Heart Lies & Alibis (19 page)

It was taking everything I had to keep from freaking out. "He's all yours sweetheart, although he may be out of commission for a bit. Sorry about that." I leaned in close as I passed her so I could stage whisper "You might want to get used to that state of existence though. Those old balls get tired awfully fast." I laughed bitterly.

Thad growled from the floor, where he still clutched his balls. "Fuck you, you trashy whore. I was always too good for you anyway. I'm glad to be rid of you. Get the hell out of here and go back to your tattooed thug boyfriend. We are through!"

I spun around, a new rage flooding my body and my mind spinning with questions. He had the nerve to try and attack me like a dick-less coward? He had cheated on me but suddenly I was the trashy whore? Oh hell no. He was not going to get the last word. I picked up the closet thing at hand, an ugly picture frame his mother had given him, and hurled it at the wall above his head. Thad could bring out my violent side like no other and right now I was ready to kill him.

The vase smashed against the wall above his head, pieces of glass flying in all directions.

Amberly screamed as Thad tried to shield his head while still nursing his ailing penis.

"You're lucky I missed again, you limp dick, mother fucker. We were through the night I caught you fucking that skank bitch. Oh, and if you ever touch me again, you'll wish you were dead." Then I turned on my heel and stomped out, past the shocked faces of most of our staff. I went to my office, grabbed my purse and briefcase and stormed out without another look back at Thad or anyone else.

I reached my car before the shaking took full hold of my body. What the hell had just happened? It was like the Thad in that office was a completely different man than the one I had been married to. He had scared me in ways I hadn't felt in 25 years. Had our separation finally allowed me to see his real character or had he become a cruel bastard only recently? Had the signs always been there that he would become this monster and I just had refused to see them? Had I just looked the other way for too long? I honestly didn't know anymore. My love had been blind either way and I was not going to give him another moment of my life.

Crap, I said aloud, as the realization washed over me that I had just threatened to kill him in front of a string of witnesses. In a law firm of all places. Way to go Reagan, I thought shaking my head. You are a lawyer, you idiot, you know how this will look. You just keep screwing things up. I dropped my head on the steering wheel in complete exasperation. What the hell was I going to do now?

After a few minutes, when I felt calm enough to drive home, I straightened in the seat and started the car. As I pulled out of the parking garage I knew the damage was done. I couldn't fix anything now if I wanted to. Thad had attacked me first but would that point matter to our divorce judge when it became his word against mine? I only hoped my threats against him wouldn't come back to haunt me but somewhere deep inside me I knew that was exactly what would happen.

Chapter 12

After I finished telling Astrid about everything that had happened that day, she looked ready to kill Thad herself just on principle. "That son of a bitch. He deserved worse than what he got in the end. A lot worse." She never failed to call things as they actually were without any of the restrained demeanor most lawyers used. I loved her for it.

I smiled weakly. "Thanks Astrid." I sighed loudly, already knowing the answer before I asked my next question. "And let me guess, the star witness they have to testify against me is my dear friend Ms. Jones?" I cocked my head as I waited.

She nodded. "Yeah. The little bitch. But it's not just her. A number of the other staff members were interviewed and they all heard you threaten the asshole too. Not your brightest move threatening him there though after your story, also entirely justified."

I closed my eyes, nodding. Of course this was going to happen. What choice did the employees have but to report exactly what they heard me say? "Wonderful." One fear confirmed. "And what were you saying about them finding a weapon?" Please don't be what I think it is. Please not my knife.

Her face looked a bit more drawn then usual when she looked at me, her mouth turned down in a frown and I knew. "They found the knife. A butterfly blade." And there it was. Damn it all to hell. My heart stopped and I felt like I might faint. I knew it had to be my missing knife. Fuck.

And then Astrid confirmed my worst fears. "The knife has your fingerprints on it and Thad's blood. Reagan, why would your fingerprints be on the murder weapon? What aren't you telling me?" For the first time in all our meetings, Astrid looked at me without her friend filter from across the table and the force of that unrestrained scrutiny made me wither beneath her glare.

I felt my face drain of color as I stared at her. If I had any hope for my future, it was time to come clean to my attorney and tell her the truth. "Because it is my most likely my knife Astrid. I've had it for years but three days ago it went missing and I had no idea where it went. Until now."

Her eyes flared with anger and her face flushed red. "For fuck's sake Reagan, why didn't you tell me this when I asked if you had any secrets I needed to know? God damn it. This is really bad in case you were wondering. How can I help you if you aren't being honest with me?"

"I'm sorry Astrid. I honestly didn't think my missing knife mattered all that much. How could I possibly believe it would become linked to my husband's murder?" Even as I said the words I knew they sounded dumb. Of course I had to know this was exactly how my situation would play out.

She shook her head, rubbing her temples in exasperation. "Right now, everything matters Reagan. Everything. You are a damn lawyer. You have to know I needed to know about anything that could impact your case. What were you possibly thinking?" She repeated, punctuating the proclamation with a hard stare. I nodded in understanding. I had really fucked up and I knew it.

"Never mind. It doesn't matter now. We have to deal with the problems we have right now. Okay, so first things first. A murder trial is beyond my scope of expertise. I will need to get some additional council on your case. I have a few colleagues in mind whom I think would be better suited to your needs. And we need to get them on board as soon as possible."

My eyes opened even wider. "Do you think this will go all the way to trial Astrid?" I had foolishly hoped she could somehow get me out of this hell before that happened.

She was nodding and her face looked less angry now. "Yes, Reagan it will go to trial and we need to get you the best damn lawyer you can afford in order to keep you out of jail. Off the top of my head I would say Jackson Lane is who I would recommend. He's a bulldog in the courtroom and a guy often willing to do whatever it takes to save his client. He won't be cheap but I think this may be something he would want to handle. I will call him and we'll see what we can do about your bail first off. You might be here a few days or maybe not. I can't help that. Arraignment is set for tomorrow at 9am. If Jackson agrees to take your case, we'll be there to see you and do our best to get you out as soon as possible. Chin up Reagan. I will get you out of here. I promise." Her words were meant to be a comfort but she didn't sound as confident as she had at first.

My shoulders dropped in resignation. "Thanks for everything Astrid." I meant what I said. I knew she was and would keep doing everything she could to help me. I just hoped it would make a difference.

As she rose and started to pack up her things, she stopped. "Oh hey. Your young stud is the one who called me after they arrested you, as you probably know. He was a bit out of sorts and he insisted on coming down here as well." I smiled in spite of the bad situation. For some reason it helped knowing Declan was so close.

"Yeah, yeah. So romantic, he's a keeper for sure. Anyway, when I talked to him outside, he looked like he might break in here and get you if I didn't do something right away to help you. So because I can't bring you to him now, what can I tell him about your case?"

"Everything I have told you. Except about that meeting with Thad. He knew it didn't go well but I haven't told him everything yet. I need to do that when I get out of here. Otherwise, anything he wants to know." I didn't want to keep another secret from Declan. At least not the secrets I could share. I knew our future depended on it.

She nodded. "Got it. Okay, so I will see you tomorrow morning. Remember, don't drop the soap. Wait, that applies more to male prisoners I guess. Oh well, still sounds like good advice." She gave me a thumbs up and then knocked on the door for the guard to let her out.

I smiled another weak smile as she left and stood by the door waiting for the guard to escort me back to my cell. It was going to be a long night.

The next morning I was led into the courtroom with some other prisoners. I was relieved to see Astrid and who I assumed to be Jackson Lane in the court. Jackson was a big, broad shouldered, gray haired man, in a well-cut Western suit. He wore a stern expression yet his eyes seemed kind and that was what I needed right now. They nodded in my direction and I nodded back.

A man sitting towards the back of the court caught my eye and something about him set him apart from the other people around him. He radiated a confidence that mesmerized me for a moment. He looked to slick to be a lawyer and yet I could see he was your run-of-the-mill criminal. This man had power and he knew how to use it to get what he wanted. His piercing gaze stopped on me and held me fixed in place for a moment. Whatever his business was in court, I had the feeling it had something to do with me and I wanted to know why. I broke eye contact with the mystery man just as I spotted Declan and I nearly came apart. He leaned forward in his seat and he looked so young and so worried it nearly broke my heart. I didn't realize how relieved I would be to see him there or how much I had missed him in our short time apart. I had no idea how bad it would hurt knowing our future together was now do precarious. He gave me a smile as I reached the prisoner holding area and sat down.

The judge handled the other prisoners first they all had small stuff like drug possessions or other petty crimes. I was the last one called up.

I shuffled to the table next to Astrid and Jackson as one of the accused instead of my lifetime profession as a lawyer, my wrists and ankles still shackled, and the jail jumpsuit in sharp contrast to my usual business suits. I hoped I looked more innocent than I felt at that moment. But I knew from my own time spent in a courtroom, I probably didn't.

The judge was reading through the paperwork. He removed his glasses and looked down at me from the bench. "I see the charge is second degree murder. How do you plead?"

I was a lawyer and knew the drill. "Not guilty, Your Honor." Unlike some, I was telling the truth. Would it matter? Watching as the judge raised his eyebrow in an "of course you are" gesture before turning his attention back to the paperwork made me think probably not.

Jackson spoke up at this point. "Your honor, we would like to move for bail at this point. My client is a successful attorney with long term ties to the community. She does not pose a risk to others and we feel we could help her case more effectively if she was out of jail during preparation for trial."

The judge looked back at the paperwork. "I'm sure you do Councilor. Most lawyers would. She also happens to be someone who has the means to disappear if she so chooses." The judge said glaring at me over his glasses. As was standard, he had my financial information and he was correct. If I chose to run, I had the money to disappear. It was a thought that had crossed my mind a few times since my arrest, I wasn't ashamed to admit.

Jackson stared at him without acknowledging or denying the claim.

The Judge looked from Jackson to me before stating "Bail is set at $500,000. You must also relinquish your passport, Mrs. McCallister."

I nodded. "Yes your honor." My body sagged with relief. I was getting out of jail, at least for now.

"Anything else?" The judge looked at Jackson and Astrid.

Before they could answer the state attorney spoke up instead. "We'd also like to ask for an ankle bracelet monitor for the defendant. To ensure she remains for the trial." He stared straight ahead at the judge.

Astrid and Jackson turned and glared at the man, a small balding guy with horn rimmed glasses and a cheap blue suit. He looked back at them, his face a blank slate. It wasn't personal, I kept trying to assure myself, while hoping the judge would deny the request. I was just another file to him and it was standard to ask for monitoring when defendants had some financial advantages, which could potentially allow them to flee the country.

The judge agreed. "So be it. Defendant will be fitted with a monitor upon release from lock-up. What is the initial trial date?" He asked looking at his clerk.

The clerk scanned the docket and looked up. "December 9, your honor."

The judge nodded, slamming his gavel down and dismissing court. My fate, for the foreseeable future, no longer his concern.

The guards came to lead me back to processing. I had already had Astrid arrange bail, just in case, so it was just a matter of finalizing the paperwork. As I was led away, I started thinking about everything. I had about six weeks to clear my name and figure out who killed Thad. It was going to take a miracle.

Jackson and Astrid had me out and home in less than four hours. The longest part of the process was getting the ankle bracelet attached. The tech putting it on had looked at me with such disdain I couldn't look him in the eye. I knew I was innocent but it didn't matter. He had decided I was guilty and nothing was changing his mind. He finished securing the bracelet in place and then gave me the rules that came with it.