The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) (26 page)

“
When was his project yanked
?
”

“
About seven months ago
.
”

“
We need to find out what Jerry was doing on that property
,”
Justin said.

“
I traced it
.”
Colin pulled up a photo
.“
Her
e’
s the public-access aerial. It has
n’
t been updated in ten months
.
”

“
Who owns it
?”
Emilio asked.

“
Susan Combes
.
”

Ruby pumped her fist and gave Colin a smacking kiss on his cheek
.“
Well done, you brilliant, beautiful man
.
”

“
What are we celebrating? I want in
,”
Jasmine said
.“
Who wants a kiss
?
”

Focused on Arianna, Justin missed her hopeful glance.

“
It figures Jerald would say he inherited the property
,”
Ruby said
.“
Contrary to Jerr
y’
s belief, Susan exists apart from him. And her independent existence is recognized by the state. Her property was not his, and neither was she. Sh
e’
s authorized us to access her property as needed to conduct her case. I
t’
s time we do our own recon on the stalke
r’
s activities. Any ideas for surveillance
?
”

Emilio stood
.“
If I may, I can assist in this area
.”
He tapped his own handheld device, which looked quite similar to the units Flick had supercharged for the team, and an image appeared on-screen.

“
Wha
t’
s that? A robo-bug? Do
n’
t we have enough real-life bugs around
?
”

Emilio laughed and grinned at Jasmine.

“
It is a bug, in a manner of speaking. It has an astral satellit
e’
s sight, a bumblebe
e’
s size, and an express choppe
r’
s speed
.
”

“
Thank God it does
n’
t look like a mash-up of the three
,”
Ruby said.

“
Its audio detection is four-hundred times that of a human. Yo
u’
re looking at the latest in drone technology
.
”

“
No way. Tha
t’
s a drone
?
”

“
Yes, equipped for surveillance only. It is
n’
t armed. If captured, it self-destructs
.
”

“
Into a poof of smoke
?
” Colin asked.

“I’
ll show you
.”
He entered a series into his device, and the drone flattened and emitted a sticky substance.

“
It looks like a squashed bug
,
” Ruby said.

“
Precisely
.
”

“
Wha
t’
s that goo
?”
Justin asked
.“
Acid
?
”

“
No, that would certainly alert its captor somethin
g’
s off. I
t’
s histamine and irritant. It causes skin to break out in hives, ensuring the dron
e’
s prompt release, and likely further destruction
.
”

“
Under the capto
r’
s boot
,”
Ruby said
.“
Clever
.
”

“
One finds much inspiration in the natural world to advance technology
.
”

“
When can we deploy the drone
?
” Colin asked.

“
I
t’
s been my latest pet project so
I’
ve taken to carrying it with me
.
”

“
You keep a prototype in your pocket
?”
Ruby eyed his blazer.

“
Do
n’
t be silly. I
t’
s in my office
.
”

“
Your office
?”
She raised a brow.

“
Say the word and
I’
ll release Jaspyr
.
”

“
He has a name
,”
Jasmine said
.“
Like a pet robot. Would it break your heart if Jaspyr gets squashed
?”
Jasmine looked up, eyes wide.

Ruby rolled her eyes
.“I’
m sure h
e’
d build another
.
”

“
Thank you for your concern, Jasmine. It would console me to know he met his end for a good cause
.
”

Ruby scanned the assembled talent in satisfaction
.“
Team, le
t’
s spring Susan. Once we show up on Monday, we have to start playing our cards. Otherwise, we let the stat
e’
s version stand, and Susa
n’
s held without bail for the duration of this case. W
e’
ll meet tomorrow, same time, to review what we collect today
.
”

“
Well, on that note
.”
Kottke broke into raspy song
.“I’
m going down to Lucky Town. Going down to Lucky Town
.”
He offered his hand to Amy.

She accepted and fell into step with him. Soon, her rich alto harmonized.

“
I wanna lose these blues
I’
ve found. Down in Lucky Town. Down in Lucky Town
.
”

Ruby grabbed her PSC and called over as she walked to the door
.“
When yo
u’
re done goofing around, we have killers to catch
.
”

“
Ruby, yo
u’
ll learn as you get older to never turn down the opportunity to dance
.”
Amy responded without missing a beat.

Emilio held out his hand to Ruby
.“
May I
?
”

She held out her hand and jerked her head to the drone on-screen
.“
May I
?
”

“
In my office
.
”

“
Yeah, your office
,”
she echoed, amused
.“
Glad to see yo
u’
ve settled in. Grab it and meet me in my office, please
.
”

Ruby pulled Arianna aside
.“
You have access to the file. Let Colin know if you need anything. You know best how to help Susan. I . .
.”
Ruby held up her hands.

“
What yo
u’
re doing for her matters
.”
Arianna laid a hand on Rub
y’
s shoulder
.“I’
ve prepared a room for her at my ranch
.
”

“
Thanks
.”
Ruby clasped Ariann
a’
s hand
.“
I have to go give a certain someone a piece of my mind
.”
She darted her eyes to where Emilio sat conversing with Jasmine.

“
Go easy on him, Ruby. I like him
.
”

“
Jazz, yo
u’
re with Kottke today
,”
Ruby tossed over her shoulder as she strode to her office.

Emilio excused himself and went to Arianna
.“
We have
n’
t yet met.
I’
m Emilio
.
”

Arianna shook his hand
.“I’m
—”

“
Arianna Ramirez.
I’
m fascinated by your work
.
”

“
Well, yo
u’
re welcome at my ranch any time. I
t’
s a small operation, nothing like yours
.
”

“
Do not diminish your work so. It matters. It would be my honor to see it. And allow me to reciprocate and show you my ranch whenever it suits you
.
”

“
In Segovia
?
”

“
Yes, if you do
n’
t mind a bit of travel
.
”

“I’
ll take you up on that. Thank you
,”
she said, dazed.

“
I
t’
s my pleasure
.
”

Justin fell into step beside Emilio as he entered the hall, and said
,“
Ther
e’
s something you should know about Arianna and me
.
”

“
Are you involved
?
”

Justin shifted
.“
Not exactly
.
”

“
Would you like to be
?
”

Teeth on edge, he said
,
“
Yes
.
”

“
Then why, I wonder, did you dance with Amy
?
”

“
Are you going to give me any trouble
?
”

“
I think yo
u’
re giving yourself enough, my friend. My interest lies elsewhere. If I may,
I’
ve kept her waiting
.”
He clapped Justin on the back, and continued on to Rub
y’
s office.

“
Well,
I’
ll be damned
.
”

Chapter 14

Emilio found Ruby pacing.

“
Where do you get off
?
”

“
What do you mean
?”
He sat on her desk and admired a luminescent orb, appearing casual. His grip gave away his effort at composure.

“
Why did
n’
t you tell me yo
u’
re a gazillionaire
?
”

“
I
t’
s refreshing to be simply another team member working toward a noble end.
I’
d prefer it stay that way. This is your investigation and your team to lead, not mine. My e-skills are at your disposal, and any connections that may be useful. I have no desire for special treatment
.
”

“
Good, because you wo
n’
t receive it. And my law firm is not some rich ma
n’
s charity. I insist on paying you a consulting fee
.
”

“
As you wish
.
”

“
And yo
u’
re right.
I’
m responsible for securing the best outcome for Susan. I require full disclosure from my team, and that means no material omissions. I do
n’
t care if you own half the free world. I care if you have the skills to pull off your part in securing justice for Susan
.
”

“
In the spirit of full disclosure
,”
he said, setting the paperweight aside and rising
.
“
I must tell you
I’
m captivated by you
.
”

“
You must be accustomed to having whatever you like. I have no interest in being bought, and the same goes for Arianna. Stay away from her
.
”

His eyes darkened
.“
I do
n’
t buy women, Ruby. I always respect a woma
n’
s wishes
.”
He leaned forward, and she felt the warmth as he breathed out his words
.“
Tell me yo
u’
re disinterested
.
”

“
Right now,
I’
m interested in tracing the surveillance equipment, and in conducting our own surveillance
.
”

He leaned back and studied her
.“
As am I. Give me half an hour to run a trace
.
”

“
You have it
.
”

He shot her a grin and left her office.

Ruby shut the door behind her, and walked down the hall.

“
Ruby
?”
Amy called from the conference room.

She poked her head in.

“
I could see you twitching from here. Are you all right? I heard that Emilio has quite the effect on women
.
”

Ruby turned a finger in a circular motion
.“
I can see those matchmaking wheels turning, Amy. Toss a wrench in, because
I’
m not hot for him or anythin
g—
just bothered. That man is impossible. H
e’
s presumptuous and . .
.”
She grasped for the right word
.“
Arrogant
.
”

“
My, he has worked you up. I think that Justin checked his emotions pretty well today, do
n’
t you
?
”

“
What? Oh, yeah
,”
Ruby said, distracted.

“
They remain quite obvious to all except Arianna. I
t’
s not unusual for emotions buzzing between two people to be apparent to all but them. Watching the beginning of a love story is like those first weeks of spring. Everything is bright, full of hope
.
”

Ruby relaxed at the mention of Arianna
.“
Yeah, i
t’
s a real kick to watch. Hopefully, when they finally get mushy, they do
n’
t do it in front of me
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re a hopeless romantic, Ruby
.
”

“
You know I want her happy. H
e’
s a good guy. He knows her history, and wo
n’
t repeat it
.
”

“
I believe tha
t’
s why Justin is taking his time. He does
n’
t want to spook her
.
”

“
Her hair will turn gray at this rate
.
”

“
She does have gorgeous hair
.
”

“
Hair and love.
I’
d rather talk case strategy
.
”

“
Relationships are messy, unpredictable
,”
Amy pressed on.

“
They sure are
.
”

“
And also thrilling, full of meaning
.
”

“
For some.
I’
m maxed out on girl talk. Mind if we move on to talking about the case? I could use your help
.
”

“
Not at all. What do you need
?
”

“
Another set of eyes
.
”

“
You have them. Whom or what are we going to see
?
”

“
Susa
n’
s neighbor, Deanna Connelly. Susan fled to her house during an incident. Deanna sided with Jerald
.
”

“
Abusers can be very charming
.
”

“
Yes, and have double standards of conduct
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re thinking a romantic relationship
?
”

“
Jerald got jealous over the damn dentist. Tha
t’
s a pretty tight leash. Maybe he gives himself a lot more latitude
.
”

“
Yes, double standards are common with abusers
.
”

“
Shall we see what place Deanna thought she held in Jeral
d’
s heart
?
”

“
Absolutely. I think good-cop, bad-cop is in order. Am I to play bad cop this time
?
”

“
Tha
t’
s a real stretch, Amy
.
”

“
I suppose
I’
ll leave that part to you. It is such a snug fit
.
”

“
Thanks
.”
Ruby beamed.

✧

“
The cops may have already interviewed her
,”
Ruby said
.“
I did
n’
t see it in discovery, but they could have done so this morning. Wha
t’
s your take
?
”

“
Sh
e’
ll be reluctant to talk to us, initially
,”
Amy said
.“
W
e’
re on Susa
n’
s side. Sh
e’
ll show loyalty to Jerald again. I might be able to reach her, make her feel she has an ally
.
”

“
Tha
t’
s what
I’
m thinking. And sh
e’
ll be upset at losing Jerry, ready to slap at someone.
I’
ll offer my cheek
.”
Ruby pulled into the Connell
y’
s driveway.

“
A short sprint from Susa
n’
s house
.”
Amy noted.

“
Yes. She made it, and found no help here.
I’
ll have to hide my disgust for this woman. At least at the get-go
.
”

“
If w
e’
re righ
t
—”

“
We do have an excellent track record
.
”

“
True. And if w
e’
re right, again, then we must remember she is another pawn. He twisted her love and logic as he did Susa
n’
s
.
”

“
Sh
e’
s not blameless like Susan. I
t’
s hard to think of the other woman as a victim
.
”

“
Sh
e’
s a woman who loved a man. We must understand her to connect with her
.
”

“
I knew I picked the right person for this
.
”

They walked up to the front door and knocked. A curvy woman in a black dress answered. Her copious make-up failed to conceal the redness around her eyes and nose
.“
I already talked to the police
,”
Deanna said
.“
I told them everything I know
.
”

“
Mrs. Connelly, w
e’
re not with the police.
I’
m Ruby Miller, and I represent your neighbor, Susan Combes
.
”

Amy rushed forward quickly before Deanna could slam the door
.“
Hello, Deanna,
I’
m Amy Larson.
I’
m a psychologist.
I’
m so sorry for your loss
.”
She offered her hand and an understanding smile.

Deanna took Am
y’
s hand
.“
Thank you. I ca
n’
t believe h
e’
s gone
.”
She turned to Ruby
.“
And i
t’
s all your clien
t’
s fault. That crazy bitch killed him. What else do you need to know
?
”

“
If tha
t’
s true
,”
Ruby said
,“
then Susan will be held accountable for her actions.
I’
m here to gather as much information as I can
.
”

“
We think yo
u’
re the person who knew him best, Mrs. Connelly
,
” said Amy.

“
You can call me Dede. Yo
u’
re right, I knew Jer better than anyone
.
”

“
Are you willing to talk to us
?”
Amy asked.

Deanna looked from one to the other
.“I’
ll tell you the truth about your client
.”
She spat the words at Ruby
.“
Jerry gave me an earful about her on the regular. Come in
.
”

They walked into an explosion of pink and frills.

“
You have a very pretty home
,”
Amy said
.
“
Do you live here with your husband, Dede
?
”