Matt had let Catherine into the mansion. He left her to walk to the study alone. The double doors were closed. Catherine knocked. “Who is it?” the slurred rough voice asked. She pushed one of the doors open. “Ah, Catherine,” Cameron slurred. “Nice of you to stop by. Sorry about the mess.” And what a mess it was. Almost all the books had been pulled off the shelves. What looked like papers, pictures, and books were in the fireplace. The items that had been on Cameron’s desk were in the floor. The only spot in the room that seemed somewhat orderly was the minibar. I never should have told him who it was. Cameron drunkenly tilted his head at her like he was trying to read her mind. “Well, at least I didn’t . . . do all this to Derek Dawson’s face.” “True,” she mumbled as she stepped into the room. Cameron’s usually neatly combed dark hair was disheveled. His white shir
Normally, Catherine wouldn’t work on a Saturday unless she was under the gun. Well, she was under the gun.Catherine had spent three hours with her co-chair, Phillip, at the office going over Cameron’s defense with a fine-tooth comb. They were more than ready to present their case on Tuesday. Yesterday, Catherine had a subpoena issued for Derek Dawson to appear in court. She had a feeling he wouldn’t come if she had just asked him. Since he was subpoenaed, he would have no choice but to show up for court. If not, a warrant would be issued for his arrest. Then she met her sisters, Caitlin and Constance, for lunch at the country club. Then she met Ava at the hair salon. Catherine had Regine take the extensions out. She didn’t want to take a chance of her appearance swaying the jury to not take her seriously when she questioned Ava on the stand. “Honey, your hair has grown out a bit. Not long like the extensions, but . . .” Regina trailed off.
Catherine looked at herself in the full-length mirror in the hall bathroom. Her bedroom bathroom didn’t have a mirror as big. She took a deep breath. She had curled her hair and brushed it out, giving it a soft and bouncing effect. She liked it a lot. The dress was daring for her, but she felt oddly sexy in it. Luckily, she had shoes that matched it. Thigh highs were sheer, making her legs shine a little. She wore a diamond necklace and earring set her father had gifted her last Christmas. The four carat studs sparkled on her lobes. The necklace had the same size diamonds set in white gold all the way around her neck. Other than my engagement ring, Bruce had never bought me jewelry. Looks like the only real sweetheart I have is Father. She had put her make-up on the way the make-up artist had done it. She walked out the bathroom and to the living room. When a Marc Kauffman delivery man had come to her door she was stunned. She already ha
Catherine and Cameron ended up going to the Club Room without Ezekiel and Ava. They nursed Cristal champagne, petrossian royal Siberian Baika caviar with smoked salmon, crème fraiche dip, and house made chips. “Hey, man, do you mind if Ava and I dip out? We were flirting during half the opera when the lights were off. We . . . really need to be alone. We can take a cab to her place. You and Catherine can keep the limo,” Ezekiel had said. “Did you have a good time?” Cameron asked. “Oh, I did. It has been ages since I’ve been to the opera. I didn’t know you liked the opera.” “From time to time. It depends on what it is. I saw Phantom of the Opera three times.” “Oh, I have, too. I love that one.” Kelly had hated the opera. She found it boring. It was nice to spend time with a woman who not only loved the opera but had a real appreciation for what the music was conveying. “What else do you like
Cameron was in the dining room at his mansion. He was waiting for Don and Matt to bring breakfast out. Cameron knew how to cook a little bit, but he hadn’t been able to go into the kitchen since the night he found Kelly’s bloody body in the floor. All of a sudden, he heard someone whistling and it wasn’t coming from the kitchen. Ezekiel emerged from the hallway with his suit jacket over his shoulder. His bow tie was gone and the first two buttons were open on his shirt. “Good morning, cuz.” “Morning,” Cameron said as he watched him put his jacket over a chair and sit. “I take it you had a pleasurable evening last night. You’re still in your tux.” “It was most pleasurable.” “How much pleasure are we talking about here?” Ezekiel chuckled. “A gentleman never tells.” Cameron smiled at him. “And do you – as a gentleman have nothing to tell as well?” “I wish but no.”
This past Saturday opening night of Dialogues of the Carmelites at The Metropolitan Opera House was a packed house. B-list celebrities like Kristen Stewart, Karl Urban, Jenna Fischer, and Anthony Mackie were in attendance along with the crème de la crème of New York society like the Michelsons and Dandridges. This also includes Ava Bartholomew, Cameron Townsend, his cousin Ezekiel Townsend, and Catherine Van Dyke, who looked absolutely smashing that evening. It appears the jilted bride is trying to move on. Unfortunately, she can’t move far enough because the Hudsons were in attendance as well. According to sources, it didn’t appear that Catherine ran into any of the Hudsons that night. But eventually Catherine will come face to face with her ex-fiancé sooner or later - if it hasn’t already happened without this reporter’s knowledge. Bruce Hudson wore a light brown suit with a white shirt and a dark yellow tie. He stood in Catherine’s of
The next day . . . Catherine and Cameron were chatting. Court was about to begin in a few minutes. The room was filled with electricity. After all, it was the first day the defense was presenting their case. “Are you ready?” Catherine asked. “As I’m ever going to be,” Cameron answered. “Like I said yesterday, we’re going to come out pretty strong today,” Catherine said.They had to. Ben did too good of a job presenting the state’s case. He proved motive which was Cameron suspecting Kelly was cheating on him and he found out and got furious, plus if he divorced her it would cost him millions because he didn’t have a prenup, and he was beginning to think her unborn child wasn’t his.Unfortunate circumstance number two, Cameron didn’t have a solid alibi. Unfortunately, there was a good hour Cameron couldn’t really account for. On that fateful night, Cameron and Kelly had a fight. Their worse one yet to Cameron’s admission. He ha
Chelsea was not happy with Ava’s testimony nor with Catherine, who pushed the matter. Ava wouldn’t even have lunch with them. Catherine loved her sister, dearly, but she just had to get over it. Catherine wasn’t sure if Derek truly killed Kelly or not, but he was the best scapegoat for reasonable doubt they had.It seemed like there was even more people in the courtroom than there was for the morning session. It was almost as crowded as the first day of court was. Everyone was all abuzz.“You think he’ll show?” Phillip asked.“No, think. I know he will,” Cameron said.“How do you know?” Catherine asked.“Because he just walked in with Francis Chadwick,” Cameron said.Catherine and Phillip turned to look at the doorway.Sure enough, Derek was standing with Francis Chadwick, a senior partner at Chadwick, Harvey, and Whitman Law Firm. The firm was one of the most prestigious in the city. Mr. Chadwick was wearing a navy-blue suit and stripped tie.Chelsea was looking at Derek like he was
Christmas Eve It had been eight weeks since the shooting. Cameron’s physical therapy was going well. He had been out of the wheelchair for a week and was now walking with a cane. This year, the Van Dykes were hosting a Christmas Party at their estate. The crème de la crème of New York’s elite were in attendance.Almost everyone patted Cameron on the back saying how glad they were to see him out and about. Catherine had asked her mother to invite Angela King and Terrance. And they did come. They had a hard time mingling at first, but Mr. Townsend intervened, walking them around, making introductions. After that, they relaxed and began chit chatting with a few people. Ava had also been invited. She was chatting with various people in the room. She hadn’t come with a date even though Catherine had said she could bring one. Catherine was speaking to a potential client when Cameron whisked her away. There was a time
Catherine, Matt, and Aunt Lea Ann had left to get dinner. Cameron had just had dinner. For hospital food it wasn’t bad. He heard someone enter the room. Don and Ezekiel came around the corner. Well, shit. “Hey, cuz,” Ezekiel greeted. “We heard about what happened. We’ve been in touch with Aunt Lea Ann. She’s been keeping us abreast with your progress.” “Yeah. It was really touch and go there from what we understand,” Don said. “That’ s what I’ve been told,” Cameron said as he stared at them. He didn’t know what to think about them being here. Ezekiel he could forgive. He had been between a rock and a hard. But Don? “I’m sure you’re still pissed. I would be if I were you,” Don said. “But at the same time, I didn’t want you to think I – or rather we didn’t care about what happened to you.” “I appreciate it,” Cameron said. “I really do.” Ezekiel nodded. “Now that we k
Two days later . . . Cameron had been moved out of ICU to PCU, meaning there was no longer a visiting restriction. Catherine showed up at the hospital as soon as Mr. Townsend had called and told her. She rushed into room 309. There he was sitting up in bed watching television in a hospital gown. “Catherine,” he said with a big smile. She practically ran to him. She plopped on the bed and they immediately embraced. “Oh, my darling, Catherine. You are a sight for sore eyes,” he said over her shoulder. Catherine pulled back. Their mouths met. They lapped at each other’s lips like they were star-crossed lovers who hadn’t seen each other in six months They were both breathless by the time they were done. “Oh, Cameron, I was so . . . frightened I wouldn’t . . . oh, darling.” She kissed him again. “Mmm,” Cameron groaned as he pulled out of the kiss.
The next day . . .Catherine was at Mercy Hospital again with the Townsends. Matt was reading something on his phone as Mrs. Rushings was knitting what looked like a scarf.Catherine exhaled heavily. Cameron was still in ICU in a coma. Even though he wouldn’t know she was there or not, she wished she could see him. Then again, Mrs. Rushings and Matt probably felt the same way.“I’m going to the bathroom,” Matt announced as he stood.“All right,” his mother said.He walked away.She placed her knitting in her lap and looked at Catherine. “I’ve been in touch with Ezekiel and Don. They’re still in New York.”“Oh?”“Well, Don flew back to D.C. for a few days to check on the restaurant. When he heard, from Ezekiel that Cam had been shot he flew back and got a hotel room at the Marriot where Ezekiel is.”“I see.”“I’ve been keeping them up to date with what has been going on. They are afraid to come to the hospital because they don’t know who Harry will react to them being here.”“I can und
It was after ten a.m. Sunday morning when Catherine returned to Mercy Hospital wearing a dark yellow pants suit. Lea Ann and Matt where in the ICU waiting room. It appeared they had gone home to freshen up and change clothes.“Hi. How is he?” Catherine asked as she approached.“Still in the coma,” Lea Ann answered. “Harry is in with him now. They let him visit every half hour. He should be out in a minute.”And like clockwork, Mr. Townsend emerged. He was still in the closes he was wearing last night.“Any change?” Matt asked.“No. He’s just lying there with an oxygen mask . . . machines beeping and what not,” Mr. Townsend said.Catherine exhaled.“We just have to be patient,” Mrs. Rushings said as she placed her hand on Catherine’s shoulder. “He’ll come out of it.”“Before I came here, I got a call from Ben Quinn, the ADA who is prosecuting Cameron’s case. Apparently, Mrs. Townsend has gotten a lawyer and Judge Gehrig is willing to hold court today – for her bail hearing and to consi
Mercy Hospital Emergency Room Cameron had been rushed by ambulance to the hospital. Unfortunately, Catherine and the Townsends couldn’t follow immediately. The cops had split them up in separate rooms to ask them questions as to what happened. Catherine knew it was procedure but it didn’t make the situation less stressful or better. Cops and forensics were all over the mansion. The cops arrested Martha Townsend within an hour of them arriving. After what seemed to be two hours, the police had let Catherine and the rest go to the hospital to check on Cameron. Mr. Townsend rushed to the emergency room desk. “My son, Cameron Townsend, was brought in here a little over two hours ago. Where is he?” “I’ll check, sir,” the clerk said and started typing. Dear god let him be all right. Cameron got shot saving her. “It says here he is in surgery,” the clerk said. “What kind of
Martha Townsend stood at the window looking out at the rain as Lea Ann finished her part of the story. Once she finished, you could hear a pin drop in the living room. “I . . . I didn’t mean to kill the little bitch,” Mrs. Townsend bit out bitterly. “I had only planned to scare her with it. But when she brushed me off like I was some pathetic creature that was beneath her . . . I snapped. How dare that trailer park trash gidget look down her nose at me.” Mrs. Townsend whirled around to look at them. “I got so angry that I . . .” “We got the picture, Aunt Martha,” Matt mumbled. He was still reeling. He had been in the dark about all of it. “I truly did not believe the baby was Cameron’s at the time,” Martha said sorrowfully. “I really thought it belonged to another man.” “What I couldn’t figure out on my way here was why did you decided to kill Joey Evers?” Catherine asked. “Who!” Mr. Townsend shouted with shock.
Three months ago . . . “Would you like some tea, Martha?” Kelly asked as she glided into the kitchen of her home. “How about herbal tea? You seem agitated.” “If you were out of our lives for good, I wouldn’t be so agitated,” Martha said. Kelly whirled around. “Now, Martha, is that anyway to speak to your daughter-in-law . . . and the mother of your future grandchild?” “Oh, please, we both know there is only a fifty - hell, maybe even a twenty-five percent chance Cameron is the baby’s father.” “There you go with those wild accusations again,” Kelly said in a shame on you tone. “All because you saw me talk to one man coming off an elevator. “You were flirting your butt of with him. But I didn’t need to see that to know you’re cheating on my son. So, let’s cut the bull. What will it take for you to leave Cameron - to leave the family?” “Leave?” “Yes. I’m prepared and able to write
Catherine was awakened by her cell vibrating on the nightstand. She had put it on vibrate before her and Cameron dosed off. It was Frankie. He was working on two other cases for her. She quickly picked up her phone and dashed into the bathroom. She closed the door behind her. “Hello?” she whispered loudly. “Hey, lady lawyer,” Frankie greeted. “Did I catch you at a bad time?” “Um, kind of,” she whispered. “I’m sorry to disturb, but this might be important. Can we meet in forty-five minutes? I’m at an Italian joint called Roberto’s.” “Um, sure. I know that place. It’s not far from me.” “Great, see you in forty-five.” He hung up. Careful not to wake, Cameron she tip-toed around the bedroom getting dressed. She pulled on a pink pair of sweats and a light white long sleeve top. They were her jogging clothes. She grabbed her phone and turned to leave the bedroom. She looked back at Ca