Betrayal in the First Degree

By Susy J. Cobwebs

Jonea, a future lawyer and highly involved in Angels on Earth, had the opportunity to excel in her life goals. Suddenly, life decided to turn into a diverse hurdle for her. On the flip side, she was engaged with her new set of obstacles that she needed to face on a blizzardy evening. Something that she wasn’t expecting.

Evan, a hospital and home health nurse, made a mistake that could wreck his livelihood. He knew that he had to protect his career solely his own way. How could he get out of his own tragedy?

After dealing with her altercations, Jonea couldn’t believe that this possibly could be the same person that she got close to during her healing period.

Could Jonea be the trophy girlfriend for Nick? Maybe, she needed to see what she was dealing with Evan. Was he for real?

History in the park presented a neighborhood event that gives twenty-five thousand dollars for the best schools’ presentation. This seals the deal for Jonea.

Makenzi was finally finding love where she least expected it. Turning into the love of her life, could she be able to keep this relationship alive?

Finding the truth of what really happened puts a wrench into the McKine’s family plans…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662436437

Book preview

Chapter 1

Changing gears from the business world to her home life, Lisa prepared to take a few minutes of quiet time to revive her spirit. Drinking a hazelnut cappuccino, as a late-afternoon pick-me-up, usually did the trick. While sitting at the oak dinette set in her kitchen, she decided to read the headlines of the local newspaper that been delivered earlier that morning.

Unfortunately, her teenage daughter, who was not making a secret of the fact that she was bored, distracted Lisa. The girl paraded aimlessly from room to room, looking for something that she couldn’t seem to find.

After plopping down onto an adjacent chair, Jonea asked her mother, Oh, Mom! Have you heard about the competition our school is entering?

Lisa’s curiosity was piqued. No, I haven’t. Tell me about it.

Jonea explained, A couple of weeks ago, I heard that McDaniel’s Restaurant is sponsoring a contest for surrounding schools named History in the Park to be held in the Jackson Square Park. Each school is supposed to construct a piece of artwork with a historical theme. On March 22, the winner will receive twenty-five thousand dollars for their school. From what I heard, Bepton School has its display up already.

That sounds intriguing! I haven’t heard of it. Has your school decided on a subject?

Jonea proudly answered, I suggested Betsy Ross creating the American Flag. I don’t have the patience to sew, but I admire anyone who can. Can you imagine what it would be like to create something so famous that billions, maybe even trillions, of people over several centuries would know it? All you have to do is wave our flag and the whole world knows who you are talking about.

I never thought about her accomplishment quite that way, but you’re right. It is a very important part of our country’s history. Lisa opined, I can understand why you suggested Betsy Ross.

Lisa thought to herself, My daughter doesn’t remember all the never-ending circuses I endured when she was a little girl. However, she hasn’t forgotten any of the books we read together. Betsy Ross captured her imagination. She has always loved to read about people who were above the ordinary.

Then Jonea asked her mother, Do you mind if I walk to the park to see Bepton’s entry? I won’t stay out too long. She added, I have to get back early enough to have time to get ready for my date with Nick.

Where are you going tonight?

He’s taking me to Queen’s Court on Longfellow Avenue. He’s supposed to pick me up at 7:00 p.m.

I don’t mind. It is four o’clock now. If you don’t dawdle, you should be back in plenty of time.

I don’t intend to go anywhere else. I’m just going to see the display and come right back.

Chapter 2

You have to love your mother! I’ve heard that same nagging lecture since I was a child. You’d think she could come up with something new after all these years. I heard the same lectures when Makenzi and Dante were still at home. Doesn’t she realize that I’m an adult, that I can dress myself? I am capable of figuring out how to dress in winter and have been doing it for seventeen years. Well, maybe not that long but close, Jonea grumbled to herself.

Her mother only said what she did out of love, but it was aggravating just the same.

When I have children, I’m never going to harass them. I will only have to tell them once, she resolved.

The new moon twisted with the sun as it lit up the recently fallen snow. The sun curved toward the earth. The day was turning into dusk. Snowflakes of every shape dazzled the grass of this northeastern state. Shimmering snow falls around the light posts just like in a winter wonderland poster.

Even though the town looked all dressed up in its party clothes, most social events were canceled because of the falling temperatures.

I should become a weather person. Only weathermen can be wrong at their job and still receive a good paycheck, she speculated.

On this February evening, Jonea strolled past the local fire hall. Through the windows, bright lights caught her attention; she noticed a handful of people decorating the hall for what she guessed was a wedding reception.

The lone daydreamer fantasized about what her wedding would be like. This would be a special, once-in-a-lifetime occasion that took years of refining. She wanted her perfect wedding to be flawless.

In her most recent version, she contemplated, I can see it now. I will get married aboard a ship just as elegant as the Titanic. The glistening water surrounding the ship will present a phenomenal backdrop. My dearest family and friends will witness this romantic voyage. Father Duggan will perform the wedding ceremony. I’ve known him all of my life, and I can’t think of another minister to bless our marriage. He knows how to be funny and kind, and his antics will surely be able to calm my nerves. A small choir will sing our favorite songs.

I think realistic, candid shots of my friends will make memories more enjoyable in years ahead versus posed shots. An instant camera will be placed on each table with a cute note, ‘Take a picture, and show me your smile!’ All my friends have cell phones. I will ask them to take pictures. They can email me the pictures, and I will print them out and put them in a memory book. My dress will be a simple white strapless gown with white pearls accenting the sweetheart bodice. The one-of-a-kind tea-length gown will be breathtaking. A small beaded tiara is an heirloom that has been worn by generations of daughters in our family as their nuptials. The tiara will complement the pearl earrings my mother wore on her wedding day. I will carry a bouquet of white roses and lavender baby’s breath. This will be the best day of my life.

The more she imagined this scenario, the more excited she was getting with this teenage dream.

Makenzi will be my maid of honor. Candace, Chelci, and Morgan will be my bridesmaids. Each attendant will wear a lavender dress that will have a small-jeweled bow at the waistline to add bling. They will carry lavender roses with white baby’s breath. Dante will be one of the groomsmen. The groomsmen will look fantastic in their stylish penguins, a.k.a. tuxedos with matching lavender bow ties. We can’t forget an important part of the whole wedding—the cake. Of course, the only choice for my cake is milk chocolate, my number one favorite mouth-watering flavor in the whole wide world. The masterpiece will consist of chocolate cake with off-white buttercream icing and covered with lavender roses broadcasted all around it. You know it is very delicious when the sound effects outweigh the silent body language. Having a honeymoon cruise with my new husband sitting on the lounge chairs in the middle of the ocean seems like it was a dream come true.

Jonea was lost in her world and didn’t notice a huge diesel truck salting and plowing the road until it had already driven past her.

Her mind wandered to another subject that needed to free her mind.

She enjoyed taking brisk walks, feeling one with nature and trying to motivate her friends to accompany her with success. Walking is invigorating with its changing scenery. The times spent enabled her to get a new perspective on her life. You never know when getting away even for a short time could cause a new idea to click in your mind or a nagging problem to be solved.

I know that school is important for everyone. However, the combination of keeping my grade point average as high as possible, homework deadlines, high school drama, and the pressure of planning my future makes life extremely stressful. What do I want to do when I grow up is no longer an idle question. I intend to be a lawyer, not just any lawyer but a very influential lawyer. I can see it now. I will have a nameplate on my office door announcing Jonea McKine, Attorney at Law to every visitor. Holding her head up high, Jonea imagined accomplishing her goal already.

Move over, Clarence Darrow, I am moving in, she snickered to herself.

Jonea proceeded around the corner and found that the plows had already graded the park streets and the gate was propped open. Walking on the paved road seemed like the best idea since the two inches of snow that covered the grass was a little challenging. She finally reached her destination.

Jonea was anxious to see the Bepton School entry of The Memorial Valentine Tree exhibit. She heard it was excellent; it was the talk of the town.

This tribute was positioned close to the infamous overgrown maple tree that was hibernating for the winter.

The Valentine Tree honored the memory of the victims who lost their lives in the disaster at the World Trade Center in 2001 and the unsung heroes this tragedy created. Adjacent to the eight-foot tree was a white pedestal shoved into the ground that held a glass-covered poster explaining in colorful detail the importance of the decoration on the tree. As Jonea scanned the writing, she spoke the words aloud to better comprehend the message. She was impressed with what she read.

"The blue bulbs, gold stars, and the bright red twinkling lights that encircle the white branches of the tree each have a special meaning. Each shiny blue bulb has the name of a deceased victim stenciled in silver paint on it. The gold stars represent firefighters, the clean-up crew, the health professionals, the military, and the police. The glow of the sparkling red lights represents the unity and survival of our country. As a strong nation, we pulled together and are very proud of our heroes.

The Bepton School committee has put a lot of heart and soul into finding a good number of these victims’ families. When the tree is dismantled, the bulbs and stars will be sent to the relatives of these heroes with a tribute letter as a small token of our love and appreciation.

Jonea was amazed. She whispered, Everyone who passed the tree will take a moment to look at the rosy glow of the lights and reflect on the tree’s important meaning.

Jonea searched through the names on the bulbs to see if she knew anyone. This event personally affected her. She remembered that her cousin, Jack Snyder, was in the World Trade Center when the tragedy occurred. Minutes later, she finally found his name. It warmed her heart to feel a connection with him again. Her mind flashed back to all the good times they’d experienced.

They used to play football at their annual family reunions. He was always the quarterback and a wonderful friend to her. If she was in trouble, it didn’t matter what time of day, he would drop everything to come and help her. She missed his warm smile and his impish sense of humor. Technically, he was her cousin, but he was also her best friend. After he grew up and moved away, she never really let anyone get that close to her again. She knew that he could never be replaced in her heart and was extremely devastated when she found out the terrible news about his death.

This tree is going to be hard to beat. It’s so beautiful. Everyone can relate to its message, she predicted.

Distracted by the loud sound of a roaring engine, it broke Jonea’s concentration. She looked around to see what all the cause of the annoying noise was but saw nothing. Jonea just chalked it up to the plow trucks that she has seen earlier.

She backed away from the tree to see it from another angle. Mesmerized, she got lost in her thoughts.

What’s wrong with this picture? she pondered. People are usually strolling through the park. I seem to be all alone. An eerie feeling crept over her, but she consoled herself, I am sure someone will pass by soon.

However, she only remembered seeing the two salt trucks. Of course, she wasn’t looking for anyone either. The nervous observer faced the tree for one last look before she headed home.

In seconds, life as she knew it was about to change.

Chapter 3

"I have been so stressed out lately. It’s impossible for me to relax. Why can’t I take time out to do what I want to do? The question is what would that be? It’s been a long time since I’ve forgotten my problems and had some downtime. Tension has a way of slowly building up until you want to explode. Being a nurse in a busy hospital with a demanding workload and a personal life described as less than fantastic has really frazzled my nerves.

Number one, I would like to see my daughter a whole lot more than I do. It is essential that I be always there for her. Being a divorced father inherently means that juggling schedules are the only way to make visits happen. Number two, I want Rylie, my daughter, to be as proud of me as I am of her. Therefore, I have to push myself to work in order to make that happen. Number three, I need to find a woman whom I can trust. I can’t fail in any of these areas. Unfortunately, those problems can’t all be fixed today!

A sly grin flashed across Evan’s face as a bright idea was born. "It’s very simple. I know what I haven’t done in years. Doing doughnuts on slick roads used to be an adrenaline rush. Fortunately, the roads were slick enough today. Unfortunately, it was an imprudent idea.

It’s silly, but what can it hurt? he asked himself. There’s no reason anyone else would be out on an evening like this… I know the perfect spot!

Driving a muscle car with the radio blasting reminded him of the wild days of his teenage years. His mood determined which station he turned on the radio. This night required ’90s heavy metal. After clicking through the stations, he found the right song. Blaring Rock You Like a Hurricane out of his speakers and feeling the vibrations out of his subwoofers, he knew that he had found the right song to settle his restlessness. After calculating the perfect formula between treble and bass, the soothing harmonious guitar riff of the song enticed his soul.

Immersing his emotions in the loud music gave him the excuse for head banging. At this point, he didn’t even care if he showed his age. He still felt young; however, his body told a different story. Ignoring the strain of his neck, he didn’t want to give up his carefree moment.

Because he was isolated in his car, he felt like he was in his own world, living by his own rules, being his own person. Consequently, this is was the perfect place where he didn’t have to answer to anyone. He loved the devil-may-care feeling, but he was glad that this spontaneous moment didn’t happen too often.

Slowly, he entered the almost barren park. The few vehicles that were in the parking lot were widely spaced. Some were hiding from the sun under the white blanket and others were catching some sun. He felt they posed no barrier to his objective. His mind was completely in the moment. He headed down the long straightaway toward the parking lot. He revved the car’s engine. Imagining himself to be invincible, he purposely popped the clutch, instantly pressed the accelerator to the floor, spinning tires while picking up speed on the snow-covered pavement. After executing several doughnuts, he was feeling disoriented. In an instant, the rear end of his car bounced off a curb, sending it airborne. He heard a thud; the car came to a halt.

Jonea was taking one last look at the display before leaving. The student was making mental observations as to the direction her school would have to go in order to win the contest.

Without thinking, he screamed in disbelief, No! His heart was in his throat.

His fate had drastically changed in a heartbeat. Sitting in the driver’s seat, he realized that he was physically all right. Denying what he knew to be true, Evan frantically unbuckled his seat belt, opened his door. Forcing himself out of his vehicle to survey the scene, his terror continued to mount. His face turned from tan to red to purple as his blood pressure skyrocketed. He felt the blood thumping all around his heart. He wished that he could relive the last three minutes of his life all over again. He didn’t want to see how much damage had been done, but he knew he had to even though he tried to minimalize the damage in his mind. Thinking that he might have hit a tree stump or something like that eased his nerves until he heard the shrill cries of a woman.

Evan knew he had screwed up dreadfully. Working in a hospital, he was used to seeing patients brought in after they had been involved in accidents, but he quickly realized that it was a whole different situation when he had to deal with the results of his own bad decision.

OU…L followed by a tearful plea. Please help me, the pitiful voice wailed. She sounded as if she was in a great deal of pain. In shock, the victim was wedged in a snow pile near the well-known tree.

The walk back to the rear of the car was the longest ten steps he had ever taken in his life. To his horror, he saw a young woman contracted on the ground. Her partially buried face was surrounded by blood-covered snow. Blond hair escaped the faux fur-lined hood of her jacket and covered her face. Trying to protect herself with her arms, her twisted legs stayed behind. Blood was seeping from her left knee through a tear in her corduroy pants. She was no longer holding a mug of hot chocolate; the brown liquid splattered all around her made this tragedy even more sickening.

It feels like my legs are being weighed down by the snowflakes, Jonea thought as she tried to move them. She felt like a marionette, helpless with no master. She was in and out of consciousness from all the exertion.

Quickly assessing the young woman, Evan asked, Hey, lady! Are you all right? He waited for a response. However, when he heard none, he became even more panic-stricken.

Because he didn’t know how much she understood, Evan tried to speak clearly, using as simple words as he could. Anxiously, he asked, Do you hear me? Do you understand me?

Not hearing response was more nerve-racking than anything she could have said. He spoke to her very slowly and annunciated every word so she could understand. He volunteered, I have to leave you for a few minutes so I can get you some help. Don’t try to move. I’ll be right back!

She heard his voice and wanted to believe him. Still, in shock, her mind raced, skipping the fight-or-flight gears to overload. I can’t move my left leg at all. It feels like someone is poking me with pins and needles all the way down the back of my legs on top of the burning and the throbbing pain everywhere else.

Apprehensive, her mind filled with unanswerable questions. How am I supposed to get home? Will he really bring me help? Am I stuck? I can’t get to my phone. My mom and dad must be worried. How long will it be before they come to look for me? Is this where I am going to die?

This was really the first time that she had a full-blown panic anxiety attack, and she didn’t like the way it felt. The more unanswered questions she had, the more hysterical she became. In her mind, the outbursts were quite uncontrolled and garish; she couldn’t understand why no one could hear her.

Tears formed into little bits of ice particles crystalizing on her face. Jonea couldn’t keep from panicking. She never imagined she would be involved in a situation like this. She always tried to be there to help everyone else.

Back at the McKines’ residence, Lisa was starting to worry. Realizing that it was getting dark, she complained to her husband, Kris, Jonea should have been home by now. She told me that she was only going to be gone for an hour because she was going out with Nick tonight.

Kris reassured Lisa, Jonea is fine. You know how easy sidetracked she is. Maybe she met a friend. Lisa, I am sure she is fine.

Maybe it was just a mother’s intuition, but Lisa felt uneasy.

Chapter 4

Even though he knew he was guilty, Evan Gennings had mixed feelings. On the one hand, he did want to get her help. On the other hand, he was scared that getting involved would haunt him for the rest of his life. He didn’t want Rylie to hear that her father was in jail over something he could have prevented. He also didn’t want to jeopardize a medical career that he had worked very hard to build.

Usually, he was not a frivolous person. Experience had taught him to be cautious and live life seriously. Unfortunately, tonight, he decided to blow off some steam, and look what happened!

Although he felt remorseful, protecting himself was the first order of business. He could only rely on himself to get out of this mess before it got any worse. Evan didn’t want to be branded as a criminal; it wasn’t an option. If he was never identified, then he would be in the clear; he stubbornly justified his cowardly decision to disappear.

As far as he could tell