“In the spirit of celebration, make that four.”
“Hear, hear. And pair our dessert with Moscato, please.”
“How many bottles?”
“One. We like to keep our celebrations separate from our interventions.”
Jasmine turned to Colin.“What was it like when you worked at the county attorney’s office?”
“Schuler served as county attorney then,”he said.“There were problems. Certain paralegals had more interest in gossiping about their kids’antics, and their no-good ex-husbands than working. The rest of us had to pick up their slack.”When the server returned with their drink orders, Colin paused to dollop whipped cream and drizzle thick sauce onto his coffee.
“It’s almost too pretty to drink,”Jasmine said.“Were you a barista?”
“I prefer the term‘coffee artist,’”Colin said.“We all had to pay for school somehow.”He saw Ruby’s pained expression, and said, “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”Jasmine asked.
“It’s all right, Colin. I sold a number of antiques during law school. I’m certainly not alone. Alfred’s Antiques does great business.” She added cheer to her voice, and said,“The county attorney’s office had your usual office dynamics. Not everyone was an all-star like Colin.”
“And our fearless leader,”he said.
“Overall, people’s positions made sense for their commitment level and ability. Chatty Cali was on her thirteenth year as an entry-level paralegal.”
“Then Johnston took office and things changed. For instance, Cali is the Community Prosecution Division’s Senior Paralegal.”
“That makes no sense,”Jasmine said.
“Few assignments do,”Colin said.
“What do you make of it?”
“He’s legally trained and politically adept but lacks business savvy,”Ruby said.“He’s ill-equipped to manage human resources. That’s the aboveboard explanation.”
“And the underhanded one?”
“At our office, we don’t accuse without proof. Right, Colin?”
“Right, Ruby.”
Cass stabbed at her salad without taking a bite.
“Hey, Cass. What’d your salad do to you? Get something else if it’ll take that glum look off your face.”
“No, they gave me exactly what I ordered.”She stared at the creamy greens and waved her fork over them as if willing them to disappear.
“Guess they don’t have magical forks at Chestnut. Order something else.”
“I wouldn’t want to waste—”
“Do you feel like you’re celebrating?”
“No.”
“You know you want cheese-smothered ravioli.”Spotting the gleam in Cassandra’s eye, Ruby called over the waitress.“I’m sorry. This Waldorf salad was made beautifully. Jasmine is really enjoying it. But Cassandra would like it removed and replaced with the four-cheese ravioli.”
“Absolutely, I’ll put the ravioli in right away. At Chestnut, we strive to give each guest a pleasurable dining experience.”
“You’re doing superbly. Thank you.”
“You’re my Houdini.”Cassandra raised the back of her hand to her forehead. “I’m famished. Those sweet potatoes look good.”
Ruby passed the silver-edged dish.“Fine, but only until yours comes.”
Cassandra speared into the candied top, and scooped out three heaping spoonfuls. “Now I feel like I’m celebrating.”
“Excellent. Have as much as you want, Cass. I’ll take an equal amount of your ravioli and call it even.”
Cassandra’s next portion was half-sized.
“It’s your turn to toast, Colin,”said Ruby.“Start thinking, and make it good.”
“Your last won’t be hard to top.”
“It was hard to get inspired by the transition to a virtual file system.”
“It was an important milestone.”
“Important, but dull—as my toast reflected.”
“You quoted Martin Luther King.”
“What did Ruby say?”Jasmine asked.
Ruby held up her hand.“First, let me provide the context,”she said.“Cass was against the new system, and charged with disposing the physical files. Not a good combo, it turned out. She decided to do so by filling my office with shreds.”
“‘All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem,’”Colin recited.“‘May the consequences of progress be met with an appropriate and equivalent response.’”
“One of my better pranks. Ruby’s first toast is my favorite. She made it right after we launched our firms.”Cassandra raised her coffee mug, and waited for Colin to lift his.
In unison, they said,“‘May we never regret this bold endeavor,’”before clinking their mugs and beaming.
“Have you?”Jasmine asked Ruby.
“No. It’s been, at times, terrifying, thrilling, and everything in between. And always worthwhile.”
They raised their mugs and clinked again.“Hear, hear.”
Chapter 6
The oven clock read 5:16 p.m.—fourteen minutes before she had to have dinner on the table. Nothing could be out of place.
The table was perfect. Fresh daisies had pride of place in her grandmother’s porcelain vase—the only special little something she’d allowed herself. Looking at the yellow petals, she had hope. Tonight would go well.
She toyed with the skirt of her blue silk dress, wondering if he’d notice it and remember the good times. The night they’d met, and he’d twirled her around all night. He’d looked dashing in a suit as dark as his hair. The size difference had thrilled her as he’d moved her across the dance floor.
Yes, tonight would be different. She’d make sure everything was perfect, and give him no reason to get upset.
On impulse, she straightened the place settings, and took a picture. She imagined it was a table at the restaurant she’d dreamt of opening. Smiling to herself, she propped her phone on the counter, held her grandmother’s vase, and waited for the flash. Seeing herself in a striking dress with beautiful flowers, ready to welcome home her handsome husband, she could almost convince herself she was happy.
His car blasted into the driveway.
Heart pounding, she put her phone away and replaced the vase on the table. His beer was icy cold. The steak was medium. She’d cut a small piece from the bottom to ensure the pink. This one wouldn’t end up thrown against the cream wall. She wouldn’t have to scrub for an hour to remove the blood. She wouldn’t be so stupid to not get his steak right again.
He slammed the garage door and strode into the kitchen.
She forced a bright smile and cheerful tone as she greeted him.“Welcome home, Jerry. Everything’s ready. The steak is just how you like it.”
Ignoring her, he swept up the tidy pile of mail on the counter. Rifling through the stack, he pulled out a card and clutched it in his fist.“Who’s Dr. Prim?”He waved the card at her.“Why is he wishing you a happy birthday?”
Unable to stop them, her hands trembled. At a loss, she clasped them together, knowing she held a bomb with no way to defuse it. Helpless, she held up her hands.“Because it’s my birthday.”
“Are you trying to get smart with me?”
“No, Jerry.”
He closed the distance between them, grabbed her wrist with his left hand and the back of her neck with his right, forcing her gaze up into his. Hard steel.“Are you sleeping with him? Is that what’s going on here? I go to work to pay for this house, your car—everything. And you’re off fucking this Alan Prim? Get you hot that he’s a doctor?”
“No, Jerry. He’s my dentist. I’m sure he sends every patient a card.”
“Are you calling me crazy? Are you saying I’m imagining things?”
“No, Jerry, no.”
“So you are fucking him!”
“No, I’m not.”Her voice quavered.
“Should I call your boss and tell him what a slut you are? Yo
u’re already on thin ice, missing work like you do. It’s another sign you’re unstable. You can’t get to work, can’t keep track of your goddamn keys, can’t even keep track of who you belong to.”He tightened his grip.“You’re mine, or have you forgotten?”
“No, Jerry. I know. Please let go. You’re hurting me.”
“Not as much as you’re hurting me by spreading your legs to your goddamn dentist. What about my feelings?”He threw her against the wall.
She landed on her left hand with a crack. Cradling her wrist against her chest, she sat shaking, tears streaming down her face.“I’ll do better, Jerry. Not be so forgetful. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it.”
“You’re going to find a new dentist. A woman. I can’t even trust you to get your teeth cleaned. You don’t deserve a present for your birthday. It wasn’t even important enough to remember. You’re so damn old it’s ridiculous to celebrate at your age.”
Twenty-nine, she thought. Mind scattered by the pain shooting from her wrist, it drifted to the evening of her twenty-fifth birthday. Silk brushed her legs. She was desirable, his princess, and he was her prince. Her sister threw the surprise party for Susan; its high attendance shocked no one. She was different then. She had dreams. Dreams Jerry called adorable like the stuffed animals she’d kept into womanhood. She’d figured out they were silly. Jerry had told her so enough times that she’d packed them away and given them up.
Jerry yanked her up by her left wrist and back from the past. Agony shot up her arm as she cried out.
“Are you listening to me? Or are you too busy fantasizing about your damn dentist?”
“Yes, I mean no. No, Jerry, I don’t want anything from you.”
He squeezed her wrist. Voice as hard as his eyes, he said,“So you’re saying I do nothing for you.”He felt her tremble, and tightened his grip.“I do everything for you! There’s food on this table because of me. There’s a roof over your head because I put it there. I’m king of this fucking castle and you expect to be treated like a queen. You’re just a slut—whoring yourself like you women do.”He punctuated his words with violent jerks to her arm, wrenching her shoulder from its socket.
She choked back sobs, knowing they’d only fan the flames of his fury.
With a sweep of his hand, he upturned the kitchen table.
The last connection to her grandmother crashed to the floor.
As she looked at the shards, something inside her snapped. She wondered which was more broken, and if either could ever be fixed.
“Look at what you’ve done. Clean it up. I’ve had enough of you. Don’t you dare ask me when I’ll be home.”He slammed the garage door behind him.
She glanced at the disarray. Her gaze fell on the oven clock—5:44 p.m.
After locating her phone in the mess, she photographed what happened when she dared to dream. Tears blurred her vision as she saw on the small screen the reality of her life.
✧
“Another successful intervention at Miller Law Office,”Ruby said, and locked her office suite.
“Ruby, there was weeping,”Jasmine said.
“Weeping is appropriate and beneficial,”Amy said.“It showed Veronica how important her commitment to sobriety is. Wouldn’t you agree, Ruby?”
“Yes, the healing power of tears. I caught some shine in your eyes, Jazz.”
“Well—”
“Good. Keep caring, Jazz. You’ll be a better lawyer for it.”
Amy nodded in agreement, and said,“That went as well as we could have hoped. Vera committed to long-term treatment as a resident.”
“Aurora was a wonderful choice,”Ruby said.“She completed and submitted her application, and we have her set to enter treatment tomorrow.”
“I hope she succeeds. Her whole family showed up for her today. That matters, right?”Jasmine asked.
“Right. And they showed up for her at her arraignment. Jazz pointed that out to the judge. She took first chair, and handled herself admirably.”.
“That’s high praise from a top-notch lawyer. You should be proud. Allow me to buy you dinner.”
“After lunch at Chestnut, I’m not too hungry. Do you think she’ll succeed, Amy?”
“Alcoholism thrives on shame, on secrecy and denial. Today we shone light on it. Yes, Jasmine, I think she’ll do well. What does this do for her case, Ruby?”
“Clean record, BAC a hair over the gross-misdemeanor threshold, speedy and voluntary enrollment in the most rigorous rehab program in the country, and voluntary installation of an IID. The case is clean. I anticipate negotiating for a careless. That’d mean a blemish on her record. A significant one, but not the oozing sore of a DUI conviction. I’m starving.”
“After that delightful metaphor, my appetite has waned,” Amy said.“Count me in for something light.”
“Chinese takeout anyone?”Ruby asked with a hopeful grin.“No takers?”
Amy and Jasmine shook their heads.
“How about Good Globe?”Amy asked.
“Conveniently located right next door to Chan’s Chow.”
“I love Good Globe,”said Jasmine.
“It seems you’re out-voted.”
“All right, democracy carries the day,”Ruby said.“But if everything is glowing, I’m bolting to Chan’s.”
✧
“Nine-one-one. What’s your emergency?”
“I’m calling to report a murder. This is Stuart—”
“Mr. County Attorney, I’d recognize your voice anywhere.”
“Yes, it’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.”
“There’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. It’s imperative that you locate her immediately. They live on three-one-eight-one Baker. She’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 you’re part of this tragedy.”
“Thank you. He’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 Stuart’s shoulder.“Are you all right, Johnston?”
He raised his head.“Strauss, thank God you’re on duty—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 can’t believe Jerry’s gone. Murdered by his own wife. He warned me she’d been unstable. I never thought she’d take it this far. But I saw her drive away with my own eyes.”
“What’s her name?”
“Susan Combes.”
“Physical description?”
“Brown hair, medium length, petite frame.”
“Walk me through what happened tonight. Whose cabin is this?”
“Jerry’s.”
“What brought you here?”
“Jerry called me around seven. He’d had another fight with h
is wife.”
“That happen a lot?”
“Yes. She’s the jealous type—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. He’d caught his wife’s car in his rearview mirror a few miles back. He said he’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 she’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 can’t reason with crazy. Damn it, why wouldn’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, it’s hard to be objective. But as county attorney, it’s my job. I’ll help facilitate the charging process with my office. It could be she’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. It’s difficult being here, knowing that he’s inside.”
“We’ll get you out of here as soon as we can.”
“Can you do me a favor, Strauss?”
“Within reason.”
“Don’t get fancy on this one. Follow procedure perfectly—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 caller’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. Let’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 muh—”A sob broke free, and interrupted her answer. Her face disappeared behind orange.
The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) Page 6