The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) (17 page)

He gave it a hearty shake.

“
Likewise, Ruby
.
”

Jasmine rose
.“
W
e’
ll get out of your hair so you can take off
.
”

“
Congrats on your new job, Jasmine
.
”

“
Thanks
.
”

“
And Levi? I would
n’
t mention this conversation to Johnston. H
e’
s not my biggest fan under the best circumstances. You understand that
I’
m just doing my job. But h
e’
s taking this personally, do
n’
t you think
?
”

“
Yeah, he is. I
t’
s hi
s
—”

“
Buddy. Yeah, I know. Thanks again. W
e’
ll show ourselves out
.
”

They left the Violent Crimes Division behind and rode down in contemplative silence.

Ruby led Jasmine through the atrium, waving at Ernie as she passed, and into a connecting tunnel
.“
Have you been this way
?
”

“
No. Are we entering the jail building
?
”

“
Yes, the Kaye County Law Enforcement Center. Does
n’
t it feel different
?”
Ruby placed her palm on the wall
.“
Concrete. I
t’
s still used for jails and not much els
e—
not because i
t’
s cheaper than newer, and better, materials. It sets the ambience the
y’
re after
.
”

“
You paint a pretty picture
.
”

“
I want you to know what to expect so this dank setting does
n’
t distract you. Lady Luck has struck agai
n—
Susa
n’
s arresting officer is here. What are you going to pay attention to
?
”

“
Not my surroundings
.
”

“
Right, not here. Save that for the scene, for the residence. W
e’
re here to people watch. Officer Strauss first, then our client
.
”

They locked up their belongings. Ruby held her PSC as they entered the screening area. A bulky officer entered from a side door and ushered them through an archway. When the metal detector stayed silent, he said
,“
Officer Straus will receive you in Conference B. Do you require instructions
?
”

“
No, thanks, Brutis
.
”

Ignoring Ruby, Brutis hulked to the doorway
.“
Enter now
.”
He passed through and stood as sentinel on the other side.

“
A riot, is
n’
t he
?”
Ruby tossed over her shoulder as she breezed past.

“
Hilarious
,”
Jasmine whispered.

Ruby guided Jasmine down a fluorescent corridor. She paused at a heavy door. Metal clanked as it yawned open. She ushered Jasmine into a large concrete box with a single black table. Metal chairs lined the wall. Grabbing one, Ruby pulled it to the table
.“
Have a seat
,”
she said.

Jasmine sat at the edge.

“
Do
n’
t expect comfort. I
t’
s minimalist in here
.
”

“
I figured that out, thanks
.
”

Ruby placed a chair across from them, and sat next to Jasmine.

“
How old is this place
?”
Jasmine asked.

“
Its bones are older than your great-grandparents. I
t’
s had facelifts over the years, yet it remains a cadaverous place. I
t’
d be colossal if the retributionists had gotten their way. Do you know what the compromise was between the rehabbers and the retters
?
”

“
The rehabilitationists got funding for restorative-justice programs, and the retributionists got Mardova
.
”

“
Nice one, Jazz
.
”

“
We learned that during Intro to Criminal Law
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re about to meet a real-life, die-hard rette
r—
Officer Gary Strauss. Ask yourself, how would a retributionist filter information
?
”

The door clanked open, and a broad, rigid man entered. The bright lights washed out his pale face and hair, giving the impression he had unremarkable features. His mitt of a hand swallowed Rub
y’
s and then Jasmin
e’
s. His chair scraped the floor as it shifted under his weight.

“
Officer Strauss, yo
u’
ve undoubtedly had a long night. W
e’
ll make this brief before we meet with Susan Combes
.
”

“
Good, and then you can tell your client the jury verdict will come back quic
k—
guilty. This one is open-and-shut. Once you see the evidence, yo
u’
ll advise her to plead
.
”

Ruby pushed to her feet
.“
Absolutely not. My client has a right to a zealous defense
!”
She pounded the table.

His bulging nose and ruddy cheeks gained definition as his face reddened. Fuming, Strauss panted under his efforts to maintain control.

“I’
ll leave no stone unturned, no report unread, no evidence uncollected. I will triple and quadruple check your work, and the work of all men and women under your employ in this matter
.
”

“
Tha
t’
s a ludicrous waste of your time. We found the knife. It has your clien
t’
s prints on it. The county attorney himself saw her flee from the scene. He identified the deceased, and we verified with prints and a blood sample. Sh
e’
s a nut job. Ask Stuart Johnston. Ask her neighbor
.
”

“
Neighbor
?
”

“
Deanna Connelly
.
”

Ruby sat and smiled
.“
Your reputation precedes you, Strauss. You play by the rules, and follow protocol precisely
.
”

Strauss nodded. His breath eased and features faded.

“
I do the same, Strauss. I play it straight.
I’
m not seeking to avoid justice for my client. I want to secure it for her. Understood
?
”

“
Yes, yes.
I’
ve heard yo
u’
re solid. W
e’
re all a bit on edge. I
t’
s been a long night. And Stuart is pushing us all hard. I
t’
s hi
s
—”

“
Buddy. So
I’
ve heard.
I’
m ready to see Susan Combes now
.
”

“I’
ll show you back to your client
.
”

“
Thanks. I appreciate that you took the time to meet with us
.
”

Strauss showed them into a meeting room. With a parting wave, he left them alone.

“
I did
n’
t know the rooms could get smaller
.
”

“
Shallow breaths, Jazz, or w
e’
ll run out of air
.
”

She looked mortified.

“
Sorry, bad joke. Breathe easy
.
”

“
That was . . . bizarre. What happened with Officer Strauss
?
”

“
By checking in with the arresting officer, you can sometimes discover evidence before the initial client meeting. I riled Strauss a bit, and he sang like a canary. It is rather macabre in here, is
n’
t it? Makes you long for birdsong and sunshine
.
”

“
Yeah. Tha
t’
s a distant, fond memory at this point
.
”

The back door to the room opened. A slim woman in standard-issue orange walked in, eyes fastened to the floor.

Ruby moved to her client, put her arm around her shoulders, and ushered her to a chair. Once Susan was seated, Ruby began in quiet tones
.“
Happy birthday, Susan. Has anyone else wished you that today
?
”

“
No
.”
She looked at her hands
.“
No one
.”
             

“
Did you see your husband today
?
”

“
Yes
.
”

“
Le
t’
s attend to the formalities so we can update you on our progress.
I’
m Ruby Miller, and this is Jasmine Sinclair. Yo
u’
ve verbally hired my firm. Please review the representation agreement
.”
Ruby held out her PSC.

Susan reached for it with her left hand, then retracted it and bobbled the PSC with her right
.“I’
m sorry
.”
She hastened to prop up the PSC.

“I’
ll give you the highlights. Yo
u’
re free to fire me as your lawyer at any time. It lists the conditions under which I could fire you as my clien
t—
essentially if you ask me to lie, cheat, or commit a crime. Yo
u’
re confirming my authority to gain physical access to any property under your ownership, to your financial accounts, and to your medical records as I deem necessary to represent you. My fee is at the bottom, along with the requisite permissions to transfer that amount from your personal account. I
t’
s a flat-fee, and covers everything through the case resolution. Possible resolutions are dismissal, or sentencing. Let me know if you have any questions
.
”

Ruby and Jasmine waited while Susan reviewed the agreement.

“
I ca
n’
t pay that amount. Jeral
d’
s in charge of our finances. Our paychecks go into an account under his name. He transfers six hundred into my personal account each month for household expenses
.
”

“
One-hundred-fifty-thousand dollars was transferred into your personal account from your husban
d’s—
today. Happy birthday
.
”

“
That makes no sense
.
”

“
A lot does
n’
t make sense, Susan. W
e’
re going to find out what happened. W
e’
ll take everything one step at a time. First, do you have any questions about the representation agreement
?
”

“
No. I just ca
n’
t believe . . . Why would he give me that money
?
”

“
It will all make sense in the end, Susan. I promise
.”
She gave her a reassuring smile
.“
If you agree to the terms, please sign
.”
Ruby set a stylus on the table.