing her hands on her cheek, she leaned and kissed her, and said, “Go back to sleep, Sarah.” She kept her gentle caresses until she eased Sarah back to sleep, before she motioned me to get out of the bed. I looked around for my underwear and clothes, and remembered I had taken everything off and left them in the bathroom. While Dana put on panties, and a robe, I went to the bathroom. She came in while I was brushing my teeth, and we shared the small sink. I put on my boxers and t-shirt, and collecting my clothes, I dropped them in the spare room, before heading to the kitchen.
Dana was busy preparing coffee, and I took a seat in the breakfast nook. Seeing a notepad and a pen attached to the wall next to the fridge, I took them, and quickly wrote down the names of the lawyer and the DA before I forgot them. I went to the living room, searching for cigarettes, and locating Dana’s pack and lighter, I returned to the kitchen with an ashtray, and lit a cigarette.
Finishing her preparations, Dana took a seat opposite to me and also lit one, before she locked her eyes to mine, waiting expectantly.
“I’ll be meeting Ulysses at the club. He told me one of our attackers called his lawyer and would probably try to start legal action against us. Ulysses is going to be meeting his lawyer and the DA to discuss the situation, and then he wants to discuss our options with me.”
She nodded, then glancing at the notepad, she directed a quizzical look at me.
“The names of his lawyer and the DA. This is the first time I find myself in such a situation, and I need some legal advice. These guys might be good, but I don’t know them, and I need to talk with our family lawyer to get that advice, and maybe he can tell me something about them, as well,” I offered.
Reaching out, she held my hand, and said, “Don’t worry, Mitch. Ulysses will help us. He’s a very good friend. If he said he would help, then he will.”
“I–I... I know, but I want to be ready for any eventuality,” I replied hesitantly.
Giving me a long look, she asked, “What’s bothering you, honey?”
I debated against telling her the truth, but decided she deserved to know. “It’s complicated, Dana. I know so little about Ulysses. I like him. But, I don’t want to be in his debt, especially about something like this.”
“Why? You won’t be in his debt. You also helped Caroline and Pete, and he knows that.”
“Maybe so, but... I can’t really explain,” I replied.
“Please, tell me Mitch. What’s bothering you?” she insisted. When I didn’t respond, she squeezed my hand and urged me to tell her.
“Whether I owe him or not, I’ll feel indebted to him, and I don’t want to be in that position. Not yet, anyway.”
Her eyes widened in surprise, before her expression changed to one of curiosity. “Why would you feel or think like that?”
“That’s the way I am.”
“Mitch, would you expect somebody to return a favor when you do something for them?” she asked pointedly.
“No, I don’t,” I answered quickly. “I do it because I can or I want to.”
“Then, why would you feel obliged to return a favor, even when it’s not a favor? Isn’t it the same thing?” she asked.
“Perhaps, but I just met him, and we don’t know each other. He’s a good friend of yours, but it’s different for me. Please, let’s drop it.”
“Honey,” Dana tried, “I can understand that, but he’s not doing it only for you. He’s doing it for all of us, and he would have done the same whether you were involved or not.”
Instead of an answer, I nodded, but she sensed I was uncomfortable with the situation and the discussion, so she moved the subject to something else.
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. I need information, and the family lawyer could help me out, but...”
“But?”
“I’m worried it would get to my parents, and I don’t want them to know about the incident.”
“Do you think he would mention it to your parents?” she asked.
“Well... there’s attorney–client privilege, but we never have had the occasion to invoke it before. It’s a delicate relationship, and he knows my parents and me very well. He’s not just the family lawyer. The two families have known each other for years, are very close personal friends, sharing a lot. I don’t want to offend him, but he’s the only lawyer I know and trust.”
“But, he should respect your wishes, not only as a client but as a family friend.”
“I’m hoping he would. If our relationship were based only on attorney–client relationship, I wouldn’t worry about it, but when you throw in a longtime family friendship into the mix...”
“Mitch, if you trust him, then there must be a good reason for it,” she responded, drawing a sharp look from me.
Once again, I was surprised by her insight. I realized I was worrying about something I shouldn’t have been. I saw her smile at me, and when I smiled back, she squeezed my hand in reply.
“Come on. Make the call. You’ll feel much better afterwards,” she said. Standing up she went to the counter. “I’ll bring your coffee.”
I followed her, and wrapped my arms around her belly, pulling her to my chest. I kissed her neck, and then nipped her ear lobe, making her shiver. She let out a soft sigh, and turned her head to share a kiss. Then, she leaned against me, and let me hold her for a short while.
“I love you,” I whispered softly, before nipping her ear lobe again.
“I love you, too, Mitch,” she responded, and we shared a short kiss, before I released her from my embrace.
Collecting the notepad, pen, and the cigarettes, I went to the living room to make the call. After the pleasantries, I told him I needed some information about two lawyers, mentioning I might be dealing with a delicate situation. From his responses, I could sense he was worried. When I mentioned the names of the lawyer and the DA, there was a long silence at the other end. As the silence stretched, I could visualize him letting out a long whistle, and to my surprise I heard a low whistle, before he came back with questions, asking about the nature of the delicate situation. When I tried to evade, he came out with direct questions.
“Mitch, are you in some kind of trouble?”
“I’m not sure,” I replied.
After a long silence, he said, “Look, Mitch. Why are you evading my questions? I’m here to help you, and you’re starting to worry me.”
“Sorry. This is a delicate matter, and I want to keep it under wraps,” I said.
“I see...” he said, his tone changing to one of comprehension. I wasn’t surprised to hear him continue with his professional voice. “This is strictly business, Mitch, and it will stay here. Now, tell me what’s going on, Son.”
So I told him about the whole event; from the first confrontation in the club till the end when we had the police reports. Then I explained that Ulysses had his lawyer looking into the matter with the DA.
“OK. I think I’ve got the picture. From what you told me, there’s a chance they might try to sue you for excessive force or assault, but they don’t have much to stand on. It was self-defense, you were outnumbered, and they were armed. The attack was planned, so there’s pre-meditation. I’m not sure how the attempted rape charge might hold up. It’s your word against theirs despite the witnesses, but also, it was implied. However, they are in a world of trouble as it is, without the attempted rape charge. I think they are trying to wiggle out of the situation as much as possible, and it’s a ploy,” he said.
“So, you don’t think they have a case?” I asked, heartened by his comments.
“I didn’t say that, Mitch, but from what you told me, I don’t think they can get too far with it even if they try to make a case of it. I’m not a criminal lawyer, so it would be advisable to seek counsel from one. Ulysses’ lawyer is a top-notch criminal lawyer and defense attorney. I don’t know him, personally, but he has a reputation,” he said, and paused.
I sensed there was more to it, after his pointed comment about the lawyer. “Is there something I should know?”
“I don’t know how to say this, but he has some questionable clients,” he replied.
“You mean... some well-known criminals?” I asked.
“Something like that. A few of his clients have been involved in criminal activities, but they walked free due to some technicalities. I’m not saying all his clients are crooks or criminals. Since he’s a criminal lawyer, it’s expected that he would be called to defend people. I’ve been surprised to hear him take on some of those cases; that’s all,” he replied. “Who’s this Ulysses character, Mitch? Do you know anything about him?”
“I don’t know him much. As I told you, I met him last night. He seemed decent enough, and my girlfriend seems to know him, and trust him. I don’t think she would be friends with a crook or a criminal.”
“I see. He may not be a criminal, but I doubt running a nightclub in a big city is an easy thing. You know, things like protection, bribes, and such... Since he feels the need for a top-notch criminal attorney, and knows the local precinct commander, he must have been involved in some things. Keep that in mind,” he warned.
“I understand. Do you know the DA?”
“That’s the oddball, Mitch. I’ve heard he’s a hard case, and one of the toughest ones around. If Ulysses knows him or feels like he could talk to him, then he may be clean. Because that guy doesn’t care for criminals,” he replied.
“Well, that’s good to hear, isn’t it?” I asked.
“Yes, it is.”
“What should I do? I’ll be meeting Ulysses and his attorney in about two hours.”
“I think you should listen to what they have to say, and their suggestions, then give me a call, and we’ll discuss it. In the meantime, I’ll look for a good criminal lawyer there. I should have a name for you in an hour or so. If you’re not happy with the situation or feel like you need help, you can seek counsel from him. From the looks of things, though, I expect Ulysses’ lawyer will give you some good advice, but it’s your call. After all, Ulysses is peripheral to the incident, and he’s being called to assess the situation and help you and his employees who are directly involved in the incident.”
“After what you said, I agree. But I’d like to have a name, just in case...”
“Sure, Mitch. I understand. Give me a call whenever you can. I’ll be in the office all day long. If I’m out, my secretary will know how to get in touch with me.”
“Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.”
“Don’t worry about it, Son. Let’s hear what’s going on, then we’ll take it a step at a time. All right?” he said trying to put me at ease.
I thanked him, and ended the call. When I turned, I saw Dana sitting on the couch, watching me with an unreadable expression on her face. She had two cups on the table, and nodded towards my cup. I went to sit next to her, and took my cup, sipping the coffee. Seeing the quizzical look on my face, she waved it away and smiled.
“Please relax, honey. Everything will be fine. It’s no use worrying about things, before you know all the details,” she said.
“Yeah. I think I know what you mean,” I replied, and took a deep breath to calm down.
Putting my cup on the table, I took her cup from her hands and placed it beside mine, then pulled her into my arms, and sat back. She wiggled for a few seconds, trying to find a comfortable position so I relaxed my hold. She pulled her knees under her, and snuggled to my side, before she let me gather her under my arm. We sat quietly until she broke the silence.
“Mitch?” she said softly. When I looked at her, she paused and took a deep breath, before she continued. “I want to do something, but I’m not sure how you feel about it.”
“Tell me.”
“It’s about Sarah. You know she’s leaving tonight?”
I nodded.
“I... I don’t want her to leave... just yet.”
When I raised an eyebrow, she said, “I was thinking... she could take an early morning flight tomorrow. Tuesday morning flights are usually empty; there should be some seats available. I... I want her to stay with us one more night. She could get a good rest, instead of a restless trip on the night bus, and ending up at work tired.”
“If that’s what you want, it would be easy to arrange,” I responded. “Is there more to this?”
She smiled at my question, and said, “Yes, there is. I don’t want her to be alone tonight. I was thinking about what happened, and last night. I suspect she’s emotionally exhausted, because she felt my hurt. She was there for me, and I want to be there for her. She helped me a lot, Mitch. Helped us...”
I remembered Sarah’s reaction in the tub, holding Dana, and I knew how much she was affected when Dana was telling her story. She tried to keep a brave face, and while Dana hadn’t seen that, I now realized Dana must have felt Sarah’s empathy. I was startled by what she said, but I shouldn’t have been. For a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. I wanted to crush her in my arms to make her a part of me, and I also wanted her to reach in and hold my heart, so she could physically sense and know how I felt about her. Leaning in, I kissed her softly, and we exchanged one of her soul kisses, leaving us breathless.
“I’ll drop by a travel agent and book her flight,” I replied, after the kiss.
“Sorry, honey, but I’d like to do that myself.”
“But...”
She shook her head.
“Can we at least share the cost?” I tried.
She looked like she was going to object, but then thinking it over she smiled, and nodded her agreement. “Yes, I like it. It would be from both of us.”
“Thank you,” I said, kissing her again. “In the meantime, I will cancel her bus ticket. On the way to Ulysses I’ll be passing by the office—the shuttle terminal for the coach service—where she bought the ticket yesterday.”
“Good idea,” she said. “I’ll make the reservation, and pick up the airline ticket. I think it would do both Sarah and I some good to go out while you are visiting Ulysses.”
“How do we meet each other if I finish early?” I asked.
She thought for a minute, and said, “We’ll call you around half past one, and see how things are going. You’ll be with Ulysses at the club?”
“Yeah. You can leave a message there. Even if we go someplace I think we will return there,” Checking the clock on the stereo, I added, “I better get ready, otherwise I’ll be late.”
After a quick glance at the clock, she didn’t make a move, and instead she slid one hand under my t-shirt, and said, “You have time. Let’s shower together.”
From the look in her eyes, I knew she was planning a fun shower, and even though I might run late, I couldn’t refuse the invitation. I wanted her something terrible. Extricating herself, she stood up and pulled me to my feet, and we went to the bathroom. Under the warm water, we played with each other, working up our passions. Then, she turned her back to me and bent at the waist, with her hands on the tiles, offering me a beautiful view. Moving behind her, I entered her gently, then leaning over, I reached to cup her breasts, and kneaded her flesh, teasing her nipples, while I stroked into her slowly with a measured pace. When she drew closer to her peak, I moved one hand to play with her pussy lips, and massaged her clitoral hood, pushing her along the path to her release, while increasing the pace and force of my strokes, catching up to her. I must have miscalculated because I came before her, but my fingers managed to bring her over the brink, and she joined me just as I was pumping the last spurts into her. Her internal muscles kept me semi-hard with their spasms as her climax ran its course, and I kept playing with her tits, moving from one to the other, while my other hand was busy with her pussy. Eventually she reached down to stop my ministrations to her pussy. I moved my hand to cup and massage her breasts, while she tickled my balls, making me throb.
We stayed connected to each other for several minutes, my body covering hers, while I kissed and licked her neck, receiving soft moans, and shivers from her. When she indicated she wanted to stand up, I disengaged from her reluctantly. My cock slipped from its warm nest, and she let out a soft, resigned moan, complaining about the loss. I turned her around, surrounded her with my arms, squeezing her close, and locked my lips to hers, feeling her hard nipples against my chest; they almost bruised me with their hardness. After the kiss, our eyes locked. Her eyes were softened in the afterglow of sex, and she gave a fond smile, holding onto my neck. We exchanged several soft kisses before she moved out of my embrace and took a sponge. We washed and dried each other and left the bathroom.
In the spare bedroom, I dressed in jeans and a shirt, and taking my windbreaker, I looked for Dana. I found her in the kitchen preparing toast. She was still naked, except for an unbuttoned men’s shirt, with her cheeks playing peek-a-boo under the hem as she moved. It was a delightful sight, and I was almost tempted to have a second round right there. Feeling my presence, she looked over her shoulder, and seeing my eyes roving over her, she grinned mischievously.
Putting the toast on a plate, she brought it to the table, while I took a seat.
Seeing me check my watch, she said, “You still have enough time, Mitch. Finish your toast, then you can leave.”
“I don’t think I have enough time, especially for what I want to eat, and I don’t want to leave,” I retorted.
“Oh! I must have worked up your appetite,” she teased.
“Definitely.”
“Keep that thought until later,” she said, brushing her hand against my cheek, before she moved to take a seat.
The view was distracting, but I managed to eat my toast without choking on it—and kept hoping her warm and tight channel would choke something that was growing bigger and getting quite uncomfortable. She must have sensed my discomfort, because after watching me for a short while, she began to tease me, by licking a finger, and running the wet tip around her erect nipple, almost with an absentminded expression on her face. I let out a groan at the image, and she flashed me a teasing grin.
“This is just so you know what’s waiting for you when you return,” she quipped.
“You know, I have to keep my concentration during the talks, and now, it will be very difficult,” I retorted.
Stopping her teasing, she apologized, realizing there might be serious problems ahead. “I’m sorry, Mitch. I just wanted you relaxed, and not tense for what you might have to deal with.”
“That’s all right, Dana. I am relaxed. It was a very good shower.”
“It was!” she concurred with a soft smile.
“I think I better take a cab,” I said, as I took the last piece of toast.
“I’ll make the call,” she said and left.
A few minutes later, she was back with something in her hand. It was Sarah’s bus ticket. With an apologetic expression she gave it to me, saying, “I hope Sarah won’t get mad that I went through her purse.”
“I think she will understand, especially after our little surprise. Anyway... I’ll tell her I was the one who was in her purse, if you would feel more comfortable.”
She shook her head, and said, “That’s all right. I know she will understand. Come on, get going. The taxi will be here any minute.”
After a quick kiss, I took the elevator down, and when I stepped out of the apartment, the taxi was there. I gave the name of a well-known hotel as my destination; it was situated near the main street that was closed to traffic. I could make faster time on foot when I got out of the taxi at my destination, instead of getting stuck in the slow moving, one-way traffic on the side streets. I settled back in the seat, and closed my eyes, trying to center myself, to prepare for the upcoming meeting.
* * * * *
The cabbie pulled over by the hotel, and I got out. The traffic had been light, and I was earlier than planned. Getting my bearings, I started in the direction of a side street that intersected the main street, where the coach service office was located. I wanted to sort out the bus ticket first before going to the club. When I entered the office, I saw the sales agent from yesterday. After refreshing her memory about our recent visit to her office to buy a ticket—she remembered us—I fed her a story about my girlfriend being very sick and unable to make the trip. I expected she would be reluctant to cancel the ticket, and I was right, but since she admitted to remembering us, I had effectively eliminated her one and only means to refuse canceling the ticket. Normally speaking, the ticket could be cancelled in person by the purchaser. She reminded me that there was a charge for short notice cancellation, and asked me if I would rather have it replaced with an open dated one that Sarah could use in the next couple of weeks. With a worried and slightly impatient tone, I told her I would most probably put her on an airplane, depending on how quickly she recovered, letting her draw the conclusion that something was terribly wrong with my girlfriend. Without further argument, she cancelled the ticket and gave me the refund minus the amount for last minute cancellation, while expressing her sympathies. Sticking to my role, I returned a strained but polite smile, thanked her, and hastened out of her office.
At 12:30, almost on the dot, I arrived at the club. The door was locked, but a young man answered when I rang the bell. When I introduced myself, he told me I was expected, and without any delays, took me to Ulysses’ office. To my surprise, I was met by Amy in the office.
“Welcome, Mitchell,” she said, warmly, and instead of shaking hands, she hugged me.
After a momentary hesitation, I followed suit. Then she showed me to a comfortable armchair, and took a seat opposite me.
“Coffee?” she asked.
“Thank you. If it won’t be a bother,” I replied, perhaps sounding a bit formal and stiff. I wasn’t over my surprise at how I was greeted, yet.
A momentary crease around her eyes told me she noticed my awkward response, but she chose to respond with a polite smile.
“Ulysses is delayed. In the meantime we both could do with a cup of coffee,” she suggested. When I smiled in agreement, she reached for the intercom on the bureau, and ordered coffee, then asked, “How are Sarah and Dana?”
“They are all right. Dana is feeling much better, now. Later, they will go out shopping,” I replied, knowing she was concerned about her friend.
She responded with a soft smile, but she looked restless, and as I kept my eyes on her, she fidgeted. Hoping she would relax, I averted my eyes, and scanned the room. It was tastefully done, using slick and modern furniture, mostly in black, which was very subtly Spartan, giving off a distinctly male aura—and a powerful one at that. A knock on the door interrupted the silence, and the same young man brought in a tray, put it on the small table between us, then quietly left the room.
“Milk, sugar?” she asked, as she poured the coffee from a carafe.
“Please, sugar only.”
After she served, she sat back, watching me, while I took a sip from my cup, wondering what she was thinking. She seemed preoccupied and a bit nervous.
“How are the kids?” I asked to break the silence.
“They are having a nap, in the next room,” she said, nodding in the direction of the small door that was slightly ajar.
Once again, we were quiet, and the silence seemed to weigh in. She took a deep breath, and set her eyes on me. “Mitchell, I think we should get to know each other a bit. Dana and I go back a long time. I met her when she was a student in nursing school. She used to visit the hospital where I was interning, to observe. Later she quit nursing and decided to follow a course for flight attendants, before she signed up with an airline. We’ve kept in touch over the years. She was my bridesmaid at my wedding, seven years ago.”
“I suspected as much,” I replied, returning a polite smile.
“I met Ulysses when I was working at the hospital. I was on night shift in the ER, and he walked in with knife wounds on his arm. When I asked him about his injuries, he said, ‘Professional hazard,’ but wouldn’t elaborate. Later, I learned he was injured during an attack. That was ten years ago, when he was setting up his own club, while trying to keep some unsavory characters away from his business. When I first saw him, I was attracted to him. Perhaps, it was the sense of danger he had about him, but I could see there was a compassionate side as well, and he wasn’t just a hoodlum. I didn’t want to get involved with him, after learning more about his business, especially when I knew he was having problems. Two years later, he showed up, and asked me out to dinner. Despite my reservations, I accepted his invitation. In a couple of months it became obvious he was interested in me, but was also taking his time to show that he had his life and business in order. Suffice it to say that he managed to convince me, and a year later to the date, he proposed, and I accepted,” she said.
“I’m guessing, Dana was surprised with your decision, but if she had any misgivings at the time, she doesn’t have them anymore,” I commented.
“And, you would be right,” she replied with an amused expression. “Until the kids were born, I continued to work, but now, I’m a fulltime stay-at-home mother, and prefer it that way.”
After she finished what she wanted to say, she waited, expectantly. I told her a bit about myself, and my work, and a sanitized version of how I met and got involved with Dana. From her expression, I could see she was disappointed with the vagueness of my explanations concerning Dana. However, I couldn’t get into more details even if I wanted to, and if she wanted to know more, I knew she could always ask Dana.
“I don’t want to offend you, but there’s really not much to tell about myself, and I’m sure Dana and you could catch up on other things,” I offered.
“I disagree, Mitchell,” she replied, and before I could say anything, she continued. “You know, I love my husband very much. He’s a good man. I’ve never been involved in his business, but I see and learn things. I don’t get involved in his business. This is the first time I’m doing something like this.”
“Doing what?” I asked, puzzled by her comments.
“You are a very dangerous young man,” she said, pointedly.
Caught unprepared for her remark, I was going to respond, but I managed to catch myself. Instead, I reached for my cup and took a sip, waiting to see where she was going with her remark.
“Yes, I was right. You are a dangerous man,” she repeated, slowly, deliberately. She arched an eyebrow, challenging me to respond, questioning my silence.
Putting my cup on the table, I said, “I think you’ve made up your mind about me, rightly or wrongly, so whatever I would say won’t make a difference.”
“Yes, you’re right about that,” she replied, and waited.
I felt like I was playing an intricate chess game, as she kept probing with her statements, observations, her facial expressions. I mimicked a “there you go,” instead of giving her a verbal reply.
“What do you think of Ulysses?” she asked, swiftly changing the subject.
“I know very little about him to say anything,” I replied, which earned me a frustrated look. “I’m sorry, but I reserve judgment about people until I get to know them. I don’t make hasty decisions... most of the time.” I knew my reply came off more than a bit as an accusation and perhaps as a sort of a counter-attack, but under the circumstances, I felt like I had to defend myself, while explaining my own position.
“So, you don’t even have an impression?” she probed with an irate tone.
“Impressions are usually influenced by other things, and although first impressions can be right, they can be wrong, too,” I replied, pointedly, but I could hear how patronizing it sounded. I gave an internal shrug, one that I didn’t feel like, and yet...
I didn’t start this!
You better be careful, Mitch. Where are your manners?
She got my meaning immediately, and quickly replied, “Perhaps, you may have a point.” Giving me an appraising look, she asked, “Would you like to hear my first impression?”
“Please,” I replied, motioning her to continue.
“As I said, under that calm surface, there is a very dangerous man lurking, but... that’s not all what you are. I think there’s a very nice and caring person, somewhat cautious, who doesn’t give his trust or heart easily. You trust your instincts, but take your time to make sure. You are polite, but sometimes it’s a façade behind which you study and measure people,” she replied. Flashing me a sardonic grin, she asked, “How am I doing, Mitchell?”
“I don’t know, Amy. People hardly know themselves and we tend to be blind to our faults. In that regard, I’m no different,” I replied.
“Don’t you wonder why I think you’re dangerous?” she said, changing tactics.
“Not really. I suspect it’s because I put two people in the hospital, something which I’m not particularly proud of nor would like to repeat, again.”
“That’s one reason. I believe you’re not happy with what you’ve done. I didn’t expect you to be. That gives me hope. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here, talking to you.” Taking a deep breath, she set her hazel eyes on me and said, “You are proud, and although you are very much in control, I suspect you have a volatile nature, when it comes to certain things. Maybe I’m wrong about that, but I’m thinking about what you did last night, and then what I’ve seen, how you treated Dana and Sarah, and the others.”
“I protect my loved ones,” I replied, when she didn’t continue.
“I understand, Mitchell,” she said, with an unexpected softness, before she continued. “I do. In some ways, you remind me of Ulysses, years ago. And that, worries me. He has a different background. He came from the streets, and I know he was involved in some things, when he was young, and foolish, and full of testosterone, but he made an effort to leave that world behind, and make something of himself. On the other hand, I believe you come from an upper middle-class upbringing with good schooling. Yet, you two share some things in common. Both of you are proud, protective, and I suspect, fiercely loyal, and volatile depending on circumstances.”
“What really worries you, Amy? Surely, you don’t believe Dana would be involved with somebody like you described. And I don’t see a reason why Ulysses or I would have any problems with each other.”
“I’m worried that you might be prejudiced about him, holding his past against him. Dana is my best friend, and Ulysses cares about her. Please do understand that he would do anything in his power to help her. I’m worried about what might happen, should either of you take offense.”
“Why should we take offense? Let me rephrase that. Why should we offend each other, Amy?”
“Good question, Mitchell. Let me ask you this. If Ulysses offers his help, would you take it?”
“Depends on the help,” I answered quickly.
“That’s a very evasive answer, Mitchell. I think you can do better than that,” Amy retorted.
“If you insist... I know that he has a very good criminal defense attorney. I did a bit of checking. I will definitely listen to what he has to say. I would be a fool not to, but that doesn’t mean that I would take his advice or agree on any course of action.”
“That sounds reasonable. I know that there are things Ulysses can do, pull some strings. Nothing illegal, but I suspect you might be uncomfortable with that kind of help, am I right?”
“Most probably.”
“I told you that you and Ulysses are similar in some ways. You both want to help and protect people you love and care for. How do you think Ulysses would feel after what you’ve done for Pete and Caroline, last night?”
“I didn’t do much. Pete could take care of himself and Caroline.”
“I beg to differ, Mitchell. This morning, I was present when my husband talked with Pete. Pete sounded very relieved that you were there last night.”
“And I was glad he was there. We helped each other, and that’s all there is to it.”
“I think you’re being unreasonably stubborn about this.” She immediately raised her hand before I could voice my objections. “No! Let me finish! From what I’ve heard and seen, I know both Pete and Ulysses feel you did more than anybody else could do, and I know he wants to return the favor. You asked me what I’m worried about. I’m worried that you both might get into an unnecessary argument. I know my husband. He’s a stubborn man, and he doesn’t like to sit and do nothing when his friends could use his help. Surely, you can understand that?”
Suddenly a light bulb went off in my mind. I had almost the same discussion with Dana.
Did Dana call her... while I was en-route?
I wasn’t sure if Dana would do something like that behind my back, but I didn’t know her well enough to be able to tell whether she would or not. Thinking it over, I realized I didn’t even know how I felt about it if she were in cahoots with her friend Amy. We loved and cared for each other. I suspected if Dana did something like that, then she probably did it to help me, and to prevent any possible problems with Ulysses, especially after what I learned from Amy. And Dana knew Ulysses. It also looked like Ulysses was in the same boat as I was, being manipulated by the two women.
Without thinking, I took out my pack, and lit a cigarette while I thought about my answer for several minutes. When my eyes returned to Amy’s face I realized, I hadn’t asked permission, and hastily moved to put it out, but she waved it off.
“It’s all right, Mitchell. I’d like one as well,” she said.
“Please excuse my lack of manners, Amy,” I said, feeling embarrassed, and then offered a cigarette to her and lit it.
I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I didn’t want to offend Ulysses, and I suspected I’d been rude to Amy with my responses. On the other hand, I didn’t want to be in his debt, but... I could see Amy’s point of view. I didn’t think I did anything special. I had responded to a threat, to protect my loved ones. But now, thinking it over, I knew if the situation had been reversed, I would be the one wearing Ulysses’ shoes, trying to help. Once, I settled my internal conflict to my satisfaction, I was ready to respond to Amy.
I went over the whole conversation, one more time, wondering if the two women were really in collusion, when I stumbled on something else. Amy had said, she didn’t get involved in her husband’s affairs, but now, she was getting involved. In the light of her comments about me, her actions spoke volumes. She must have been really worried that Ulysses and I might get into an argument. What’s more, based on her comments about me, I realized she had taken a risk, by talking to me the way she did, almost weakening her husband’s position... especially, against a stranger... someone she didn’t know very well.
I doubt she would do something like that, unless... unless, she trusted me... somehow...
“I understand what you mean, Amy. I’ll keep a more open mind. I guess I might have been prejudiced. I certainly appreciated his help with the police, last night,” I said softly. “Please accept my apologies. I didn’t want to be rude or put you in a difficult position.”
“Mitchell, please, no need to apologize. I understand your concerns. I should apologize for some of the things I’ve said. After all, you’re a guest,” she replied, pleasantly.
“I–I’d like to think I’m no longer only a guest, Amy. I think we understand each other, so...”
She smiled softly and nodded, before she said, “More coffee?”
“Yes, please.”
After she poured us coffee, she took her cup and sat back. “I’m glad that Dana has a man in her life. It’s been too long for her, and she seems happy.”
“She’s a wonderful woman,” I replied.
“Yes, she is,” she agreed, before moving the subject to Sarah. “Sarah... she is...”
“She’s actually my sister’s best friend, and I’ve known her since we were kids. When Dana visited me, and met my sister, she also met Sarah, and the two hit it off, so Dana invited her here for a visit,” I offered. I checked my watch and asked, “Is Ulysses going to be late?” to change the subject.
“He should have been here by now. They must have gotten stuck in the traffic,” she said. “I heard Dana and you are going away for a vacation. Have you made any plans?”
“Unfortunately we haven’t. We wanted to travel and get to know each other more, but with what happened last night, I’m not sure if we will be going anywhere. Sarah has to return to work tomorrow, so it’s a bit chaotic.”
“Don’t worry, Mitchell. Everything will be sorted out. Getting away is a good idea. All of you need to relax and put this unpleasantness behind you.”
As we were talking about vacation plans, I remembered I forgot about my appointment with Alex. It was long past the rendezvous time. “Amy, may I use the telephone? I’m afraid with all that happened since last night I’ve forgotten about another appointment with a friend.”
“Of course,” she replied, pointing to the telephone on the desk. “Dial 9 to get an outside line.” She stood up and said, “I better check on the kids,” before she left the room.
After digging out Alex’s office number from my wallet, I dialed his number. The switchboard connected me to his extension, and after several rings, I heard Alex’s voice. I told him I had been involved in an unfortunate incident last night, and I was still busy trying to sort it out. Although he tried to get more details, I just mentioned that it had been a mugging that went wrong, but I was all right, and had to sort out some stuff, and cut our conversation short, with a promise to call him later. A few minutes later, Amy was back.
“They are sleeping,” she said.
Just then, the door opened, and Ulysses and an impeccably dressed man walked in. I stood up, and after a quick apology for being late, Ulysses made the introductions. As I expected, the man was Ulysses’ attorney—Basil Holcomb. Amy left us to bring fresh coffee for everybody. Ulysses sat behind his desk, and we spent the next few minutes with pleasantries, until Amy came back. After she served us, she moved to the next room to keep an eye on the kids, closing the door behind her.
Over coffee Ulysses explained the developments. Of the three, the one that Dana kicked in the balls was the one stirring up the shit. He had called a lawyer, and was planning to sue me, and also Dana for his injuries. The others didn’t have any lawyers, yet. Ulysses told me he went to the DA with his lawyer to discuss the situation. At that point, the lawyer took over.
“Basically, it’s assault, and all of them are guilty as sin. There are additional charges, assault with intent to do bodily harm, pre-meditation, attempted rape, and so on. The problem character is the one who called up a lawyer. He knows he’s going to prison, one way or another, but he’s trying to evade, as much as possible, some of the charges, and also seek compensation. I think he’s counting on the possibility of intimidating Dana, and his lawyer probably advised that the attempted rape charge might not hold up in court, and they are most probably counting on the possibility that Dana would be reluctant to go to court. Rape victims or intended rape victims are usually very reluctant in such circumstances.” He added the last with an expression of sympathy, and I could easily see the distaste for the injustice he felt at such situations, but we both knew the social stigma about rape. “From what Ulysses told me, and from the police reports, I think we can still make a case, especially given Miss Conor’s previous history, but... I’m not sure if she would be willing to talk about what happened before. I’m not sure you’d want her to be in that position. However, I have to remind you that her previous history makes for a very strong case, and also explains what she did, and why she did it,” he said, and waited for me to respond.
“Personally, I wouldn’t want Dana to go through it, but it’s something she has to decide,” I said. Turning to Ulysses, I added, “You know, Dana is a very strong woman, and she might be willing to go all the way. Frankly, I can’t make the decision for her. We need to ask her.”
Ulysses nodded. “Yes, she is a strong woman. I wouldn’t want her to go that route, but... However, we have other options,” he said, nodding in the direction of Basil.
“Yes. I think we can use his friends against him. They are accomplices, and that ‘asshole’ is most probably the one who incited them. I think any lawyer the other two might hire, would advise them to play that angle to get off lightly. If I were their attorney, that’s what I would do. Too much alcohol, impaired judgment, and incited by their friend. We can cut a deal with them. I believe they would be willing to testify against their friend, in return for reduced charges. For what it’s worth, I suspect, that’s what actually happened.”
“So what happens if they cut a deal? Do they get off scot-free?” I asked.
“Depends on the deal. The DA has a reputation, and they know it. If we offer to help them, because we want to get their friend more than them, I believe they would take the deal. Most probably, they will serve several months, but the one we want to get is going away for a longer time. Depending on what Miss Conor is willing to do, we might be able to force him to reconsider his options. As you must know, sexual offenders are not well received by the other inmates. I think if we can convince him that we would pursue the attempted rape charge, he might be dissuaded from seeking any legal action against either of you in return for dropping the attempted rape charges. We had a short discussion about it with the DA, and he’s willing to play ball.”
“I see,” I replied, thinking over what he told me.
“By the way, if it’s any consolation you might be pleased to hear that Miss Conor had done a good job on him. He hasn’t lost his nuts, but the doctors don’t think he will be able to have any children,” he added, the corner of his lips curling in a small smile.
To lighten the somber atmosphere, I quipped, “Ouch! I better step carefully around her.”
After a momentary silence, both Ulysses and Basil let out a roaring laughter, and I joined them.
“You have an interesting perspective on things, Mr. Tanner,” Basil retorted with a chuckle, while Ulysses nodded, still laughing at my quip.
Before I could respond, the door to the next room opened, and Amy looked in, probably to check what all the commotion was. Following my gaze, Ulysses turned, and when he saw her, he motioned her to join us. Amy walked in and took a seat on the armrest of his chair, and waited expectantly for an explanation. In a few sentences Ulysses told her what happened, and when she heard my quip, she let out a small laugh.
Turning to us, she said, “Good. You all should be careful around your wives and girlfriends. Now, you know what might happen.” Then kissing Ulysses on his cheek, she stood up, and went back to the next room, leaving us to our discussion.
Collecting my thoughts, I said, “I think I understand the options we have. What I’m worried about is if any one of those assholes would try to seek revenge against Dana, especially if they just get a slap on the wrist or they serve a short time.”
“I understand, Mitchell,” Ulysses replied. “I don’t think that would happen. That bastard is going away for quite some time. The other two might get anywhere from a few months to a year or more.”
“Yes. That’s what we expect. Don’t forget the DA is a tough man, and he’s going to go for the maximum, but if we’re going to cut deals, they would be reasonable. We have to make it attractive to reel them in, but we aren’t going to give them a free ride out.”
“Well, I’m sold. It’s a reasonable plan, but we have to discuss this with Dana. I would support her decision on the matter,” I said.
Ulysses smiled in understanding, and reaching for the telephone he asked, “Is she at home?”
“She was planning to go out shopping with Sarah, but she promised to call me here around 1:30,” I replied. Checking my watch, I saw that it was almost time. “Perhaps in a short while we might get a call.”
“Then we wait for her call,” Ulysses replied.
“Do you think that he would be able to win a case against Dana for what she did?” I asked the lawyer. “After all, he sustained some injuries.”
“Well, there’s that chance, but let me ask you this. Do you think he would risk going to jail as a sexual offender or for assault only?” Ulysses replied with a lop-sided grin. We both knew that the rapists and sexual offenders of any sort were the lepers in the jail system.
“I guess he wouldn’t risk it, but you never know, do you? And it has to be proven in the court to make it stick.”
At my comment, Basil and Ulysses exchanged a look, and this time Ulysses answered. “Well... yes and no. It’s not that simple. Even if he’s not found guilty for attempted rape in the court, the word might get to the inmates,” he said, pointedly. “So, you see, he has to be very careful and think about his course of action. I believe he’ll see the light, though.”
Even though he didn’t spell it out, I understood the implications. I was going to object to it, but decided to let it go. If Ulysses did something like that, then he would do it to protect Dana. What’s more, the asshole made his bed and he should lay in it. I suspected Ulysses would resort to that tactic to coerce him only if that bastard decided to play hardball.
“After we talk to Dana, what’s going to happen?” I asked.
“We plan to meet with the DA first, and then visit the other two. Then we’ll let the DA work on them, while we meet the asshole, and his lawyer. Basically, my lawyer will keep his lawyer busy, while I have a private chat with him. I don’t want Dana to go to court. If he proves to be difficult, and if Dana is willing, we might have to convince him that Dana would be testifying against him in court, but I’m hoping I might be able to convince him without going through all that,” Ulysses answered.
“Isn’t it illegal or something,” I blurted, unable to help myself.
“It’s not illegal, Mitchell. Strictly speaking, it’s a deal. I’m just going to be his big uncle and clarify any confusions or illusions he might have regarding the deal and its terms,” Ulysses answered with a wry grin.
“Well... umm... if you put it that way...” I replied. I knew exactly what he meant, and couldn’t help but chuckle at his choice of words: ‘big uncle,’ and ‘clarify.’
“How else should I have put it?,” he returned with an amused smile. “Mitchell, relax. We are not going to torture him or break his bones. We don’t have to do anything. We can let this thing run its course, but in the end many people might get hurt, unnecessarily, including him. We are actually doing him a favor,” he offered with a fiendish grin, while his lawyer nodded in agreement. “Don’t worry about it, OK? He’s just a bully; I’ve dealt with worse, and this is no biggie,” he concluded.
“Thank you, Ulysses. I—”
Before I could continue, he cut me off. “Mitchell, please. Lighten up, will you. No need for thanks. You did what you had to do to protect one of my employees, Caroline, and a dear friend, Dana, and the singing angel. I have to do what I can, to prevent further pain and hurt.” Then his lips curled in a small smile, and he said, “After what Amy said, do you really think I could sit on my butt and risk my balls?”
At his quip, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I thought so! So you understand my position,” he added for good measure with a grin. “Let’s get something stiff, and relax. Anybody care for a small glass of cognac with coffee?”
“I better not. I only had some toast this morning. I don’t want to get drunk,” I replied.
“I think we could all do with some sandwiches. We missed lunch,” Ulysses said and picked up the phone to order some sandwiches from a nearby deli. Then he went to the bar and returned with a bottle of cognac, and goblets. When he was going to fill the third goblet, I stopped him, and asked him to pour a little in my coffee, and he relented.
I joined their toast with my coffee, but we were interrupted by the ringing of the phone. Ulysses picked up the phone, and as expected it was Dana. After the pleasantries, he passed the phone to me. Dana told me they were in a café, having a light lunch, after finishing some shopping, and asked how things were going. I told her that we needed her decision on something, but before that she had to hear the details of the new developments. Then I returned the telephone to Ulysses who gave a brief account of what we had discussed a short while ago. Then he went on to explain our options, and possible course of action, including the scenario where she might have to get involved. After he answered some questions, he passed the handset back to me.
“Mitchell, are you OK with all of this?” she asked.
“Yes, I am. But as he explained, we want to know what you want to do. I will go along with whatever decision you make; you know that.”
“I... I don’t know, Mitch. I want that bastard in jail, after what he said, what he was planning. I want him put away.”
“I know. He’s going away. However, we want to know how you want to proceed. Do you mind if a deal is made? Then you don’t have to go through the past again.”
“I understand. I rather not talk about the past, but if that’s what it’s going to take to convince him to back off, then I’m willing to fight it to the end,” she said, and from her voice I could sense how determined she was.
“All right. We’ll let Ulysses talk some sense to him, and if he doesn’t listen, then we look at the other options.”
“I think that would be best. Can I talk to Ulysses?”
“Yeah, sure, but before that, can I talk to Sarah?” I asked.
“Mitch, I’m fine. Really. Do you think Sarah would tell you otherwise?” she retorted.
I was unprepared for her quip, and sputtered at getting caught, then with a chuckle I returned, “I guess not. And if you can make a quip like that then everything is all right.”
“Of course, it is. Sarah is sending her best and perhaps more, but you can have it when you’re back at my place,” she retorted, and I heard Sarah’s giggle in the background. “Now, let me talk to Ulysses, please.”
“I love you, and I’ll see you in a while.”
“I love you, too, Mitch, and I can’t wait to show you how much,” she replied with a teasing tone.
“What’s the plan, Dana? What are you girls doing later?”
“We’ll be heading back home in a short while, so we’ll see you when you’re finished.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you there then. Here’s Ulysses.”
I passed the handset to Ulysses, and he talked for a few minutes before ending the call.
“You know, I’ve never known someone like Dana... well, except Amy,” he said. “Even though I was expecting she would decide to fight it, I’m still surprised how strong a woman she is.”
I nodded in agreement.
Turning to his lawyer he said, “Basil, she’s determined to do what it takes to put the bastard away, but we will try the other options first, and see if he’ll listen to some reason. If he doesn’t want to play ball, then we’ll bring all the guns to bear on him. Agreed?”
“Agreed. I’ll make the arrangements, so we can talk with the other two and let the DA take over,” Basil answered.
“Is there anything I can do?” I asked.
“Not at this moment, Mitchell. You told me you two were going away for vacation. Can you delay it one day? We might need to get together tomorrow, but I think we’ll get most of the things sorted out by then, or get things rolling as planned.”
“I don’t think that would be a problem. What about Sarah? She has to be at work tomorrow.”
“That’s all right. I don’t think she would even be called to testify when this goes to court, and that would be some weeks away.”
“I see. That leaves me. If I have to appear at the court, I need to make arrangements.”
“If things work out as we planned, Pete, Caroline, and maybe Dana should be more than enough,” Basil answered.
“I’m expecting a few clients tonight and the precinct commander will come here with an officer to interview them,” Ulysses added.
We were interrupted by a soft knock on the door, and the young man who met me at the door brought in a large tray with plastic plates and sandwiches. Amy joined us, and for the next half hour, we munched on the delicious sandwiches. Between bites, Ulysses told her about Dana’s call, and explained the plans. Amy looked very pleased, and when she gave him a soft kiss, I could see how much they loved each other. We had a cup of coffee, and Ulysses and I made an appointment to meet around 11:00 the next morning, and Amy asked me to bring Dana. After thanking them, I left the club, and took a cab back to Dana’s flat.
* * * * *
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