Brenda Jackson - A Lover's Vow

Jules shook her head as she stood. “I’m not dealing with anything. I can see that discussing anything with him would not have worked. The man is impossible.”

“But is he a good kisser?”

Jules shrugged before heading toward the door. “What does that have to do with anything?”

Shana smiled. “For you, a lot. I’ve known you to drop guys after the first date if they didn’t kiss worth a damn. So how did he do?”

Jules paused before she reached Shana’s front door. “Truthfully?”

“Yes, truthfully.”

She didn’t say anything for a moment, knowing Shana was the only person she would admit this to. “On a scale of one to ten, with ten being at the top, I would give him high twenties or above.”

Shana’s eyes widened. “He was that good?”

“Better than good,” Jules said with an expression that indicated the very thought infuriated her. “Although Dalton Granger has many faults, being a lousy kisser is decidedly not one of them.”

Nine

“Thanks for coming, Ben.”

Ben nodded as he dropped into the chair across the table from Sheppard Granger. Ben had been a cop long enough to see how unusual Sheppard’s accommodations were. First of all, most inmates don’t get to use a private conference room to meet with anyone, and they definitely aren’t offered one as spacious as this one. Ben recalled this room from his previous visit with Sheppard.

He’d noted that the room was adjacent to the prison library. It was a huge, windowless room that Ben figured was some sort of conference room used by the warden and the parole board to determine the fate of inmates.

And the guard, the same one who had been there the last time, and who was the only other person in the room, was only there for show. He hadn’t called Sheppard out on any violations, like when they had shaken hands. Under normal circumstances, there would be a no-touching policy.

From what Jace had shared with Ben, he knew that a few years ago the warden had given permission for Sheppard Granger to be alone for any meetings with his attorney or close family members. That privilege wasn’t given to all prisoners, just those considered trustworthy. Evidently, Sheppard Granger had found favor with both the warden and the governor, who would have to approve such rights and honors before they were extended to Granger.

Ben got comfortable in his chair while studying the man sitting across from him. He and Granger were the same height, although he figured Granger was probably a few pounds heavier. However, it was obvious he used the gym regularly and seemed fit and healthy. And then there was that same air that had surrounded him the last time. This was a man who had not only accepted his fate fifteen years ago, but had worked hard to deal with it in a positive way, too. Ben doubted most men could have pulled something like that off and seriously doubted that he could have.

“Over the phone, you said something about needing my help,” Ben said, breaking the silence in the room.

“Yes. But first I want to say something, and it’s something you need to hear straight from me.”

“Which is?”

“I didn’t kill my wife.”

Ben wasn’t sure why Sheppard wanted to see him, but with that opening, he knew there was no time for formalities. And there was no time for cat-and-mouse games. “I honestly didn’t think that you did,” Ben replied.

He saw relief etched on Granger’s face when he said, “Thank you.”

Ben shook his head. “You’ve been locked up for fifteen years for a crime you didn’t commit, yet you’re thanking me?”

“Yes, because you believed me when a jury didn’t.”

“But to be fair to the jury, you didn’t allow your attorney to introduce evidence that could have swayed them.” At the lifting of Sheppard’s brow, Ben could only smile and say, “Your son was marrying my daughter, so I couldn’t help but be curious. You can chalk it up to the ex-cop and the ex-detective in me.”

Sheppard didn’t say anything for a moment as he stared at Ben. “Had I done that, it would have dirtied my wife’s name. She was the mother of my sons, and I couldn’t do that to them.”

“But you could do this to yourself?” Ben asked. “Take a rap you didn’t deserve?”

“Yes, if it meant keeping them safe.”

“Or sheltered?” Ben countered.

“Or sheltered.” Sheppard Granger paused a moment before saying, “The reason I called you here is about keeping them safe. I understand there was a meeting last night.”

“So I heard, since I wasn’t invited. I spoke to Shana briefly this morning, but it was my younger daughter, Jules, who filled me in on most of it.”

“Your younger daughter was there?”

“Yes. In fact, she’s the one who spotted that guy following Dalton. She was parked across the street, waiting for him to come home last night.”

“Oh.”

Ben chuckled softly. “Trust me. It’s not what you think.”

“It’s not?” Sheppard asked with eyes that didn’t hide his interest.

“No. In fact, I’m convinced she hates Dalton’s guts...probably just as much as he hates hers. Their first meeting some months back left a very negative and lasting impression on both of them. The only reason she was there was to confront him about his refusal to attend Shana’s first dinner party this Saturday night.”

Sheppard frowned. “Why wouldn’t he attend?”

“Because he knew Jules would be there. It’s a long and taxing story. So let’s just say we have two kids who love each other, and then there are two who can’t stand the ground the other walks on.”

Sheppard didn’t say anything for a moment. “I assume you know about the bodyguards I hired to protect my sons.”

“Yes, and I’m sure you know they aren’t thrilled about it.”

“So I gather. My warden gave me a message that they called. By then, I had already spoken to my attorney, and she’d given me the details. They are waiting for me to return their call, but I wanted to talk to you first. Get some advice.”

Ben lifted a brow. “Advice? Shouldn’t you consult your attorney for that?”

“Not for this. I need the advice of an ex-cop, one who was honored as Policeman of the Year four times. And one who would have had a great career as a detective if he hadn’t put his daughters first and resign after a couple of years to go back to being a cop to spend more time at home with them.”

At the widening of Ben’s eyes, Sheppard smiled. “My son was marrying your daughter, so I did some research of my own.”

Ben laughed. “Fair enough. So why am I here?”

At that moment the prison guard Ben remembered from the last visit, Ambrose, crossed the room and handed Sheppard a piece of paper. He took it and glanced at it before handing it to Ben. “This is the reason for the bodyguards. I know I didn’t kill my wife, but someone else did. And that someone doesn’t like the thought of my leaving here anytime soon.”

Ben glanced down at the paper and read it. It was an email that had been sent to Sheppard. He didn’t like the words. He didn’t like the tone and he sure as hell didn’t like the blatant threat.

Granger. You don’t know me, but I know you. If I were you, I would make sure your sons don’t get it into their heads to prove your innocence. Something tragic could happen.

Ben lifted his gaze. “Have you shown this to the prison officials?”

“Yes, Warren Smallwood is aware of it. My attorney was able to trace it to a public computer in the Wesconnett Library.”

Ben nodded. Wesconnett was a community on the outskirts of Charlottesville.

“I never wanted them to find out about that email.”

Ben shrugged. “So now they have, and according to Jules, threat or no threat, they intended to fight to have your case reopened.”