The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) (3 page)

“
We need to talk about her drinking habits. She had five hard drinks tonight. Where would you say that lands her in terms of her drinking routine
?
”

“I’
d say tha
t’
s her usual. Sometimes she has a couple more, rarely a couple less
.
”

“
How many nights does she drink
?
”

“
Every night
.
”

“
Have your teenagers said anything to you about her drinking
?
”

“
Yeah, the
y’
re worried about her
.
”

“
Are you worried about her, Carter
?
”

He sighed
.“
Yeah, I am, especially now that sh
e’
s in jail for a DUI. I still ca
n’
t believe it
.”
             

“
Yo
u’
re free to call Kaye County and check. They wo
n’
t let you talk to her or give you specifics about her case, but the
y’
ll confirm her presence. Have you talked to her about cutting back on her drinking
?
”

“
I have, but I do
n’
t think she has any control over it. I do
n’
t know what to do.
I’
ve tried hiding alcohol.
I’
ve suggested outings to places where they do
n’
t serve, but she wo
n’
t go. She accuses me of wrecking her fun
.
”

“
To your knowledge, has anyone directly told her she has a drinking problem
?
”

“
No, I guess I have
n’
t. I do
n’
t think anyone else has, either
.
”

“
Let me be clear, Carter. I do
n’
t think her drinking is anyon
e’
s responsibility but her own. I want to do more than just get her through this criminal case. I suspect you do, too. I want to get at the heart of why she landed in jail tonight. Do you want that for her
?
”

“
Yes, of course I do
.
”

“
I think ther
e’
s no day like today to hold an intervention. It would send the message that you support her in regaining control over her drinking. Please include your teenagers in this. I
t’
s important that i
t’
s a family effort
.
”

“
Okay.
I’
ll talk to the kids. Wha
t’
s going to happen to her
?
”

“I’
m waiting on test results, and that will determine the charge. Sh
e’
ll either be released within the next couple hours, or sh
e’
ll be held for a bail hearing. Either way, w
e’
ll schedule the intervention for five this afternoon. Can you do what it takes to make that happen for Vera
?
”

“
Yes. I have to rearrange my schedule, but
I’
ll make it work
.
”

“
Good. And, please, clear Ver
a’
s schedule for today. Tha
t’
ll give her time to settle down before our afternoon session. I have a trusted friend wh
o’
s fantastic at facilitating tough conversation
s—
tha
t’
s basically what an intervention is. Before our meeting,
I’
d like you and your kids to think of concrete ways Ver
a’
s drinking has impacted your home life. Focus on the ac
t—
her drinking. Sh
e’
s a wonderful person engaged in destructive behavior
.
”

“I’
ll get started right away. Thank you, Ruby. I
t’
s good we have you in charge of her case
.”
He paused
.“
She means a lot to us, me and the kids
.”
Emotion thickened his voice.

“
Yo
u’
re very welcome, Carter. I
t’
s obvious her family means the world to her. Yo
u’
re an important part of her team. Feel free to call me any time.
I’
ll see you at five
.
”

Ruby signed off, and settled back in her chair, fingers twined behind her head.

“
PSC, call Amy Larson, voice only
.
”

A woman formed in the shadows. She turned her bedside light on. Her sleeping gown shimmere
d—
the stark white a dramatic contrast to her dark curls
.“
Disturbed by dreams
?
”

“
Yes, but
I’
m not calling to get my head shrunk. I got a DUI call. My client and her family are coming in at five.
I’
d like to host an intervention, facilitated by the best. Are you available
?
”

“
Yo
u’
re in luck. I had a cancellation this afternoon. Count me in, on one condition
.
”

“
What condition
?
”

“
Yo
u’
ll make time for you
.
”

“
My head feels smaller already with this short chat. Yo
u’
re good
.
”

Amy gave a throaty laugh
.“I’
m not your therapist, dear. You know tha
t’
s not what I mean
.
”

As she joined in, Ruby felt the tightness in her chest loosen
.“
Seriously, thanks. Knowing yo
u’
re there for m
e—
it matters. You know
?
”

“
I do know, Ruby. And
I’
m always here for you, even a
t
—
”
Amy glanced at the PS
C’
s clock
,“
Quarter past one on a Friday
.
”

Ruby winced
.“
Sorry about the timing. Veronica picked an inconvenient time. Tell me this. How do you look impeccable at this ridiculous hour? I block my visual for a reason
.
”

“
Are you wearing a pore-zapping mask
?”
Amy gave a cheeky grin.

“
You know how I pounce on the latest trends
,”
Ruby said wryly
.“
I certainly do
n’
t put on silk to sleep
.
”

“
You also sleep alone, despite my efforts to make some very nice matches for you. That neurosurgeon was a wonderful man
.
”

“
Wonderfully dull. I have a law firm to run, another clien
t’
s case to plan, and no time for romance. Though it pains me, I have no time to discuss the latest suitor with you. Thank
s—
not for relentlessly setting me up, but for everything else.
I’
ll see you this afternoon
.
”

Ruby returned to the silence of her apartment. She contemplated falling back asleep, this time in her lumpy bed. But the images were still too vivid. Opting to jumpstart her day at 1:22
a.m.
, Ruby stretched and went to her compact shower. She cranked the temperature to high, and turned the jets on full blast. When the creaky pipes delivered an uneven stream, she whacked the shower head to steady the flow.

Chapter 2

Susan Combes darted from room to room, frantic. Sh
e’
d checked all the usual place
s—
decorative bowls, countertops, tables, pockets. Resorting to the unlikely, she opened the fridge, cupboards, and scoured the pantry. Anywhere a car keys would fit. The stove read 6:14
a.m
. Sixteen minutes until her hospital rounds began, until her third tardiness in as many weeks. She patted the pockets of her colorful medical scrubs again. Nothing.

Her husband strode into the kitchen, cool and collected. Sh
e’
d laundered and pressed his khakis and gray dress shirt by hand.

As she scanned his face for signs of anger, she noticed his shirt matched his eyes.

“
What are you scurrying about like a little mouse for? Pull yourself together, woman. You have work
.
”

“
Yes, yes, I know.
I’
m looking for my keys. Have you seen them
?
”

“
Yo
u’
re always throwing your things around.
I’
m not going to enable your carelessness. If you ca
n’
t find your keys, then yo
u’
ll be responsible for the consequences
.
”

“
But . . . my work is on the way to yours
.
”

“
You never listen to me. I said I wo
n’
t enable you
.”
He crossed the room, and rested his hand on her head. Looking down at her, he said
,“
Yo
u’
ll have to find another ride. I
t’
s for your own good. Yo
u’
re lucky I love you enough to provide you with a car at all. You have no appreciation for anything I do for you
.”
He cupped her chin, and stepped closer to her. Steel eyes met soft hazel
.“I’
ll expect my dinner at five-thirty. You know how angry you make me when you do
n’
t respect my schedule.
I’
m a busy man. We do
n’
t all have the luxury of an easy job like yours
.”
He flicked her collar and scoffed
.“
What a ridiculous outfit
.
”

“
The kids on the floor like it
.
”

“
How can you expect to be taken seriously wearing butterflies? Yo
u’
ll never advance to triage looking like a clown. Yo
u’
ll stay on the kiddie floor forever
.
”

“
I like it there
.
”

“
Of course you do. Yo
u’
re content to make nothing while I pay all our bills. You have no concern for the pressure you put me under to provide for your expensive tastes
.
”

“
Maybe I should change into something more serious
.
”

“
Good girl
.”
He kissed the top of her head
.“
Okay, dinner at five-thirty. Make a memo if you mus
t—
whatever it takes to not misplace that information in your scattered brain. Put your car keys in the damn bowl next time
.”
             

“
Dinner will be ready at five-thirty sharp
.
”

“
For fuc
k’
s sake, stop standing around. You have a real work outfit to select and keys to find. Yo
u’
d lounge in bed all day without me, or walk around forgetting what yo
u’
re after
.
”

“I’
ll go change
.”
Susan disappeared through the dining room.

Jerald walked out the front door. Spotting his neighbor, he smiled and walked over
.“
Susan is still out of sorts this morning
,”
he told Deanna
.“
Sh
e’
s agitated and racing around the house. She should lay low today. If she asks you for a ride, i
t’
s probably best not to give in to her
.
”

Deanna nodded, and said
,“
No problem
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re a doll, Dede
.”
He reached up and rested his hand on her face
.“
My sexy doll
.
”

Deanna preened. She cocked her hip, and rested her hand on it
.“
You know
I’
d only drive her as a favor to you. I hate her for all she puts you through. I do
n’
t understand why you stay with her. She does
n’
t appreciate you
.
”

“
No, she does
n’
t. Not like you. But sh
e’
s my wife, my responsibility. Tha
t’
s enough about her. You look beautiful
.
”

“
I just threw this on
.”
She pressed her palms down the skirt of her pink dress, bending forward to highlight the v-neck.

“I’
ll be over later to take it off
.”
He gave her a wolfish grin.

“
Same time
?
”

“
Yes. I
t’
ll be the highlight of my day
.
”

She waved as he got in his red car and tore out of the driveway.

✧

Ruby charged into her office suite, and steered toward the tall, stylish man behind the front desk.

Colin Lewis crossed his arms, pushed his glasses up his straight nose, and peered over his mustard-yellow frames at Ruby.

“
Ther
e’
s my dedicated paralegal. Quarter to seven and already hard at work. Your boss is very impressed. She raves about you constantly. And she brought you your usual
.”
She set a white bakery bag within smelling distance.

“
You cannot bribe me into declaring you the victor, Ruby. I already called it
.
”

“
Cass beat me
?
”

Colin snatched the bag, opened it, and inhaled. He reached in, and said
,“
Yes, she did. Yo
u’
re on the hook for lunch, boss. Thanks for the danish
.”
He held it up in salute, and took a generous bite that oozed cherry jelly out the side.

“I’
ve been working at home since after midnight. Should
n’
t that count
?
”

“
Perhaps, but that does
n’
t change the current rules. The victory line is the front entrance. That way I can call it. It replaced the rear-on-the-office-chair rule after you and Cass left wreckage in your wake. Remember that spectacular display of professionalism
?
”

“
Of course I do. I won. You know
I’
ll abide by the rules. But
I’
ll still lobby for my rear on my home office chair to count
.
”

“
I have a feeling Cass wo
n’
t agree to that
.
”

“
So do I
.”
She brightened
.“
At least i
t’
s my turn to pick the place
.
”

“
A solid consolation prize
.”
Colin brushed off his hands and pulled up Rub
y’
s schedule
.“
I noticed you have an event this afternoon. And you added it at one this morning. Brutal. I do
n’
t know how you do it
.
”

Ruby shrugged
.“
My phone rang. I answered
.
”

“
I could sleep through an air strike at one. A file on Ms. Epstein is already on the cloud. I pulled her case info from the cour
t’
s database, and confirmed sh
e’
s on the morning bail calendar
.
”

“
Thank you. Judge
?
”

“
Mason
.
”

“
Good. Sh
e’
s open to an RPR with standard conditions for a first-time DUI. Prosecutor
?
”

“
Avery
.
”

“
Tough, and fair. I like him. But wha
t’
s he doing handling the misdemeanor calendar? H
e’
s one of the best in the office
.
”

“
Part of the new county attorne
y’
s restructuring
.
”

“
It boggles my mind. The new assignments are illogica
l—
not at all an efficient or effective use of the talent at that office
.
”

“
Agreed. The office has gone to hell since we worked there
.
”

“
Since I stole you away with promises of sugary treats and caffeinated drinks
?”
She gestured to the bakery bag.

“
Yes. It was
n’
t your commitment to cleaning up criminal defense. It was the treats
.
”

She grinned at him
.“
Glad we understand each other
.”
She accessed her case notes on her PSC
.“
This afternoon I expect four to six. Possibly two teens in attendance, so have youthful option
s—
what our refined palates would go for
.
”

“
Sweet, fizzy, and caffeinated
.
”

“
Exactly. And make sure we have that tea Amy likes
.
”

“
Junk, and oolong. Noted. Anything else
?
”

“
Yeah. Check when the devil himself transfers to Mardova
.
”

“
That was a rough trial. I ca
n’
t believe i
t’
s been four years
.
”

“
Me either. I
t’
s the one time I missed the prosecuto
r’
s office. I woul
d’
ve enjoyed verbally slashing that smirk off his face during cross
.”
She shook her head to clear his image.

“
It took the jury no time to convict. Tha
t’
s something
.
”

“
I
t’
s my day for consolations. It does
n’
t bring Tara back, but at least her family saw justice done.
I’
d like to think that she knows what happened to her mattered. Despite his dadd
y’
s clout, Longhorn did
n’
t get away with it. Helped him stay in-state and draw out his appeal this long though
.”
She scrubbed her hands over her face
.“
Maybe once that degenerate is rotting in a mega-max, I can get some rest
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re not a robot, Ruby, regardless of what your mother says. Make some time for you
.
”