Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ariana
I climbed out of bed at six a.m. Luca was still sound asleep when I hopped into the shower. After I finished, I wrapped a white towel around me, and when I walked into the bedroom, his eyes looked at me.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” he asked.
“You were sleeping so peacefully. I’m sorry if I kept you up all night with my tossing and turning,” I spoke.
“You didn’t. I was up all night myself. Today’s the day I get charged with a double murder.” He sighed. “She’ll probably want to revoke my bail.”
“Not going to happen,” I spoke as I slipped into my panties. “I’m ready for whatever she throws at us.”
Luca climbed out of bed, kissed me, and then went to the kitchen to make some coffee while I went into the bathroom and got myself ready for the day. As I was changing into my tailored navy-blue pantsuit, my phone rang, and Olivia was calling.
“Hello.”
“Hey. I heard Luca’s preliminary hearing is this morning. How are you?”
“I’m good.”
“Are you nervous?”
“A little. But I’m not going to let him know that.”
“Well, good luck. If you need anything at all, I’m here for you.”
“Thanks, Olivia.”
“You’re welcome.”
After ending the call, I walked to the kitchen, and Luca poured me a cup of coffee.
“Did I hear you talking to someone?” he asked.
“Olivia called. She wanted to wish us luck today.”
“Ah. That was nice of her. What do you want for breakfast?”
I took a sip of my coffee and looked at my watch.
“I have to go. I’ll grab something later.” I kissed his lips.
“Where are you going?”
“I have someone I need to talk to before the hearing. I’ll meet you at the courthouse.” I flew out the door.
“Hello again, Miss Williams,” Roberto, the hotel manager at the Peninsula, spoke.
“Roberto, I have a question.”
“Okay. Let’s go into my office. What can I do for you?”
“Why would the cleaning staff go to clean Miss Burroughs’ room at six a.m.?”
“When Miss Burroughs checked into the hotel, she said that she wanted the room cleaned at six a.m. while she was down at the spa.”
“Your spa opens at six a.m.?” I raised my brow.
“No. The spa actually opens at eight. But for special guests, we can make accommodations.”
“How would you define a ‘special’ guest?” I asked.
“Someone who visits our hotel frequently and stays in our high-priced suites.” He smiled.
“How frequently did Miss Burroughs stay here at the hotel?”
“About three to four day/nights a week. She rarely stayed more than just a few hours.
“And every reservation was booked under her name?”
“Yes.”
“Different men each time stayed with her?” I asked.
He looked down in embarrassment.
“Yes. She had a lot of different boyfriends.”
“Come on, Roberto. We both know none of those men were her boyfriends.”
“If you say so, Miss Williams.”
I sighed as I rolled my eyes.
“Was she with any other man that day she was here?”
“No. I didn’t see her with anyone but Mr. Russo.”
“And what time was it that you saw them?”
“It was around eleven o’clock when I saw them step into the elevator.”
“Did Miss Burroughs ever schedule a spa appointment that early?” I asked.
“I’d have to check.” He turned to his computer and started typing. “No. The earliest she ever booked one was around noon.”
“Thank you, Roberto.” I smiled as I held out my hand.
“You’re welcome, Miss Williams. I hope I was of some help.”
“You were. Lastly, is the maid who found Miss Burroughs here today?”
“That would be Marta, and yes, she’s here. Did you want to speak with her?”
“Please. I promise it’ll only be for a couple of minutes.”
Roberto picked up the phone on his desk and called for Marta to come into his office. I looked at my watch and saw that I had approximately forty-five minutes to get to the courthouse. A few moments later, an older woman with her hair pulled back into a ponytail, stepped into the office.
“Marta, this is Miss Williams. She’s an attorney and would like to speak with you.”
Marta looked over at me and gave a small smile to hide the nervousness that was splayed across her face.
“Hi, Marta. When you entered Miss Burroughs’ suite, and before you found her body, did you see anything unusual?”
“No. I’ve already talked to the police,” she spoke.
“I know you have, and I’m sorry to make you go through this again, but it’s very important that you remember everything about that morning. You said you started cleaning the suite's living area before you went into the bedroom and found Miss Burroughs. Did you perhaps throw anything away? Maybe a condom wrapper or something?”
This was a long shot, but I had to ask.
“No. I’m sorry. There was nothing.”
“Thank you, Marta, I won’t take up any more of your time.”
I pulled my phone from my purse and dialed Sheila when I left the hotel.
“Ariana, I was just going to call you. I’m at the courthouse. Where are you?”
“I’m on my way.”
“It seems that Gina Burroughs quit the escort agency three months ago.”
“Really? Then who was she working for?”
“Herself. Liza, one of the girls at the agency, said that Gina had confided in her that she planned to take her clients with her and start up her own agency.”
“Interesting. I’m almost at the courthouse. Is Luca there yet?”
“Yeah. He’s standing right next to me.”
“Great. I’ll be there in five.”
The cab pulled up to the curb of the courthouse. After I paid my cab fare, I climbed out. As I walked up the stairs, Wendy Graham walked up next to me.
“I’m going for a double life sentence if this goes to trial since the victim was pregnant.”
“Figured you would.” I kept looking straight ahead.
“Ariana, stop.” She placed her hand on my arm. “I’m offering fifty years. Take it or leave it. That is a damn good deal. I’m only offering this right now, at this moment. Once we enter the courtroom, the deal is off the table.”
“I’m leaving it, Wendy. We’re going to trial.”
I walked into the courthouse and found Luca and Sheila waiting outside the courtroom.
“Where were you?” Luca asked in a low and authoritative tone.
“I went over to the Peninsula Hotel and talked to the manager. We’ll discuss it later. Wendy is going for a double life sentence if we go to trial. She offered a plea bargain of fifty years. It’s off the table the minute we step inside the courtroom.”
“She can shove her fifty years up her cunt,” he spoke.
I bit down on my bottom lip and looked at him.
“Would you like to tell her that?”
“Definitely.” A small cocky grin crossed his lips.
I would admit that I had allowed my nerves to get the best of me. Standing in the courtroom, waiting for the judge, and not knowing what the D.A. would throw at us was nerve-racking.
“Did you offer him the plea?” Wendy leaned over and asked in a low whisper.
“Yes, and he said you can take your fifty years and shove it up your cunt.” I smiled.
Her jaw dropped as she glared at me, her nostrils flaring in anger.
“His words, not mine.” I shrugged.
The judge entered the courtroom and took his seat. The D.A. presented her case, as did I.
“Your honor, we are charging Mr. Russo with second-degree murder on two counts since finding out the victim was pregnant. With that new charge, and in light of new circumstances, we ask that you revoke bail.”
“What new circumstances?” I asked as I looked over at Wendy.
“Yes, Miss Graham, what new circumstances are you referring to?” Judge Kingsley spoke.
“Your honor, Mr. Russo has a history of violence. When he was fifteen years old, he was charged and tried for the murder of his father.”
Instantly, my stomach felt sick, and a wave of heat flowed through my body. My knees started to shake as I slowly sat down. I looked over at Luca, and he immediately looked away from me. I swallowed hard as shock settled inside.
“Mr. Russo, is that true?” Judge Kingsley asked.
“Yes, and I was found not guilty by reason of self-defense, your Honor.”
“Miss Graham, you know better than that.” He slowly shook his head.
“Sorry, your Honor,” she spoke.
“Due to the evidence presented and Mr. Russo’s plea of not guilty, a jury will try this case, and your motion for revoked bail, Miss Graham, is denied. You shouldn’t have pulled that little stunt.”
“Again, I apologize, your Honor. The state is asking for the trial date to be set fairly quickly since this is a high-profile case.”
“Jury selection will begin in two days, and we will meet back in this courtroom in one week to start trial proceedings.”
“You won’t have enough time to prepare, Ariana. Object!” Luca whispered in an authoritative tone.
I ignored him. I couldn’t even look at him.
“Miss Williams, any objections?” Judge Kingsley asked.
“No, your Honor.”
“Court adjourned,” he spoke.
I got up from my chair and grabbed the files from the table.
“Sorry, Ariana. I thought Mr. Russo would have told his lawyer everything, including his past.” Her brow raised as she walked out ahead of me.
I was at a loss for words, still shaken by what I’d heard. But more so that Luca didn’t tell me. I walked out of the courtroom quickly, trying to escape what I had considered another betrayal. Luca caught up with me and grabbed hold of my arm, his grip tight as he held me in place.
“I’m sorry, Ariana. You have to listen to me.”
“Listen to you?” I spoke through gritted teeth. “That’s all I’ve done is listen to you. I’m your lawyer. Why didn’t you tell me?” My voice raised. “You hired me to defend you, and you kept something as serious as that a secret? I was fucking blindsided in there!”
“Let’s discuss this back at my place,” he spoke.
“No. I’m going home, and I want to be alone. You can wait for my call.” I yanked my arm from his grip.
My heart was broken because he didn’t trust me enough to tell me about his past. He didn’t have faith in me that I’d understand, just like my family didn’t. When I arrived home, I poured a glass of wine, drew a hot bath, and climbed into the bubbly vanilla-scented water. Maybe it was best to have one of the other partners defend him. I wasn’t sure about anything anymore. I soaked in the tub for as long as possible, got out, slipped into a pair of sweatpants and a tank top, and lay on the couch.