Deborah Fletcher Mello - Tempted By The Badge

Mingus came from a family of high achievers. His father, Jerome Black, was the Superintendent of the entire Chicago Police Department. His mother, Judith Harmon Black, was a federal court judge, and both were well respected in Chicago’s judicial system. They were all in the spotlight, doing their civic duty to make Chicago a safer place. Mingus was just as dedicated to the municipality. But he worked alone, sometimes in the dredges of the community, beneath the cover of darkness, getting his hands dirty. He sometimes did what others weren’t willing to do and he did it exceptionally well.

When Simone pulled her car into the empty parking space beside his, Mingus was standing against the hood of his vehicle with his arms and legs crossed. As she stepped out the driver’s-side door, he stole a glance at his watch, a sly smirk pulling at his mouth. His sister was not amused and she said so.

“You’re going to get another speeding ticket and they’re going to pull your license.”

“My license is already revoked,” he said matter-of-factly.

Simone blinked, her lashes batting feverishly. “Are you crazy? And you’re driving?”

Mingus laughed. “No, I was joking. You need to stop being so serious.”

“You play too damn much!” Simone snapped, suddenly unleashing her frustrations on him. For a good two minutes she recapped everything that had ever been proclaimed about him. He wasn’t focused or driven, and he was too unpredictable. He took too many risks, played too many games and was surely headed to hell if he didn’t change his life around. For two good minutes Mingus let her rant.

“So, are you done?” Mingus finally asked, his tone even.

“Sorry,” Simone muttered softly. “I didn’t mean...”

“Yes, you did. But it’s all good.” He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and gave her a warm hug. “Are you okay?”

“No.” She stepped out of her brother’s grasp and took a breath. “No,” she said again, her head shaking. “I was just on the phone with Danni,” she said, referring to their brother Armstrong’s bride-to-be. “They’re going to formally charge Joanna with sexually assaulting a student.”

Mingus nodded. “But you knew that was a possibility.”

“I was praying that it was a horrible mistake. But this also means I can’t represent her. I’ve called Ellington to see if he can take her case. He’s on his way.”

“Have you talked to your office?” Mingus asked.

She nodded. “I had to make sure I recused myself. I can support her as a friend, but it’s a conflict of interest with the prosecutor’s office for me to do anything more.”

Mingus nodded as she continued.

“I really need you to work your magic, big brother. I don’t know what’s going on, but I do know Joanna is not capable of what she’s being accused of.”

“No promises, Simone. I know she’s your friend and you say she’s innocent, but that might not be true. We don’t even know what they have on her yet.”

Simone took another deep breath. “Let’s go find out!”

* * *

Joanna couldn’t stop shaking as she wrapped her arms tightly around her torso. She’d been sitting alone in an interrogation room for almost an hour, no one speaking to her until her attorney arrived. She’d called her bestie, Simone Black, because she hadn’t known who else to call. She’d only needed an attorney once before, when she’d purchased her townhome. She doubted highly that the man her parents had recommended, who’d represented her at closing, would be able to help her through this situation.

Despite knowing she hadn’t done anything wrong, Joanna sensed things were not going to go well for her. For the life of her she couldn’t begin to understand how she’d come to be in this position. Never in her wildest dreams could she have fathomed anyone believing she would take advantage of one of her students. But they did. She’d seen it on the principal’s face, and the detectives were treating her like a pariah. No one was answering her questions and she had dozens she wanted to ask. The room’s door suddenly swung open. She didn’t recognize the man who stepped through the entrance and she felt herself tense.

“Ms. Barnes, my name is Richard Pearce,” he said as he extended his hand to shake hers. “I’m an attorney with the teachers’ union. I’ve been assigned to your case.”

Joanna gave him a slight nod of her head. Richard Pierce was of average height and slightly overweight. His suit was expensive, a polished black silk partnered with a white dress shirt and red paisley necktie. “Thank you for coming,” she said, her voice a loud whisper. “That was fast.”

“Actually, it’s your lucky day. I was in the area on another matter when I got the call. Typically, it takes a day or two for us to get to you.”

“I don’t feel lucky,” Joanna muttered.

“That’s understandable. Obviously, I’m going to need to get up to speed with the case, but I’m told they have a significant amount of evidence against you. Eventually we may try to plea it out and hope that—”

“I didn’t do it.”

The man looked up from a manila folder he’d pulled from a brown leather attaché and had rested on the table. He seemed surprised to be interrupted. “I’m sorry?”

“I didn’t do it. I did not have a sexual relationship with any student.”

“Obviously, I’ll need to do some investigating, but the evidence—”

“I didn’t do it,” Joanna repeated even more adamantly as her tone rose significantly.

Mr. Pearce stared at her for a quick minute. He leaned back in his seat. “Ms. Barnes, I’m here to represent your best interests. Clearly, we want to do everything we can to minimize the damage to your reputation. I understand that you’re probably still in shock right now, but eventually we will need to discuss your options and pleading this case out may be your best recourse. I’m not sure—”

Joanna interrupted him a third time. “Am I required to use you, Mr. Pearce? Is it a condition of my union membership?”

The man bristled, his eyes widening. “No, of course not. You have the option of hiring a private attorney if you’d be more comfortable doing so. But the union is here to protect your interests.”

“You’re not protecting my interests if you’re already talking about me taking a plea deal. I didn’t do anything wrong and I certainly didn’t do what’s being said. I have no intentions of pleading this case out. I don’t want to go to trial, but I will if it means clearing my name.”

Before Mr. Pearce could respond there was a knock on the door, the entrance swinging open a second time. The two men moving into the room surprised both Joanna and the union representative. Joanna recognized the man who stepped forward, greeting her warmly.

“Joanna, I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Ellington Black. Simone’s brother.”

Joanna nodded. “I do remember you. We met once at an Alpha Kappa Alpha event. I appreciate you coming.”

Ellington smiled. “Simone said you needed an attorney. She thought I might be able to help.”

“She’s not coming?”

“She can’t represent you. She works for the state prosecutor’s office and it would be a conflict of interest. But she’s waiting to take you home.” He extended his hand to the other man. “Ellington Black, and you are...?”

“Pearce. Richard Pearce. I’m with the teachers’ union. I’ve been assigned to Ms. Barnes’s case.”

“Wonderful. We can use as many people on the team as we can get.” Ellington reached into the breast pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a business card. “Here’s my number. I’m sure we’ll need all the help available as we rev up the investigation. I look forward to working with you.”