by Lee Taylor
“If she is that good, how can I possibly afford her? Even with my father’s help . . . ”
“Forget it, Tatiana. While I can’t openly hire her, Griffin can. A fact that he and I will settle later.”
“But, Zane . . . I . . . I can’t take money from you.”
Pressing his fingers against her lips, Zane shook his head. “Sweetheart, I’m going to yank out my caveman persona. You need to understand that from this point forward, in conjunction with your father, I’m calling the shots. It is imperative you understand that. And, Tatiana, you need to acknowledge that your compromising belief that you are the only one who can protect you, as false as it ever was, is even more so now.” Attempting to lighten his tone, he rubbed a calloused hand over her bottom and said in an insinuating tone, “I trust you learned last night that as powerful as you are, I outweigh you by a minimum of eighty pounds and am more than willing to use my superior strength to keep you in line.”
Seeing the tears welling up in her eyes and knowing that if she chewed on her bottom lip anymore it was likely to bleed, he sat her up beside him, forcing her to meet his narrowed gaze. “One further point before I put you in the shower. You need to understand that as damning as the circumstantial evidence we’re facing, there is one immutable fact that outweighs all the others. And that is that you did not kill Arnold Loomis. You know that, as does everyone who knows you. Our job—me, your father, your sister, Ryker, and Griffin—is to get the hell out there and find out who did kill the son of a bitch. And, honey, just know that among the five of us, we are going to run that asshole to ground, and you can take that fact to the bank.”
****
Waiting for Tatiana to finish dressing, Zane led Rita Davidson into the living room and motioned for her to take a seat. He’d talked with her at length the previous evening and wasn’t surprised when the savvy attorney took control of the conversation.
“You’ve laid out the facts as succinctly as you can, Zane, which I appreciate. Now, if you don’t mind, I want to talk privately with my client. I need to go over her testimony, as least as it relates to the upcoming interview at the sheriff’s office. My understanding from Lieutenant Sorenson is that ADA Richards will be participating in the initial interview. I need to be sure that Ms. Trouble understands her rights and what she can anticipate from Lieutenant Sorenson and particularly from the ADA.” She added with a sly smile, “Who I understand has a personal interest in this case.”
Zane glowered at her, then raised his hands in defeat. “What can I say, Rita, except, as I told the sheriff, hell does indeed have no fury like a woman scorned. To say it pains me that I am responsible for at least a portion of the ADA’s fury is a bitter understatement. I trust you know that in my mind, the only lawyer who can keep her at least partially contained is you.”
The attractive, impressively attired woman shoved her tortoise-shelled designer glasses up higher on her nose and arched a dismissive shrug. “Trust me, District Attorney Wilder, I can out-bitch the best of the bitches. Even one as despicable as your ADA, who I understand has a personal vendetta against my client. A vendetta that was at least partially caused by you, Counselor.”
Zane choked and muttered, “Christ, do you have to rub it in? As if I don’t know the wages of sin and an overactive dick?” He added with a wink, “But, formidable woman, I have faith in you. You forget that I’ve been on the other side of the courtroom from you and know what it’s like to go through your meat grinder. The only reason I’ve been able to triumph is that in all cases you had horseshit, guilty-as-sin clients.”
“You know that’s not true, Zane. You walk all over the opposing counsels no matter how strong their case is or how good the lawyers are. You are just that much of a star. The difference with your ADA, in addition to being ambitious as hell and more than a little ethically challenged, is that even Ms. Richards has to concede my client has accomplished a remarkable feat. One that compromises the ADA’s ability to mount a winning prosecution. That being that Ms. Trouble has captured the most elusive reprobate I’ve known and made him fall head-over-heels in love with her. Coupled with the fact that everything I know about Ms. Trouble makes it my privilege to defend her, may I suggest that you and her impressive father get the hell out there and find the real killer so I can focus on bringing ADA Richards to her knees.”
Chapter 28
That bitch!”
Zane growled in agreement with Tanya’s heated appellation. As he stood between her and the sheriff in front of the one-way glass, watching Chloe Richards and Gunnar Sorenson interview Tatiana, Zane acknowledged how hard it was going to be to keep from raking his ADA up one side and down the other. Not only were her questions outrageous, they were openly mean-spirited.
“Let me ask you once again, Tatiana, and this time I would appreciate an answer. Did you participate in an abusive relationship with your former husband before he was hideously mutilated and then murdered?”
Tatiana’s face flushed but her response was soft, contained. “I don’t understand what you mean by the word ‘participate.’ ”
“Really? I wouldn’t think that is a difficult word to understand. Perhaps you’d like to see a dictionary or a thesaurus.”
Rita Davidson broke in. “That’s enough, ADA Richards. My client is quite aware of the meaning of the word participate, but, like her, I don’t understand the context of your obnoxious question. Exactly what are you asking Ms. Trouble? Please be specific so I can decide if I will allow my client to answer.” Her expression hardening, she added, “And on that point, refer to my client as Ms. Trouble and to me as Attorney Davidson. Neither of us chooses to be on a first-name basis with you.”
Chloe raised a dismissive shoulder and smirked. “But, of course, Attorney Davidson, we all understand the pressure that Ms. Trouble must be feeling. It isn’t every day that one’s former husband and father of one’s children was killed after he was, how does one say it, dis-membered—”
Before she could continue, Tatiana raised her hand, stopping her. Her soft tone and quiet affect contrasted with the ADA’s demeaning sarcasm. “While I disagree with the premise of your question, ADA Richards, if you are asking whether there was abuse in my former marriage, the answer is yes.”
Coming close to licking her lips in ill-disguised triumph, Richards’s voice was clothed in silk. Unfortunately, the gleam in her eyes undercut her seeming concern. “That must have been a challenging situation, Ms. Trouble. Particularly since you present yourself as a national expert on the issue of domestic abuse. One would think that as an expert on abuse, you’d know how to prevent it, not participate in it.” At Tatiana’s startled gasp, she added, “Speaking of your flaunted expertise, I’m surprised that you never bothered to tell your agog followers that, like them, you also allowed yourself to be abused.”
Titus slammed his hand against the wall so hard, Zane was surprised he didn’t smash a hole in the plasterboard. Unlike her father, Tanya vented her fury in a stream of infuriated expletives, threatening to disembowel the fucking ADA if it were the last thing she did. Zane only knew that if it were the last thing he did, he would find a way to strip his ADA of her credentials, at the very least ensure that her days in his office were numbered.
Fortunately for the three of them standing helplessly behind the one-way glass, Tatiana’s attorney more than rose to the occasion. Shoving back her chair, Rita Davidson rose to her feet and nodded to her client. “Ms. Trouble, clearly the young ADA hasn’t learned her manners or, apparently much about conducting an interview. An interview that I might note is entirely voluntary on your part. But rather than wasting our time, we will no longer participate in her disparaging inquisition.” Turning to Lieutenant Sorenson, she said, “This is no reflection on you, Lieutenant Sorenson. However, I refuse to let a junior ADA who clearly has a lot to learn about conducting a professional inquiry insult my client.” Ignoring Chloe, who’d drawn herself up like an engorged boreal toad, Attorney Davidson drove in the knife. “As
we are all aware, the ADA is extremely compromised by the fact that my client is involved with the man Ms. Richards has been shamelessly and unsuccessfully chasing—to the embarrassment of her legal colleagues. Given her unprofessional conduct, I choose to end this interview.”
Rita maneuvered Tatiana toward the door, then addressed the flustered lieutenant who’d risen to his feet when she had. “If you have additional questions for my client, we will be willing to answer them—if not in person, in written responses.” Turning to Chloe, she said, “As for you, I recommend that you spend time observing your boss, the knowledgeable and accomplished District Attorney Wilder, to learn how to conduct an interview without letting your jealousy overrule what little professional dignity you have.”
With that, the tall, slender attorney, wearing a chic designer suit that was in direct contrast to Chloe’s skintight pants and low-cut blouse that showcased her bodacious décolletage, nudged Tatiana out of the room.
Watching the two women stride toward Rita’s classy BMW parked in front of the precinct, Zane blew out a hard sigh. Turning to Titus, whose granite-hard expression underscored his fury, he reached for his arm. “How about we head for your office, Sheriff, where we can strategize in private?” At Titus’s nod, Zane led the sheriff and his deputy across the courtyard to Titus’s private quarters.
Entering the office, he put his arm around Titus’s shoulders. Surprisingly, the slate-eyed sheriff didn’t brush it off but rather leaned into him, seemingly seeking his support. Zane stood beside him for a moment. “Titus, I apologize. I don’t know what I can say about my ADA’s disgraceful behavior. Do know that when this is all over, Chloe Richards will be hard-pressed to find a job in any decent-sized law office in the country.”
Titus shook his head and spoke through his clearly gritted teeth. “That’s a given, Zane. And while I’m infuriated that my daughter is being subjected to this ignominy—particularly from an unprofessional ADA—”
Tanya broke in. “Say it, Dad. You’re mad as hell that that green-eyed bitch can attack Tatiana the way she did, and we can’t do a fucking thing to stop her.”
Zane disagreed. “We can’t at this moment, Tanya. But trust me. Chloe Richards shot her professional future in the ass with that disgraceful performance. I will make it my mission to ensure that she’ll be lucky to be chasing ambulances rather than be hired by any respectable firm, much less as an ADA.” He added with a grimace, “However, except for having me in the room to represent Tatiana, I gotta tell you that Rita Davidson is more than a match for my viperous colleague.” He snorted in admiration. “Damn, Rita is a formidable woman and then some!”
When Tanya nodded in agreement, Zane was surprised that Titus demurred. “I concede that she is a powerful woman. My concern is that she’s in this as much for her own aggrandizement as she is to help us prove that Tatiana is innocent.”
“Really, Titus? I thought you supported my hiring Rita. I can tell you from my personal and professional experience with her that you will never have a bigger ballbuster on your team than the inimitable Ms. Davidson.”
Titus shrugged. “That’s a given, Zane. Don’t misunderstand. I appreciate that you hired her. I’ve learned from past experience that Ms. Davidson will get her client off whether the miscreant is guilty as sin or not. Because, as you said, she is a ballbuster.”
Tanya managed to stop muttering obscenities under her breath long enough to actually smile. “Relax, Zane. It’s not often that anyone gets the best of my superstar father, but Rita Davidson did just that. Not once but twice.”
When Zane quirked a surprised brow, Titus glared at his smiling deputy. “You may characterize it that way if you choose, Tanya. I prefer to think of it as a miscarriage of justice. In both of the cases you’re referring to, the weight of evidence against the clearly guilty perpetrators was overwhelming. The only reason both reprobates aren’t occupying six-by-eight cells for the next twenty years is that they had the wherewithal to hire Attorney Davidson.” Titus ran his hands through his hair and assumed a grim smile. “But you are correct, Zane. If ever we needed a hot shit attorney to shut down that despicable ADA of yours, it is now. Even I admit that the circumstantial evidence Tatiana is facing is serious as hell. Particularly since the three of us are sidelined.”
“Only in that we can’t help her in any visible way. What we can do and need to focus on is who the hell killed Loomis. And who was clever enough to virtually ensure that Tatiana would be blamed.”
A crisp voice spoke from the doorway. “I’m glad to hear you say that, Zane. Which is precisely why Tatiana and I circled back. I wanted to talk with you once we were sure that the ADA scurried off to lick what I’m sure even she acknowledges are serious wounds to her pride.”
Overcoming his surprise at the arrival of two women, Zane was at Tatiana’s side before either Titus or Tanya could reach her. Pulling the pale woman into his arms, he held her tight against him. Her audible sigh and trembling body were eloquent testimony to the damage the untenable situation was doing to her. Tightening his hold, he lifted her chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing her to meet his intent gaze. “How are you holding up, tiger? Determined as we all are to run that fucking ADA into the ground?”
Tatiana’s lips twisted in a wan smile. Making an obvious effort to speak calmly, she said, “Let’s just say that I’m glad you and Griffin ensured that I have a fierce attorney in my corner.” She hesitated, then added with a disconsolate sigh, “I think we are going to need Rita’s formidable talents. Clearly, your ADA is convinced that I killed my ex-husband and is determined to see me charged with the crime.”
Before Zane could respond, a flushed Lieutenant Sorenson rapped lightly on the door to get their attention. Blowing out a hard sigh, he shook his head in dismay and addressed the sheriff. “As much as I hate to agree with Tatiana, ADA Richards just informed me that the grand jury she convened voted unanimously to file charges against Tatiana—Ms. Trouble—for the murder of Arnold Loomis.”
In the shocked silence following his startling announcement, Tatiana’s soft query underscored the challenges facing them. Gazing up at Zane, she murmured, “Am I . . . going to be arrested?” She turned to her father, “Am I, Dad?”
Before either Zane or her father could answer her tremulous question, Rita Davidson spoke crisply. “Yes, Tatiana, it appears that Lieutenant Sorenson is here to arrest you.”
At Tatiana’s audible gasp, the stern attorney added, “But do know, Tatiana, your father was correct. I am a ballbuster as well as an overreaching ADA buster. And yes, clearly that bitch has visions of frog-marching her archenemy through the streets of Sierra Vista before nightfall, ideally sporting an orange jumpsuit. But hear me now. You will never spend a night in jail—even your inimitable father’s jail. On that point, apparently ADA Richards plans to tell the court that you are a flight risk and have committed such a horrendous crime that the court must deny bail.”
Hearing the collective gasps of the people around her, Rita turned to Zane. “In the event the judge denies her request, as I’m confident he will, my sources indicate that your ADA has indicated she will settle for one point five million in bail money to ensure Tatiana’s presence.” Meeting Zane’s rigid gaze, she confirmed with a brazen shrug, “I presume that won’t be an issue, correct, Mr. District Attorney?”
“Your presumption is correct, Attorney Davidson. The money will be at the court within minutes if such an ignominious order is made.”
Rita nodded in agreement, then sidling up to the granite-faced sheriff, she flicked a non-existent fleck off his uniform and said with an audacious smile, “I hope you’ll agree, Sheriff Trouble, it’s not always a bad thing to have a ballbuster attorney in your corner. It just depends on who the defendant is. In the case of your clearly innocent daughter, I presume you agree the bigger my balls, the better.”
Chapter 29
I come before the court to insist that the court deny the defendant’s request for bail. As indicated
in our preliminary filings, the people will show that the evidence confirms the defendant, Tatiana Grace Trouble, callously and hideously murdered her former husband and father of their two young children. While the defendant’s attorney will attempt to show otherwise, the proof of Ms. Trouble’s egregious act is overwhelming. Indeed, it took the grand jury scant moments after hearing the evidence to unanimously charge Ms. Trouble with the murder of Arnold Loomis.”
Chloe Richards flounced across the front of the courtroom, her five-inch high heels clicking a staccato beat on the tiled floor. That she relished her role was underscored by her flushed face and theatrical gestures. “In making our case, the people will confirm that the defendant’s pistol was found at the murder scene. We will also play a recording in which the defendant promises to shoot her former husband. We anticipate that the defense will point to the ‘fact’ that the victim abused his former wife. One might think that such a revelation would provide a case for leniency. However, in Ms. Trouble’s case, she is a well-known domestic abuse expert. Much of her fame rests on the fact that unlike her clients, she studiously refused to admit that she was a victim of abuse, a charge that would significantly undermine her claimed expertise. In addition, we will provide witnesses who confirm that even though the defendant claimed to despise her former husband, when he expressed interest in one of her clients, the defendant acted like a jealous former spouse. She promptly engaged Child Protective Services with a trumped-up charge that the woman her former husband was interested in had abused her children. A patently false charge, confirmed by the fact that the supposedly abused children are likely to be returned to their mother’s loving care.
“Finally, Judge Fisher, Ms. Trouble has personal connections that should give the court pause. Her father is none other than Sheriff Titus Trouble, and her sister, Tanya Trouble, is the deputy sheriff. In addition, the defendant’s older sister, Tara Trouble, is engaged to the multi-millionaire developer, Griffin Black. Compounding these familial and financial connections, apparently Ms. Trouble is engaged in an affair with our esteemed district attorney. Which makes it necessary for the district attorney as well as the defendant’s father and sister to recuse themselves from this case. To underscore the defendant’s access to cash and connections that would make her flight a simple affair, with the help of the cohorts I listed, Ms. Trouble was able to hire Rita Davidson. I presume the court knows that Attorney Davidson is one of the highest, if not the highest paid, attorney in the state. All of these factors confirm the defendant has resources and financial support eons above that of the typical accused murderer who comes before this court. For these reasons, I urgently request that the court deny bail. Furthermore, I ask the court to insist that the defendant is housed in the highest level of security available outside of the purview of her sheriff father and deputy sheriff sister and the certain incursion of the district attorney.”