The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) (40 page)

“
Wha
t’
s he doing there
?
”

“
I believe h
e’
s composing himself, Your Honor
.
”

“
Is he new
?
”

“
New to his current position, yes
.
”

“
Is he qualified for a first-degree murder case
?
”

“
The county attorney made the assignment
.
”

“
Then who are we to question it
?
”

“
Precisely
.
”

Stark emerge
d—
pale and slouched. He focused on a chair and made a beeline for it, head down. He dropped his briefcase to his right and looked up. Somewhere along the way, h
e’
d lost his books.

“
Shall we begin
?”
Judge Penwick asked.

“
The defense is ready to proceed
.
”

“
Go ahead, Ms. Miller
.
”

“
This morning, the defense submitted its discovery to the state
.
”

“
Have you had the opportunity to review it
?
”

“
No
,”
Stark squeaked.

“
Tha
t’
s not entirely accurate, is it, Mr. Stark
?
”

He sank in his chair.

“
What do you mean, Ms. Miller
?
”

“
For safety reasons, I had to wait to disclose discovery until Johnsto
n’
s arrest, which occurred a
t
—
”
Ruby checked her PSC
.“
Eight-fifty-two
.
”

“
On what grounds
?”
the judge asked, eyebrows raised.

“
Stuart Johnston is in federal custody on charges related to first-degree murder for the benefit of a drug enterprise
.
”

Stark did a boneless slide halfway off his chair before his elbow caught in an armrest.

“
I see
.
”

“
Shortly after his arrest, my paralegal sent discovery to Mr. Stark via his legal secretary. It included investigatory reports, photographs, forensic results, an expert profile by Dr. Amy Larson, and footage from surveillance equipment surreptitiously installed in my clien
t’
s home by Jerald Combes
.
”

“
The victim
?
”

“
No, Your Honor. You see, the murder for which Stuart Johnston is held is of an Anthony Priestley. He hired a plastic surgeon to give Priestley the face and prints of Combes. The surgeon is now missing
.
”

“
You cannot blindside me with this! I
t’
s not fair
!
”

“
You arrived in the office today at nine. The discovery file was transmitted by then. You accessed the discovery file sent by my office. True
?
”

“
Yes, bu
t
—”

“
You have
n’
t reviewed discovery
?”
Judge Penwick asked.

“
No, Your Honor
.”
He squirmed in his seat, and pulled at his tie.

“
The most compelling piece is footage showing my client cleaning up her kitchen and heading to bed at the time of the murder
.
”

“
In light of the new evidence, will the state dismiss its case against Susan Combes
?
”

“I’
ll have to as
k
—”

“
Stuart Johnston
?”
Ruby interrupted
.“
You can see how tha
t’
d be inappropriate, as h
e’
s held in a federal facility for the murder your office has pinned on my client. Yo
u’
re lead counsel, Mr. Stark. The decision is yours
.
”

“
Well, I, I wo
n’
t dismiss at this time
.
”

“
Very well, then. If the state submits the evidence collected with Johnsto
n’
s involvement, and excludes the aforementioned exculpatory evidence, the state may bamboozle the grand jury into returning an indictment. In which case, the defense would request an Omnibus Hearing. The issue would be probable cause. In consideration of the extenuating circumstances in this case, i
t’
s appropriate to release Susan Combes on her own recognizance until the defense may be heard on the issue of probable cause. If not an RPR, then any public safety concern would be assuaged by requiring Ms. Combes to wear a Trak bracelet.
I’
d request that her restrictions include movement about her home, the Ramirez Ranch for domestic-violence survivor therapy, and her place of employment
.
”

“
Domestic-violence survivor therapy
?
”

“
Yes, Your Honor. Her husband installed surveillance equipment in her house, and a spy application on her phone. Footage from the home shows Jerald Combes fracturing her wrist. The obvious conclusion is the correct one
.”
Ruby held up her hands
.“
A Trak under the requested conditions would be amenable to my client pending further proceedings
.
”

“
It was open and shut
!”
Stark blurted.

“
If tha
t’
s all the state has to add,
I’
ll grant the defens
e’
s request
.
”

Stark placed his hands on the armrests and looked ready to flee.

“
The state will be present to go on the record in open court
?
”

“
Yes, Your Honor
.
”

Ruby rose, and offered her hand
.“
Thank you, Your Honor
.
”

“
Thank you, Ms. Miller
.
”

Ruby returned to the courtroom, located Emilio and Colin, and motioned for them to follow her out.

“
W
e’
re on track. Le
t’
s take a page from Jerr
y’
s playbook, shall we
?
”

“
The spoofing application is activated. Stuart Johnsto
n’
s number is entered. What should I send? Susan is out? She goes home today
?
”

“
No way, this is Stuart talking
,”
Ruby said
.“
Hand it over. Le
t’
s see
.”
She typed, and said
,“
Your woman is out on house arrest. That should do it
.”
She handed the PSC back to Colin. It beeped
.“
Well
?”
she prompted.

“
The bitch dies tonight
,”
Colin recited.

“
He expects his biggest thrill yet
,”
Emilio said.

“
It just might be
.”
             

✧

Arianna descended the steps and approached Susan slowly, as she did for each newcomer to her ranch, whether human or horse. Maintaining eye contact, she smiled and held out her hand, waiting for Susan to come to her. When she did, Arianna smiled
.“I’
m Arianna Ramirez. You can call me Anna. Welcome to my ranch. I
t’
s not big enough to get lost on, but i
t’
s the perfect size for my work. W
e’
ll take care of your bags, and get you settled
.
”

“
I do
n’
t have an
y
—”

“
Sure you do, Susan. Ruby had your things sent over. She does
n’
t miss a trick
,”
Jasmine said, and started to unload.

“
Justin, would you help Jasmine?
I’
ve set Susan up in the Virginia Room
.
”

“
Sure thing
.
”

“
What would you like to do, Susan
?
”

“
I, I do
n’
t know
.
”

“
Would you like to take a walk with me? Get some fresh air after being in a stale space
?
”

“
Yes, that sounds nice
.
”

“
I love this time of day. I
t’
s still early enough that it could turn into anything. Full of potential. Wha
t’
s your favorite time of day
?
”

“
The hour before dinner
.
”

“
Wh
y’
s that
?
”

“I’
m home from work, and have the house to myself
.
”

“
You have as much time and space to yourself here as yo
u’
d like. Feel free to wander the property. I
t’
s all fenced in. Yo
u’
ll know when you run out of land. Would you like to meet my staff
?
”

“I’
m,
I’
m not really dressed to meet anyone
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re dressed perfectly
.”
Arianna led her into the stables
.“
They pay attention to how you act, not how you look
.
”

A great white head poked out
.“
Tha
t’
s Willow. Sh
e’
s the most curious, always first to see wha
t’
s going on
.
”

As if in response, Willow shook her head and whinnied.

“
It wo
n’
t be long now before Trenton takes a look
.
”

Two stalls down, a black head appeared, shaking his mane.

“
He likes to look good for company. I was going to take him into the exercise ring. Would you like to join us
?”
Arianna asked.

“
Sure
.
”

Arianna expertly haltered Trenton, and held the rope out to Susan
.“
Would you like to lead him? H
e’
s an excellent follower
.
”

“
I, I would
n’
t know what to do
,”
Susan said, and kept her free hand at her side.

“
Yo
u’
d take the lead rope a foot from the head collar with your right hand, and yo
u’
d hold the rest of the lead looped up in your left hand
.”
Arianna demonstrated
.“
Yo
u’
d face this way, bring your hand slightly forward and click your tongue. Then yo
u’
d start walking. Would you like to try
?
”