“He didn’t stay away, did he?”
“No, he didn’t. The night he got out, Tara was afraid to go anywhere, to do anything. She didn’t know where he was, what he’d do. He’d called thirteen times from different numbers.”
“I’ve heard of spoofing. You can punch in any number into the app, and that’s what will show up.”
“Exactly. Tara went to bed unaware he’d broken in and was waiting for her to lie down. When she did, he attacked. He stabbed her fourteen times and left his mark—a red Valentine’s heart.‘Be mine,’it read. He was out the window and driving off before her father could break down her door. His little girl was already dead.”
“That’s heartbreaking.”
“Yes, it is. I wanted so badly for her to be a survivor of domestic violence—not its casualty.”
“How do you deal with such tragedy?”
“We learn from it to help the living. You see, she’d done everything right, and so had her parents. They’d reported, and had installed a reputable home-alarm system. And they did things that weren’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 Tara’s chemistry partner. Longhorn planted a trail that threw off the police. Her parents hired an e-whiz who found spyware on Tara’s phone. He’d been stalking her for months. Why do you think I’m telling you this story?”
“It’s about a violent abuser. And we know Susan was battered by the man she’s accused of murdering.”
“Yes, go deeper. We have to understand this heinous mentality to solve this crime. What’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? What’s his goal? After Tara refused Longhorn, he murdered her on Valentine’s Day. On Friday, Susan Combes turned twenty-nine. Happy birthday to her.”Ruby spat out the words.“It’s an angle to consider. There are many ways to ruin a life.”
Chapter 13
Ruby and Jasmine stopped by Colin’s desk.
“You have a visitor, Ruby,”he said, and handed her a cup of coffee.“He’s in the meeting room. He claims Alfred sent him. You won’t believe who he is.”
“Let me guess, he’s our new e-guru.”
Colin opened and closed his mouth.“I, I don’t even know what to say.”
“That’s a first. Jazz, you can work in the conference room. My reports are in the file. You’ll also find this morning’s interview. The rest of the team will start filing in soon.”
A wicked gleam came into her eye.
Seeing it, Ruby said,“Don’t expect Kottke anytime soon. He likes to stroll in right on time. Arianna Ramirez will be here before he is.”
“Who’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. He’s an e-nerd. You should’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 wasn’t immune after all. It’ll fade, she reassured herself. As with Kottke, she’d stop noticing his appeal.
“I’m Emilio Martín.”He extended his hand.
She took it, and held fast against the jolt.“Ruby Miller. Thanks for coming in on no notice.”
“It’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 don’t look like your average comp nerd.”
“You don’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.”
“You’ve aptly described half my research-and-development team.”
“Your turn.”
“You don’t look like you sell prior-owned automobiles.”
“Ah, yes. You’ve nailed it. As in your profession, it’s a stereotype for a reason.”Flustered by his appreciative grin, she forged on.“Alfred said you don’t drink coffee. I hope you don’t mind that I do, by the pot. Would you like tea? What do you drink? If it’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. What’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 it’s feminine. Rubella?”
“Sounds contagious. My mother isn’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?”
“That’s accurate.”
“I trust Alfred’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. Let’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 statement’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 un
derstand 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?”
“Susan’s husband worked for Tycon. Have you come across a Jerald Combes?”
“No, it’s a large enterprise. Would you like me to obtain Jerald’s personnel file?”
“Yes, thanks—if we don’t already have it. You must have some good contacts at Tycon.”
“Yes.”
“Justin Kottke is our lead investigator. He’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.“There’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 more—the woman or her theory.
✧
Arianna’s chestnut hair streamed behind her as she hurried into Ruby’s office and shut the door.
Ruby looked up.“Is the team ready to begin?”
“Yeah, but you left out something major. You’re working with Martín?”
“You’ve heard of him?”
“Ruby, everyone has heard of him. Leave your legal cave once in a while.”
“And?”
“He’s a tech genius—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.”
“So he’s rich. Big deal.”
“He’s brilliant.”
“Now that part I’m interested in, but it isn’t breaking news. Alfred beat you to it. Wait, why would you know about a tech gazillionaire? Horses are your thing, tech is definitely not. You refused to install AutoTroughs for your horses.”
“Of course I did. I wouldn’t risk a glitch in the system. I get the formulas right every time, and trust my team to do the same. And nothing automatic can look at my horses and tell when they need a booster or a supplement.”
“Yes, I know. You didn’t answer my question, Ari. Why are you so jazzed about this guy? Maybe he’s your thing.”
“Martín is Spanish. His mother’s family had a reputation for breeding the best horses on the continent. His mother left the family business. Nobody knows why. But Martín revived it. His ranch in Segovia is the horse lover’s promised land.”
“Ah, you want to use him to get to his horses.”She grabbed her PSC and motioned for Arianna to follow.
“Ruby, it’s not like that.”
“It’s okay. I want him for his e-skills.”
“Right. And I suppose you didn’t notice he’s gorgeous?”
“I didn’t say I’m blind.”
As they entered the organized chaos, Arianna tossed back her lustrous hair and laughed.
Justin stopped mid-sentence as she drew his gaze.
Emilio’s eyes were on Ruby as she crossed to the front.
“All right, team, listen up,”Ruby said.“First, if you ate all the Anton’s, heads will roll.”
“No rolling required, boss.”Colin held up a heaping plate.“This vulture didn’t make it easy.”He tipped his head toward Justin.
“You’re my hero, Colin.”She snatched the plate and turned back to the group.“We’ve added another member to our team—Emilio Martín, e-man. Word is his skills rival Flick’s.”
“Damn straight, Ruby,”said Justin.“He’s legendary.”
“Alfred speaks highly of you all,”Emilio said.“I’m honored to join the team.”
“And he’s a gentleman, like Alfred.”Arianna added.
Justin looked from her to Emilio in dismay, and stayed silent.
“Grab whatever you consider food and drink and take a seat, please.”She chomped on a frosted donut and chased it with black coffee.
“Does she always eat like that?”Emilio asked Colin.
“You mean food choice, pace, or position?”
“All three, I suppose.”
“Yes, she fuels on caffeine and sugar, often inhaling and chugging on the go.”
“That can’t be good for her.”
“Order her not to and see where that gets you.”
“No, I’m not the type to take that route. The path of persuasion is more my style.”
“You sound like Ruby.”
“Do I? From what I’ve seen, that’s a compliment.”
Once everyone settled, Ruby brushed sugar off her slacks and launched right in.“Our client, Susan Combes, was arrested for murder in the first degree of her husband, Jerald Combes. Crime scene is the Combes’cabin. First on-scene was Jerald’s buddy—Stuart Johnston, Kaye County Attorney. When police arrived, Jerald’s truck was on-scene. A blood trail led from the driver’s side into and through the house, and ended in the guest bathroom. Therein, a man identified by eyewitness Johnston as Jerald Combes lay in the tub with wounds consistent with a kitchen knife. A blood sample and fingerprints confirmed the ID. Johnston claims that he saw Susan pulling out of the cabin driveway holding a kitchen knife. Officers executed a search warrant for Susan’s vehicle and found a knife on the passenger seat. The state sees this as an open-and-shut case.”
“Let me guess,”Colin said.“They’re wrong.”
“Got it in one.”
“The first red flag was method. Why not poison her husband? Susan cooked for Jerald every night, including the night of the murder. And the motive was shaky. Where was Susan’s escalation? Jerald escalated to breaking Susan’s bones, to strangulation. Where were the signs she was ready to snap? Her life was in danger, not his—according to a risk assessment. What about the means? Why would she follow him to the cabin to kill him with a kitchen knife? Why not do it in the kitchen? She’s pegged with attacking him in the cabin’s driveway, and hauling him inside. Tell them about the reenactment, Jazz.”
“We observed drag marks and a corresponding blood trail leading from the driveway into the cabin. I attempted to maneuver Ruby inside. Given adequate time, and after expending considerable effort, I could have succeeded. I made little progress in the ten minutes we allocated to the task,”she finished with a wry smile.
“Must be all the Anton’s,”Justin said.
Jasmine allowed the laughter to fade before continuing in a serious tone.“Jerald Combes outweighed Ruby by about a hundred pounds. There’s no way I could have hauled his ass up the steps.”
“Thanks, Jazz,” Ruby said.
Jasmine took her seat.
“We have supporting evidence Susan was incapable of such a feat. Susan told us that Jerald threw her to the ground on Friday evening. A jail medic confirmed that her left wrist is fractured.”
“I had trouble dragging Ruby with two good wrists.”
“Har har, Jazz. We get the point.”
Justin rose and went to the front of the room.
Ruby gestured for him to have the floor and sat.
“I located Susan’s phone. She photographed herself on Friday evening before Jerry came home.”He brought a photo on-screen.“Blue dress, blue-and-white heels. I located Susan’s dress in the hamper—no mud, no blood. Her shoes were in the closet and immaculate. By Johnston’s account, she’d have had no time to change.”
“Yes, and that’s helpful exculpatory evidence, but it’s circumstantial. The best evidence of Susan’s innocence was provided by her abuser.”
“What do you mean, Ruby?”Colin asked.
“We’ve seen other cases in which abusers ha
ve used electronics to monitor their victim’s movements. We wanted to know what means Jerald used to monitor Susan. So Kottke swept the residence.”
“Jerry installed video surveillance in the kitchen and master bedroom. He also had a two-way bug in the bedroom. That means—”
“We have conclusive evidence of Susan’s whereabouts during the murder,”Ruby said.
“Way to steal my thunder.”Justin said.
“Roar about something else. I anticipated hefty tech talk. Get into the specifics with Colin and Emilio. We’ve hit on this enough. Susan is innocent.”
“Isn’t that it, then? Don’t you have enough to get her out?”Arianna asked.
“Yes,”Ruby said.“But’s complicated. We’d have to hand our findings over to the county attorney’s office. Our prime suspect is currently Stuart Johnston.”
“Kaye County Attorney? If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you’ve lost it,”Arianna said.
Ruby sighed.“I said it’s complicated. Johnston generously agreed to meet with me on Monday morning. His cooperation made little sense at the time.”
“He wants to keep tabs on our progress,”Colin offered.
“Right,”Ruby said.“This is a messy case. Let’s keep untangling it. Amy?”
“The pathology is consistent with a male who lacked the empathy to plot this murder from a woman’s perspective. He miscalculated by placing her actions within his paradigm of anger, control, and violence. He saw Susan as a pawn, devoid of her own feelings and thoughts. She’s powerless, silent, and disposable, in his mind. And he failed to factor in her fractured wrist. It was beyond his notice. Insignificant. The setting of the scene is inconsistent with Susan’s tendencies. It was messy, splashy. Susan took care of what was hers.”
Ruby nodded in agreement.“She meticulously cleaned up her kitchen before going to bed, yet she didn’t scrub at the blood trail or rinse out the tub?”
“Precisely, and this fits with the narcissism I described. In making his plan, he failed to factor in how long it takes to clean a kitchen,”Amy said.
“And we’re not talking about light cleaning,”Ruby said, raking a hand through her hair.“I studied her cleaning supplies—collectibles, rather. She could have used a decrepit old mop, and yet the kitchen footage shows her on her hands and knees. The mop is missing, and so is a wooden bucket. Where did they go? These pieces seem inconsequential on their own.”
The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) Page 13