Deborah Mello - A Stallion Dream

“The case file reads like a witch hunt.”

“The racial climate back then was rough, and Jerome loved to make waves. He was not popular with the local police or the politicians. He wanted change and he fought hard to make that happen. Remind me, who was the original prosecutor?”

“Victor Wells.”

“Newly appointed Texas Supreme Court Justice Victor Wells?”

Collin nodded. “The one and only. Do you know him?”

Matthew nodded. A look of foreboding washed over his expression. The same look that Collin had seen on London’s face when they had first discussed the case and Wells’s name had been mentioned. It had given Collin pause and when he’d asked about it she’d dismissed him, insisting that there wasn’t anything amiss that he needed to be concerned with. “Yes, I do,” Matthew finally answered.

“Is there something about Justice Wells that I should know?” Collin questioned.

Matthew hesitated for a quick second as if there was more that he wanted to say, but he didn’t elaborate. He just shook his head no.

“Any advice?”

“Just be smart and make sure you do your due diligence. And no matter what happens, do not be intimidated.”

Collin nodded as his father continued.

“Who’s your first chair?” Matthew asked.

“Attorney London Jacobs. She’s been with the initiative for a few years and litigating their big cases for the last two years.” Collin’s eyes were bright, his entire face lifting with the smile that spread from ear to ear. He thought back to his day and the shift in her attitude toward him between breakfast and lunch. She’d been exceptionally open and forthcoming as they’d discussed the case. She’d asked his opinion and had seemed genuinely interested in his answers. An encounter that had started out tensely had transitioned nicely to a pleasant exchange.

Matthew smiled back. “I know Ms. Jacobs. She’s quite impressive. Jerome will be well served.”

“I think we’re going to be a great team,” Collin said, a hint of excitement in his tone.

His father nodded, his head bobbing up and down slowly. He stared at his oldest child but said nothing, bemusement painting his expression.

“What?” Collin asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

Matthew shook his head. “Nothing, son. Nothing at all.”

Chapter 3

London was pleasantly surprised by Collin’s work ethic. He asked questions she hadn’t expected, even giving her reason to pause as she pondered a few of his suggestions. He was formidable, and it was apparent he was as dedicated to Mr. James’s interests as she was.

She hadn’t expected to like him as much as she did. She found herself looking forward to seeing him when she arrived at the office. Since that first lunch, they’d eaten lunch together a few times, that hour of personal time quickly becoming the highlight of her day.

When he burst through the door of her office, his excitement was palpable. “We got the DNA tests back!” he exclaimed, waving the file over his head. He passed her the manila folder, reciting the results as she flipped through the documents. “According to the lab, the DNA on the towel belonged to Mary James and an unknown male. It was also a perfect match to the DNA from the sperm left on the bedsheets. They’re running it through the CODIS database now to see if we can get a hit and hopefully a name. Keep your fingers crossed, but I think we just got the big break in the case we needed.”

London pumped a fist, her own excitement spreading across her face. She squealed with glee, resisting the urge to throw herself into his arms and jump for joy. “Yes, yes, yes!” she exclaimed. “Make sure you add this to our evidence list. We’ll need to send copies over to the prosecutor’s office, as well. Full disclosure. I don’t want them making any claims about our impeding their due process.”

“I already took care of it,” he answered. “I also filed a Public Information Act request. I want to get a look at what other documents were in the prosecution’s file that might have been withheld at the time of his trial.”

“You think there’s something there that can help us?”

“I don’t know. It’s just a gut feeling I have.”

London nodded. “I trust your instincts, Counselor.”

Collin crossed his arms over his broad chest. “A compliment. I’m touched!”

London laughed, “An attorney with jokes!”

“One or two,” he teased.

She shook her head. “You available for lunch later?”

“I actually need to go down to the courthouse and then the law library. Are you by chance available for dinner?”

Her eyebrows lifted, a hint of surprise tinting her cheeks. “D-dinner? I’m not... Well... I don’t...” she stammered.

“It’s just dinner, London. We’ve had lunch together every day for the past few weeks. Dinner would be no different.”

She rolled her eyes skyward. “The question surprised me is all. I don’t usually...”

He stalled her comment. “What? You don’t usually eat dinner? Do you have something against the evening meal?” His expression was smug as he eyed her intently, the invitation still hanging heavily between them.

“I would love to have dinner with you,” she said finally.

Collin grinned. “I can pick you up at seven.”

“Why don’t I meet you?” she answered. “I think that would be more appropriate.”

Collin laughed, “Whatever you say, Counselor.”

“What about Jimmy’s Food Store?”

“We’re doing dinner, not lunch, Ms. Jacobs. Let’s say Truluck’s on McKinney Avenue at seven. I’ll call and reserve us a table.”

London thought to argue but Collin was out the door before she could respond. She took a step after him, suddenly thinking that dinner might be a mistake, but before she could follow after him and cancel, Perry was summoning her to a meeting. As she headed in that direction, two thoughts crossed her mind. This dinner is a huge mistake. And what the hell am I going to wear?

* * *

Paula and Felicia were pulling clothes out of London’s closet like they were shopping at Premium Outlets’s bargain basement sale. Dresses were flying from one side of the bedroom to the other, all landing in the center of her queen-size bed, if not on the floor.

“You can never go wrong with a little black dress,” Paula said.

Felicia jumped up and down excitedly. “How about that lace number you bought for that thing last year with what’s his name that you backed out of at the last minute? You know which dress I’m talking about,” she said, looking from London to Paula.

Paula laughed. “I am deeply disturbed that I do know exactly what dress you’re talking about,” she said as she rushed back to the closet, searching frantically through London’s wardrobe. “The black lace, slightly off the shoulder, that stopped at her knees. That dress was hot!”

“I am not wearing black lace!” London exclaimed, eyeing them both like they’d lost their minds. “This is not a date.”

“Like hell it isn’t!” Felicia exclaimed. “Dinner at Truluck’s Seafood Steak and Crab House is definitely a date.”

“Dinner with a man that fine is definitely a date!” Paula added.

London reached for her cell phone. “That’s it. I’m canceling,” she said as she began to scroll through her contact list.

Felicia snatched the device from her hands. “You’re doing no such thing.”

“Why in the world would you cancel?” Paula asked, finally laying her hands on that black lace. She held the dress up for the other two to see. “Now, this is special!”

London shook her head. “Oh, hell no! I am not wearing that dress and I don’t care how cute it is. That is not the impression I’m trying to make. I’m wearing a suit.”