Tempted By The Badge. Deborah Fletcher Mello

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.”

      Pearce traded business cards, seeming flustered by the turn of events. “I was just telling Ms. Barnes that we might want to consider a plea deal if one is offered.”

      “That’s not an option,” Ellington said. He extended his hand in a firm handshake. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I’d like to speak with Ms. Barnes privately. So, if you’ll excuse us, I’ll be in touch when we need you.”

      The moment was immensely awkward as Pearce rose reluctantly. He’d been summarily dismissed and as the three of them stood staring at him, he said his goodbyes and sulked. When the door was closed shut behind him, Ellington took the seat across from Joanna. It was only then that she turned her attention to Mingus, who stood against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. He’d eased in quietly, settling into the background as he stood in observation.

      There was no missing the family resemblance. Both men stood well over six feet with lukewarm complexions that were a rich tawny with just the barest hint of mahogany undertones. They had the same chiseled features—sculpted cheekbones and strong jawlines. Both had solid builds and broad chests and shoulders. Ellington wore a navy-blue suit, the silk fabric expensive, pristinely tailored and polished. The other man was dressed more casually in black denim jeans, a collarless black shirt and black varsity jacket. His hair was cropped close and he sported a hint of mustache and a goatee. He met her stare, his expression hiding any trace of emotion. But there was something simmering in his eyes. Something hiding behind the blinking of his lashes. Something that captured Joanna’s attention and held it tightly.

      “I didn’t do it,” she said softly. “No one believes me, but I did not sleep with my student.” She was still staring at the second man, her comment more for him than her attorney. She introduced herself. “I’m Joanna. Joanna Barnes. Are you an attorney, too?”

      Ellington looked from her to the other man and back. “I’m sorry. I assumed you two had met before. Joanna, this is my brother, Mingus Black. Mingus is a licensed private investigator. He’s going to help work this case. We’re going to trust him to help us figure out what’s going on and why you’ve been targeted.”

      The slightest smile pulled at Joanna’s lips. Her bottom lip quivered and tears pressed hot behind her eyelids. She gave him a slight wave of her hand. “Hi.”

      Mingus nodded in response, his expression unchanging. But something burned hot in the pool of light dancing in his eyes. Had he been anyone else, his silence would have been unsettling, but Joanna found his presence eerily comforting and she had never before been attracted to the strong, silent type. It gave her a moment of pause as they seemed to be measuring each other up.

      Ellington continued, Joanna focusing her attention back on him. He reached across the table for her hand and held it. “Here’s what’s going to happen,” he said softly. “When I open that door, the police are going to