All I Want Is Forever (24 page)

“Real mature! Now hand it over.” Talia held out her hand.

“Right after you hear me out.” Mama Rose shook a forefinger at her nose.

Talia recognized the expression on Mama Rose's face. She'd never won a battle of wills with her. “Okay. Get it out of your system. It's the only way I'll get any work done.”

“This isn't about what Monette wants. You've been
running away for most of your life. It's time to face reality.”

“Reality? I knew more about the real world by the time I was six years old than most people. I educated you on new stuff, remember?”

Mama Rose nodded. “You taught me some new ways to cuss and street terms for drugs I'd never heard of before. I know what you went through, sugar.” Mama Rose's tone softened along with her expression. Yet the determination remained. “Those days, as horrible as they were, are part of you. Let your experiences make you strong, not weak.”

“I love you, Mama. But you don't have any idea what you're talking about. Just leave it alone.” Talia folded her arms tight against her body to fight off a shiver.

“Not now. Your mother is doing the bravest thing she's ever done. She risked her life to tell the truth. Derrick's career is on the line as well.”

“I warned him to mind his own business,” Talia said with fervor. “I warned Monette not to grandstand. Neither of them listened.”

“They would have if you'd been talking sense,” Mama Rose said sharply. “Do you know what's going on out there?” She waved a hand toward the window as though the drama was on her front lawn.

“Yes. Monette made a big splash with her allegations about Winn Barron. I don't have to read about it or watch the news on TV to know the media are going wild.” Talia met her gaze.

“He set her up as revenge because she ended their affair. The man should be horsewhipped.” Mama Rose seemed to vibrate with outrage. “His pal, Larry Perrilloux, suspended Derrick.”

“Just as I predicted if you recall. I'm not going join the soap opera.” Talia looked away from her uncompromising gaze.

“Real nice. Something to be proud of for sure.” Mama Rose made a hissing noise to emphasize her displeasure.

“They want me to stay out of it.”

“So they're taking all the hits. Does that mean you should let them?”

Talia flinched. The words struck home like a steel-tipped arrow in her chest. For days she'd avoided glancing at headlines or watching the local news. Instead she'd focused on CNN and the Fox News Network. Still, with such a big story hitting the airwaves, Talia knew it would attract national attention soon. Winn Barron had retreated behind a barricade of attorneys. His only statements were to remind reporters of Monette's arrest record and family history.

“You can hide, Talia. But I don't think it's the best thing for you.” Mama Rose broke into her thoughts.

Talia couldn't stop her hands from shaking. “Lord knows I've lived with this monster all my life.”

“At least talk to Derrick. He deserves your support. I'm right here. You don't have to face this alone, baby.”

The image of Earl's lifeless body flashed before her as if no time had passed. “Yes, I do.”

“Alright, sugar. I won't say any more. Just think about it.” Mama Rose hugged Talia and left.

“That's all I do is think about it,” Talia whispered.

 

“You can have this job.” Derrick dropped the office keys onto Larry's desk. “We don't have to waste time meeting.”

Larry rocked forward in his chair. “Sit down.”

“For what? I don't need a long explanation that comes down to the same thing.”

“So you've got all the answers.” Larry's jaw muscles worked as he clamped his mouth shut.

“Most of 'em, yeah,” Derrick snapped.

“Just for my information then, 'cause maybe I'm dense, fill me in.” Larry's dark eyes flashed with anger. He folded his hands tightly until his knuckles were white.

“Barron is calling the shots. He knows I helped pull his nasty skeletons out of the closet.”

“I'm his puppet?” Larry's voice strained out the words.

“He's a powerful man.” Derrick gazed at him with an impassive expression.

“That's the real deal as you call it.”

“Yeah.”

“Try this on for size.” Larry held out one hand and ticked off points on his fingers. “One, you went off half-cocked without filling me in.”

“I wasn't going to say ‘Hey, Larry, your old school chum is a liar,'” Derrick cut in.

“Two, you interviewed witnesses without consulting me,” Larry went on in a cold tone.

“Right, like you were going to build a case against Barron.” Derrick gave a cynical snort.

“Three, your actions resulted in danger to two people. If you'd gone through proper channels, we could have offered them protection.” Larry's voice got louder.

Derrick leaned on his desk with both palms flat. “Don't give me that bull, Larry! One, you know damn well you wouldn't have believed my suspicions about Barron. Two, you definitely wouldn't have believed Monette Victor's story. And three, there would have been no protection since Barron has influence in the sheriff's office and the prison system.”

“I've defended you when others said you were reckless, a grandstand artist. Now I see their point.” Larry glared at him across the desk.

“I defended your good name, too. Now I feel like a first-class fool. I told people you wouldn't operate like Barron, friend or not,” Derrick shouted.

Larry's expression turned rock-hard. He took a folder from his desk and slapped it open. “Earl Glasper disappeared years ago. We're opening an investigation again because it relates to Monette Victor's sensational claim. You know anything about him?”

Ten seconds passed as they stared at each other. Then Derrick stood straight, careful to keep his expression blank. “Why should I?”

“Rule number one in an interview, if a question is answered with a question, the subject is either buying time or trying to find out how much you know.” Larry squinted at him.

“So I'm a suspect? Barron really must be running scared. An old strategy, go after the people who can bury you.”

Larry put on his reading glasses and looked at the open file. “You grew up in the Victor woman's neighborhood. You had a few minor brushes with the law as a juvenile. Did you know her?”

Derrick felt a rush of anxiety. Not for himself. He was thinking of Talia. Still, he reminded himself to stay in control. “Barron has been investigating me. I'm not really surprised. Or did you help him?”

“It doesn't matter at this point. I could excuse your going off on your own with an investigation. But this…” Larry tapped the stack of typed sheets. “When you were fifteen Monette Victor lived only a couple of streets from your house.”

“A petty crook with a history of disappearing has been missing for sixteen years. You're questioning me about it?” Derrick laughed. “You and your partner gotta do better than that, Larry.”

“Monette Victor was the last one to see him alive ac
cording to witnesses. Nothing was made of it at the time. Like you say, Glasper lived a transient lifestyle on the wrong side of the law. Winn has raised some legitimate questions.” Larry looked at him hard.

Derrick returned his gaze without losing his relaxed stance, one hand in his pocket. “Real thin.”

“Glasper had information about Monette Victor. He was an informant. I think you've found out more. Tell me the truth, and maybe I can help you.”

“I'll tell you another rule in interviewing, Larry. Make the subject think you know more than you do, so he'll spill his guts.” Derrick walked toward the door. “Shove it.”

He went to his desk, picked up a cardboard box, and headed for the exit. Kelsey followed him to the parking lot. Derrick unlocked his 4Runner. She waited until several court employees passed before she spoke.

“What the heck is going down? The entire building is buzzing. I can't believe you and Larry are at each other's throats,” Kelsey said in a breathless rush. “I've been dying to find out something.”

“Stay clear of this one, Kelsey.” Derrick slammed the back door shut.

“Tell me the rumors about you taking on Barron aren't true.” Kelsey put a hand on his arm. “You don't want to mess with him.”

“Thanks for your concern, but I can take care of myself.” Derrick opened the door and got behind the wheel. “Nice working with ya, Kel.”

“But—”

“Don't put your job on the line.” He glanced back and saw Larry standing in the glass double doors watching them.

Kelsey followed his gaze. She turned back to him with a defiant scowl. “I'm a civil servant. They'd have to blast me outta that office.”

He grinned at her. “Lord help them if they tangle with you.”

“Call if you need anything. I'm serious.”

“Don't offer what you might have to take back,” Derrick warned. He put on his sunglasses.

“I never do.” Kelsey waved to him and went back inside.

“I might take you up on that offer,” Derrick said to himself.

He drove off thinking of Talia's last words to him. Maybe she'd been right all along. His hot dog style might have made things worse. Earl Glasper wouldn't stay dead somehow. Derrick's palms sweated as he gripped the steering wheel. He'd have to dig up his own skeleton and deal with the consequences.
How
was the million-dollar question.

That old saying is true, Talia mused, with a grim sinking sensation. Though appalled, she couldn't look away. It was like staring at a bloody car accident. For the last three days she'd watched the television newscasts from Baton Rouge. She switched between the two major stations, one a CBS affiliate and the other ABC. Monette and Winn Barron were the stars on both.

“Talk about drama,” Talia muttered. A redheaded news reporter rattled off a time line of the events, including a dour mug shot of Monette.

“Each day brings more shocking revelations,” the redhead said, and looked down at her notes. “According to our sources an employee has been fired from the District Attorney's Office for uncovering this scandal involving the state attorney general, Winn Barron. Derrick Guillory helped find the smoking gun as it were…”

“What did I tell you?” Mama Rose marched in talking rapid fire. “I was watching on the television in my kitchen! This is outrageous. That boy does the right thing and—”

“Shush!” Talia waved at her frantically.

“So, Bob,” the redhead spoke to the anchor at the studio. “Attorney General Barron is hitting back hard. We've also been told that Monette Victor, her attorney, and Guillory have received death threats. District Attorney Larry Perrilloux had this statement.”

Video of Perrilloux came on. He refused to comment on confidential personnel matters. Questions about Barron flew at him like angry wasps from a group of reporters. Perrilloux deftly made a few remarks without saying much of substance.

“Look at him! He sure won't get my vote again.” Mama Rose glared at the television screen.

The redhead came back on. “We're working on another interesting angle in all this, Bob. The investigation into the disappearance of a man involved with Monette Victor sixteen years ago will be reopened. This is Leslie Wheeler reporting.”

Talia hit the
MUTE
button when a shampoo commercial came on. “Damn!” she whispered.

Mama Rose looked at Talia sharply. “You know who they're talking about, Talia?”

“Derrick had to go sticking his nose in.” Talia sprang from her seat and paced.

“Answer me, Missy.” Mama Rose grabbed her arm. “If you can help Derrick, you have to do something.”

Talia pulled away from her. Fear crawled over her like tiny cold feet with sharp claws. “I'm leaving in four days.”

“Baby, you look like ten goblins just walked in to get you. Tell Mama what's wrong.”

“You've seen the news. Can't you guess?” Talia could hear the note of hysteria in her own voice. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“Come over here and sit down next to me.” Mama Rose herded her to the sofa. When they sat down, she
put an arm around Talia's shoulder. “Now stop holding in this secret you've been keeping.”

Talia shivered. “You don't want to know, believe me. I've been trying to forget for years.”

“Obviously you can't. You're scared. Maybe this bogeyman won't be so big if we talk about him.”

“Mama, I—”

“I thought you trusted me.” Mama Rose looked at her hard.

“I can't drag you into my nightmare.” Talia brushed away tears to keep them from falling.

“Child, I've faced down rowdy thirteen-year-olds in the classroom. Nothing scares me.” Mama Rose smiled at her.

Talia was so tired of carrying around the burden alone. Mama Rose's solid presence helped steady her. Talia sighed and leaned against her. She started off slowly in a flat voice while Mama Rose listened. Talia told her everything.

“He didn't get up,” Talia said. Her voice strained, as though the words were too big in her throat.

“My Lord!” Mama Rose made the sign of the cross. “What happened to the body.”

“Derrick went back to help Monette move him. He said when he got there Monette had somehow managed to wrap it up in an old quilt. Derrick wouldn't tell me anything else. But I think they buried him in the woods.”

“Around Creole Bayou,” Mama Rose murmured. She took her arms from around Talia and seemed deep in thought.

“God! I wanted to tell the police. But Monette said to keep my mouth shut.” Talia shook her head. “I haven't talked to her about it since.”

Talia was afraid Mama Rose would finally withdraw
from her. Yet she wouldn't blame her. Mama Rose sat very still, twisting her hands together for a long time. Talia watched the television screen, feeling as though she'd lost everything.

“There won't be much left to find after all these years. Especially with the heat, insects, and humidity,” Mama Rose said. “So that should help.”

Talia blinked at her in shock. “Mama!”

“What? Oh, I learned that from watching the
Forensic Detectives
on the Discovery Channel,” she said matter-of-factly.

“You don't think we should have told the truth and faced up to it.” Talia looked at her with wide eyes.

“You and Derrick were just babies.” Mama Rose gave a curt nod. “Monette should have called the police.”

Talia nodded at the television. “Between Barron, Perrilloux, and those reporters, everything might be out soon.”

“Monette sure is in deep.” Mama Rose gasped. “Have mercy! To think I was trying to push you into getting involved even more. Thank God you're leaving on Friday. In fact, why don't you leave sooner?”

“Well, I—”

Mama Rose stood up. “Sure you can. I'll help you pack.”

“Right now?”

Mama Rose yanked Talia to her feet. “Far away is exactly where you need to be. Those sharks don't know you're Monette's child. Let's keep it that way.”

“I'll stick to the schedule,” Talia said over her shoulder, as Mama Rose pushed her along down the hall.

“No sense in taking foolish chances. You start throwing stuff in your suitcases. I'll call the airline.” Mama Rose gave Talia one final shove into her bedroom.

“You're freaking out. Calm down and be rational.”
Talia spun around, but Mama Rose was gone. She strode into the kitchen to find her already on the phone.

“I hate these voice mail things.” Mama Rose punched buttons on the phone, apparently following instructions.

“Give me that.” Talia took the receiver from her.

“You're right. You should do it. Hey!” Mama Rose shouted when Talia hung up the phone. “Now you'll have to start all over with that stupid menu.”

“No I won't. I'm not changing my flight time, okay? Chill.”

“Talia, you don't leave for four long days. Plenty of time for Barron to drag your name through the dirt.” Mama Rose reached for the phone again.

Talia jumped between Mama Rose and the phone. “I'm leaving Friday as planned. Trust me, I'm looking forward to getting back to a normal life.”

Mama Rose let out a long sigh, like a balloon deflating. “I guess you're right. Poor baby, no wonder you hate coming home.”

“I definitely prefer short, uneventful visits,” Talia murmured with a half smile.

“I hear ya, sugar.” Mama Rose sat down at the kitchen table. “Derrick sure is in a tight spot.”

Talia frowned. “I warned him. Naturally, he jumped in with both feet.”

“Trying to make things right as always. He's got guts.” Mama Rose glanced at Talia.

“He's impulsive and hooked on his own adrenaline, always chasing after a fight,” Talia replied.

Mama Rose shook her head slowly. “That boy is giving up a lot.”

“And for what?” Talia threw up both hands. “He should have stayed out of the whole thing.”

“He doesn't believe in playing it safe, that's the
truth.” Mama Rose pursed her lips. “It's just sad Derrick is going to lose his career and maybe worse.”

“I'm sorry Derrick is in trouble, too, but he has no one but himself to blame.” Talia handed Mama Rose a glass of raspberry ice tea.

“You may be right. I'm glad you're leaving Louisiana.” Mama Rose stood and patted Talia's shoulder.

“Yeah,” Talia muttered as she watched her walk out.

The word “blame” kept bouncing in her head. Derrick had risked his neck more than once to rescue her and Monette. Well, she'd warned him repeatedly, hadn't she? Talia pushed the glass of tea aside. She had little appetite for anything these days. All she wanted was her carefully constructed life back. Would she have it by simply returning to Washington, D.C.?

 

Marti Campo, Senator Jackson's aide, beamed at Talia. “We couldn't have arranged this media frenzy better if we'd planned it! I love these headlines.” She waved three major daily newspapers from around the state. More were stacked on her desk. “We're getting national coverage.”

“Wonderful.” Talia looked at the bold headlines that shouted Monette's name. “I just wanted to bring this last report before I leave Friday.”

“Good, good.” Marti paced in front of her desk. “I'm just sorry Derrick is catching hell.”

Talia flinched at the stab of guilt that was now too familiar. “Call me at my office in D.C. if you need anything more.”

“This Monette Victor scandal will put us over the top. Winn Barron is up to his neck in doo-doo. I love it!” Marti clapped her hands and giggled wickedly.

“Right. It was nice working with you and Senator
Jackson.” Talia stuck her hand out. The last thing she wanted was to discuss her mother's former lover.

“Don't run off. Derrick and Jim should be here any minute.” Marti grinned at her. “Stick around to find out how we move in for the kill. We get to attack that mandatory-sentencing statute and twist the knife in good old Winn.”

Talia picked up her leather briefcase. She wanted to see Derrick even less than she wanted to discuss Barron. “I have to get going. Bye.”

“Oh, okay.” Marti crossed the space between them and shook her hand. “You've been such a help. Thanks for the great work.”

“Thank you. Call on us anytime.”

Talia left Marti's office. She turned the corner of the hallway in time to see Derrick and Jim get off the elevator. Derrick stopped in his tracks as their gazes locked.

“Hi, Talia,” Jim said with a nod.

“Hello.” Talia forced herself to look away from Derrick's intense dark eyes. She nodded back at Rand. “I'm on my way out.”

“When are you leaving?” Derrick asked. His tone was even, almost lifeless.

“Friday. I, uh, have a lot of work waiting for me in D.C.,” she added.

“Have a safe trip.” Without another word, Jim headed down the hall.

Derrick didn't follow him. “Can we talk?”

“Don't you have an appointment?” Talia looked down the hallway where Jim had gone toward Marti's office.

“They can start without me. Let's go outside.” Derrick nodded toward the glass door at the end of the hallway.

Talia owed him at least a little of her time before she
left. Still, the need to escape was strong. Derrick must have sensed her hesitation.

“Please,” he said in a quiet voice.

She nodded and followed him out into the fall sunshine. A cold day had turned mild in typical subtropical Louisiana fashion. The sixty-degree temperature made for a comfortable day. They walked from the basement exit down the sidewalk and crossed the street behind. A paved path wound around Capitol Lake. Neither spoke for ten minutes.

“Nice day,” she finally said. “It won't be this balmy in D.C.” Might as well get it out on the table.

“No.” Derrick stared ahead, his dark brows drawn down.

“Thank the Lord for computers, e-mail, and cell phones. Keeps me out of the snow and traffic.” Talia glanced at him.

“Great,” he replied.

He wasn't going to make it easy. Talia stopped. Derrick took a few more steps, then turned to face her. They gazed at each other in silence. He seemed to be searching more than her expression; his examination reached into her heart. Talia lost the staring match. She looked away out over the water.

“I don't blame you. We just have a different view of the world,” Talia said.

“Maybe I do push the limit sometimes.” Derrick took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He walked a few feet to a bench and sat down. “I hate seeing people trampled, especially women. Guess we both have mother complexes.” He wore a brief smile that winked out like a small lightbulb seconds later.

Talia followed and sat down on the other end of the bench. “Guess so. Rescuing underdogs and righting wrongs is a big part of who you are, whatever the reason.”

“Living a quiet, upwardly mobile lifestyle is what you want.” Derrick looked at his large hands clasped between his knees.

“I love waking up and feeling secure knowing exactly what my day will be like. Every minute of the first sixteen years of my life was the exact opposite. My stomach stayed in knots. I can't count the number of times I went straight from school to a new foster home.” Talia's throat tightened. “Then after that night when Earl…you know.”

“I'm sorry I brought it all back. Damn it!” Derrick sprang from the bench and walked a few feet away, his back to her.

“Monette did her part.” Talia crossed her arms tightly until she hugged her body.

“When I was a kid, I used to get between my daddy and my mama when they were fighting. He'd beat her up, then sit down to eat like nothing had happened.”

“God, how awful.”

She'd known it was bad for him at home, too. In a small town people talked, and she'd heard the gossip. Yet this was the first time he'd spoken about it so openly.

“We finally got him out of our lives. Then I had to watch people mistreat her because she was poor, Black, and a woman. I hated it. My anger got me into trouble more than once. Anger at the world, ‘the system,' didn't matter which one. I was pissed at all of them—the educational system, the welfare system, the legal system, you name it. I finally learned to use the system to fight back. Otherwise, I might be in prison with a lot of other brothers.”