Mena nodded. “He can be a bit of a romantic. Each year on our anniversary, he’s going to give me another charm for it.”
Wistful, Stella said, “It’s been so long since a man has done anything nice for me. I haven’t been on a date in years. I probably wouldn’t even know what to do if Kendrick asked me out.”
“He just needs a little nudge,” Mena said, winking at Stella.
An alarm buzzed in the air. Mena glanced to the right and watched as a security guard held up her purse.
The guard yelled, “Who’s bag is this?”
Mena stepped toward the security agent. “That’s mine.”
“I need to check inside,” the security agent explained, giving her a suspicious look.
Stella grabbed her purse from the belt and stood next to Mena. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Surprised they didn’t flag my bag for a search. I’m diabetic and I have my case of insulin and syringes inside.”
“Guess they must have gotten distracted by whatever it is they think I was stupid enough to smuggle in here,” Mena said, agitated as she grabbed her bracelet from the bin and placed it back on her wrist.
“What’s going on?” Kendrick asked, walking toward them from the hallway.
“You creating trouble?” Julian rested his chin against the top of her head.
“My purse is being searched. How did the two of you get in before us?” Mena asked, growing worried as the guard shifted her purse to a back table, dumped everything out, and picked over the contents.
“If the two of you hadn’t left us behind, you would’ve gone through the V.I.P. entrance with me and Julian and avoided all of this,” Kendrick taunted.
The security guard turned to Mena and waved a metal fingernail file toward her. “Looks like this was the culprit. You’re good to go.”
The guard stepped away from the table and resumed his post, reviewing the monitors of the other bags being x-rayed. Mena rolled her eyes as she approached the surface littered with the contents of her purse. How nice of him to put things back like they were.
Mena reached for her purse, then smiled as Julian gathered her items and slipped them back inside.
“Ready?” Julian asked.
“Just a minute. There’s one thing I need to do first,” Mena said. She walked over to Stella and Kendrick. “I’m going to need a drink after today’s testimony. How about we meet up at King Street Lounge afterwards for some drinks … you know, the four of us?”
Kendrick gave her a knowing glance but didn’t resist. “Sounds good to me. You up for that Stella?”
Stella smiled brightly. “I’m in.”
Chapter Eight
Mena stepped inside the courtroom, her eyes drawn to the twelve faces staring back at her from the dark cherry, wood-paneled jury box. She licked her dry lips and stifled a cough as she eased down the aisle and sat in the row of chairs behind the prosecutor table.
Liam Bishop, District Attorney for the Commonwealth of St. Basil, glanced over his shoulder as they entered. One of the three heirs to the famed Bishop family known for the wildly popular Felipe beer and luxury brand of Bishop’s rums, he had chosen a job in the community instead of working for the family’s business. Liam’s face registered only mild interest before returning his attention to the judge, sitting high above them in the center of the back wall of the courtroom. The name plate read Judge Diana Carter. Light brown skin and hair with more gray than black, the judge studied a set of papers, her glasses balanced at the tip of her nose.
As Julian sat next to Mena, she peered around him to see Priscilla Dumay for the first time in almost a year. Sitting next to her attorneys, Priscilla was dressed in a simple white sheath dress and flat shoes. Her dark hair was straight, tucked behind her ears, making her look much younger and … innocent.
Prissy had always been a master at controlling the narrative about her life. Mena hoped the jury would see through her lies. Prissy wanted the world to believe that she was helping women who’d been violated and gotten pregnant in other facilities. The truth was, Prissy had orchestrated the surrogates’ pain. She had kidnapped and kept them from their loved ones, all so she could produce genetically modified babies to sell to infertile couples.
At least the two massive correctional officers seemed oblivious to her manipulation. Dressed in dark gray uniforms, they stood near the end of the defense table. Each officer rested a hand on the large weapon in his holster. If Priscilla made one wrong move, Mena had no doubt that the officers would make her regret it.
Over the next few hours, Mena was riveted by the opening arguments. Despite her concern over Norman Gale’s warnings, Liam Bishop’s solid opening statement had left the defense reeling. Priscilla’s attorney, Camille Reichland, had done her best to weave a story of lies to counter the District Attorney, but the jury’s faces had registered skepticism. As the opening statements drew to a close, Mena and Julian exchanged a hopeful look.
The judge spoke, “At this time, the Commonwealth may call its first witness.”
Liam Bishop stood and said, “The Commonwealth will call Julian Montgomery, your Honor.”
Julian rose. Mena squeezed his hand, then watched as he approached the witness stand. He was sworn in and then over the next forty-five minutes, Liam Bishop questioned Julian about every crime he’d observed that was ordered by Priscilla. Julian was confident and decisive in his responses, emanating truth and honesty.
