You Had to be There-Chapter 20
Henry tried to soothe his partner as they headed into the courtroom, "It'll be fine Allison, I'm sure the Boss won't leave us hanging." Even as he was trying to calm an already nervous Beaumont the detective was inwardly furious at the jerk of an ADA for leaving them unprepared for the drug runners trial. He was happy to see that at least something he had said had made his partner smile a little bit.
Beaumont smiled at her partners words. Henry had started calling Brown Boss ever since he started watching NCIS on their TV nights. He said Brown while not as hard nosed as Gibbs was more than tough enough to have earned the title of Boss. They had reported ADA Kerrington's unprofessional behavior to Brown the night before. Before they had crashed on Monica's couch. She was pretty sure that she had heard him talking to DA Brandt about it, before the warmth of Henry's tall, firm figure had lulled her to sleep.
The pair were a little surprised when he was called first to testify but Henry merely steeled himself before giving his partner a reassuring smile and heading to the stand. Henry took the oath on the Bible and stared coldly at Kerrington as he approached the stand. The jury may not have seen the look, but the arrogant man could and although Henry was probably fifty pounds lighter than the lawyer, the man was no fool.
At first, the ADA looked as if he would do his job without causing a scene. Of course Henry who was obviously angry answered his questions taciturnly, not giving the blond attorney any help at all with the case. Kerrington ended up having to ask, very politely of course, "Detective Cole would you please elaborate?" on several occasions. Actually the ADA looked nervous and Allison had a feeling as she watched the proceedings that the ADA and even the defense attorney were seeing a little of Henry's alter ego showing through.
The polite ADA promptly disappeared as soon as Beaumont took the stand. The only positive thing about the experience was that instead of being afraid Allison was angry and that made her think faster. Which was a good thing because the attorney seemed determined to do the defense attorneys job for him. By questioning the detective on every minute detail of her testimony, when he couldn't budge her on her testimony, he started trying to impugn her character.
He tried to cast doubt on everything she said from why they broke down the door, which they had done because of hearing a child screaming. Only to find the defendant trying to shove a condom of coke down the boys throat. To finding the butt of the automatic weapon sticking out from under the edge of the couch in the living room.
The judge seeing that the defense attorney wasn't going to object decided to interfere and called Kerrington down and ordered he and the defense attorney to approach the bench. After informing them that he would not tolerate the badgering of witnesses, he told them that he was going to report the behavior to the DA and have him replaced.
The ADA tried to explain that the detectives had been difficult and refused to cooperate with his office. There was a commotion from the back of the room as a well modulated feminine voice said, "Then it's good that your supervisor is here, to take over."
When she reached the purple-faced Kerrington, she quietly but firmly told the other attorney to, "Shut up and sit down," before she got the trial back on track. She questioned Angela while deposing any arguments the defense presented
When it appeared that Kerrington might have intervened in some way, Nicole whispered something to him that had the formerly purple-faced lawyer blanch before he flushed beet red. DA Brandt did so well that the jury went into deliberation before the end of the work day. She ordered her blond haired underling to stay put, before turning to the two detectives and saying, "Thanks you two for putting forth a slam dunk case under trying circumstances."
As soon as the court room had cleared she turned on the ADA and informed him, "That when questioned your secretary not only informed her that the detectives had arrived promptly for their appointment, early even. Thus disproving the whole uncooperative bullshit you were just trying to spin. She also heard some of the vile crap you were spewing against the detectives yesterday, as well as the patently sexual vitriol you were directing at Detective Beaumont." DA Brandt leaned toward the blond, and the quiet menace coming off of her gave the detectives insight into how she kept Eddie in line, and was enough to have cringe away from her.
"Your secretary also informed me that she had been ordered to track down Beaumont's home phone and address. Even though you had no business needing or knowing the information."
"That I will be dismissing you for sexual harassment should be obvious. Add to that the fact that from what I saw you were less interested in prosecuting the defendant than in persecuting a woman who turned you down is more than a good reason to seek your disbarment. The fact that I'm quite sure there will also be an investigation into your witness tampering and possible collusion, I think sounds like something right up Second Squads alley." Nic turned to the two detectives and said, "Don't you agree detectives?"
Suddenly the arrogance returned to Kerrington's ruddy face, "You won't do that, not any of it, for fear of embarrassing your reputation and that of your office. After all I was working for you." the blond said smugly.
Nicole gave a cold little chortle as she informed her now former underling, while taking files out of his briefcase, "Care to try me?" She snapped the locks on the case closed before shoving it toward him while saying, "Shit, rolls down hill not up, genius. Oh and don't bother returning to the office. Security has already been informed that you don't work there anymore. Your things will be shipped to you." One hand was putting the files into her own briefcase while she indicated the door with her other hand, she added dismissively, "Now get out."
The man looked around at the three of them before grabbing the briefcase and stomping out of the courtroom. Nicole thanked the pair before heading out herself. The partners start out of the courthouse arm-in-arm and Allison asked, "So who am I talking to right now?"
"Me. Henry Cole. Your partner. Navane Granger is dead."
Allison studied the man who was her partner thoughtfully, Henry might say that Navane Granger was dead and gone but that part of him was still alive just buried deep inside, until he might be needed. She smiled at him and said, "Either way I want to ask my partner and friend out to dinner. So Henry Cole would you care to join me some place nice for dinner? You even get to pick where."
"I would love to go out with you Allison," he said as he took her hand and pulled her toward him. He leaned down and kissed her gently and then said, "Thank you." before the par continued down the street. The fact that both of them knew he was thanking her as much for trusting him as for the date was something they didn't have to acknowledge between them. They were partners they just knew, and soon if things went well maybe more than partners.