A Good Kind of Trouble (A Trouble in Twin Rivers Novel Book 1)
Read A Good Kind of Trouble (A Trouble in Twin Rivers Novel Book 1) Online
Authors: Ellie Ashe
A GOOD KIND
OF TROUBLE
by
ELLIE ASHE
A GOOD KIND OF TROUBLE
by Ellie Ashe
Beacon
news
reporter Lindsey Fox is on the verge of breaking a huge story of political corruption that will make her career and make her famous journalist parents proud—or she could be thrown in jail and fired. It really could go either way.
Her recent streak of bad luck continues when Lindsey finds herself facing a bogus contempt charge and attorney Ben Gillespie is appointed to get her out of the slammer. They once had a bad date of epic proportions—stilted conversation, food poisoning, burglary, towed car. Then there was the incident with the pepper spray. Lindsey never believed she’d see the handsome lawyer again.
Ben can totally believe that Lindsey is behind bars. The woman is trouble. Now he has to get his new client out of jail, keep her out of the grasp of a crazed bike messenger and a shady P.I., help her save her job, and convince her to put down the pepper spray and give him another chance.
Copyright © 2014 Ellie Ashe
All rights reserved.
Kindle version
Cover design by Lyndsey Lewellen
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
All rights to republication of this work are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. For permission or information on foreign, audio, or other rights, contact the author at [email protected].
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Chapter One
Ben Gillespie checked his watch for the third time in as many minutes. How long was it going to take these two clowns to wrap up their petty dispute? The judge was going to rule for the plaintiff. The defendant’s lawyer—a sleazy, overpaid blowhard named Gregory Stanton—hadn’t met the standard for getting the civil case dismissed. Yet the jerk was going on and on, dragging the argument out far longer than necessary, as if he were being paid by the word. Or by the minute, which was more accurate.
Ben shifted in his seat. The courtroom, which had been packed at the beginning of the morning calendar, was now nearly empty. His case was up next and would take five minutes. No sign of opposing counsel, so it might only take three minutes. He’d tried sweet-talking the clerk into putting him at the top of the docket, but others had gotten to her first. Instead, he spent an hour watching other lawyers haggling over motions, trial dates, settlements and procedural disputes.
To be honest, it could have been worse. He could have been at the office.
“Motion to dismiss denied,” Judge Camille Kinley said.
Finally
. Ben gathered his briefcase as the plaintiff’s attorney passed by, giving Ben a curt nod. The defense attorney paused and picked up his briefcase from the seat next to Ben, his presence bringing a sense of dread. Gregory Stanton straightened the collar on the ugliest suit jacket Ben had ever laid eyes on.
“See you back in the office, Gillespie,” he said. “Good luck.”
“Thanks, boss,” Ben said, watching Stanton leave the courtroom.
The clerk called Ben’s case and he walked to the podium.
“Good morning, your honor,” he said. “Ben Gillespie for the defendant, Oaks Insurance.”
The appearance in front of Judge Kinley was a routine matter. Ben’s client, an insurance carrier, had finally worn down the plaintiff and convinced him to settle the case over a car accident for an outrageously low sum. The settlement meant the trial date could be vacated. The papers were filed, the case closed, and Ben took a few steps away from the podium.
“Um, Mr. Gillespie,” Judge Kinley said.
Had he done something wrong? Forgotten to dismiss a motion or ask for a waiver of … something? He searched his memory, but nothing came to mind. Then again, he sometimes felt like he handled these appearances on autopilot.
“Yes, your honor?”
Judge Kinley took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
“I have an unusual request, Mr. Gillespie,” she said. “I need someone to represent a person on a civil contempt matter just referred from Judge Chinn’s court. It won’t take long.”
Ben paused, his mind on his calendar. He didn’t have anything pressing back at the office. And he’d rather avoid that hellhole if possible. He couldn’t very well say no to Judge Kinley anyway. He had far too many cases in front of her.
“Of course, your honor,” he said.
She sighed. “Your client is in the holding cell.”
Ben followed the courtroom bailiff out the side door. He’d never been back to the holding cell. His clients were insurance companies and corporations, not actual people. Especially not criminal-type people.
The holding cell looked like a wall of bars had been thrown up at the end of a hallway as an afterthought. A woman sat on the bench built into the back wall. She was leaning forward, her head in her hands, and her long blonde hair obscured her face. She was wearing a white blouse, a blue skirt, and had really nice legs.
He was still staring at those legs when his new client gasped.
“What are you doing here?”
That voice. He knew that voice.
The last time he’d heard that voice, he was in unspeakable pain. Out of instinct, he took a step backward, his eyes scanning the room. Her purse sat on a table by the door, safely out of her reach.
“I was just appointed to represent you.”
The blonde stood and walked to the front of the small cell. She grasped the vertical bars and raised her chin to look him in the eye.
“No,” she said. “Officer, I want a different lawyer. This one doesn’t do criminal law. He chases ambulances.”
“Not quite, but I appreciate the sentiment,” Ben said. “Judge Kinley appointed me, so you’re stuck with me. And by the way, this—” He motioned toward the bars with both hands. “This doesn’t surprise me one bit.”
She put her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowed, and her mouth tightened. The bailiff snickered and Ben turned toward him. “I need a minute with my client.”
The bailiff grinned. “Good luck,” he said in a low voice, giving Ben a wink.
“You have no idea,” Ben replied.
The door to the courtroom closed and Ben approached the cell, careful to stay about three feet from the bars. He was reminded of his trips to the zoo as a child, getting close to the tiger’s cage, but not close enough for those claws to slash out between the bars.
“No, no, no,” his new client said. “The newspaper is going to get me a lawyer. A real lawyer.”
“Until they do, I’m your lawyer,” Ben said. “So you might as well tell me what you did this time, Lindsey.”
Lindsey Fox may have looked like any other young, professional woman—polished, pretty, intelligent—but he knew better. Ben only felt safe because of the bars between them. She was not to be trusted.
“The judge doesn’t seem to understand that California has a shield law. And I’m a reporter, and therefore I don’t have to testify.” She sounded pretty sure of herself for someone on the wrong side of the bars.
“Yeah, how’s that working out for you?” Ben said.
“Just get me out of here, Ben. Think you can manage that?”
“I don’t know, I think I hear a siren,” he said, putting one hand to his ear.
“I’m supposed to rely on you to get me out of here? Are you kidding me?”
“Gee, Lindsey, it almost sounds like
you
don’t trust
me
to help you out,” he shot back. “What are you afraid of? That I might want to keep you locked up?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Did it occur to you that you might have a conflict here?”
Ben shook his head.
“We had one bad date. I’m over it. I’m a professional. I can do my job,” he said. “Though, just to be clear, that was by far the worst date I’ve ever had in my life.”
“Oh, really? And that was my fault?”
“Well, let’s see, you got drunk and—”
“I was not drunk.”
“You kept falling down.”
“I was wearing new shoes. They were heels. It was hard to walk in them.”
“Here’s a tip, sweetheart—men don’t notice shoes. But they sure as hell notice a woman who is constantly falling on her ass.”
“I merely stumbled,” Lindsey argued.
He leaned in toward the bars. “Then you were eavesdropping on the people at the table behind us.”
“It was the mayor and he was dining with a lobbyist. The lobbyist who was trying to get the stadium built downtown.”
“Then I got food poisoning,” he said.
“Okay, that one is not my fault.”
He supposed he had to give her that one, but he was unwilling to concede the point. “Then, of course, the finale—”
The door from the courtroom opened and the deputy stuck his head in the holding cell area. “You two done talking?”
Ben shook his head. “Give us a few more minutes.”
The door clicked shut again. Ben studied Lindsey, who was now pacing the small cell. She looked good. For a criminal.
“Seriously, Lindsey, what did you do?”
“I refused to testify and the judge wants to throw me in jail,” she said.
“Why isn’t the
Beacon’s
attorney here?”
“Because I haven’t had a chance to call anyone. Gomer there took my cell phone.”
“Good to see you’re making friends here,” Ben said. He took his cell phone out of his pocket and she reached through the bars for it. He held it out of reach. “Give me the number.”
She recited the phone number and Ben dialed. It was the direct line to the editor’s desk and he answered with an indecipherable, and likely profane, greeting. Ben explained the situation to the editor, who seemed unperturbed by the news that one of his staff was in jail. Then he was put on hold.
“What’d Sam say?” Lindsey asked.
“He put me on hold,” Ben said, rubbing his forehead where a headache began to form.
Lindsey paced the length of the tiny cell. “Is he back yet?”