The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) (11 page)

“I’
m calling to report a murder. This is Stuar
t
—”

“
Mr. County Attorney,
I’
d recognize your voice anywhere
.
”

“
Yes, i
t’
s me. Stuart Johnston
.
”

“
I beg your pardon, but I have to continue this conversation according to protocol
.
”

“
Yes, of course
.
”

“
Please state your emergency
.
”

“
Ther
e’
s been a murder. The victim is Jerald Combes.
I’
m at his lake cabin. His wife, Susan Combes, fled the scene in her car. I saw her. I
t’
s imperative that you locate her immediately. They live on three-one-eight-one Baker. Sh
e’
s mentally unstable and has already killed once
.
”

“I’
ve located your position, and dispatched units to your location and to the Combes residence. Are you in a safe place
?
”

“
Yes,
I’
m in front of the cabin
.
”

“
Please remain where you are until peace officers arrive
.
”

“
I will
.
”

“
Between you and me, Mr. Johnston, I voted for you. I appreciate your commitment to cracking down on crime.
I’
m so sorry yo
u’
re part of this tragedy
.
”

“
Thank you. H
e’
s a dear friend. I want justice for Jerry
.
”

“
Would you like me to remain on the line until law enforcement arrives
?
”

“
No, I need the time to pull myself together
.
”

“
All right then. Take care now
.
”

“
Thank you
.
”

He signed off, leaned against his car, and folded his arms across his chest. When he saw flashing lights, he crouched down and lowered his head.

An officer approached and laid a hand on Stuar
t’
s shoulder
.“
Are you all right, Johnston
?
”

He raised his head
.“
Strauss, thank God yo
u’
re on dut
y—
a man I can trust.
I’
m sorry. Give me a minute.
I’
ll pull myself together
.
”

“
Take whatever time you need
.
”

Stuart shook his head and rose
.“
I was able to positively identify . . . him. The victim is a close friend of mine. More like a brother, really, since our crew days at Princeton. I was able to positively identify the . . . him. God, I ca
n’
t believe Jerr
y’
s gone. Murdered by his own wife. He warned me sh
e’
d been unstable. I never thought sh
e’
d take it this far. But I saw her drive away with my own eyes
.
”

“
Wha
t’
s her name
?
”

“
Susan Combes
.
”

“
Physical description
?
”

“
Brown hair, medium length, petite frame
.
”

“
Walk me through what happened tonight. Whose cabin is this
?
”

“
Jerr
y’
s
.
”

“
What brought you here
?
”

“
Jerry called me around seven. H
e’
d had another fight with his wife
.
”

“
That happen a lot
?
”

“
Yes. Sh
e’
s the jealous typ
e—
tracks his whereabouts, has a suspicious mind. Quick to flip her lid, as Jerry would say
.
”

“
He say anything else to you
?
”

“
Jerry was heading down this road when he called. H
e’
d caught his wif
e’
s car in his rearview mirror a few miles back. He said h
e’
d calm her down and send her home. He wanted me to come over after that to help him figure out what to do about her. She was getting worse. Violent
.
”

“
She make any threats
?
”

“
Frequently. Jerry bought her a new kitchen knife. She said sh
e’
d slice him up like a stuffed turkey, good riddance, and find herself a real man
.
”

“
When did she say that
?
”

“
Tonight. I told Jerry time and again you ca
n’
t reason with crazy. Damn it, why would
n’
t he listen
?”
Stuart clenched his fists and turned away for a minute. He scrubbed his hands over his face, turned back, and said
,
“
Times like this, i
t’
s hard to be objective. But as county attorney, i
t’
s my job.
I’
ll help facilitate the charging process with my office. It could be sh
e’
s already grabbed what she needed and fled
.
”

“
Appreciate your cooperation, Johnston.
I’
ll send a detective over to get some more specifics. You know the drill
.
”

“
Yes, of course. Anything. I want to help. I
t’
s difficult being here, knowing that h
e’
s inside
.
”

“
W
e’
ll get you out of here as soon as we can
.
”

“
Can you do me a favor, Strauss
?
”

“
Within reason
.”
             

“
Do
n’
t get fancy on this one. Follow procedure perfectl
y—
nothing more, nothing less. I want this to stick. I want justice for Jerry
.
”

“
You have my word
.
”

Chapter 7

“
Law office, Ruby speaking
.
”

The sleeves of an oversized orange sweatshirt swallowed the calle
r’
s hands and covered her mouth. Brown hair curtained her face. In a muffled voice, she said
,“
I need to speak to a lawyer
.
”

“I’
m Ruby Miller. Criminal defense is all I do, and I do it well. Le
t’
s start with your name
.
”

She lowered her hands, pushed back her hair, and wiped her eyes with a sleeve
.“
Susan Combes
.
”

“
How can I help you, Susan
?
”

“I’
ve been arrested for mu
h
—
”
A sob broke free, and interrupted her answer. Her face disappeared behind orange.

“
Money laundering
?
”

Susan shook her head.

“
Manslaughter
?
”

Again, she shook her head.

“
Murder
?
”

Susan looked up
.“
Yes
,”
she whispered
.“
My husband. I did
n’
t do it
.
”

“
Where was he found
?
”

“
The lake cabin
.”
She put her head down and burst into tears.

“
Wha
t’
s the address
?
”

“
Two-one-four-two Grays Bay Boulevard, Minnetonka. The
y’
re sayin
g
—”

“
Susan,
I’
m not yet interested in what the cops are saying happened.
I’
m going to go there and see for myself. Meanwhile, have a good cry. Do whatever you need to do to pull yourself together. Say nothing to the police. If they ask you anything about this case, yo
u’
re going to tell them you want your lawyer. Once you get off the phone with me, the
y’
ll process your prints, collect demographics from you, and put you in holding.
I’
ll be in to visit you once my team conducts an investigation at the cabin
.
”

“
Do you believe me
?
”

“
My mind is open.
I’
ll figure out who did it, Susan. Fair enough
?
”

“
Yes
.
”

“
Where were you arrested
?
”

“
My home
.
”

“
One second
.”
Ruby pulled up a directory on the stationary supercomputer on her desk
.“
I have your home address. I
t’
s nine now.
I’
ll be there by one. Hang in there, Susan
.
”

Ruby disconnected, packed her briefcase, and left her office
.“
PSC, call Justin Kottke
.
”

“
Kottke
.
”

“
We have a hot one. We need to move on i
t—
now. Meet me at two-one-four-two Grays Bay in Minnetonka. Lake cabin. Usual rates, big case. Murder. Wife accused of killing her husband. How long until you arrive
?
”

“
What if I had a hot date
?
”

“
Since the woman yo
u’
re swooning after is oblivious,
I’
d say yo
u’
d be willing to cancel on any poor excuse for a substitute
.
”

“
Harsh, and accurate. Damn it. Heading out now
.
”

“
See you soon. PSC, disengage and call Jasmine Sinclair
.
”

“
Hi, Ruby
.
”

“
I hope you powered down
.
”

“
I zoned out to that show Amy recommended. It just ended
.
”

“
Good.
I’
m heading to a murder scene. Want to join me
?
”

“
Absolutely
.
”

“
Be there in ten. PSC, disengage and tag Anto
n’
s
.
”

“
Anton speaking
.
”

“
Ruby speaking
.
”

“
Ciao, Gioia
!
”

“
I
t’
s good to hear your voice, Anton, and not just because it means ther
e’
s a cannoli
in my near future
.
”

“
You need a late night fix
.
”

“
Yes, do I ever
.
”

“
Anything with the cannoli
?
”

“I’
m heading to a crime scene. Give me the usual
.
”

“
Cops sampler, and a black-and-strong coming right up
.
”

“
And throw in something healthy. Got any green goop ready to go
?
”

“
So you are taking your new intern. Jasmine, Morning Glory and GreenPower. I like her very much
.
”

“
Your mind is a steel trap, my friend
.
”

“
How is she working out
?
”

“
Great. Sh
e’
s willing to dive right in
.
”

“
When will you be by
?
”

“I’
m getting to your door now
.”
Ruby set her PSC to standby and parked. In one fluid movement, she was out of the car and hurrying into the familiar scents of fresh baked bread and strong coffee. Tearing her eyes away from the tempting baked goods displayed in tidy rows, she focused on the man behind the counter wearing a white bake
r’
s coat
.“
Hey, Italian Stallion. Ther
e’
s the man with the goods in the flesh
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re too much.
I’
m tossing in the last pastries. Nice and hot.
I’
ll put it on your tab
.”
Anton moved his hefty frame with surprising speed. Brushing flour from his hands, he enfolded Ruby in an enthusiastic embrace, and pulled back enough to give her cheeks loud kisses.

She balanced herself on the counter as he released her abruptly to hand her a giant bakery bag and a coffee kit.

“
Thanks, Anton. This smells like my idea of heaven
.
”

“
At the rate yo
u’
re going, you might get there sooner than you think
.
”

“
Not you, too. You own a bakery. You should be on my side.
I’
m one of your best customers
.
”

“
We started offering healthy options for a reason
.
”

“
Somehow, I did
n’
t picture the angel at the gates to sugary delights chastising me
.
”

“
See you in the morning, I suspect
.
”

“
You know it.
I’
ll rally the team at eight. The proper fuel will discourage a coup against the fiend dragging them out of bed on a Saturday morning
.
”

“I’
ll have Angela deliver
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re a saint. You deserve those manly wings
.
”

“
Scoot
.”
He tossed a cinnamon roll at her head.

She caught and sampled it
.“
Divine.
A presto
!
”
She waved the roll, and walked out to the sound of his great guffaws.

Back in her car, she accelerated into traffic bound for dancing, bar hopping, and blind dates
.“
PSC, message to Colin Lewis. Murder case. Client is Susan Combes. Victim is clien
t’
s husband, Jerald Combes. Please pull data on both. Prep file for meeting at eight sharp, conference room. Expecting six, counting you. Angela will deliver. Settle up our fir
m’
s account when she does
.
”

Rub
y’
s unit sounded.

“
PSC, recite message
.
”

Will do.

“
Respond, eternally grateful. End message. Call Amy Larson
.
”

“
Need a head shrinking, my dear
?
”

“
Not yet. I
t’
s still shrunk from dinner. I picked up a murder case. The client is Susan Combes. Sh
e’
s charged with killing her husband.
I’
ll need you to profile. Eight work for you
?
”

“
It would be my pleasure. Should I pick up Anto
n’
s on my way in
?
”

“
Thanks for the offer. Angel
a’
s swinging over
.
”

“
Anything edible
?
”

“
I told Anton to throw some nondescript glowing items into the mix, along with the real food
.
”

“
That was very thoughtful
.
”

“
Fuel increases productivity
.
”

“
Right, it was a practical move
.
”

“
Precisely
.”
            
 

“
See you at eight, Ruby. Good luck
.
”

“
Yes, luc
k
—
‘I’
m a great believer in luck. The harder I work the more I have of it
.
’”

“
Thomas Jefferson, I believe
.
”

“
Yes
.
”

“
Go make some luck
.
”

“
Tha
t’
s the plan
.
”

Ruby dropped her PSC in the cup holder, and pulled in front of a brick apartment building.

Jasmine ran out in business casual with brown flats, and flew into the passenger seat.

“
Hey Jazz. Nice outfit. Ever been to a crime scene before
?
”

“
No, ca
n’
t say that I have
.
”