The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) (23 page)

“
Tha
t’
s heartbreaking
.
”

“
Yes, it is. I wanted so badly for her to be a survivor of domestic violenc
e—
not its casualty
.
”

“
How do you deal with such tragedy
?
”

“
We learn from it to help the living. You see, sh
e’
d done everything right, and so had her parents. The
y’
d reported, and had installed a reputable home-alarm system. And they did things that were
n’
t legal but were understandable. They bought her a handgun. It was still in her nightstand
.
”

Jasmine dabbed her eyes
.“
What happened to him
?
”

“
He tried to pin it on Tar
a’
s chemistry partner. Longhorn planted a trail that threw off the police. Her parents hired an e-whiz who found spyware on Tar
a’
s phone. H
e’
d been stalking her for months. Why do you think
I’
m telling you this story
?
”

“
I
t’
s about a violent abuser. And we know Susan was battered by the man sh
e’
s accused of murdering
.
”

“
Yes, go deeper. We have to understand this heinous mentality to solve this crime. Wha
t’
s the thought process of an abusive and controlling man? How does he see his victim? What tactics does he use to keep her under his control? Wha
t’
s his goal? After Tara refused Longhorn, he murdered her on Valentin
e’
s Day. On Friday, Susan Combes turned twenty-nine. Happy birthday to her
.”
Ruby spat out the words
.“
I
t’
s an angle to consider. There are many ways to ruin a life
.
”

Chapter 13

Ruby and Jasmine stopped by Coli
n’
s desk.

“
You have a visitor, Ruby
,”
he said, and handed her a cup of coffee
.“
H
e’
s in the meeting room. He claims Alfred sent him. You wo
n’
t believe who he is
.
”

“
Let me guess, h
e’
s our new e-guru
.
”

Colin opened and closed his mouth
.“
I, I do
n’
t even know what to say
.
”

“
Tha
t’
s a first. Jazz, you can work in the conference room. My reports are in the file. Yo
u’
ll also find this mornin
g’
s interview. The rest of the team will start filing in soon
.
”

A wicked gleam came into her eye.

Seeing it, Ruby said
,“
Do
n’
t expect Kottke anytime soon. He likes to stroll in right on time. Arianna Ramirez will be here before he is
.
”

“
Wh
o’
s she
?
”

“
The love of his life
.
”

Jasmine sighed.

“
Now it registers. There are plenty more hunks in the sea, Jazz
.
”

“
Maybe the e-man has potential
.
”

“
Fish elsewhere. We have a murder to solve. Besides, I doubt it. H
e’
s an e-nerd. You shoul
d’
ve seen Flick
.
”

Ruby strode to the meeting room, and stopped at the threshold, taken aback by broad shoulders and a lean-muscled frame covered in black slacks and a blazer. She cleared her throat. He turned from the window
.“
Alfred sent you
?
”

When he nodded, a tendril of thick black hair fell over his chocolate brown eyes. They warmed as he shot her a grin that would cause heart palpitations in other women.

Damn it
, she thought as she felt the thump. She was
n’
t immune after all. I
t’
ll fade, she reassured herself. As with Kottke, sh
e’
d stop noticing his appeal.

“I’
m Emilio Mar
tí
n
.”
He extended his hand.

She took it, and held fast against the jolt
.“
Ruby Miller. Thanks for coming in on no notice
.
”

“
I
t’
s my pleasure to meet you. Any friend of Alfred is a friend of mine
.
”

“
Yes, likewise
.”
She sat and motioned for him to do the same.

He did, stretching his legs as he cradled his head in his hands.

“
You do
n’
t look like your average comp nerd
.
”

“
You do
n’
t look like your average defender of criminals
.
”

“
What do you mean by that
?”
Her eyes sparked.

He enjoyed their change from mossy green to gleaming emerald
.“
You first
.
”

“
Our former e-man, Flick, fit the image. Long hair, pulled back and bound by the oddest fasteners he could find. His ears disappeared under piercings. We asked for fair warning before he entered a room so we could grab eye protection. He dressed in neon
.
”

“
Yo
u’
ve aptly described half my research-and-development team
.
”

“
Your turn
.
”

“
You do
n’
t look like you sell prior-owned automobiles
.
”

“
Ah, yes. Yo
u’
ve nailed it. As in your profession, i
t’
s a stereotype for a reason
.”
Flustered by his appreciative grin, she forged on
.“
Alfred said you do
n’
t drink coffee. I hope you do
n’
t mind that I do, by the pot. Would you like tea? What do you drink? If i
t’
s not bright green I may have it in stock. I run on caffeine and sugar. But I try to stock options
.”
She caught herself rambling and clammed up.

“
Are you always this expansive
?”
he asked, humor alive in his eyes.

“
No. Maybe. It depends
.
”

“
I had tea with Alfred.
I’
m fine, Ruby. Wha
t’
s Ruby short for
?
”

“I’
ve gone with Ruby since my hating-pink tomboy phase
.”
Over-sharing again, she mused, and sipped her coffee to prevent any further revelations.

“
So i
t’
s feminine. Rubella
?
”

“
Sounds contagious. My mother is
n’
t that cruel
.
”

“
Rubanna
?
”

“
Ruby. You can play your guessing game later. We have a lot of work to do. Alfred said your e-skills are second to none. Is he right
?
”

“
Tha
t’
s accurate
.
”

“
I trust Alfre
d’
s judgment, but a jury would require more convincing. Tell me about your qualifications
.
”

“
I graduated from MIT
.
”

“
With honors
?
”

“
The highest
.
”

“
And your experience
?
”

“
When I was twelve, I started building robots. By the time I turned sixteen, they utilized technologies others had not yet imagined, much less invented
.
”

“
Okay, whiz kid. Le
t’
s get to the reason I require your services
.”
Ruby rose, and a piece of paper slipped from the pocket of her slim trousers.

“
Allow me
,”
he retrieved the slip and returned it to her.

“
You undoubtedly saw what it said
.
”

“
Why do you need permission
?
”

“
Well, if you must know
.
”

“
Yes
,”
he said, and reclined
.“
My very life depends upon it
.”
He covered his amused smile when she sent him a warning look.

“
It began when I first launched this firm. I was twenty-six, and fresh out of law school. Although many tried, nobody could convince me I was too young, too inexperienced, too female, too blonde. I was determined. And also terrified
,”
she heard herself admit.

“
Bold endeavors trigger excitement and terror. It takes tenacity to proceed
.
”

She nodded at his statemen
t’
s truth
.“
I knew the law, and relied on logic to work my cases. I knew if I waited for permission from others
I’
d be paralyzed. So I granted it to myself. Permission to show such passion in court the judge instructs me to tone it down. Permission to annoy the hell out of officers who resist considering evidence I unearth during my own investigations. Permission to blast out of my comfort zone. It became a habit, these permission slips. And there you are, holding one in your hand. You can throw it away. It served its purpose
.
”

“I’
ll take care of it
.
”

“
Thank you. As I was saying, our client is Susan Combes. Jerald, her husband, was abusive and controlling. Police arrested Susan yesterday evening on murder charges Are you familiar with the dynamics of domestic violence? If not, our consulting psychologist can give you a primer. To serve Susan well, you need to understand what Jerald did to her
.
”

“I’
m familiar
.”
His jaw clenched.

“
I pay standard consulting rates
.
”

“
Not necessary.
I’
m doing this pro bono. My company encourages volunteerism
.
”

“
What company
?
”

“
Tycon Industries
.
”

“
Small world
.
”

“
What do you mean
?
”

“
Susa
n’
s husband worked for Tycon. Have you come across a Jerald Combes
?
”

“
No, i
t’
s a large enterprise. Would you like me to obtain Jeral
d’
s personnel file
?
”

“
Yes, thank
s—
if we do
n’
t already have it. You must have some good contacts at Tycon
.
”

“
Yes
.
”

“
Justin Kottke is our lead investigator. H
e’
s pursuing that trail.
I’
ll connect you with him at the meeting
.”
She stopped pacing and leaned both hands on the table, mesmerizing him with her intensity
.“
Ther
e’
s a theory
I’
m pursuing. It seems outrageous, yet the evidence supports it
.
”

“
You have my undivided attention
.
”

She walked him through her theory before excusing herself to review her notes in her office.

Emilio walked back to the window to take in the city. He slid the paper from his pocket.

Permission to let someone else be the tech expert and stick to logic and law.

He wondered which captured his imagination mor
e—
the woman or her theory.

✧

Ariann
a’
s chestnut hair streamed behind her as she hurried into Rub
y’
s office and shut the door.

Ruby looked up
.“
Is the team ready to begin
?
”

“
Yeah, but you left out something major. Yo
u’
re working with Mar
tí
n
?
”

“
Yo
u’
ve heard of him
?
”

“
Ruby, everyone has heard of him. Leave your legal cave once in a while
.
”

“
And
?
”

“
H
e’
s a tech geniu
s—
started his own robotics company at sixteen, sold it at seventeen, invested in another company, and so on. He has the global tech market covered
.
”