“Because they’ve been together for over thirteen years. They love each other.” Hopefully that would stonewall him.
“But he called you his wife.”
“Objection, asked and answered.”
“Sustained.”
Fuming, Dean finally sat. “No further questions, your Honor.”
The State Attorney stood. “Redirect. Ms. Barton, you said Mr. LaRougue attacked you before?”
“When I still cleaned once a week for them, Mr. Kinsey and Mr. Paulson gave me a necklace for my birthday. Alex saw me wearing it. When I refused to pawn it and suggested he pawn his Xbox, he attacked me.”
“Objection!” Dean screamed.
“Overruled. Proceed, Ms. Barton.”
Nevvie hoped she looked intimidated. “He went crazy and attacked me. He kicked me, punched me, threatened to rape me. I was supposed to clean that morning for the boys, and when I was late and they couldn’t contact me by phone they were worried and came looking for me.”
She looked at the jury. “They saved me. So yes, I can honestly say I do love them. They took care of me, gave me a chance for a new life. I lost everything in Katrina. I don’t have any family. They welcomed me, made me a part of their family, and I don’t care what other people think or say. They’re good men. They asked me to stay, and they pay me to work for both of them. As long as they want me in their lives I’m happy to stay.”
“Thank you.”
She knew she wasn’t done because the P.D. stood.
“Redirect. You said Mr. LaRougue attacked you, but you didn’t press charges?”
“I was too scared. Mr. Kinsey and Mr. Paulson tried to talk me into calling the police, so did the doctor. When I was eighteen I was raped, and when I went to the police they did nothing but blame me because the guy had money. I didn’t want to go through anything like that again. I just wanted to be as far away from Alex as possible.”
Dean looked like he wished he hadn’t asked the question. “Nothing further.”
She had to walk by Bob on her way out. He nodded as she passed.
Thomas was next. Dean ripped into him for cross examination after the State Attorney finished.
“Mr. Kinsey, if Ms. Barton is your employee, why did you call her your wife?”
“We are very close, and she was bleeding to death on my kitchen floor after your client attacked her. I wasn’t concerned with semantics, it just came out.”
“What is your relationship with her?”
“We are not married, and she works for me.”
“And what is your relationship with Mr. Paulson?”
“He’s my lover.”
A hushed murmur rippled through the gallery. Apparently Dean had expected linguistic gymnastics and the straightforward answer caught him by surprise.
“Lover?”
“Lover.” Thomas held up his hand and pointed to his ring. “Partner, spouse, husband.”
Dean had nothing. He’d been prepared for a sparring match similar to the one he’d had with Nevvie. “Nothing further.”
They adjourned for lunch. Tyler would testify after they reconvened. Bob caught up with them in the witness room.
“Nevvie, girl, you were a pistol,” he said, laughing.
Bob’s obvious amusement relieved Tyler. “Was she really?”
“I think Dean popped a blood vessel by the time she got done with him. She had him twisted in knots. Judge even threatened him with contempt.”
Thomas smiled. “Sugar, you’re amazing.”
“I told the truth.” She looked at Tyler. “Don’t let him rattle you. If he asks you to admit you’re lovers with Thomas, just say yes, it’ll take the wind out of his sails. It’s okay.” She read the worry in his blue eyes and cupped his chin in her hands. “Tyler,” she whispered, “you need to stay calm. Don’t let him goad you into reacting, please. You don’t have to protect my honor, just answer the questions short and sweet, okay? Promise?”
“Of course, sweetheart. Let’s grab some lunch, right?”
They ate, but Nevvie’s nerves nagged her. She worried more about Tyler’s testimony than her own. Ironically she wished she could be in the courtroom with him, calming him, sending him one of their freaky mental messages to not say anything he’d regret.
When the bailiff called Tyler to the courtroom, she squeezed Tyler’s hand one final time. “Keep your eyes on Bob. Don’t get upset.”
Tyler took a deep breath and walked into the courtroom. Nevvie was right, he could do this. Alex wasn’t worth the dirt on his shoes. He’d be damned if he’d give Alex the satisfaction of seeing him lose it on the stand, especially not if it could ruin the case.
He took his seat in the witness chair. The State Attorney’s questions were straightforward, but he immediately knew what Nevvie meant when Dean stood for cross-examination.
Apparently, Dean had changed tactics.
“Mr. Paulson, what kind of employee is Ms. Barton?”
Tyler had expected any question but that. “She efficient, she’s smart, she is quick to learn. We are happy with her services.”
“And what exactly are those ‘services?’”
Tyler ignored the implication. “Housekeeping duties, some cooking. She assists me with editing, answering my phone so I’m not interrupted, taking care of emails and appointments, errands, things like that. As for her exact duties at Kinsey Consulting—”
“That’s all right.” Dean sidled up to the witness box and smiled. “And how are her ‘services,’ Mr. Paulson?”
“She is an excellent employee. We are lucky to have her.”
“And how, exactly, do you ‘have’ her?”
“Objection.”
“Sustained. Mr. Dean, the ice is thin and I feel a thaw. Move along, quickly.”
Dean tried another tactic. “Mr. Kinsey is your lover, correct?”
“That is correct.”
“And you’ve been together how long?”
“Over thirteen years.”
“Did it bother you he referred to Ms. Barton as his wife on the 911 call?”
“Objection, relevance.”
“Sustained.”
Dean thought for a moment. “You picked up Ms. Barton from her apartment one morning when she still lived with Mr. LaRougue, did you not?”
“Yes, the week he attacked her the first time.”
“Did you attack Mr. LaRougue in his apartment?”
“What?” Tyler’s temper simmered.
The State Attorney jumped to his feet. “Objection!”
“My bench, right now!”
Both attorneys walked up to the judge and quietly argued for a moment. They eventually broke their huddle. Dean turned to Tyler.
“Tell me about the day you and Mr. Kinsey took Ms. Barton from the apartment.”
“You mean the day your client beat her to a bloody pulp?”
“Move to strike.”
“You wanted it, you got it. Mr. Dean. Ask and ye shall receive, just make sure you really want what you’re asking for.”
Dean glowered at Tyler. “Did you attack Mr. LaRougue?”
“I never laid a hand on him. Thomas and I heard her screaming for help, and we rushed in. Your client was kicking the bloody hell out of our poor girl.” Tyler felt his voice rising in anger and couldn’t stop it. “Thomas pushed him off her, and I carried her outside. She couldn’t walk. What happened after I left the room, I cannot speak to.”
“So you admit the two of you attacked him?”
“I admit no such thing. We came to her defense. He tried to kill her.”
“Did you break down his door?”
“We rescued her from that fucking bastard!” Tyler yelled, pointing at Alex. He regretted the words as soon as they were out. He’d done exactly what Nevvie asked him not to do.
When the gallery settled, Dean continued his questions.