CHAPTER TWELVE
Linc
I ’m sitting in my office, leaning back in my leather chair, staring out my glass window into the city.
Thoughts of last night filter in and consume every inch of my attention; I stopped trying to work right after I sat down hours ago.
Hanging around the apartment had me pacing while waiting until Everly was done with work, so I thought I’d head into the office to try to calm my nerves for a few hours.
The first thing I did was make a call to a florist and have twenty-four red roses sent to Everly’s work this morning.
I wanted to make sure she knew I was thinking of her today.
The florist was shocked at the number of roses but didn’t mind since the price tag was enormous, with such short notice.
I made sure the note was to my satisfaction before getting off the phone.
Last night was by far the best of my life. Two dozen red roses for every hour of today that you are in my thoughts. I’ll pick you up after work.
Love,
Linc
Last night was amazing. No, more than amazing; it was magnificent, heart-stirring, spine-tingling.
Everly was extraordinary, as she gave me the most precious gift a woman could give a man.
Having lost my own virginity junior year in high school, I couldn’t appreciate the value of it at the time and I truly wish it was something that I could’ve given to her as well.
But I’ll give her something that is just as precious.
My love and heart. Something that no one has ever been given.
I knew the moment I saw her at the courthouse, and then again at the bar that first night, that this woman would change me forever.
She has become my whole world in such a short amount of time.
“Mr. Thorne, Anne is here to have a word.” Alex, the weekend secretary, interrupts my thoughts of Everly. I guess I need to get back on track so that I can get out of here on time to meet up with my angel after work.
“Send her in.”
Anne, one of the newest interns at the firm, has done well for herself.
She’s a Stanford graduate and had impeccable references from her professors and some of my colleagues.
She’s got a bright future ahead of her as long as she stays focused and continues to work hard.
I have no doubt that we’ll be offering her a position at the end of her internship.
“What can I help you with today?” I ask and shuffle some papers on my desk to organize my newest case.
“Well sir, Chandler is on vacation and Rich is out sick today, so I wasn’t sure how the chain of command went after that,” she says as she thumbs open her notebook.
“I received a message from the police station saying one of our clients has been brought in and wanted to make sure that the right attorney was informed.”
“Sure,” I lean back in my chair and think if we have a procedure in place if both attorneys are out.
Normally one is always there to answer the calls on the weekends.
I’ll have to speak with HR about that one.
Quickly, I make a note on my pad next to my phone.
“I’ll have to check myself, Anne. Who is the client, and I’ll see what I can do and who’ll handle it for you? ”
“Of course, Mr. Thorne. The client is,” she looks down and pulls the notebook closer. “Linley Lewis. She first showed as your client but was then assigned to Chandler and then to Rich in the event he was not available.”
“Linley Lewis?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What are the charges against her?” I’m confused but I know we don’t have any other client with that name; it must be her.
Anne turns the page then brings her glasses down from the top of her head. Maybe Linley was busted for drugs or driving while intoxicated. It wouldn’t be the first time that this has happened in our city or in our client roster.
“The officer I spoke to listed assault with a deadly weapon, attempted homicide, aggravated assault, resisting arrest and injury to an officer.”
What in the hell?
“Linley Lewis. Our client that’s a model for Blaire Hutchins’ modeling agency?” I ask again, to make sure I’m hearing and understanding her correctly. “The one whose face is on the billboard down the street. That Linley Lewis?”
“Yes, sir. The officer was adamant that she is our client.”
“Give me the information and I’ll see what I can do.” I wave her over to get her pages in the notebook and then send her on her way.
Two seconds later, I’m phoning Olivia.
“Hey, I need a favor.”
“Don’t you always.” She huffs. “What now? I thought you were out of the office until Monday?”
I tell her what Anne just gave me and have her handle it. Olivia knows quite a few officers down at the precincts so she’s more likely to get better details than me.
Thirty minutes later, I’m elbow deep in researching a potential new corporate client when Olivia rushes in, banging the door against the wall.
“Thanks for knocking,” I sarcastically say but her face shuts me up. I’ve never seen Olivia white as a ghost and she’s trembling.
“Lincoln,” she gasps. Her lips are opening and closing but nothing is coming out.
“What is it Olivia? What’s wrong?” Jumping up from my seat, I rush over to where she’s standing by the front of my desk.
“I-I just got off the phone with a friend down at the station.”
“Okay?” I cautiously say. It takes a lot to trip Olivia up so this must be colossal. “What did you find out?”
“Linley is in a lot of trouble, but that’s not what I’m concerned about.” She pauses and the anticipation is killing me.
“Okay, so spit it out.”
“It’s the person Linley assaulted.”
The silent pause has me even more confused. Why is Olivia all worked up like this? We handle cases like this every day.
“Let me guess, a cameraman or producer or some other model who took her position at the agency.” I raise my eyebrows for her to continue, as I’m not one to play guessing games at work. My time could be spent doing other meaningful tasks.
“It was Everly, Lincoln. Everly Bryant was listed as the victim.”
There are moments in life where you feel the world stop. Your body takes a pause to try to digest the information you’ve just been given. For some, that moment lasts mere seconds, but for others it can be up to hours before it registers back to normal.
“What? Who-who told you this?” I’m sure I heard her wrong because it couldn’t be Everly. My Everly. My angel that I just sent a text to this morning. The woman who woke up in my bed after the glorious night we’d spent together.
“I spoke with a contact who works closely with the chief. She gave me the details from the preliminary report that was filed at the scene.”
“The scene?” I think I’ve lost all faculties of reasoning. I can’t even compute what she’s saying. Like I’m having an out-of-body experience.
“According to the initial statements, Linley made an appointment to have a massage by Everly under a pseudo name. Several minutes after ten, screaming and crying for help was heard coming from a massage room. A worker rushed in and found Linley standing over Everly with a metal pipe, beating her while she was on the ground. Security, by the name of Bubba, came in and tackled Linley to the ground right when she came down and hit Everly in the head. He was able to get to her fast, so the hit to the head wasn’t as hard as it could’ve been if he hadn’t stepped in, according to the officer.
Bubba then pinned Linley down, holding her there until the police arrived. ”
I can’t move.
I can’t breathe.
All the oxygen from the room feels like it’s been sucked out and I can’t breathe. I start to tug at my tie and collar to gain some relief, but I find none.
“Wh…how is—”
“The officers responding to the call said it looked like a fucking bloody massacre. They arrested Linley as the paramedics were rushing Everly to the hospital.” Olivia clamps her hands firmly on my shoulders and gives me a shake.
“Is this a joke? Are you messing with me?” I finally focus and my eyes land on Olivia. “How did this happen?”
“I think we need to get to the hospital, Lincoln. I’ll drive you.”
I nod because for the first time in my life, forming words isn’t happening at the moment.
“Is she? They said attempted homicide, so does that mean—” I can’t even finish the sentence because I don’t want to get my hopes up.
“We won’t know until we get to the hospital and find out, but we need to move fast.”
She grabs my phone and jacket and somehow, we manage to walk to the elevator and get in her car and into a parking space at the hospital before I can even blink. It’s like I’ve walked into a nightmare I can’t wake from.
“Let me do all the talking” Olivia whispers as we approach the help desk.
An elderly woman, with snow white hair, sits behind the desk and looks as though she’s about to fall asleep.
“Hello, we were wondering if you might help point us in the right direction?” Olivia asks as sweetly as possible, turning on her charm.
“Huh? Honey, you’re going to have to speak up,” The old woman practically yells, and it echoes off the walls.
Olivia pulls her lips into a tight smile then proceeds to try again.
“I’m looking for a patient.” Olivia bends down and is almost in her face yelling. “Everly Bryant.”
“Are you a family member?”
“This is her husband.” Olivia points over to me. “I’m her attorney,” she enunciates each word so the elderly woman won’t question us anymore.
The woman nods then starts to slowly type on the computer. A sloth would be faster at this point. I move to take the keyboard away and do it myself, but Olivia must’ve anticipated this and grabs my arm, stopping me.
“She’s in surgery.”
My heart actually stops and my knees buckle. My hands mounted on the top of the counter keeps me from falling in a heap on the floor.