Propensity For Love (A Brooks' Family Values Series Book 3) Read online

  "Brooks was going to get billions and a new wife. A whole new life." Burke snorted.

  "What new wife?" Neal asked.

  "The text messages on the cell," Burke stated. "Well he and that Rene Naverone were going hot and heavy at it from what we've read so far."

  "If I were you, Neal, I would go with that angle rather than with Singleton," Bruce advised. "Singleton is not telling the truth, or he is withholding information. But he is not a reliable witness."

  "His story is powerful."

  "A little too much."

  "Let's take him through the ringer. Every hole you see I want you to question him on it. I want this tied up with a nice neat bow."

  Chapter Eight

  Vernon, James and Wade were at police headquarters at eight-forty-five. The Chief of Police advised them Mr. Singleton had dropped the assault charges. In addition, they located his cell phone and it was returned at the meeting. When they arrived at Vernon's office, they all sensed something had changed in the last twenty-four hours.

  "What's your take?" Wade sat at the conference table with a cup of coffee in front of him.

  "They have something." Vernon sat at the head of the table with his legs crossed and files spread out on the table.

  "Any idea what that might be?" James sat across from Wade as he stared at his brother.

  "I have no idea."

  "Then I suggest we prepare for any and everything." James stood and removed his jacket. "First on the agenda, who does the gun belong to? Two, if Singleton did this, how did he pull it off? Last, how do we prove it?"

  "We have a few leads." Vernon sat up and opened the police report. "We know they did not find the bullet. Naverone is checking hospitals and clinics to see if anyone came in with a gunshot wound."

  "That will help." James looked at his brother. "I'll write up a motion to examine every piece of evidence collected by the police. They will have ten days to comply. Based on the evidence they submit, we'll start building a defense."

  "I'll begin working on a witness list. We know we are going to need character witnesses."

  "We might as well prepare the family," Vernon stated. "Kirkland is going to call them to the stand."

  "Not if we can get this case dismissed before a court date is set." James reached for a file. "We have a number of facts on our side. There was no blood found on any of your clothes. If the medical examiner indicates the gunshot that killed Connie was up close and personal, that should eliminate you. Also, you were on your cell phone the entire drive over. We should be able to hit the cell towers to track your trip. That will give us a timeline. We compare that to the time of death from the ME. Then we will compare it to the timing from the patrol car. Where is the video from the police car?"

  Vernon opened one of the envelopes on the table. "Here it is."

  "Wade, examine this noting the exact arrival time." James pushed the envelope down the table. "If this matches up with the cell tower hits, it gives us more evidence to take to the judge to request a dismissal."

  Vernon and Wade glanced at each other.

  "What?" James asked.

  "Just impressed." Vernon grinned. "You are hitting the points I would have. I'm surprised."

  "Be impressed when the charges are dropped. I did go to law school, you know."

  Vernon laughed. "Right. But when was the last time you were in a courtroom."

  "Well, I haven't had the number of criminals to defend as you, but I do remember the basics. Is this everything we can find on the Bell case?"

  "Yes," Vernon stated. "Until we can talk with Nick that's all we have."

  "Not necessarily," James stated as he skimmed through the file. "The prosecutor. What was his name?"

  Vernon looked through his notes. "Drummond."

  "Do we have a contact number for him?"

  "We can get one."

  Vernon pushed a button on the diamond shaped box in the center of the table. "Mrs. Morgan, will you get me a number for Dominic Drummond, in Manhattan."

  "Yes, sir."

  "Let's talk with him to see what kind of insight he can give us on Singleton."

  "Mr. Brooks," Geraldine Morgan's voice came though the intercom. "Ms. Naverone is here to see you."

  "Send her in."

  James sat back knowing he was going to have to set some parameters on his brother and Ms. Naverone.

  "Good morning," Naverone said as she walked into the room. Today it was a pink dress that stopped mid-thigh, with knee-high boots, her weapon on her waist and hair in her usual ponytail.

  "How in the hell is a man supposed to concentrate with you walking around the streets like that?"

  Wade swung around to take a look. "Good morning," he said in a low seductive voice.

  Naverone smiled. "Good morning, Wade. Vernon, is that your way of saying good morning."

  "I have other ways. Would you like a demonstration?"

  "I'll pass. Good morning, James."

  "Good morning, Ms. Naverone. Were you able to find anything for us?"

  "No. I spent the night and all morning checking out hospitals and clinics between Fredericksburg and the District. Nothing that hasn't been reported. However, I'm meeting Xavier and his friend Adam. We’re going to see if we can pick up a figure leaving the house."

  "Did you get any rest?" Vernon walked over to her. "You look tired."

  "I'll get some rest when this is over with."

  "Mr. Brooks, Dominic Drummond is on the line for you."

  Vernon stepped away from Naverone to take the call. James walked over to her. "How are you this morning?"

  "Good. How about you?"

  "I'm concerned."

  "I could tell. Shall we step outside?"

  "No. We can speak here. How involved are you with Vernon?"

  "We're not sleeping together if that's what you are asking."

  James nodded. "It is. Thank you for that. From all that we know thus far you very well may be the prosecutor’s motive. What do I need to know?"

  "We met a few months ago at my office. I investigated the situation with Taylor and the rapper."

  "That's when you uncovered Singleton’s plot?"

  "Yes."

  "When did you discover Singleton was sleeping with Connie?"

  "The first time I went to Atlanta to get information on the rapper, Mrs. Brooks was with Mr. Singleton."

  "Did you know who she was?"

  Naverone nodded. "I researched all parties involved in the situation before going to Atlanta. The moment I saw her I knew who she was."

  "Did you tell Vernon?"

  "No."

  "Why not?"

  "My job was to find out what happened to Taylor. Mrs. Brooks was of no interest to me."

  "So the first time Vernon knew Connie was sleeping with Singleton was that day at my parents’ home?"

  "Yes."

  "Is this a private conversation or can anyone join in?" Vernon asked from behind his brother.

  James turned. "Open conversation." He turned back to Naverone. "When you told Vernon about Taylor what was his response?"

  A look passed between the two. James knew then Rene Naverone was going to be called to the stand if this case goes to court. "I don't want any surprises if this goes further."

  "I said I was going to kill her," Vernon responded so Naverone would not have to.

  "Who was there when you made that statement?" James asked as he sat back down at the conference table.

  "It was a telephone conversation."

  "Cell phone or landline?"

  "Cell phone," Vernon replied.

  James looked at Naverone then at Vernon. "When will you have time for me to take a deposition, Ms. Naverone?"

  "Is that necessary, James?"

  James laughed. "Yes." He looked away shaking his head.

  Vernon started to protest, but Naverone stopped him. "I'm available right after my meeting here."

  "Thank you," James replied as Naverone left the office.

&nbs
p; "Wade, would you give James and me a moment?"

  "Yes." Wade stood pulling all his documents into his arms. "But he's right. She has to be deposed and she will be called by the prosecutor." He opened the door and said, "She is going to be their motive until they find something better." He shrugged. "Just my opinion," he said and left the office.

  "Don't." Vernon took a sharp turn towards James, who was calmly seated at the conference table.

  "Like it or not, we are going to have this conversation."

  "I don't like it. I resent the hell out of it."

  James kicked the chair that was next to him towards his brother. "Have a seat, Vernon, and I'm not going to ask twice."

  For years there had been tension between the two brothers. The relationship had been tenuous at best. Vernon was the cause of it and he accepted that. When James was dating his wife Ashley, he got into a little trouble, giving Vernon the opportunity to make amends. Since that time the two had become close again. Whenever one needed the other, they were there with no questions asked. However in this case their roles were now reversed. Vernon needed James to get him out of this mess. Not only for his powerful connections and the respect in the political realm, but also for his brotherly love and support. The fact of the matter was James was smart in ways Vernon would never understand. He was able to command attention just by walking in a room. He never raised his voice or threatened even when he was angry. People just knew not to test him. Well, most people did.

  Vernon stood there staring at the chair, then pushed it back closer to the table and took a seat. "I'm not going to give Rene up."

  "I didn't ask you to. But since she's not giving anything up either, I believe we will be fine on that point. However, while this case is open, you will keep your hands off of her."

  "I'm not going to do that, James. I don't give a damn what happens." Nostrils flaring the two stared at each other. "All my adult life I've been starving for a woman to love me...for me. Who understands and accepts me for who the hell I am. I finally found that woman and you're telling me I can't be with her." He stood suddenly, knocking the chair over. "Who in the hell do I have to kill just to have a happy life? Hell, Connie is dead, Singleton saw to that. What the hell else has to happen?"

  James softened his glare as he listened. He then sat there with an amused look on his face. "Do you realize when you are angry you have this propensity for violence?"

  "What?"

  "You do." James stretched his legs out and crossed them at the ankle. "Whenever you don't get your way you start threatening people with all sorts of things." He put his hands behind his head and looked up at the ceiling. "Let's see. When I wouldn't give you the answers to the puzzle we were working on when I was ten, you told me you were going to chop each one of my fingers off and feed them to Bigfoot the next time you saw him." He sat up suddenly. "And there was the time when I wouldn't let you kiss Cameron Clarke. That time you said you were going to wait until I went to sleep, cut off my lips and hands so I could never touch another girl again."

  Vernon started laughing, then sighed as he picked up the chair and sat back down.

  "You have a propensity for violence." James grinned.

  "Yes, well, you are one to talk. All I do is talk it, you put words into action."

  James sat back and looked at his brother. "I've never seen you like this with a woman. Do you love her?"

  "I don't know. I've only been in love once in my life and Connie screwed that up."

  James nodded his head. He was old enough to know what Vernon went through with Connie. "Did you ever love her?"

  "Connie?" Vernon shrugged. "I thought I did. Never trust a big butt and a smile." Vernon laughed.

  James smiled. "Ms. Naverone is going to be an issue. Depending on what the detectives found on your phone it could be a big problem."

  "It shouldn't be. Rene and I have never slept together. We've flirted hard, here and there. But that's as far as it has gone."

  "There’s a deep, deep like there. It radiates from both of you." James smiled. "When this is over you should close that deal."

  "I plan to." Vernon smiled. Then he sat forward and sighed. "Kirkland has a grudge and I don't blame him. The Castiano case was a young girl who one of my client’s killed. I got him off because Kirkland went for murder one instead of manslaughter. He didn't have pre-meditated." Vernon stood and began pacing the floor. "One of the prosecutor’s witnesses disappeared." He held his hand up. "I swear I do not know what happened to the witness." He dropped his hand. "I have my suspicions, but..." He sighed. "Anyway, my client was guilty of killing that girl and I knew if he walked he would kill again. I tried to tell Kirkland to take the deal to put the man away, but Kirkland was stupid. He had something to prove and of course he lost." Vernon hesitated as he stood in front of the window of his office. "Two weeks after the trial my client killed another girl." Vernon dropped his head. "It was the only time I seriously considered changing my profession."

  "He sees this case as his opportunity for revenge," James summarized. "Then he will have to be disappointed again. For I have no intention of my brother spending a night in jail, much less the rest of your life. I take it Wade knows about this case and whatever happened to the witness. Who else?"

  Vernon slowly turned to him with a funny look on his face. "Cannon McNally."

  "Who is he?"

  A chuckle escaped Vernon as he took a step away from James. "You're going to find this funny. Do you remember the man standing behind Singleton when we were at the burial site?"

  James tilted his head. "The bodyguard?"

  "Yes...something like that. He's Cannon."

  "What?" James exploded. "He has this information and he is working for Singleton?"

  "Not exactly." Vernon grimaced. "He works for us."

  James glared at his brother for a long moment, then turned to the table and pushed the record button on his tablet. "Tell me about Singleton...from the beginning." Vernon moved to sit down when James added, "Don't leave out anything."

  Vernon looked up at his brother then sat at the table across from him and started telling him all he knew about the situation with Isaac Singleton.

  #

  Xavier stood in the doorway as Adam Lassiter walked towards him.

  "Who in the heck works here?" the tall, handsome young man asked as he made his way down the hallway.

  "This is Nicole’s brother Vernon's building," Xavier replied.

  "I thought you two were in New York?"

  "We came back for the funeral."

  "Who's dead?"

  "Constance Brooks, Vernon's wife."

  "Sorry to hear that. Was she sick?"

  "Single gunshot to the head."

  "She killed herself?"

  "No."

  "Well who killed her?"

  Xavier looked at Adam wondering if it was an act or if he really did not have a clue. "We don't know who killed her. That's why we need you. Did you bring your equipment?"

  "I didn't know what you needed, so I only have this." Adam held up his small laptop computer he rarely went anywhere without. "Did he kill her?"

  "Who?" Xavier asked as he stepped away from the door to let Adam in.

  "The husband?"

  "No."

  "I thought you said you did not know who killed her."

  "I don't," Xavier stated.

  "So how do you know he didn't?"

  Xavier stopped, closed his arms and faced Adam. "Because I know."

  Adam held his hands up in mock surrender. "Okay. You don't have to do that silent, dangerous guy thing you do." He slouched down into a seat. "So tell me what you need."

  Xavier pushed a button on the speaker on the table. "We are ready."

  "What are we ready for?" Adam asked again.

  Xavier took a seat. "Nicole's brother has been arrested for the murder of his wife."

  "Did he do it?"

  "I just told you he didn't. We believe someone else was in the house."

>   "Because......?"

  "He fired a shot. The bullet cannot be located. We think it hit the person who actually shot Connie."

  "Connie--Constance Brooks, the woman we saw at Singleton's house in Atlanta?"

  "One and the same."

  "She was there seeing another man. Her husband found out about the affair and you are sure he did not kill her?"

  "Positive." Naverone walked into the room.

  Adam’s mouth fell open but no words came out.

  Xavier tried to hold in his laugh as he watched Adam’s eyes start at her boots and slowly move upward.

  "Wow."

  "No, the name is Naverone. Xavier indicates you may have access to satellite surveillance without the need for all the pesky warrants and court orders?"

  Adam’s expression of glee changed to one of frustration as he turned from the beautiful form that just walked in the door to Xavier, the man he was about to kill.

  "I know." Xavier nodded his head. "You have to kill me," Xavier said as he leaned against the door. "Naverone is Secret Service."

  Adam turned back. "I'm joining the agency. Where do I sign up?"

  "Ex-Secret Service."

  Adam nodded. "Good enough for me. How can I help you, ex-Secret Service Agent Naverone?" He leaned back in the seat.

  Naverone walked over to him. "This is the address of the murder scene." She gave him a piece of paper. "Can you pull up the satellite to a specific date and time?"

  "For you, beautiful Naverone, I will move the satellite to any date and time."

  "Thank you, Adam." She smiled. "I appreciate that."

  "Wow." Adam held her eyes. "You can't do that smiling thing. It's distracting as hell."

  "Just the visual of the crime scene would be great."

  "Give me the day and time." Adam pushed a few buttons on his laptop.

  "Vernon arrived close to nine forty."

  He nodded his head, then looked closer at the screen. "We'll start at nine." He made adjustments on his screen, then watched. Naverone stood behind him and Xavier sat in the chair next to him. The monitor had an aerial view from above. He zoomed in to cover just the front entrance to the house. Then he adjusted the focus. "Let's increase the speed until we see who we are looking for."