Present Day
Jeffrey “JD” Harrison, the Attorney General of Virginia, sat in his office on the tenth floor of the state office building in downtown Richmond. Standing beside him behind the desk was his friend and Chief of Staff, Calvin Johnson. Brian Thompson, another friend and head of his security team, sat in a chair facing the desk, as the sitting Governor, Gavin W. Roberts stood at the far end of the office with his back to them looking out the window. As the men talked JD’s attention wandered to the door of his office just as his wife Tracy appeared at the opening. A pleasing smile creased his lips as he stood to walk over to her with his arms stretched wide as the anticipation of holding her began to build within him. Just then, Al “Turk” Day, his imprisoned brother-in-law appeared behind her. His heart rate began to increase as a frown formed on his forehead. Before he could ascertain why Al was there in his office and not in federal prison, a shadow crept over the two standing in the doorway and a sense of danger grabbed his heart. He raced to gather Tracy into his arms just as an explosion went off.
JD sprung up in his bed at a sound, bewildered. He ran his hand down his face as remnants of the dream held him captured. The fact that the dream mirrored his life left him a bit disoriented. Looking around at the furniture in the room, it took him a moment to realize he was in his own bed, in his own bedroom, and in his own home. Lying back against the pillow he sighed loudly as he touched his chest to ensure that his heart was still intact and found that his skin was moist. He closed his eyes and exhaled a sound of release as he realized it was just a dream, again. But this time the people in the room had faces and he recognized all except one of the players—the shadowy figure. One of them was Tracy and she was in danger. He reached over for her and found her side of the bed empty. He sat up and looked at the clock on the nightstand beside the bed. It was four-fifteen in the morning. Listening to the quietness to determine where she might be, he glanced at the baby monitors sitting on the night stand on her side of the bed. No sounds were coming from his son JC’s nor from his daughter Jasmine’s bedrooms. That really didn’t mean anything, for Tracy had been known to fall asleep in one of the children’s bedrooms regularly, especially lately. Throwing the comforter and sheets aside, he slide into his slippers and went in search of his wife to put her back where she belonged—in bed beside him.
He cracked open the door across the hallway and smiled at his two year old son Jon-Christopher, “JC”, sleeping with his thumb in his mouth and the caboose to the train set he’d received for Christmas, in the other hand, hanging off the bed. As quietly as he could, JD walked over, put the caboose on the floor and gently pulled the thumb out of his son’s mouth. He pulled the covers up to his shoulders and lovingly rubbed the back of his head that was neatly braided. Closing the door behind him, he looked towards the room next to the master bedroom, where he found his six-week-old daughter, Jasmine sound asleep on her stomach inside of her crib. It was apparent that she had recently been fed. On a stand next to the crib were an empty bottle and a cotton diaper folded neatly across the arm of the rocking chair. Unable to resist he walked over and kissed the child that look so much like her mother, he fell in love all over again the moment she entered the world. But there was still no sign of Tracy.
Closing that door he walked forward into the upstairs open foyer and listened. He thought he heard a sound downstairs, and was about to descend the steps to investigate when he noticed a light in Tracy’s office. Retracing the two steps he had taken, he walked to the other side of the open foyer and stood in the archway of the room. Tracy was curled up on the sofa with a book. Papers were on the top of the desk as the screensaver on the computer ran a collage of pictures of him, JC and Jasmine across the screen. Moving the mouse to shutdown the system he noticed a document from Next Level Consulting on the monitor marked urgent. Next Level Consulting was a company Tracy and his sister Ashley had started when they were in college. The multi-million dollar grossing company was Tracy’s brain-storm and she loved it as if it were one of her children. Not one to question her affairs, he clicked the save button then the shutdown button and waited for the system to close down. He then turned to his sleeping wife and smiled.
It was clear that he was highly favored by God. His wife of a little over four years was as beautiful today as she was the first time he’d met her. Nothing or no one but God could have prepared him for the impact that smile, he’d witnessed across the breakfast bar in his condominium five years ago, would have on his life. The once carefree bachelor with everything within his grasp was now the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia with a wife and two children, on their way to twelve. A wife that he had taken a bullet for, a wife he’d almost lost to a brutal beating and a wife whose eyes were void of that special gleam they once had whenever she looked at him.
Before they married, he withheld information from her regarding the identity of her biological father from her. Nine months ago, the vengeful Carolyn Roth-Roberts, daughter of the powerful state Senator John Roth, revealed the truth to Tracy. Since that time, Tracy had grown more and more withdrawn. When she told him she was pregnant with their second child, JD was so elated. This was the second chance he needed to show her how much he loved her. For a while things were getting better, but then his job began taking him away from home. To complicate things more, his brother-in-law and campaign manager, James Brooks, was pressing him to run for Governor in the next election.
For months, it seemed his heart was divided between protecting and serving the citizens of the state of Virginia and keeping his wife happy. Desperately, he wanted the shine and unwavering trust back in her eyes. But more than anything, he wanted to see her smile reach her eyes again. Tracy, even with the discord in their marriage, made his days warm as sunshine just knowing she would be waiting to greet him and his nights hot with her unyielding passion and love.
His mistake came in wanting to protect her from harm. But it was apparent that his over-protectiveness caused her more harm than good. Now he had to find a way to gain her trust back, for he still loved her beyond reason. If there were any way he could turn back time, he would have handled things differently. With all the power he had within his hands, he could not change the past. Only God and time could heal the wounds he had caused her. For now all he could do was make sure she knows how much he loves her and their children. Without her, he could not and did not want to survive, for she was the core, the soul, and the heart of him.
Just watching her sleep had his heart racing and stirred his body’s lower regions into action. He walked over and noticed she had been reading a book. That, in itself, was not surprising; he believed Tracy had read every book in every library within a hundred mile radius. Gently sliding the book from her grasp he read the cover, then he turned it over to read the back and realized it was a romance novel. Why is she reading a romance novel? He wondered which of her friends it had come from, his sister Ashley, or could it have been Rosaline. No, more than likely, it was her friend Cynthia trying to corrupt his baby’s mind. “She doesn’t need that.” He placed the book on the table next to the sofa. Bending down he picked her up into his arms and kissed her forehead.
She sighed as her arms circled his neck, she kissed his throat, “Hi babe.”
“Hi yourself,” he replied as he carried her to the bedroom and quietly closed the door with his foot. Placing his half sleeping wife in the spot he had awakened from a few moments before, he began to unbutton the top of his pajamas that covered her body. Once that task was complete, he marveled at the smooth, flat, paper bag color skin that was before him. It was hard to believe that only six weeks ago his daughter had been there. Unable to resist, he kissed her navel honoring the stomach that had carried his two children and was the future home of more. The feel of her skin beneath his lips caused his manhood to throb with the sensation of needing to touch his wife. Her leg moved beneath him as if knowing he needed access. Sliding his pajama bottom to the floor, he joined her on the bed and began planting kisses on the inside of her thigh, just above her knees, creating a trail up her thigh with his tongue. Her inner scent mixed with the vanilla body gel she used, called out to him to taste her, but he resisted, he want to savor the precious minutes he would have her to himself. Leaving the right thigh he then followed the same path on her left thigh with his tongue until he reached the very core of her. The moment his lips touched her he felt her body awakening, and he could not help but smile at her response. It never failed, whenever, however he touched her, her body would respond as if it was waiting just for him. That simple knowledge always moved him to the core and prompted him to give her all he had to give. Her hand lovingly rubbed the back of his head as her hips moved up bringing the center of her snuggly to his lips. Holding her waist securely, he pulled her body to the edge of the bed to him, planting kisses up her stomach, to the curve of her breast, finally reaching her lips just as the tip of his manhood slid easily inside her. The sound of her moan always surged through him like a rocket, straight down south to where his love for her swelled and cried out for relief.
Beginning with a slow rhythm that warmed the love he needed to release, he then steadily increased the pace until they were both soaring to the boiling point that neither ever tired of. Running his hands down her thighs, she instinctively complied with what he wanted by bringing her legs around his waist and clamping them tightly in place. Her inner walls enclosed around him securing the knowledge that the release he was seeking was only seconds away and he was eager to feel the love that only she could give. Kissing her throat as he bestowed her with the love he knew no other woman would ever experience, he cried out her name. The moment her hands pulled his back closer, her hips higher and her legs tighter, the explosion they both sought hit. His body jerked several times before he could think clearly or speak coherently. He rolled over pulling her on top of his chest, never breaking the intimate connection and simply held her as their juices flowed between them. She cuddled closer bringing the top of her head just below his chin. Kissing the top of her head, he leisurely caressed her back.
“Why do you always make a mess on my side of the bed?” she asked sleepily.
“It’s my way of getting you right where you are, closer to me.” He felt her smile against his chest as her lips barely kissed his nipple. Moments later he felt her shallow breathing and knew she had fallen asleep again. Only then did the memories of his dream fade away as a distant thought. Tightening his hold on her, he soon joined her in a slumberous state.
♡♡♡♡
The minimum security federal prison located in Petersburg, Virginia was locked down for the night. Bed count was completed and all inmates were accounted for. The night shift guards had settled at their posts, two deep at each station. The administrative staff had vacated hours earlier, with the secure feeling of another good day without any infractions from the inmates. He had a good staff, Warden Emilio Escobar thought as he locked the door to his office and bid good night to the guards on his way out. The gates sprung open as he waved at the guards in the tower. Driving through, he slowed and watched through his rear view window, as he did every night, until the gates closed. Flashing his lights, he pulled off in the direction of his home.
Standing in the hallway of the administration, building looking out of a window, a guard watched as the warden’s car drove out of sight. As with each night for the last month, the guard pulled a key from his pocket, opened the door to the warden’s office and turned on the computer sitting on the desk. It was almost as easy to get the password to the computer, as it was to get a copy of the key to the warden’s office. It only took him a few hours to determine the wife’s’ maiden name and year of birth was the password to the computer. How ironic, the pictures on the desk and the use of the wife’s name was clear evidence he loved her, yet, it was a woman in a hotel room that was able to keep him occupied long enough to have a copy of the office key made. Go figure. But for the man sitting at the desk, his only interest was in locating the inmate that was there under an assumed name. Once he determined which of the five hundred and sixty-two inmates it could be, this hellish job would be history and he would be richer. So far, he’d eliminated three hundred and thirteen. Tonight he planed to view another fifty records. It shouldn’t take much longer.
An hour later, after reviewing photographs, birthdays, relatives and other information on each inmate, he finally came across a strong candidate. There was information as with every file he viewed, but this one had no photograph and the history was only ten years deep. He switched over to the internet and did a search on the name – Huntley A. Doles. On the surface, the search did not reveal much—a few fraud related stories and an embezzlement charge. However, unbeknownst to him the search sent a signal to another computer.
♡♡♡♡
The knock on his door startled Donovan Tucker as he instinctively reached for his revolver. “Who is it?”
“Tuck, you are needed in the Situation Room.”
Tucker looked at the clock on the night stand next to his bed—four-fifteen in the morning. He fell back on the pillow—it was only two-thirty when he got into bed. This was really getting old. Shaking himself awake, he threw back the comforter, stood and put on his robe. “This better not be another one of Monique’s antics,” he mumbled. Monique was his boss’ daughter, whom he had asked Tucker to watch over while he was incarcerated. The six-teen year old was nothing but trouble. He opened the door and walked down the hallway to the next room. The bedroom had been converted into one of the most sophisticated, technically advanced communication centers available to a man of his means. The occupants of the tact room at the FBI headquarters would be impressed. “What do we have, gentlemen?” Tucker inquired to the three men in the room as he slumped into one of the chairs in front of the three flat screen monitors hanging on the wall.
“A signal went off from the warden’s computer. Someone just did an inquiry on our man.”
“When?” Tucker stood, concerned with the information on the monitor.
“At 4:05.”
Tucker looked at the clock; it was now four-twenty. “Get one of our people from the administration building on the phone.” Once the call was placed, Tucker gave instructions.
♡♡♡♡
Convinced he had found the right inmate; the guard took a stroll over to the Ponderosa building to the location of the inmate in question. The Ponderosa was one of two buildings in the federal pen complex located in Petersburg. The other was called the South Fork Ranch. The occupants were usually your higher class white collar criminals that were given a few luxuries. “Hey, Wally, I’m going to do a quick walk through. You want to come along?” He asked, not really expecting the other guard to join him.
“I’ll pass. Enjoy your stroll.”
He chuckled, “All right man, I should be back through in ten.” The guard walked down the corridor and up a flight of steps. He reached what some referred to as the pent-house, because the cell was on the corner end of the corridor and had a clear view of the entire cell block. He stopped and casually looked around to see if there were any wandering eyes. Thinking all was clear, he looked inside the cell. To his surprise, the inmate was awake and standing as if he was expecting him. The sight threw him off balance for a moment, but he soon recovered. “Everything okay man?” he asked as if he was concerned.
“I’m good,” the inmate replied glaring back at him.
“Get you some shut eye, man,” the guard said, and then walked away.
The encounter sent a shiver down his spine, but he shook it off. Tomorrow, he would have enough money to leave the job and never look back.
When he returned to his station, the guard sat back in the chair at the desk, pulled out his cell phone, and placed a telephone call. Finally, he was on his way to the finer things in life. “Chief, sorry to call this time of morning, but I think you will be pleased with my news. I believed I have just located one, Al “Turk” Day. The question is can you meet my price?”
♡♡♡♡
Chief Wilbert T. Munford walked into the kitchen of his multi-level six bedroom home happy as a jay-bird. He finally had a handle on an itch he had been dying to scratch—Al “Turk” Day. By this time tonight, if all went well, his nemesis would be dead. As he did each morning at six he turned on the television to catch the morning news. The news caster was talking about an accident on Interstate 95.
“The lone passenger in the vehicle was identified as Franklin Stafford.
According to the police report, he was a prison guard here in Petersburg.
The cause of the accident is unknown at this time. We will report more as
the scene continues to unfold. This is Victoria Murillo reporting live.”
The coffee cup Munford had just picked up dropped from his hand as he stared intently at the television monitor. A shiver went up his spine as he turned and surveyed the room. The very man he knew to be incarcerated had previously invaded his home. After hearing the news of the guard’s death, Munford knew it was only a matter of time before Al Day made another appearance. There was no time to start the process again. Al Day had to be eliminated soon or his plans for reigning over the city of Richmond would be ruined. Options were running out, he was down to one--J.D. Harrison, the states Attorney General.
Like it or not, it was time to use every weapon at his disposal into reach his goal, to become the first elected Mayor for the city of Richmond. Munford picked up the telephone and dialed. “It’s time to speed things up. I need that information from Harrison or his wife and I don’t care how you get it.”
♡♡♡♡
Tracy turned over without opening her eyes and reached for the remote. When she pushed the button, she heard the television monitor retracting into its cabinet. Subconsciously she knew the voices she continued to hear were not coming from the television. She heard a child’s giggle and knew it was the voice of her son coming through the monitor. It seemed he was telling his father that his mother should be up with them. She listened as his father explained, “Mommy was up late taking care of daddy and needs a little extra time to sleep. I need you to be a big boy and help daddy with Jasmine.”
“Jazz,” as he called his baby sister, “hungry?” he asked his father.
“Yes, I think she is,” JD replied. “Get her bottle for me.”
“No daddy--do your shirt.” Tracy frowned until it dawned on her what JC was trying to tell his father. Smiling, she threw the comforter to the side and stretched as she heard the conversation between father and son continued.
“Shirt up daddy,”
Tracy walked into the nursery just in time to save JD who now had a serious frown on his face. “Daddy’s can’t do that JC only mommies can.”
“Mommy,” JC screamed and ran to grab her legs as JD watched.
Picking her son up, she hugged him, “Hello my precious.” JD stood with Jasmine on his shoulder and she marveled at how handsome her husband was. His six-two frame towered over her five-six inches and filled the room with his undeniable presence. A smile that was reserved just for him appeared on her face. It was useless to try to hide the blush she revealed each time he looked at her. “Good morning to you, again.”
He reached around her waist, pulled her to him, and kissed her with an urgency that left her weak at the knees. As soon as he pulled away JC clapped his hands as his mother held him on her hip. “Daddy kiss,” he held out his hands to his father, who immediately placed a kiss on his son’s lips. JC then turned to his mother, cupped her face between his small hands, and kissed her on the lips.
“I’m jealous. Good morning beautiful. I was about to feed this one, when JC informed me I wasn’t doing it right.”
“So I heard,” she replied as she placed JC on the floor and reached for Jasmine. “Let me take her before she messes up your shirt.”
JD was dressed in his shirt and tie, but his suit jacket was hanging on the knob of the door. “No, she’s good. I’ll feed her and keep JC busy while you dress.”
“You sure? It’s late you know.”
“Yeah, I called Calvin earlier; he reset our morning briefing for ten, so I have a little time.”
“Okay, I’ll take you up on that offer then.” Just as she turned, to walk out the room, his cell phone rang.
“Harrison,” he answered.
She closed her eyes and sighed inwardly, the moment was over. Opening her eyes and smiling she turned to her husband and reached for Jasmine.
JC watched his father’s retreating back and then looked up at his mother with sad eyes and said, “Daddy work now?”
“Yes baby, Daddy has to work now.”
♡♡♡♡
Tucker stood in the visitor’s room of the Federal penitentiary, waiting for his boss to appear. The area was empty with the exception of the guards located near the entrance. When the doors in the back opened, he turned to see Turk walk through. He smiled and gave his boss a pound. “Hey man. You look good.”
Turk returned the sentiment and took a seat, Tuck did the same. “What do you know?”
“He was one of Munford’s people.”
The two sat forward resting their elbows on their legs. “Did he pass any information on?”
“No. but now Munford is desperate. The referendum to make the Mayor for the city of Richmond an elected position is on the ballot in November. He has to eliminate you soon, therefore he has to locate you. The quickest way to do that is through Harrison.”
“Has he put anything in motion?”
“Not that I know of, but Harrison has.”
“What?”
“Harrison launched an investigation on Munford and he may have enough to take him down.”
Turk smiled, “Anyway to help him along?”
“Yeah, we can tell them what we know.”
“I don’t know if Harrison can handle that yet. He’s still emotionally wound tight. I don’t want to have a negative impact on his future. How is Tracy handling the situation with the Senator?”
“There hasn’t been a lot of contact. A few appearances here and there with Harrison and Roth at the same place, but that’s it. Harrison is catching hell at home.”
“She’s holding JD to the wire.” He smiled, “I’m proud of her. She got him sweating. That’s good. Let him know he has to work to keep her.”
“You need to stop. They are good together. It’s good to see real black love and that’s what they have.” He became serious, “I don’t want to see them torn apart by this.”
“You getting soft man,” Turk laughed.
“No, but just like you, I was there from the beginning. What they have is real.”
“Then nothing will tear them apart. In the mean time keep an eye on Munford. Monique still giving you trouble?”
Tuck sat up and literally rolled his eyes. “Turk, I’ll move heaven and earth for you, but your daughter has me on the verge of committing murder—premeditated murder and you know I don’t roll like that.”
Turk laughed, “I know man, she is just like her mother. But you got my support, do what you have to to keep her in line—whatever you have to do.”