C17 Joana

Just before ten o’clock at night, I made an appointment with my most powerful and valuable contact in the whole country. I knew it was not a very worthy time for professional or merely innocent conversations, but it was also the only time when my security guards could follow me to a gated community and not attract suspicion or other people's eyes.

Despite the years of relationship, we never used our homes for any sexual encounter, so he was well prepared for the kind of subject I intended to keep that night. Even under a rain that promised to become heavy, Dennis Santos welcomed me at the door of his pompous residence, opening a smile as he watched my car and the security guard car right behind.

The men dressed in black and with frowns on their faces followed me to every corner, and had remained very stealthy during my visit to the prison. There, they did not make the slightest effort to hide, suspicious even of the shadows that the full moon caused on the asphalt at my feet.

"You don't trust me, or did something worrying happen? " asked Dennis, with both hands in his pocket already getting up to greet me in a formal way.

"After what happened to Jessy, I will never have peace again," I confessed in a conspiratorial tone, releasing one hand from the handle of my umbrella and taking her hand in a firm and quick grip. He smiled at me, in that malicious and brief way. I sighed softly. Shit. Just with a look and a little smile that man already had me in his hands. Our type of connection was impressive. I had to make a huge effort to control myself. " But I'm here to talk about my new case.”

Dennis nodded, and at the same time a night breeze passed us, messing up his blond hair and spreading the smell of his perfume towards me. I vacuumed, even unintentionally, feeling that smell involve me as I always did on more intimate nights. It was all I could do, anyway, there wouldn't be a sexual encounter that night. I was there for work.

"So it's better to go in," he said in a firm and professional tone. Then he took a look in the direction of the neighboring houses, indicating to me the lights on in the other windows. "I don't have a security guard to watch me, but I'm surrounded by gossipers and journalists.”

"I'm impressed how they never found out about us," I commented with a giggle.

"Maybe because we don't have anything," he said in a simple tone.

I'm glad Dennis turned to lead me to his door, or he would have seen how my expression suddenly became cold. I didn't like to remember that I had missed the chance to be happy with that man. He was part of the few relationships that had worked out in my life. He was an elegant, handsome, kind man, and with a huge heart, but when some traumas left me on the verge of jealousy crises, we ended up having to end that relationship.

I never got over it.

But in my defense, Dennis was not an easy man to overcome.

Not even with that barrier between us, nothing prevented him from approaching his body and surrounding me with one of his strong arms, bringing warmth in the cold night. Not when he took me into his house and served me a glass of my favorite wine.

Not when he told me to sit in the armchair next to the sofa, and that piece of furniture was one of several where we did the biggest sexual follies. It was not possible to overcome, and maintain contact during all the years after the end of the relationship "bebling a colorful friendship", made everything even more difficult.

"Well, you may already know that I'm taking the front of Pablo Sinclair' case," I said in a firm tone, crossing my legs and leaning to the back of the armchair. In that position, I was very close to Dennis' body, since he had sat on the couch and was also leaning on the arm of the furniture. "And the reason for my visit is that I also know that you are the judge behind the whole inquiry.”

"I am, but I can't favor either side," he said, sipping from his own cup.

I also took a sip, watching him with intensity. Dennis sighed softly, making his chest go up and down with difficulty. He was wearing a gray dress shirt and black pants, in a very sophisticated look and that showed very well that he could have just arrived home. The fact that he is still wearing his dress shoes, instead of barefoot and with his feet up on the couch, already told me a lot about it too. I knew all the likes and dislikes of that man. It was hard to even concentrate when I looked too much in his direction. An unfinished subject, in fact.

"And I'm not asking you to do that," I replied in a soft tone, opening a smile. "I just want to make it very clear that I will use all my resources to get that man out of the bars.”

" Have you ever met with him?”

"I haven't gotten many answers, but I think I'm on the right track.”

Dennis nodded, leaning so far forward, that his glass could very well have hit mine as a toast. His eyes, in caramel tones like mine, shone brightly.

"What do you think about him, Joana?”

"That he is a man with many secrets and little confidence," I spoke in a firm tone, remembering the moments with Pablo. The man was as disconcerting to look at as Dennis, maybe even a little more. The fact of being stuck should leave his appearance less than absolutely wonderful, unlike Dennis in his fine clothes and up-to-date hygiene. " But considering my good contacts and the years of intimacy with powerful people, I believe that pulling out a confession and delivering it into the right hands can be beneficial.”