The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) (12 page)

“
First rul
e—
never arrive empty-handed, or on an empty stomach
.”
Ruby handed her a cup and a small bag
.“
Here, your green goo and something healthy. Do
n’
t ask me wha
t’
s in them. I stopped at Anto
n’
s for coffee and baked goods. Ther
e’
s the cop stereotype for a reason. Our shared vices are excellent fodder for bonding. Bonded equals more inclined to inform. And i
t’
s the humanitarian thing to do. Err on the side of compassio
n—
rule two
.
”

“
What are you looking for
?
”

“I’
ll know it when I see it. Go in with a clear mind. Often, the cops arrive with a conclusion, and look for evidence to support it. W
e’
re looking for evidence, period. If we do
n’
t gather what they miss now, it may be lost. Ready
?
”

“
As
I’
ll ever be
.
”

“
First tim
e’
s the hardest. It does
n’
t get easy, but it gets easier. If there ever comes a time when getting near death does
n’
t elicit a reaction, resign
.
”

They pulled over in front of the cabin.

“
I
t’
s like daytime out here
,”
Jazz said.

Black and whites parked across the yard. Squad lights filled the blackness with red and blue. Spotlights illuminated the driveway and the path leading to the front porch.

Ruby noted that there was no white outline in the lit area. The CSIs would make quick work of the outside, she figured, and then she could make her own observations up close. Not one to waste time, she turned to her intern, and said
,“
Stay in the car, Jazz. Figure out who owns the adjacent property. Research the owner or owners.
I’
m going to get the lay of the land
.”
Ruby grabbed the large bakery bag and coffee kit.

“
Good luck. My grandmother always said it never hurts to have the golden lady on your side
.
”

“
No, it never does. Thanks, Jazz
.
”

Ruby strolled over to a slim man in a black jumpsuit.

He had set up his work station away from the yellow tape and heavy foot traffic streaming in and out of the cabin, and in close proximity to the white van with black letters declaring its purpose:
Crime Scene Investigations
. His long brown ponytail streamed across the white letters labeling him a crime scene investigator.

“
Ther
e’
s dedication
,”
she said
.“
Hard at work at quarter to ten on a Friday
.
”

He turned toward Rub
y’
s voice.

“
You have photographs, Jimmy
?
”

“
You know I do.
I’
m not known as the best photographer in the unit for nothing
.
”

“
I know it, and you know it. They call you in on all the big cases for a reason. When will I get to admire your work
?
”

“
Would you settle for when the county attorney hands it over
?
”

“
Come on, Jimmy, I brought sustenance. You get skinnier every time I see you. My grandmother called these crullers. Came by my sweet tooth honestly. You interested
?
”

“
You know I am
.
”

“
I have some hot coffee to wash it down
.
”

“
Even better
.
”

“
I need a quick peek, Jimmy.
I’
ll be done by the time you fuel up. As the defense, I have a right to these pictures
.
”

“
Well . .
.”
He eyeballed the bakery bag.

“
I sprang for the good stuff. Nothing but the best for the best
.
”

“
Deal. Hand it over
.
”

“
As soon as you pull up the photos
.
”

He tapped at his laptop, and spun it so she could see the screen.

Ruby opened the bag.

After snagging a cherry cruller and a white frosted donut, he took a generous bite into one and then the other.

“
You happen to know wh
o’
s on charging duty tonight
?
”

“
Hollins
,”
he mumbled around pastry, flakes falling from his mouth.

“
Hollins
?
”

He swallowed, swiped a hand over his cheek, and wiped cherry jelly on his pants
.“
Yeah, and he has plenty of direction
.
”

“
Johnsto
n’
s been talking to him
?
”

“
Screaming, more like. Ca
n’
t help but hear him. Johnston was first on the scene. Made the ID. Called it in. The vi
c’
s a real good buddy of his
.
”

“
Wha
t’
s Johnston after
?
”

“
Warrants for the wif
e’
s car, for her arrest. H
e’
s been hollering for updates for the PC statement. Wants it all done by the book
.
”

“
No special treatment for his budd
y—
no extra samples, more photos
?
”

“
Hell no. He was very clear on that. Strictly follow procedure
.”
He lowered his voice
.“
H
e’
d send your client to Mardova tonight if he could
.
”

Ruby pursed her lips
.“
How long before the scen
e’
s cleared
?
”

“
Fifteen
.
”

“I’
ll stay outside until then
.”
Ruby set down the coffee kit
.“
Pour yourself some coffee, Jimmy, and enjoy it while I peruse your fine work
.”
Ruby scrolled through photos and made notes on her PSC. She grabbed her stylus and sketched a rough diagram.

“
You see, i
t’
s open and shut. Looks like Johnston will get your client that one-way ticket to Mardova
.
”

“
I
t’
s not so much about what I see, Jimmy, as what I do
n’
t see
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re always good for a riddle, Ruby. Going to elaborate
?
”

“
Of course not.
I’
m still in observation mode, Jimmy. I hear Kottke coming
.
”

“
You have to admit his bike is prime
.
”

“
Ogle it later, Jimmy. The sooner you finish up, the sooner you get to go home to Sarah
.
”

“
Tha
t’
s not an incentive, Ruby
.
”

“
I thought you two made up
.
”

“
So did I. Ca
n’
t figure her out for the life of me. Any suggestions? You know, you being a woman and all
.
”

“
I say bring her a cruller
.
”

“
She hates sweets. Gets after me for rotting my insides
.
”

“
I was going to say chocolate next. Tha
t’
s out. Flowers? Is an apology in order
?
”

“
Probably. How the hell am I supposed to know
?
”

“
Did you miss a special occasion
?
”

“
Well, how am I supposed to figure out something I forgot
?”
             

“
Do you have a shared calendar
?
”

“
Yeah, Sarah set it up a while back. Never looked at it though
.
”

Ruby waited.

“
Hey, tha
t’
s a fine idea. Damn it. I should have thought of that
.
”

“
When did you get married? Whe
n’
s her birthday
?
”

He grabbed his phone from the workbench and accessed the calendar
.“
Le
t’
s see. Her birthday is the fourth of August
.
”

“
Tha
t’
s not it. But make a note so you do
n’
t miss it
.
”

“
Come to think of it, Ruby, we did have a summer wedding. I have a bad feeling about this. Yup. There it is. The seventh of May. She even made a note about the year we were hitched. I spaced on our tenth
.
”

“
Way to go, Jimmy
.
”

“
Thanks a lot.
I’
m an idiot
.
”

“
I
t’
s only Friday. Plan a flashy evening for Saturday. I
t’
d make sense to not do a big-deal date on a weeknight. You were saving it for the weekend
.
”

“
Yeah, I better hurry up and get home. Any ideas what I should do
?
”

“
Yo
u’
re on your own there, Jimmy.
I’
m done here. Good luck
.”
She headed back to her car.

Justin Kottke had dismounted, removed his helmet, and shaken out his thick mahogany hair, unaware he had a captive audience. He unzipped his leather jacket, and called over
,“
Hey Ruby
.
”

Jasmine darted from the car, and intercepted Ruby
.“
You know him? H
e’
s quite the specimen
.
”

“
Yeah, you stop noticing. We went on a date a few years back, before he left the precinct and turned PI. Had a fun time, no spark. I still find his mind sexy as hell
.
”

“
So h
e’
s available
?
”

“
You could try, Jazz. Fair warning, h
e’
s madly in love with a horse whisperer. Sh
e’
s clueless. Come on
.”
Ruby strode over to Justin with Jasmine at her heels.

“
Jazz, meet Justin Kottk
e—
finest investigator around. This is the newest addition to our team.,Jasmine Sinclair
.
”

“
So you got around to hiring an intern. Ho
w’
s it going so far
?”
he asked Jasmine.

She stood silent, mesmerized by the flecks of gold in his chocolate-brown eyes.