On the Back of an Angel

By David Brown

It was the second worst day of William Dawson's life when his wife told him she was pregnant. The problem was, she didn't know he was sterile, a fact he didn't tell her because of the trauma it caused him in his early years (the worst day) and because not having kids was an agreement of their marriage. He pretended to be happy, but he followed her to find out who her lover was and made plans to kill them both. As a normal, nonviolent man, he couldn't believe the rage he had and the desire to all of a sudden kill someone. After tracking him down, he discovered her boyfriend was a police detective she often worked with on court cases. She was an ADA for the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. A very lucky situation came up almost out of the blue. The police department warned his wife that a parolee who was just released from prison, whom her boyfriend had arrested and she prosecuted, was telling everyone who would listen that he was going to get even with the detective who arrested him. They warned her to be very careful as he might be after her also. Dawson immediately came up with a plan to kill the detective and blame it on the parolee. He took his time to track down Angelo Cifforelli, better known as "Angel." During all this, Dawson starts thinking about the guy who ran his parents off the road and killed them. All of a sudden, that was all he thought about - killing his wife's lover, the guy who caused his parents' death, and his loving wife. He was also an attorney, very smart, very successful. If he used his head, he could pull off the perfect murders.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9781640824591

David Brown

David Brown is the host of the hit podcasts Business Wars and Business Wars Daily. He is also the co-creator and host of Texas Standard, the Lone Star’s statewide daily news show, and was the former anchor of the Peabody award-winning public radio business program Marketplace. He has been a public radio journalist for more than three decades, winning multiple awards, and is a contributor to All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and other NPR programs. Brown earned his PhD in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and his Juris Doctor from Washington and Lee University School of Law. He lives with his wife and two children in Austin, Texas.

Book preview

Chapter 1

I had just left my doctor’s office and was sitting in my parked car overlooking the San Francisco Bay. The longer I sat there, looking out at the sailboats in the distance, the angrier I became.

William, I’m pregnant! William, I’m pregnant!

It kept going through my head; her words pushed my mind back to June 6, 1991, the day my parents died. Over the years, when I thought about that day, it would make me smile, remembering my parents and the good time we had at the boardwalk. However, this time, all I could think about was how that horrible day affected my life, and now it was ripping me apart again.

Mom, Dad, help me! I screamed as I found myself trying to sit up.

Someone grabbed my shoulders and held me down, sharp pain shot through my lower body, and I felt a bandage on the right side of my head.

As I was moving around and crying, someone said, William, calm down! Calm down! Everything’s OK. You’re in a hospital. I’m Miss Wright, your nurse. Scared and still fighting her grip, I felt someone stick a needle in my arm.

Groggy and sweaty, I woke sometime later with a tube sticking out of my left arm. A man was standing at the foot of my bed, looking at a clipboard. Fuzzy and hurting, I moaned. Where are my parents? Please let me see my parents.

He raised his head, eyes fixed on mine. Someone will be in shortly to talk to you, son. Until then, just relax and try to get some rest.

Sometime later, Uncle Lou came in.

Where are my parents? I need to see my mom and dad, I whispered.

William, do you remember anything about the accident?

What accident? I muttered. I had no idea what he was talking about.

You and your parents were in a very bad accident on the way home from Santa Cruz, he told me softly. William, your mom and dad didn’t survive. Your parents are dead.

I spent about three weeks in the hospital. The day before I was released, the doctor came in with my Uncle Lou and Aunt Norma.

We want to talk to you about your injuries, William, and answer any questions you may have.

I tried to answer the doctor, but no matter how hard I tried, the only thing I could remember about that day before I woke up was the fun we had at the boardwalk.

William, do you know what it means for a man to be sterile?

No, I don’t. Why? What does it mean?

Well, William, the injuries to your groin area were very serious and left you sterile, which means you will never be able to have kids of your own. Seeing the blank look on my face, Uncle Lou said, Don’t worry about it, William. We’ll talk about it later.

Bridget’s words William, I’m pregnant! running through my head brought me back to reality. What went wrong? I kept asking myself. I thought we were happy. I knew I was. Why would she cheat on me? I knew she liked sex, but I thought she was happy with me. I wondered who he was. Was he someone I knew? Would she ask for a divorce? Should I tell her that I was sterile? Should I ask her for a divorce? Stupid questions kept running through my mind. Feeling sorry for myself, I thought back to when I first met her.

I always laughed when I heard people talking about the first time they saw their spouse.

Oh, the first time I saw her, I said to myself, ‘There stands my future wife!’

That was bullshit. Somehow it must make their marriage feel special.

Yeah, like mine—special until something goes wrong.

She was in one of my law classes at UCLA. She was pretty and very smart, but at first, I didn’t even think about asking her out. My grades were more important to me at the time than women were. We were both assigned to the same study group, so we got to know each other on a small level. One afternoon, she called my dorm room. She asked me a question about an upcoming test. After talking about the test for several minutes and after she said she had to go, I asked her if she would have dinner with me Saturday night. I smiled when she said she would. I had no idea where I got the nerve to ask her out. After we had been dating for a while, she confessed she had called me, hoping I would ask her out. This must have been true. As it turned out, she got a better grade on the test than I did.

We didn’t have sex until our fourth date, so I never gave a thought about her being easy or being with very many other men. I was taken in by her because she was interested in her education and future in the law profession; she had the exact same goals as I had. We had a lot of fun together. She was easy to be with and didn’t expect fancy or expensive things. She was just a down-to-earth person whom I fell in love with.

I moved in with her, and we were married a month before we graduated. I had accepted a job with the Miller and Miller law firm, so we moved to the Bay Area after graduation. After getting settled in, Bridget applied at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and was hired. She was their youngest ADA, and here we were six years later. She was still their youngest ADA and also their best.

Chapter 2

Bridget sat in a corner booth of Bernie’s Lunch Spot as she waited for Jack. Bernie’s was a downtown eatery and, at lunchtime, full of businessmen grabbing a quick bite. Being close to the county offices, it made an ideal place for county employees to meet. It let them discuss business away from the constant office interruptions.

Working on a couple of big cases together as an ADA and lead detective, Bridget and Jack had met in Bernie’s several times. Working together, they had become very close. At some point, they started seeing each other as friends and soon became lovers. They felt meeting at Bernie’s would not raise any eyebrows—if they didn’t over do it. But it was hard not to overdo it.

Their relationship was getting too involved. It took up too much of her time away from the office and away from home.

Was it worth it? she kept asking herself.

Her affair with Jack was something inevitable from the first time she worked with him. She didn’t totally understand herself, but she knew she was obsessed with thoughts of sex with him. Jack was her third affair since her marriage to William. The other two were simple one-night stands—one when William was on a fishing trip and the other when she was out of town at a convention. At last year’s convention at Tahoe, she had met Alex, who was an ADA in Sacramento. They had spent the night together in his room. Even though they had not talked since, she thought about him a lot.

She wasn’t sure why she had married William. He was a great guy, fantastic provider, but only average in bed. Plus, he was like her. He didn’t want kids! She did love him. They had a very good life together, but she had to have more. She craved the physical part. She knew she should end it with Jack but couldn’t seem to let him go. The longer it went, the more likely William would find out. He was soft, easygoing, and would get over it. She knew he would forgive her.

She would never know how wrong that thinking would be.

She could never be married to a man like Jack. He was a police officer with only a junior college degree and a salary not much more than hers. He could never support her the way William did, the way she had become accustomed to. Even knowing that, she had trouble staying away from him. But she knew that with him getting too serious, she had to find the courage to stop seeing him; it was just too risky.

She had promised herself she would be careful and not let an affair end her marriage.

She and William didn’t have any children; nor did they plan on having any. They had agreed to that when he had asked her to marry him. Their careers and future plans just didn’t allow the time for a family.

Both being career oriented, they wanted to see how far they could go. Both had talked about going into politics someday—the state attorney general’s office for Bridget and a possible run for US Senate for William. Getting caught having an affair or a divorce could ruin her political name, so she had to be careful. It was no problem for William. He could be a lazy, crooked, woman-chasing politician in Washington and unfortunately just be one of the guys.

As usual, her mind went to sex! Hmm, she thought, there is another conference coming up. Maybe I should give Alex a call. Excitedly, she started thinking about him.

After saying good night to her two new friends she had met in class that day, Bridget left the dining room and went into the lounge to have a drink and see if she might find some company. Boy, this has been the dullest conference I’ve been to in a long time, she thought as she sat down at a table for two. Looking around the room, she didn’t see anyone she recognized except an older couple she had sat by in the morning session.

Setting a vodka collins on the table, the barmaid looked at her name tag and said, smiling, The gentleman at the bar in the Kingsman sport coat bought you a drink, Bridget.

Oh, you said the gentleman in the brown sport coat with the yellow shirt? Looking toward where the barmaid indicated, she saw him. He was looking at her. She smiled and nodded.

About halfway through her first drink, he walked up to her table. Mind if I join you? he asked.

Not at all, and thank you for the drink.

I’m Alex Bradford. I tried to wait long enough to make sure you were alone. If you’re waiting for someone, I will leave.

No. She laughed. I’m alone. Please, sit down. I’m Bridget Dawson. Are you here for the convention?

Bridget was five feet, eight inches tall. She had soft medium-length brown hair, a beautiful face, and a well-built, firm body. She had a friendly personality. She was someone men immediately took to. People wondered how, with this makeup, she could be so hard-nosed in court.

Yes, I am. In fact, I saw you in the morning session on jury selection. I was sitting toward the back, had to make a phone call, so I didn’t stick around for the socializing. I’m an ADA with the Sacramento DA’s office, he offered.

Oh OK, she answered. I’m an ADA with the San Francisco office.

Small world, he said, laughing. Best conviction rate buys the next round.

She noticed he was wearing a wedding ring. Good, she thought. If this goes anywhere, being married should make him want to be discrete. He is very handsome and, best I can tell, is in good shape.

After normal chitchat in getting to know each other and finishing their second drink, Alex suggested they go to his room for a night cap.

Sounds good. What’s your room number, Alex? I need to go to my room and freshen up. It’s been a long day.

Leaving Alex’s room at 3:20 a.m., she thought with a smile on her face, Could not have been a better day if I had planned it myself.

Her ringing phone snapped her back to the moment.

Sorry, babe, Jack said as she answered her phone. Something came up, and I can’t get away. I’ll call you later. I miss you, babe.

Shit! OK, I’ll have lunch then go to my doctor’s appointment.

What’s wrong? he asked.

Nothing. Just a follow-up. Been feeling a little yucky lately. Doc thinks it’s probably allergies.

Oh my god! Bridget cried out. No, Doctor. I can’t be pregnant. I’m on the pill. How can that happen? Are you sure? My husband will kill me! (She did not know how right she was. He would kill someone.) Rattled, she kept mumbling until the doctor calmed her down.

Do you need a shot? he asked.

No, I’m all right, she whispered as she left his office.

On her way home, she remembered that one morning, in the bathroom, she had questioned herself if she had taken the pill earlier. She thought she had, so she forgot about it.

Oh my god! That must be it. Having had more sex with Jack lately than her husband, it could very well be Jack’s. Oh my god! she kept saying over and over. Oh my god! What am I going to do?

Abortion kept going through her head. That way, she wouldn’t need to say anything about the pregnancy to either William or Jack. How would they feel? What would they say? Would they want the abortion? Would William accept the baby? Would Jack leave his wife if he knew the baby was his?

Abortion, she mumbled. I can’t. She kept talking to herself. I can’t have an abortion. I promised my mother.

What’s wrong with you? How did you fuck up? You know I don’t want any more kids. The three we have are too many. You know I didn’t want her! He motioned toward Bridget. You promised me you would do something about it. You lied until it was too late. Now here you are, pregnant again! Either take care of it, or I guarantee you will have a miscarriage! Bridget’s father yelled at her mother.

Her father kept screaming at her mom without any concern that Bridget was in the room. "You stupid bitch! he yelled. I should beat the shit out of you right now and take care of it myself."

OK, OK! she shouted. I’ll take care of it. I would never bring another one of your kids into this world, you miserable, worthless bastard! I will tell you this, John. If you ever hit me again or touch one of the kids, you better not go to sleep.

Or what? He laughed.

Go ahead. Try it, John. It’ll be the last time you ever go to sleep and wake up, you asshole pig! As she left the room, she grabbed my arm and took me outside. I’m sorry you had to hear that, baby. Don’t worry. Everything will be all right.

Coming home a couple months later from spending a weekend at a girl friend’s house, she noticed some bruises on her mom’s arms and on her left cheek. "What happened, Mom? Did Dad do that?"

Forget it, Bridget. He won’t bother us anymore. He left, and he’s not coming back.

Bridget never saw or heard from her father again. She had always wondered what really happened. She remembered her mom’s threat, It’ll be the last time you ever go to sleep and wake up!

Her mom started drinking after that. It affected her job, and their home life was very poor. Baby, she slurred one night after dinner, promise me you will never have an abortion. Your father forced me to have one, and I have never been able to forget it. Promise me, Bridget, you never will.

Mom, I promise I never will.

Oh my god! Bridget said out loud. I can never have an abortion. No matter the consequences, I will never have an abortion.

Chapter 3

My career was going great. Not admitting prejudice, but I was the top litigator with Miller, Miller, and Dawson and, in most circles, the best in the city. I handled mostly civil cases, while Bridget dealt with criminal cases, so