“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 that’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, they’re worried about her.”
“Are you worried about her, Carter?”
He sighed.“Yeah, I am, especially now that she’s in jail for a DUI. I still can’t believe it.”
“You’re free to call Kaye County and check. They won’t let you talk to her or give you specifics about her case, but they’ll confirm her presence. Have you talked to her about cutting back on her drinking?”
“I have, but I don’t think she has any control over it. I don’t know what to do. I’ve tried hiding alcohol. I’ve suggested outings to places where they don’t serve, but she won’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 haven’t. I don’t think anyone else has, either.”
“Let me be clear, Carter. I don’t think her drinking is anyone’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 there’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. It’s important that it’s a family effort.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to the kids. What’s going to happen to her?”
“I’m waiting on test results, and that will determine the charge. She’ll either be released within the next couple hours, or she’ll be held for a bail hearing. Either way, we’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 Vera’s schedule for today. That’ll give her time to settle down before our afternoon session. I have a trusted friend who’s fantastic at facilitating tough conversations—that’s basically what an intervention is. Before our meeting, I’d like you and your kids to think of concrete ways Vera’s drinking has impacted your home life. Focus on the act—her drinking. She’s a wonderful person engaged in destructive behavior.”
“I’ll get started right away. Thank you, Ruby. It’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.
“You’re very welcome, Carter. It’s obvious her family means the world to her. You’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 shimmered—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?”
“You’re in luck. I had a cancellation this afternoon. Count me in, on one condition.”
“What condition?”
“You’ll make time for you.”
“My head feels smaller already with this short chat. You’re good.”
Amy gave a throaty laugh.“I’m not your therapist, dear. You know that’s not what I mean.”
As she joined in, Ruby felt the tightness in her chest loosen.“Seriously, thanks. Knowing you’re there for me—it matters. You know?”
“I do know, Ruby. And I’m always here for you, even at—”Amy glanced at the PSC’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 don’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 client’s case to plan, and no time for romance. Though it pains me, I have no time to discuss the latest suitor with you. Thanks—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. She’d checked all the usual places—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. She’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?”
“You’re always throwing your things around. I’m not going to enable your carelessness. If you can’t find your keys, then you’ll be responsible for the consequences.”
“But . . . my work is on the way to yours.”
“You never listen to me. I said I won’t enable you.”He crossed the room, and rested his hand on her head. Looking down at her, he said,“You’ll have to find another ride. It’s for your own good. You’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 don’t respect my schedule. I’m a busy man. We don’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? You’ll never advance to triage looking like a clown. You’ll stay on the kiddie floor forever.”
“I like it there.”
“Of course you do. You’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 must—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 fuck’s sake, stop standing around. You have a real work outfit to select and keys to find. You’d lounge in bed all day without me, or walk around forgetting what you’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.“She’s agitated and racing around the house. She should lay low today. If she asks you for a ride, it’s probably best not to give in to her.”
Deanna nodded, and said,“No problem.”
“You’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 don’t understand why you stay with her. She doesn’t appreciate you.”
“No, she doesn’t. Not like you. But she’s my wife, my responsibility. That’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. It’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.
“There’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. You’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. Shouldn’t that count?”
“Perhaps, but that doesn’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 won’t agree to that.”
“So do I.”She brightened.“At least it’s my turn to pick the place.”
“A solid consolation prize.”Colin brushed off his hands and pulled up Ruby’s schedule.“I noticed you have an event this afternoon. And you added it at one this morning. Brutal. I don’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 court’s database, and confirmed she’s on the morning bail calendar.”
“Thank you. Judge?”
“Mason.”
“Good. She’s open to an RPR with standard conditions for a first-time DUI. Prosecutor?”
“Avery.”
“Tough, and fair. I like him. But what’s he doing handling the misdemeanor calendar? He’s one of the best in the office.”
“Part of the new county attorney’s restructuring.”
“It boggles my mind. The new assignments are illogical—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 wasn’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 options—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 can’t believe it’s been four years.”
“Me either. It’s the one time I missed the prosecutor’s office. I would’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. That’s something.”
“It’s my day for consolations. It doesn’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 daddy’s clout, Longhorn didn’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.”
“You’re not a robot, Ruby, regardless of what your mother says. Make some time for you.”
“Amy tagged you, didn’t she?”
“Perhaps.”
She held her hands out, palms facing Colin.“I’m fine.”Resting her hands on the ledge, she leveled her gaze.“Let’s focus on the living, and those not damned to Mardova. What we can do for this new client and her family. I have treatment info ready to go, thanks to you. I think you covered every program on the planet. My read on Veronica is she’ll stick close if she goes. She’s involved with her family and her community.”
“Do you think she’ll go?”
“Yeah, I do. She loves her family, and wants to do right by them. The Aurora Foundation would be a good fit for her.”
“Rigorous, high success rate. It encourages family participation.”
“You never cease to amaze me.”She caught his grim look, and forced a broad smile.“You know how I love a new case. It’s exactly what the good doctor herself would prescribe.”
“Funny. Amy’s recommendation had more of a tropical flair—beaches, hammocks, fruity cocktails.”
Ruby sniffed.“What’s that I smell? An ulterior motive?”
Colin turned to his screen and averted his gaze.“Oh, look here. You have a prospective intern arriving shortly.”
“Real smooth. I’ll be in my office.”
“There’s hot coffee waiting on your desk. It’s as strong as our coffeemaker would brew. We could really use—”
“An espresso machine? We’ll upgrade soon. And you’ll get that vacation. It’s been a hectic three years.”
“A lucrative three years.”
“Yes, but you know me.”
“Investing before splurging. Yes, yes. I’m not asking for a prime machine.”
“And I’m not saying no. I’m simply saying not yet.”
“You’re the boss,”he said to his screen, and sighed.
“Are you in for lunch?”
“Yeah, and I feel like Thai, if that makes any difference to you.”
“How about the international buffet on Third? They always have Thai, Mexican, and Indian. I think it’s Moroccan week on the rotation.”
“I suppose that would work.”
“You’re the best, Colin. Better than any prime automaton in development,”she teased.
“Damn right. You may think that’s a big joke, but I follow tech. It’s only a matter of time.”He gave her a sidelong glance, caught her grin, and lost the battle to keep his dimple hidden.
Satisfied, she strode to her office and tossed her briefcase on her sleek black desk before continuing down the hall. Stopping in front of the engraved plaque reading Cassandra S. Dayton, Ruby gave it a tilt. Knocking on the doorframe as she entered, she said,“I’m interviewing another eager law student today. I have a good feeling about this one.”
/> Cassandra pushed back from her desk, scooped her long copper hair up in one hand, grabbed a clip from a drawer with the other, and twisted it into a bun before securing it. She spun in her chair to give Ruby her full attention as a few tendrils fell free to frame her oval face.“Think it’ll go better than your interview yesterday? What was his name? Jason?”Her clever azure eyes danced with humor.
“Jerome. Je-Romeo, more like. A stereotypical defense lawyer in the making.”Ruby lowered her voice and wiggled her brows over eyes that flashed bright green.“Direct quote—‘A good looking lady such as yourself could use a man like me around.’I asked him if he was after a job or a date. He didn’t think it was rhetorical.‘I’m well-qualified for both.’”Ruby imitated his smarmy smile, and had Cassandra clutching her stomach.“I have hope for this one, Cass.”
“You are ever the optimist.”
“Positive visualization, Cass. Fresh eyes, eager to learn and work hard. What’s not to like about an intern? You decide if you’re getting one yet?”
“I’ll hold off for now.”She turned to her screen to hide her smile.“Maybe your intern will take a special interest in family law with the proper encouragement.”
“Clever. I do the grunt work, secure an all-star intern, and you snatch up my resource. Give my intern varied experience—that’s great. But when I have work, you keep your grubby hands off. Got it?”
“Hey, I object. My hands are lovely. I treated myself to a manicure to celebrate.”She turned back to face Ruby, and fluttered her fingers.“Eggplant. Isn’t it fabulous?”
“It’s purple. I’m surprised you didn’t go with your brand color.”
“Citrus-orange nails?”Cassandra held her manicured hands to her heart and clucked her tongue.“You seriously know nothing about fashion.”
“Guilty as charged.”
“Now your brand color, on the other hand, would look truly mag.”
“Teal nails?”
“I was thinking a touch more green than blue. Seafoam green rather than turquoise.”
“I think I’ll stick to this shade.”Ruby pretended to study her nails.
“What shade?”
“I believe the fancy French term is ongles naturel.”
The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) Page 2