Defenseless (6 page)

“L
et me see that!” Dwayne stormed.

A tight, smug expression possessed Carmen's lips as she handed him the article.

“I don't believe this!” He stared at the newspaper clipping.

“Believe it,” Carmen chimed in.

Dwayne leaned against his desk and continued to read. “The article states that Mrs. Walters claimed she didn't remember the incident, then later changed her story admitting to the crime.”

“Sound familiar?”

Anger replaced his frustrations. “Why in the hell didn't she tell me?” He flung the article onto his desk.

Carmen stood motionless with a satisfied look plastered into place.

“Carmen, see if Anthony is back, then have him get me as much information as he can concerning that case.”

“I'm sure he's just returned from his vacation. He's not due in the office until tomorrow.”

“Call him anyway. I need an extra person on this,” Dwayne said, unconcerned.

“You're going to keep the case?” Carmen asked, shocked.

“That remains to be seen.” Dwayne grabbed his briefcase and stormed out of the office, his anger evident in his powerful strides. He made it to the jailhouse in half the time. He was anxious to meet Sonya's sister.

Dwayne knew he should drop this case. He'd specifically told Sonya how much he hated surprises, and this definitely qualified as a surprise. Yet when Carmen asked if he was still handling the case, he was unable to follow his strict policy, and Sonya's solemn face still haunted him from yesterday.

After waiting for what seemed like eternity, Dwayne was ushered in to see his client.

The small, sad face of the distraught woman glanced up to greet him. There was no display of any other emotion. She wasn't what he expected. He had envisioned a replica of Sonya: a fiery, hazel-eyed woman with a domineering aura. However, this woman was the opposite of that vision. She seemed too meek and fragile to be Sonya's sister. He searched her pained expression for similarities but found none. She looked to have weighed about one hundred pounds. Her complexion was a rich mocha with a kiss of cinnamon, except for the discolored bruises across her face. Her unbrushed hair hung long enough to lie comfortably on her shoulders. When he finally met her soft brown eyes, an instant brotherly protectiveness attacked his heart. He knew then that he was going to do all her could to help her.

“Hello, Mrs. Durden,” he said, extending his hand. “My name is Dwayne Hamilton.” Her soft, chilled hands escalated his protectiveness. “Your sister has hired me to defend you.”

Laura nodded in understanding.

Dwayne took his seat and prepared to take notes. Yet at his client's unnerving silence, he put down his pen. “Perhaps you should begin by telling me your version of what happened, Mrs. Durden.”

“I killed my husband.”

Dwayne flinched at the emotionless confession. When she didn't continue, Dwayne tried again.

“Did you tell anyone else this?”

“No,” she whispered.

“Good. I suggest that you don't.”

A lone tear streaked down her face.

“Your sister has, of course, given me a different scenario. May I ask which I am supposed to believe?”

Laura's bottom lip began to tremble as she attempted to dry her face. She didn't answer his question.

“Mrs. Durden, I can't help you if you don't help me. You refused to post bail. I doubt your sister knows that. Do you mind telling me why?”

“Because I feel so guilty.”

“You don't remember killing your husband, isn't that correct?”

Laura hesitated again, then slowly nodded her head.

“Then you have no reason to feel guilty,” Dwayne reasoned, reaching out to take her hand.

Laura quickly pulled back. “I have every right to feel this way,” she began. “I am guilty. I may or may not have physically killed him, but in my heart…I wanted to.”

Dwayne leaned away from her and watched fresh tears roll down her face.

“I loved him. I always thought that I could make this marriage work. He made me feel as if everything that was wrong was my fault. I wanted him to love me.”

Dwayne's jaw tightened as he listened to her confession. Her whole body shook as she wept. “I understand what you're going through, Laura. There is no way we can change what has happened. It's okay to feel this way—”

“No,” she interrupted, shaking her head. “It's worse than that. I don't know when I stopped loving him and started hating him.”

Dwayne shook his head, not believing her words. “Laura, this man hurt you. He took your love, your trust and anything else you had to offer and just threw it away. I think you know exactly when you stopped loving him.”

Laura closed her eyes and laughed softly to herself. “You sound like my sister.”

“Your sister is right. You deserve better.”

Laura fell silent again and nodded her head. A long pause hung in the air between them.

Dwayne again noticed the purple and blue bruises across her face and felt his own anger mount at the animal who could inflict such brutality on his own wife. “Mrs. Durden, should I come back?”

She shook her head.

“First, I'm going to arrange your bail,” Dwayne said.

Laura looked neither happy nor disappointed at the news. She just sat there as if she was lost in a trance.

“Mrs. Durden?”

More tears rolled down her swollen cheeks. “I feel very confident about your innocence, and I know that your sister does, too.”

“Yeah,” Laura answered, dropping her head down to stare at her feet. “Good ole Sonya coming to the rescue.”

Dwayne frowned at the sarcasm in her voice.

“I'm sorry,” she said as if reading his mind. “It's just that I'm so scared.”

Dwayne nodded his head in understanding. “I'll get you out of here. I'll talk to your sister about your bail.”

Laura shook her head. “I don't want you going to my sister about my bail money. I have some money in the bank. I insist on using it.”

“Do you know how much your bail will be?”

“I don't care. I'll use the house if I have to,” Laura answered, looking up to stare at him.

Again Dwayne nodded. He didn't quite understand what was going on, but if this was what she wanted to do, then so be it.

A prison guard entered the room, and both Dwayne and Laura stood up. Dwayne remained watching Laura as she departed. He tried to absorb what had just happened. He sat down in his chair and let his mind drift to what he would've done had it been his sister behind these bars. Hell, if he even thought that James lifted a finger to his sister, it would've been him waiting to stand trial for murder. He reached for his pen as he wondered, what if it had been Bridget? His anger quickly returned and his pen snapped in half as he entertained such a thought. The ink oozing from his pen brought his attention back to reality. “Damn!” he cursed, jumping to his feet. He didn't expect to feel so emotional about this case. Another rule he was breaking. What was it about these sisters that kept him on the edge?

He left the small holding room to call his office.

“Hamilton, Locke and Associates.”

“Hello, Carmen. This is Dwayne. Did you get hold of Anthony for me?”

“Yes, and I was right. He wasn't too happy about cutting his trip short.”

“Never mind that. Was he able to get any information?”

“He hasn't checked back in with me.”

“Well, give me a call the minute he has something.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“Oh, Dwayne?”

“Yes?”

“Miss Walters has called, looking for you.”

“Did she call from the hospital?”

“No. She's at her office downtown. Would you like the number? She has already called here three times.”

“No, just give me the address. I think I'd like to pay her a visit in person.” Dwayne took down the information and hung up.
What in the hell was she doing at work?

 

Sonya sat uninterested in the proceedings that surrounded her. She kept watching the clock on the wall. Why hadn't she heard anything by now? She had called Dwayne's office three times this morning, and still there was nothing.

The hospital had released her at nine o'clock this morning. She couldn't take staring at those dull white walls in the hospital. By ten o'clock, she was home and was bored. When she remembered that she had a financial status meeting scheduled for eleven-thirty, she rushed to the office.

She could tell by the many shocked faces at her office that they didn't expect her to be in today, especially Sharon. She'd walked into her office to find Sharon's legs kicked up on her desk and barking orders at her employees. Sonya laughed as Sharon nearly fell out of her chair, trying to get up. Now stuck in this meeting, she prayed that Dwayne would call her soon.

“Excuse me,” she said, getting up from the table in the middle of one of her chief accountant's speeches. She slipped quietly out of the conference room and rushed down to her office. She ignored the large stacks of paper on her desk as she reached for the phone.

“Hamilton, Locke and Associates,” came the familiar chirp from Carmen.

“Yes, is Mr. Hamilton in yet?”

Carmen's voice lost its merry tune as she replied, “No, Miss Walters, he's not in. Would you like to leave yet another message?”

“Miss Walters?” Tina interrupted.

“Not now, Tina,” Sonya scolded without turning to look at her secretary. “As for you, Miss Deaton, I think that I've had just about enough of your attitude today,” Sonya continued into the phone. “You will either talk to me with the proper respect or—”

“Miss Walters, I'm afraid there is a Mr.—”

“Not now, Tina!” Sonya screamed, turning to face her secretary, but was shocked to see Dwayne towering behind Tina's five-foot-two frame. Sonya instantly hung up the phone with an angry Carmen shouting on the other end.

“As I was saying, Miss Walters, there is a Dwayne Hamilton here to see you.”

“I can see that, Tina. Thank you. You may leave now,” Sonya said, going to sit in her chair. She knew her flushed cheeks gave away her embarrassment. “Won't you please have a seat?” she offered, gesturing to a chair in front of her desk.

Dwayne took a brief look around her spacious office, nodding his head. “Nice,” he said casually as he took his seat.

“Thank you.”

“I thought you were supposed to stay in the hospital for twenty-four hours?” he asked. His voice held concern.

Sonya glanced away from his probing eyes. “I was, but I was beginning to feel the walls closing in on me.”

“I see,” Dwayne answered, standing up to walk toward her.

Sonya's eyes widened in alarm as his hand reached up to feel her head. She started to pull away, but she felt the firm hold at the back of her neck.

“Be still. I just want to examine your bruise.”

“Are you going to tell me that you're a doctor as well as a defense lawyer?”

Dwayne let out a deep chuckle. “Are you always so defensive when someone is trying to help you?”

Sonya flinched when his hand caressed her tender bruise. “Maybe you should have stayed a little longer at the hospital.”

Sonya wanted to pull away again. Dwayne's nearness was playing havoc on her emotions. There was a wondrous fragrance that surrounded him that held her prisoner. “Have you gone to see my sister?” she managed to ask in a low voice, while focusing her eyes on a loose thread that hung from her fuchsia pantsuit.

Dwayne returned to his chair satisfied with his inspection. “I have, and I've gotten her bail arranged. She'll be released by three o'clock today—”

“Whatever it takes, I'll pay it,” Sonya cut in.

“Your sister wants to post her own bail,” Dwayne said matter-of-factly.

Sonya swirled her chair to face the long wall of open windows. She stared at the beautiful skyline of downtown Atlanta. She was hurt by her sister's decision. She only wanted to help, but once again Laura saw this as an opportunity to declare her independence.

How many times had Laura claimed that she didn't need or want any help from her? Laura always saw Sonya's concern as an act of interference. “Does she have enough money?” she finally asked in a low voice.

“She wants to put up her house.”

Sonya squared her shoulders, gathered her courage and stood up from her chair. “So are you here to also tell me that you're no longer working for me?” Sonya asked, her sarcasm sharp enough to cut through the thickest glass. She didn't want this man to see how much her sister's decision affected her.