30—Stolen
For once, Bonhi didn’t get out her laptop.
For the first time in a long time, she just sat and…
existed. She was claimed. She was a claimed woman.
She was a claimed witch who couldn’t do magic.
So was she even a witch? The only thing Bonhi was sure of, was that she was a lawyer…
and that she was all the way in love with Dallas Matteo.
He’d said they’d be married, but he hadn’t said he loved her. He looked at her like he loved her though, and he treated her better than she’d been treated by any man in her life. It looked like love to her.
Dallas snored once and twisted in his seat. His hand brushed hers. She took it and entwined their fingers, whispering, “Love you.”
She settled into her seat and thought about what life with Dallas would be like.
She had no ideas, other than fantastic sex and a whole lot of adventure.
Landing and deplaning went smoothly. Bonhi had the trinket in one pocket and the cuff in the other.
She carried her purse, laptop bag, and their water while Dallas carried their luggage.
They headed out the door and spotted Dakota right away, leaning against her muscle car, holding up a hand-lettered sign saying, ‘I BELIEVE.’ Nearby a golden eagle surveyed Dakota from a lamppost, while a crowd under the lamppost gathered and jostled for pictures of the eagle.
Dallas laughed and so did Bonhi. “I believe, too,” Dallas whispered, switching both bags to one hand so he could hug Bonhi while they walked. Bonhi wanted to believe too, she really did, but she believed in facts and solid evidence, and all she had right now was circumstantial at best.
They reached Dakota. She tossed the sign in the open window of her car and held her hand up to high-five Bonhi.
Bonhi smacked it. Dallas tried to hug her, but Dakota only gave him a quick squeeze, then fake body-punched him several times, saying.
“Glad you made it back in one piece, bro. You too, Bonhi.”
“Who’s watching the doctor?” Dallas asked.
“Maze and Riot.”
“What’s been going on?”
“Nothing at all. No big Vs showed up while you were gone, and the doctor still twitches.”
Dallas grunted. He thunked his fist on the trunk. “Open it.”
Dakota thunked her fist on his shoulder. “Don’t manhandle Luxe like that!”
“My bad.”
Dakota opened the trunk, and Dallas put the bags in and closed it, then they all piled in the car, with Bonhi and Dallas both sitting in the back seat.
Bonhi rolled down her window to watch the eagle and said, “Aven looks pretty majestic.”
Dakota snorted laughter. “He does. Everybody loves him.” She pulled away from the curb, merging into traffic and speeding up. The golden eagle pushed into flight and the crowd called out and pointed, turning as a unit, following the bird with their phone cameras.
Bonhi pulled out her laptop. “I need to check something,” she told Dallas.
She hadn’t sent the private investigator out for more pictures, and now that they were home, the case loomed large in her mind. Should she ask for another continuance? If she went out herself, would the cabin appear for her so she could get pictures?
She connected the laptop to her phone’s hotspot, then logged into the courthouse website to check the docket and found something shocking instead.
United States of America v. Vernon Bunn: Judgement Rendered / Writ of Assistance Issued (Ex Parte)
“Oh no,” Bonhi muttered, her heart in her throat, diving into the legalese to figure out what’d happened.
Dallas reached over and squeezed her hand. “Everything okay?”
“No, they aren’t. I have a case involving the government and they filed an emergency motion this morning that stole my client’s property. I don’t understand. Where would Vernon even get nuclear waste?”
“Vernon Bunn?” Dakota asked, looking at her sharply.
Bonhi winced. “Shit, sorry. I can’t talk about the case. I shouldn’t have.”
Dakota caught Dallas’ eye in the rearview mirror. “Vernon Bunn is being protected by ‘Cause’ shifters round the clock because vampires went after him a while back.”
“Is he human?” Dallas asked.
“Yeah.”
Bonhi shook her head, wanting to tell them about the cabin, but unable to do it.
Her ethics and her duty of confidentiality toward her client wouldn’t let her.
She hoped she wasn’t making a big mistake that would harm Vernon and ‘The Cause.’ If only she knew for sure that vampires were involved, it would make deciding what to do easier.
“Does he… know about… shifters, and vampires, and…?”
Dakota shook her head. “No. He thinks ‘The Cause’ is a political organization.”
“I need to make a phone call,” Bonhi said. “Can we stop somewhere?”
“Sure.” Dakota slowed and maneuvered into the right-hand lane, then pulled off at the next exit, which was a rest stop.
Bonhi strolled far enough away from the car to have some privacy, then called Vernon. He answered on the first ring.
“Vernon, I’m so sorry but the judge ruled early. The government pulled a sneaky move, saying you’ve got nuclear waste in the cabin and so it’s dangerous and they have a right to go in and clean it out without a court order. They’re demanding the key by close of business today.”
“Nuclear waste! Of all the derned malarkey—”
“We can still fight. I can request an immediate ‘show cause’ hearing with another judge and we can move to get this blocked, but it has to happen as soon as possible. Can you meet me at my office in an hour?”
“I’ll be there.”
Bonhi hung up and headed back to the car, knowing she didn’t have enough evidence to sway her inner convictions. She would have to keep quiet about Vernon.
The drive went smoothly, and when they reached Bonhi’s office, the parking lot was full, but Bonhi was able to pick out Vernon’s silver sedan, and the truck that had accompanied him last time. Dallas’ car was parked in her stall where they’d left it.
Vernon stood near her door, arms crossed, forehead gleaming in the sun, shrewd eyes scanning the parking lot.
“He glows,” Dallas said softly as they parked.
Dakota sounded shocked. “What? Glows?”
“Yeah, like our mom did.”
“So he’s got switch blood?” Bonhi asked, her voice also soft, her eyes on Vernon.
“I think so.”
Bonhi opened her mouth to speak about the cabin, but then she shut it again. She couldn’t bring herself to do it.
She opened the door instead, got out, and headed for her office, saying, “Vernon, thank you so much for coming. Please come inside.”
She unlocked the door that still had plywood instead of windows, then ushered Vernon to her inner office. She had him sit down, and she sat behind her desk, thinking of what their plan of attack should be.
“We have to go to the courthouse with the key,” she said. “That shows good faith, but we won’t turn it over right away. Instead—” Bonhi remembered the name she’d seen on the deed and thought maybe it would crack things open for them. "Tell me, who is Maximus Veleno?"
Vernon’s eyes shot to Bonhi’s then down to his lap. His jaw worked, his lips pursed white. He crossed his arms and looked away, then back at Bonhi. “Don’t know.”
Bonhi held out a hand. “You have an obligation to tell me anything that could help.” She wanted to ask him if the guy was a vampire, but again, she couldn’t bring herself to.
Vernon stood up. “I have an obligation not to involve a decent woman in something that could get her killed.”
Bonhi’s heart did a little flip-flop in her chest and her breathing quickened. “Is he a—?”
Vernon interrupted her. “I’m handing the cabin over. Here.” He fished a key out of his pocket and dropped it on Bonhi’s desk. “Send me the bill.”
“What? You’re giving up?”
“I never gave up on anything in my life, young lady, but I was wrong to come to you. I’ve put you in danger.”
“But—"
“Thank you for your help, Miss Candor. I believe the cabin will be fine. It’s special. It’s… protected.” He crossed the room and opened the door without looking back.
Bonhi snatched up the key and followed, thinking of anything she could say that would stop him. He rushed to his car and got in before she could. He drove away and the guy in the truck followed.
Dakota was still in the car, but Dallas had followed them into the office and followed Bonhi out.
She took his hand and looked up at him, her mind whirling.
Should she break confidentiality? If she didn’t, would people get hurt?
If she did, would she lose her license… and her self-respect?
Maybe not, if she spoke in generalities.
She held up the key. “I have a key I’m ordered to deliver to the courthouse, but ahh… I think there might be vampires there.”
His eyes studied hers. “Does this have to do with a cabin in the woods?”
Bonhi nodded hesitantly. “Yes, but I can’t tell you anything more than that. My client deserves confidentiality.”
Dallas turned and looked at Dakota, who shrugged. “Me ‘n Aven’ll back you up, however you want to run it.”
Dallas looked back at Bonhi. “I say you hand the key over while we watch who shows up to collect it.”