10. Honoria
Chapter Ten
Honoria
Lawyers truly should know better. Jim’s best buddy pounced on me first. “Have you seen the baby yet?”
Have you ever asked yourself if you’re a fight or flight person? I always thought I was a fighter. But in that moment, I found out I’m neither. I’m the “freeze” type. I barely blinked. My mouth couldn’t form the “b” without failing, so instead I said, “What?”
“Jim and Denise’s little boy. He’s so cute!” Then he proceeded to scroll through the photos Jim sent him.
All eight photos.
I’d gotten a text and shut it down after two. I couldn’t exactly mute a coworker’s number, could I?
“How do I put this nicely? Please don’t show me those.”
“Oh, right, you’re still hurting from the divorce. Sorry, Honey.”
I wanted to scream. Somehow I managed to keep my tone neutral. “It’s Honoria, remember?” That’s my fucking name, dickhead. It’s on the letterhead for crying out loud.
His happy expression faded. “Don’t be all sour about this. Let him have his moment.”
I was. “Is it too much to ask not to have that moment rubbed in my face?” My tone must have shifted because the senior partner called me into his office.
The words, “Is this going to be a problem?” should be banned from the language. Every language.
When the third paralegal pulled their phone out, I hurried past them saying, “Late for court.”
I wasn’t.
In fact, I was over an hour early. That meant killing time in the little conference room adjacent to the clerk of court offices.
It was located as far away as I could get from my usual haunts because the lawyers up there were Jim’s friends, too.
I’d seen those damn photos almost a dozen times by now.
You’d think it would hurt less by that point.
Two cops gathered by the coffee machine someone set up on a credenza. They were discussing local events as I tried to concentrate on my case. I did a good job until I heard one of them say, “I think it was the Destroyers. They started a gang war in our backyard.”
“Everyone thinks that, but no one can prove it.”
Would it be horrible to eavesdrop? Then again, this wasn’t related to any active case, yet. I weighed the interests of my client versus the chances I’d have to use this in court. Of course, I could make myself known. Introduce myself as the lawyer assigned to their retainer while Jim was on—
The urge to growl as soon as “paternity leave” crossed my mind was difficult to suppress. And for that, I listened, kept my mouth shut, and my head down.
Their conversation grew more intense.
“Four men go missing and we’re supposed to ignore that?”
“It ain’t exactly like losing those assholes is a loss. Frankly, if the Destroyers killed them, they helped rid the county of at least a dozen rapes and god knows how many assaults.”
“Still.” The cop was going to say more, but finally noticed me. “Why aren’t you upstairs?”
Busted. “Too much noise.”
Obviously, that was a lie. The clerk’s office was a hive of activity. The one who’d asked muttered, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
The other one recognized me. He’d arrested Wombat, and I’d torn his “reckless endangerment” charge to shreds. “Honoria Ryder.”
Joe Langner said my name all wrong. “You forgot the best part, Esquire.”
I packed my things, knowing I wasn’t wanted here.
“Your boys better mind their p’s and q’s.”
Was that a threat toward my firm’s client? I straightened to my full height and blessed the three-inch heels I’d worn for giving me extra leverage today. “My boys?” Perhaps I should have put the emphasis elsewhere, but I didn’t.
“Yeah, the Destroyers MC. Although you know that’s a misnomer. It should be motorcycle gang.”
He was baiting me. I projected calmness I didn’t feel. “Do we have a problem I need to address?”
“Yeah, four men are missing. Two of them are tied to an assault on a couple who own a bar downtown. We suspect they all assaulted a young woman who was hospitalized the next day, but we can’t press charges on them because conveniently, they’re all gone, and she doesn’t remember a thing.”
“Have you placed a notice with the state agency?”
“The state, the feds, all of ’em,” he replied.
“Then we wait, correct?” I replied.
The other cop piped in. “No one’s going to find them.”
“Why is that?”
He leaned in. “Because that girl, she’s dating the Destroyer’s treasurer. He’s got guard dogs on her twenty-four-seven.”
I logged that information. “Protection isn’t a crime.”
“But kidnapping and murder are.”
If you could prove it. And that’s where my education and experience rose to prominence. “Will you be charging anyone with this speculation?”
His nostrils flared. “When I do, you’ll be the first to know.”
My smile was fake. I laid in extra good intent so the corners of my eyes would crinkle just so. I imagined how the defense would go now that I knew they were actively looking for dirt on my clients.
But he knew precisely where to cut me.
“I hear your ex just had a baby. That’s gotta sting.”
With practice, you can lie and no one knows. I’d gotten almost a dozen chances to get it right this morning. “I know. The baby pictures are so cute.” I vowed the next time I saw this guy in court, he’d pay for that one.
“Too bad your ovaries are all dried up.”
Not only was that sexist, but ageist. I squared off against him. “Do you really want to be dragged in front of a review board for that statement? I know more than one judge who doesn’t like you, Officer.”
“No wonder he traded you in for a younger model.”
The other officer slapped his arm with the back of his hand. “That’s too far. You’re going to get written up for that one.”
“She can take it. Can’t you, Honey?”
If I were a more petty person… “You’re in uniform, aren’t you, Joe?”
He didn’t glance down, but his partner stiffened.
“…and with these witnesses, who know you’re getting paid to be here today,” I swept my arm out to indicate the ladies from the county clerk office who’d stopped what they were doing to listen in, “your insulting behavior could definitely be interpreted as police misconduct… That is, if you’re trying to intimidate me.
You’re not, are you?” I leaned in to do some intimidation of my own.
The veteran on the staff chimed in. “Joe, that kind of talk wasn’t welcome in the eighties when you were born. It certainly isn’t welcome now. I’m telling your mother. And if she won’t listen, I’m good friends with the chief of police.”
The other, a newer hire, nodded her head. “I wish I knew your wife. I’d tell her what you said with the younger model remark. I’m sure she’d be interested in knowing you think that way.”
His fellow cop snorted. “She knows. Why do you think he’s getting divorced.”
“Really? Who representing her?” I had a referral for her if she had a clunker. Walt’s wife worked for the best family law practice in the region. I’d put in a good word for her.
“You lawyers,” Joe growled.
I raised an eyebrow to see if he’d expand on that statement.
“Come on, Joe. We’ll be late for traffic court.”
Traffic court. That meant he wasn’t on any murder investigations. And likely never would be.
Not if I could help it.
Nine hours later, I parked my car in front of Lemon’s house. My feet were killing me, and I regretted every inch of “leverage” I’d donned.
Wombat was in the fenced dog run working with DA. I glanced away before being caught ogling his ass or the casually sexy way he walked, or his windswept hair that looked better messy. Nope. That ship had sailed. Left port. Departed to points unknown.
And a good thing for it, too. Especially if the Destroyers were caught up in things like murder and kidnapping.
Even if the victims were horrible people?
I shoved that intrusive thought aside. Between cases, I did a little digging around the edges of Wombat’s case. Two other Destroyers had been arrested that night. No wonder Jim needed help. Another member ended up in the hospital after being thrown off of a second-story balcony.
He was recovering from a crushed vertebrae, two broken ribs, a minor concussion, and damage to his internal organs. That one was lucky to be alive.
And, there’d been a dead body in the treasurer’s home.
The claim was he’d fallen out the same window, gotten up to continue his home invasion and died where they found the body on the second floor.
He had blunt force trauma to the head, which could have happened from the fall, but there were notes in the coroner’s report that didn’t substantiate that kind of injury.
However, there was only one witness. And he’d stuck to his story.
There were no variations in the two months he’d been recovering.
Another “unfortunate” snag in the investigation was the number of instances of vandalism and break-ins attributed to the victim.
Their rap sheet rivaled a high fantasy novel in length.
He should have been serving life behind bars.
And then I hit the real meat of the issue. Jim had represented him when he and the now-Destroyers were the same club.
The cops were wrong. This wasn’t a gang war.
This was a grudge. On the emotional angle alone, I could construct an argument to acquit anyone charged in this mess.
But there hadn’t been any charges filed.
There was a rape kit on the girl held at the hospital, and nowhere to send it to because absolutely no one wanted to connect the dots.
And that rankled.
She should have justice.
“Are you okay?” Lemon’s question caught me off guard.
I smiled despite not feeling it. “Just decompressing, that’s all.”
She glanced to where I’d been absently gazing. Her brother bent over and ruffled DA’s ears. I could hear the tone of his voice as he rough-housed with the dog, but not the words.
“My brother is an idiot, you know that, right?”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Whatever he did, or said, it’s because he’s hit his head at least one too many times. Or maybe it’s because he was malnourished as a child. You’re fully justified in whatever grudge you have against him.”
I blinked, trying to figure out what she was saying. “Are you saying that because of female solidarity or because I’m a customer?”
She licked her lips. “Both?”
I laughed. “He didn’t do anything wrong.
” If anyone was in hot water, it was me.
I shouldn’t have gone there. I simply shouldn’t have.
I was older, his lawyer… and sure, I wasn’t actively representing him or paid by him, plus Maryland didn’t set time limits or restraints on relationships with former clients, it was on me to be more mature and sensible about the ethical aspects.
“Are you sure? Because he’s not a saint.”
It was my turn to study her. “Let me guess, you noticed my car was in the lot long after I should have left.”
She shrugged. “I might have, but you’re an adult. More of one than my brother.”
Rub it in, why don’t you? I really shouldn’t have asked, and it was wrong of me to dig when it wasn’t an active case, but I couldn’t stop myself. “Do you know anything about the Destroyers’ old club?”
Lemon’s gaze turned sharp. “I know they’re all dickheads. Wombat told me to stay far away from them, and if any of them showed up here, to lock myself in the basement with the dogs. Why?”
“I overheard two police officers talking, that’s all.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Occupational hazard?”
“Definitely.”
“You might want to tell Wombat.”
I couldn’t. “It’s only speculation.”
Lemon crossed her arms. “If the cops are going to arrest my brother on some bullshit, I want to know. What do they have on him?”
“Like I said, it’s speculation, and I doubt your brother would be involved.”
“Involved in what?”
Shit. I didn’t hear him approach. “Nothing.”
Lemon ratted me out. “Your lawyer says the cops are talking about the Souls.”
Something moved through Wombat’s expression. Then he snorted. “Let ‘em talk. Those bastards need to go to jail for a long-ass time. Oh, and she’s not my lawyer anymore.” He pointed with his thumb. “Right, Honor?”
Hearing him call me that sent a shock through my system. He’d remembered. I rallied to address the most important part. “I’m not actively your lawyer.”
The corner of his mouth turned up. “And if I got in trouble, I’d ask for someone else from your firm.” His eyes dipped to my breasts and his tongue flicked as if still tasting me on his lips.
“Give it a rest, Dumb Ass, she’s not into you.”
At the mention of his name, Wombat’s dog waded between us to lick Lemon’s hands. “Not you, DA, you’re a good dog. Unlike some dum-dums who should be neutered.”
“Damn it, Lemon. Go get Molly. I need a minute with Honor.”
“Your funeral.” She snapped her fingers so DA would follow her.
“I’m sorry—”
“You’re asking about the Souls?” He talked right over me.
We both halted, catching up.
“What are you sorry for?”
Oh, boy. Where to start? I picked the worst of it so I could rip the band-aid off. “For sleeping with you.”
His eyes opened a little wider. “I’m not sorry for that.”
Why did that make my stomach twist, and my heart leap to grab onto hope? I blew out my breath. “About your former club—”
“I was never a Rebel Soul.”
Just the name alone made me assume awful things. I should know better than that. “That was their name?”
He hesitated. “Is. Although, I haven’t seen any of those assholes in a while.”
If we were in court, I’d interpret his hesitation as a lie being constructed. “That’s what the police were discussing. Four of them are missing.”
His face showed no expression. He finally filled the silence. “Good. They’re all a bunch of racists who shared about five teeth and two brain cells between the whole lot of them.” He grinned, showing off his teeth as if to infer he was superior.
“Not good. The police think your club is involved.” I was fishing now.
He laughed. “Naw.” He glanced away, but added, “We’ve got top-notch lawyers who keep us straight.” When he turned back to stare at me, the humor had left his face. “That’s all you are to me, isn’t it?”
Why did that hurt? I should be relieved. “About last night…”
Lemon interrupted us with Molly on her lead. Wombat took the leash from her and pointed her toward the house. “Butt out, little sister.”
Her head canted to the side as she geared up to argue.
We really needed to talk about this without her interruptions. “Please?” I added.
She glanced between us. Eventually she groaned and stated, “I’m disgusted with both of you.” Realizing her blunder too late, she added, “But you and your dog are always welcome here. We love Molly. Right, Wombat?”