“Well, guess what? When the documentary I’m working on about Evan Stone and his staff is aired on television, the citizens of Chicago and beyond are going to know the truth. The rich and famous get no special favors when they have broken the law. No, sir. Never. Have you got that? If you don’t, then make sure you watch my film because…”
“Um…Jennifer?” Evan interrupted, chuckling softly. “I think you’ve made your point.”
“Oh, yes, ma’am,” the man said. “Whew. You sure do have a temper there, ma’am, when you get going. And I believe every word you said, by golly. I surely do. Mr. Stone, you’d better count your lucky stars this lady is on your side.”
“Oh, I count those lucky stars every day,” Evan said, smiling at Jennifer.
“I…I guess I got a little carried away,” Jennifer said, feeling a warm flush of embarrassment stain her cheeks. “I’m sorry. It’s just that… What I mean is…” She threw up her hands. “Never mind. I need some sleep.”
And he needed to spend the rest of his life with this dynamite lady, Evan thought, his heart swelling with love for Jennifer.
Chapter 6
T he next day was a study in frustration for Evan. Reporters were calling one after the next in response to Cecelia’s accusation that the governor, the mayor and District Attorney Evan Stone had concocted a conspiracy against her family because they feared the power the Gardners possessed. The three men had manufactured phony evidence against her deceased son Franklin, who was unable to defend himself, and were attempting to convict her remaining son Lyle of killing his own brother with a flimsy case that should be thrown out of court.
Evan found it impossible to concentrate as the telephone rang constantly, knowing that Belinda was being harassed and growing weary of the “no comment” she repeated over and over again.
Jennifer telephoned Evan to say that she and Sticks would be working very late at the studio. Her producer wanted her to thread the new development into her documentary to illustrate the level of pressure the D.A. was operating under.
The next two days were more of the same, resulting in short tempers and frazzled nerves in the D.A.’s office, and the added frustration that both Jennifer and Evan felt, but didn’t voice, of being unable to see each other, not even during the work-packed weekend.
Before it seemed possible Evan found himself entering the courtroom for the first day of the trial of Lyle Gardner, having shoved his way through the maze of reporters in the hallway, his stormy glare taking the place of anything he might have said.
Evan had managed to go over the remainder of the jury applications, acutely aware of how much he missed having Jennifer’s assistance in the chore as well as simply missing Jennifer herself to the point that he ached to see, hold and kiss her.
He placed his briefcase on the table designated to be his during the trial, removed some files, pens and a legal pad, then glanced up to meet the gaze of Lyle Gardner who sat at the table across the courtroom with his attorney.
Lyle had straight, slicked-back black hair, blue eyes, and the puffy, heavy-set physique of someone who had indulged in too many lavish meals and very little exercise. Lyle smirked and shook his head as he looked at Evan with blatant disdain.
Oh, what he wouldn’t give, Evan thought, as he settled onto his chair, to walk across that room and punch that smug expression off Lyle’s face.
Evan forced himself to tear his gaze from Lyle’s and look at the packed rows of spectators, immediately seeing Cecelia sitting in the first row directly behind her son. The remainder of the crowd was a sea of faces that did not include Jennifer’s. He knew she wouldn’t be there during the selection of the jury, but…
He’d telephoned her late last night but had obviously wakened her, resulting in a rather short, foggy conversation that did nothing more than emphasize how exhausted they both were.
Get a grip, Stone, Evan ordered himself. He was as prepared as he was going to get for this trial, and it was going to require his total concentration and expertise to win a conviction. His case was still built on circumstantial evidence and he knew it. Detectives Waters and Wilson and their assigned team of uniformed officers had made no progress in finding the incriminating signet ring.
“All rise,” a man bellowed.
Here we go, Evan thought, getting to his feet as the judge entered the courtroom. And heaven help me.
Despite Evan’s attempts to slow things down to give the detectives and uniformed officers every possible minute to find the missing ring, the jury and alternates were selected by the end of the second day in court. The judge announced that the trial would begin the following morning with the opening statement from the district attorney.
Evan waited until the courtroom was empty with the hope that he could avoid another confrontation with the reporters, then moved around the table just as one of the double doors opened and Jennifer entered, wearing jeans and a pretty red sweater.
“Hi, stranger,” she said, hurrying toward Evan.
Evan left his briefcase on the table and rushed to meet her, immediately pulling her into his arms and kissing her deeply.
“My goodness,” Jennifer said, when Evan finally ended the searing kiss, “that was quite a greeting from a stranger.”
“Indeed, it was,” Evan said, not releasing his hold on her. “Think what I might have done if I knew who you were, ma’am.”
“It boggles the mind.” She smiled. “I’m glad I caught you because I have something of extreme importance to tell you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.” Jennifer laughed. “I’ve missed you. How’s that for a bulletin?”
“It warms the cockles of my heart, and I’ve missed you, too. How are you feeling? How is our son? How is the editing of the film going?”
“Fine, fine, and slow, per usual. My boss is pushing us to finish editing what we have, then keeping up with it when we start filming again, which I understand from the clerk will be tomorrow because the trial is starting. My boss wants to air the documentary very soon after the trial ends and it’s still fresh in the public’s mind.”
“Whew.” Evan stepped away from Jennifer and began to wander around the area in front of the judge’s bench. “Talk about putting the pressure on. What if…” He stopped and looked at Jennifer who was now about three feet away from him. “Jennifer, has it occurred to your boss that I might not win this case for you?”
Jennifer slid onto the edge of the table where Evan’s briefcase still sat, allowing her feet to dangle above the floor. She cocked her head slightly to one side, a confused expression on her face.
“Win this case for me?”
Evan dragged a restless hand through his hair. “Yes. You’ve worked so damn hard on this documentary, given it everything you have.
“If I lose this battle and Lyle walks, won’t your boss reconsider even airing the film? I get a knot in my gut just thinking about the possibility that all your hours will have been for nothing, Jenny. I can’t stand the thought of…of letting you down like that. And I can’t bear the thought of having to tell our son that I didn’t come through for his mother when she really needed me to.”
Never, Jennifer thought, as tears misted her eyes, never in her entire life had she felt so…so loved, so cherished and special. Evan wasn’t even considering the damage that might be done to his own reputation if he lost the case against Lyle Gardner. Fuel would be added to the fire of the smoldering idea the public had that the rich got a break in the Chicago justice system.
Evan was focused on what losing would mean to her, and later to their son.
Oh, Evan, she thought, dashing away a tear that spilled onto her cheek. He loved her. He did. What he had just said was like a precious gift he was giving her, a declaration of his love she would cherish forever.