Billionaire's Retreat (10 page)

C
hapter
26

In a few weeks, Sarah would have to testify
in the upcoming bribery case. T
he Prosecution surmised she was the mastermind that brought Businessman Harry Brisband and Councilman Johnny Davis together to transact the
alleged
illicit deal.
Though Sarah usually seemed unfazed when confronted with pro
b
lems, the
approaching
trial was really starting to make her feel uneasy. She had every right to feel that way because she was guilty. Mentally she frequently revisited the night that she took the
payoff
money from Brisband. The total in the briefcase he handed over
in a
hotel room was a cool two million dollars. She said, “If I
were
a whore then this probably would be your most expensive lay.”  

Brisband said, “Alright stop with the whit. Do you wish to count the loot?” 

“I trust you.
” She kept her stash separate from the money in the briefcase. “
I
’ll
have to find away to launder
my cut
into my business.
Until then I’ll put it in
to
a
bank security box out of state
in a fictitious name.
”

After she stopped
reflecting back on the r
e
ceipt of the payoff funds
,
Sarah decided to go
for a ride
.
She stopped by t
he Titanimum’s house
to let Bridget
know that she was still f
i
ne
.
“Hi
Woodrow,
I did
n’t
expect you to a
n
swer the door.”

“My
butler
has
taken
the day
off.”

“I’m here to speak with your wife.”

“
She
is out shopping
. As you know she is r
e
ally fashionable
.
”
Taking advantage of the time alone, they
made love as he droved
Sarah
against the stairwell.
A
s they
reached
orgasm
, they h
eard the sound of the garage door
. When Mrs.
Titanimum
entered the house
they
had
c
omposed
themselves.
The large screen television on the entertainment wall
in the grand room
was tuned to
a news program
they pretended to be
watching
.

Bridget walked into the room, “How are you, Sarah? I didn’t expect to see you today.”

I’m
good.
How are you?
I wanted to let you know that
I am
still doing fine
.

“
I’m good too.
I figured you were
o
kay
.
You
’
re a
s
trong
woman
. As I stated previously you should be commended for being able to hold up so well.”

“Did Woodrow
offer you anything to drink?”

“I told him
,
I
’m not
thirsty.”

“Wake up Woodrow. How could you fall asleep when we have a guest? 

“I’m sorry Sarah
for being s
uch a lousy host. When a man gets my age it doesn’t take much for him to fall asleep.
”

“Don’t believe that Sarah
,
he hardly ever does anything. He has become too sedentary.
If he w
ere
more active then he would not be so prone to sleep
so much.
”

Woodrow
followed her remark by saying, “Again Bridget
,
you are right.”

Sarah said, “You are smart.
A
woman a
l
ways
has
the need to feel in control.”

“Sarah
, I checked out a new
clothing bo
u
tique
today.
”

“
Woodrow mentioned how you love sho
p
ping.
I
think we should go
shopping
this w
ee
k
end
.
”

“Sarah, I’ll call you later in the week to co
n
firm.”

“
We should have a great time together.
You can show me
some of the
s
tores
were you
buy your fashions.
”

Jokingly she
said
,
“I guest an old
er
woman can show a young
er
wom
an a thing or two.
”

Sarah telephoned Lucinda after returning home.
“Hi Lucinda
,
this is Sarah.
How is ev
e
rything in
Dallas
?
”

“Everything is fine.”
             

“I wish that I could say the same.
My mot
h
er
in
law
thinks I had something to do with
the murder of her son. She has a private investig
a
tor looking into his death.
”

“Sarah, she should know you would have never
conspired to kill your husband.
”

“I used to love my mother
in
law.
However, I
’m not sure anymore. I was always faithful to
Jared
when he was alive
, s
ince then my pe
r
ception of men has changed.
”

“That’s a really harsh statemen
t.
You are still a good person.
You have to get on with your life.
”

“Thanks Lucinda. You were always there for
us
and for that I’m grateful.”

“The private Investigator you were refe
r
ring to stopped by my house
. He
asked me se
v
eral questions about the day
Jared disa
p
peared trying to piece together how he died. At this point
,
he probably considers everybody a suspect.
”

“I know. I hope
he
finds his man
so I can get closure.
How is Vincent?
Ha
s he been helping
you with your
studies
?
”

“
He is a godsend.
And I have to thank my dear friend for
our
introduc
tion.
”

“You
so
und
really
appreciative. I know how he feels about you. I have to admit my inte
n
tions for
bringing you two together
were not pure. You have a sweet husband.  I have ree
x
amined my initial thinking. I hope Vincent never comes between you and David.”

“You should
no
t
worry about that Sarah. I am too intelligent to let that happen. I cannot be tempted by Vincent
’s
wealth.
I hate to cut our conversation short but I
have
work around the house to do
.
A
woman’s work is never done.”

“
Y
ou have got that right. Our work is never done. Let David know that I called
.
”

“I will let him know.”

“Bye Lucinda, I will talk with you later.”

“Have a goodnight, Bye.”

C
hapter
27
             

The sound of the alarm clock radio awakened Sarah to the voice of a news reporter. “Today Sarah Giltry is expected to take the stand u
n
der oath to tell what she knows about the a
l
leged bribery involving businessman Harry Brisband. We expect her to be drilled intensely by the defense and prosecuting attorneys. Speculation has been mounting that maybe her husband’s death
,
which is still under i
n
vestigation might also be related this case.
We’ll be the first to let you know if there is a connection.” Sarah reached over to the nightstand, still lying in bed, turned off the r
a
dio while falling back to sleep. When she fina
l
ly reawakened, she realized she was about to run late.

She spoke to herself
aloud
, “Got damn, I’m going to be held in contempt of court.” Hu
r
riedly, she
cleaned herself up
, dressed
,
and
then rushed out of the house.

When Sarah arrived,
she
took a moment to pray and to ask for for
giveness
. After exiting her vehicle en route to the courthouse, s
everal reporters
solicited comments from her regar
d
ing the case. “Is it true that you plan to take a
plea deal today in exchange for a lesser se
n
tence?” 

“I have no comment.”

Another reporter shoved his microphone i
n
to her face, “Our viewers would like to know whether your deceased husband death is linked to this case.”

“I loved my husband. This has nothing to do with his death.” She appeared to wipe tears from her eyes. “I have no further remarks.”

Sarah had declined a plea deal sighting her innocence and that she doesn’t have any i
n
formation to implicate anyone in the case.

Judge Carla Griffin seated her Jury then called her court to order. Opening statements were presented by the defense and prosecuting attorneys.

After taking the
stand, the defense had S
a
rah to explain her
relationship with Harry Brisband and her separate friendship with Councilman Johnny Davis.
The defense co
n
tention was even though she knew both men, she still did not have any knowledge of the a
l
leged bribe.

The Prosecution called to the stand Dallas Police Detective Fred Thompson to refute the Defense stance regarding Sarah.

Prosecuting attorney Clint Woodard stated, “Mr. Thompson. It’s my understanding you have information to share with the jury r
e
garding Mrs. Giltry’s whereabouts on the days following the awarding of the government co
n
tract.”

“I had been investigating Mrs. Giltry every since the disappearance of her husband. The night in question,
I observed her enter
ing the
local
S
ylvester Johnston Deluxe
H
otel with a
briefcase. She left alone a few hours later just as she had arrived.”

“During her stay at the hotel did you notice any one else in attendance connected with this case.”

“
Yes Council.
I have proof that she wasn’t there alone.”

“Would you share that information with the jury?”

“
Mr.
Harry
Brisband had checked into a room he had reserved in the hotel.
There
is a
surveillance
video
of Mrs. Giltry and Mr. Brisband on the stairway exiting onto the hallway leading to the room. She met with Johnny Davis the next day while his wife was out of town.
”

“Mr. Thompson, explain to the Jury why you believe a payoff was done.”

“The next day, I continued with the afor
e
mentioned
investigation. I followed Sarah to Johnny Davis home. When she arrived at the house, she was toting the same briefcase she had the night before. According to a neighbor, his wife was out of town visiting relatives. I o
b
served Sarah at his house several times while his wife was away.”

“Subsequently
,
when she frequented his house in the absence of his wife
,
was she carr
y
ing the briefcase
?
”

“No sir, she was only carrying it the day a
f
ter meeting Brisband.”

The defense attorney stated, “Your honor I would like to call Mrs. Giltry back to the stand.”

Judge Griffin replied, “Mrs. Giltry, you may take the Stand.”

“Mrs. Giltry, tell Judge Griffin why you met with Brisband on the night in question.”

“We had dinner at the hotel.”

“What was in your briefcase?”

“Brisband had been thinking of remolding a structure he had recently purchased. I merely
had renderings of difference themes and su
g
gestions for him to consider.”

“Wasn’t Brisband already knowledgeable about your work?”

“Each project I do is different
.
I try to la
y
out details that will make each one unique.”

“So
,
I can conclude after dinner you a
d
journed to the bedroom he had reserved to make your presentation.”

“Yes, Counselor that is correct.

The prosecution objected, “Your Honor, the defense attorney is leading the witness in her testimony.”

The Judge taped her gavel and said, “The objection is denied. The witness has already established what she said was in the briefcase and that it was used to make a business presentation. The Defense can continue with their questioning.”

“Your Honor, I have no further questions.”

“Mrs. Giltry, you may step down.

The first full day of the grueling case finally ended.

After nightfall
, there was a knock at Sarah Giltry’s cottage; she had acquired the secluded dwelling on a short
term lease for the time she would
be
in town for the court case. Opening
the door, Sarah greeted Vera. Once inside, Vera slowly removed a hand from behind her back revealing a large handgun. When the weapon was pointed at Sarah, she stated, “You stank whore, I am going to kill you! My hunch was right all along
!
While we were vacationing
in
Malibu Beach, you fucked my husband! Then you had the audacity while I was out of town to walk up into my house on
several
o
c
casions
fucking his brains out in my bed
! You were supposed to be my friend
!
How could you
? You
crawl
ed
into my bed and
then
fuck
ed
my husband?”

Sarah took several step backwards in haste, while saying, “I am sorry baby, Johnny kept coming on to me, and I finally gave into his advances.”

“Bitch, be still! Quit moving! Do not try to place the blame on Johnny. It all had to do with you being whorish.

Vera was not skilled in the use of a firearm. She pulled the trigger as Sarah ducked. The unexpected jolt from firing the gun resulted in Vera dropping the weapon on the floor. Sarah dived to the floor snatched it up
and
then pointed it at Vera.
“I have heard enough about
my affair with your husband. Now turn your butt around and get the hell out of my house!”

She tried to rush Sarah in an attempt to wrestle the gun from her hand. Sarah fired a warning shot. “The next time, I’m not going to miss. Go on! Get now! Get out of my house!

When Vera arrived home, she noticed Joh
n
ny packing his bags. She was still crying from the confrontation with Sarah.

“I have hurt you,
”
Johnny stated.

“Please Johnny, I don’t feel like hearing about your infidelity. Finish packing so you can go live with your whore.”

“I was going to see if I could find a hotel room. But if you are going to run me into the arms of another woman, damn it
,
I’ll do it.
”

“I only wanted to know how you would r
e
s
pond
.”

“If you should need me, you know where to find me. I am going to be staying with Sarah. She will not turn me away.”

Vera rushed back out the house, got into her car,
and
then peeled off down the road. Within a few minutes of her leaving the house a police officer pulled her over for speeding. He n
o
ticed her crying. “Are you okay ma’am.”

“My marriage is over and you are going to give me a ticket. What else could possibly go wrong? Write my ticket so I can be on my way.”

“Maybe, you should go home. You don’t a
p
pear to be in the right frame of mind to be driving.”

“Thanks for the ticket. I am going to be on my way. I’ll be sure to obey the speed limit.” She drove around in her car for an hour b
e
fore heading home. However, getting back home did not occur without incident
. S
he blew through a red light plowing into a car being driven by an elderly man.”

In the mean time, Johnny arrived at S
a
rah’s.  She asked, “Why are you here? Don’t tell me, Vera kicked your ass out? You did not put up with her shit.”

“I was packing when she got home. She was noticeably upset with me. I say that because she was crying.”

“I bet she was upset. She stopped by to visit me before going home. I’m not going to bother telling you all the details. However, she left here really freaked out.”

“I was going to check into a hotel. But she told me, I should go live with my whore.”

“Did she think I would turn you away?”

“I don’t know what she was thinking. Ho
w
ever, I am here now. You seem to be a little tipsy.”

“I had a few drinks.”

Sarah without warning slapped Johnny as she let out a capricio
us laugh. He returned the slap.
The
unlit kindling in the fireplace began to smolder
as they
unabashedly
engaged in sex.
Sarah’s uninhibited sexual promiscuity was something he could not get from his wife.

The next morning, he awoke to the sound of Sarah’s voice, “Johnny, breakfast is almost ready. We’ll have to hurry so we can be in court by 10:00.”

Johnny took a quick shower prior to joining her at the breakfast table.

“What w
ould
the people in court think
about you, if they were to find out that you moved in with me?
”

“It doesn’t matter. We are not on trial for shacking.”

“It may come up in court if Vera decides to divorce you. What
would
your constituents think of our relationship Councilman?”

“Vera should not be your concern. However, my constituents w
ould
consider our living a
r
rangement unethical
.
 
Have you seen my cell phone?”

“I don’t recall seeing it.”

“In a hurry to pack last night, I must have left it behind.”

The second day of court started with Johnny being questioned. The Prosecuting Attorney
s
tated, “Shortly after you took the bribe, you took your girlfriend along with your wife Vera to vacation
in
Mali Beach.”

“Your Honor I object, the Prosecution is a
t
tempting to prejudice the jury. It hasn’t been established that the defendant took a bribe. He is also badgering my client.”

“The objection is sustained. The jury should make their decision as to bribery on evidence brought out during the proceedings. The Pro
s
ecution should refrain from badgering the witness and should stick to a line of questio
n
ing as it relates to the case.”

“Councilman Davis, you took Sarah Giltry to Malibu Beach as an in kind payment for setting you up with Brisband.”