Counsel (Counsel #1) (9 page)

"Think about it; she's a woman, apparently in her forties, who’s been in a clandestine relationship with a very wealthy man for probably more than a decade. She’s reportedly borne him a child. He hasn’t left his wife, and as far as Carmen’s concerned, he’s done nothing to ensure a future for her and her child. In her place, wouldn’t you feel hard done by?" I respond to Jodi’s reservations about Carmen Bonacci agreeing to testify in the Wade and Joseph Cordi trials.

"I guess it's worth testing the waters," she concedes.

"I want to add Angelique Bain to our list," I say.

"Even though she won’t cooperate?"

"I still believe she holds the answer to why Justin entered into the Fidelity deal, and I’m determined to find out what it is."

"Do I put her on the witness list yet or not?"

"Let’s bring her in for another meeting. Even if we don’t learn anything new, she’ll, at least, have an opportunity to change her mind. If she doesn’t, it will justify my decision to declare her hostile."

She nods and types something into her laptop. "Do you want to start on the Cordi witness lists?"

"Let’s get preparations for the Wade case out of the way first. I want to recap our strategy and then check that our witnesses line up or if we have any gaps," I say, getting up to write our key strategic points on the whiteboard.

Two hours later and finally satisfied, I press the button to print the results of our discussions.

"I’ll have Jen type that up and email it to us," Jodi offers, reaching for the printouts. "I'll have subpoenas drawn up for all but Carmen and John Clarke for now and make an appointment for the interview with Angelique Bain."

"Thanks. You can probably also arrange for witness conferences for those we’ve agreed to subpoena."

"Do the names Miranda Flume and Lucia Fluss mean anything to you?" I ask as we leave the conference room.

"No, why?"

"Nothing specific, it’s just that something about them keeps niggling at me. Must be my mind playing tricks."

"Don't discount it; sometimes our subconscious is more alert than our conscious."

"You’re right," I concede.

On my way home that night, in an effort to calm my mind, I turn the radio onto the classical music station. The sounds of ‘Der Fluss’, one of Schubert’s water songs, fill the air, and as I listen to its almost hymn-like quality, it comes to me.

I nearly hit the steering wheel in my excitement. Fluss is the German word for river… and as I ponder its significance to Riviera, I realize that Flume is derived from the Latin word, flumine, which also means river. Those surnames seemed familiar because of their association with Riviera. "Thanks, Mom," I mutter, acknowledging her influence on my knowledge and enjoyment of classical music, and I suppose I should thank my legal education for knowing Latin. I just couldn't see the connection until I heard the music.

Either one of those girls could be Maria Riviera. Joseph, or someone who works for him, has a good understanding of languages and, it appears, a sick sense of humor. Giving the abducted girl a new identity so closely linked to her own, and then muddying the waters by introducing a second girl, is yet another sign of his arrogance and criminal genius. He’s been taunting everyone who was, and perhaps still is, looking for her, the sick bastard. It’s now even more imperative that we locate Miranda Flume and Lucia Fluss.

.

.

The next day, as we move into final preparations for the Wade trial, flies by. We have witness conferences planned for tomorrow and a meeting with Carmen Bonnaci the following day. Jodi’s also hopeful that she’ll be able to contact and set up a meeting with John Clarke; but it’s the meeting she’s arranged for today that my mind keep keeps wandering to.

After dreaming of her and despite my determination to get her on the witness stand, I admit, if only to myself, to feeling unsettled by the prospect of seeing Angelique Bain. I don't welcome the confusion she stirs in me

"Adam?" I look into Jodi’s concerned face.

"Did you hear what I said?" she asks.

"No, I’m sorry… what?"

"I asked if you remembered that Angelique Bain will be here at five?"

"I do. Perhaps you'd like to sit in?" I spontaneously offer.

"Sure. I can’t wait to meet Little Miss Perfect." Her eyes glimmer with humor as she does a near-perfect imitation of Natasha. Her levity is like a welcome breath of fresh air. Having her in the meeting will help to reduce the tension and, hopefully, lessen Angelique Bain’s impact on me.

"Great! Do you have everything? I need to do some stuff on the Cordi trials."

"I’m good. Catch you later," she says cheerfully and leaves.

At ten to five Bec informs me that she's shown Ms. Bain into interview room two. I call Jodi, who agrees to come by so we can enter together. I straighten my tie and fasten my jacket, smiling wryly at how this otherwise normal act suddenly feels like preparing to go into battle. Jodi’s arrival, thankfully, saves me from having to further contemplate the irony.

"Okay, you're pretty enough, let's go," she teases.

"Are you jealous?" I respond in kind.

"In your dreams, Thorne!" She smacks my arm lightly. I smile, grateful for her banter.

I allow Jodi to enter first. Angelique Bain, I can see, is dressed to kill. If I didn't know better, I'd say she’d also felt the need for protective armor. With her gray, figure-hugging dress, her incredibly long hair loose and framing her face, and deep-red lips, she presents a glaringly different image from the natural and casually chic woman I’d seen last. Yes, definitely dressed to kill, I tell myself.

Her eyes, focused on Jodi, narrow the moment she notices my presence; her open expression instantly replaced by one of guardedness.

"Ms. Bain, thank you for coming in again. This is my colleague, Assistant District Attorney Jodi Maddox," I greet her courteously.

"I’m pleased to meet you, Ms. Bain." Jodi steps forward, smiling warmly.

"It’s nice to meet you too, Ms. Maddox." Smiling tentatively, she rises to take Jodi’s hand. I wait for both to be seated before sitting down.

"I'm sure you already know why you're here…" I start by saying, but she cuts me off.

"I have a good idea, Mr. Thorne, but why don't you tell me again." I take a steadying breath to tamp down my irritation.

"The Wade trial starts next week as I'm sure you already know," I say pointedly. "At our last meeting, I asked you to consider testifying. We'd like to raise that matter again."

"You didn’t
ask
me; as I recall, you tried to threaten me into doing your bidding," she snaps.

"I assure you, that was not my intention. I merely outlined evidence pointing to your knowledge of matters relating to this trial. I mistakenly believed that you'd welcome the opportunity to cooperate and clarify the role, it’s become apparent, you played in this
sordid
business," I reply. Her eyes narrow, but she remains silent. Jodi casts me a bemused glance before intervening.

"Ms. Bain, we’re only trying to get to the truth. As Mr. Thorne has explained, we’re in possession of documents that implicate you in Joseph Cordi’s prostitution network. We guarantee you’ll be treated fairly, and if you were in
any
way coerced into working for him, we’ll make sure you receive justice. Talk to us," Jodi diplomatically says.

Angelique turns to stare out of the window. She takes a deep, tremulous breath before returning her gaze to Jodi.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Maddox, I can’t help you."

"You should know that we intend subpoenaing you. It would be better if you cooperated." Jodi leans across the table in an effort to convince her.

"Better for whom?" she asks.

"Better for
you
, Ms. Bain," I reply. "If you think you're protecting Senator Wade, then you're wrong. If you think you'll avoid having your name leaked during this trial, you're wrong. Ms. Maddox is right in saying you’d be better off working with us. " She doesn’t respond, glancing down at her hands in her lap instead. I turn to see if Jodi wants to add anything. She shakes her head.

"I'm not sure whether Thomas Martin has asked you to testify, but I very much doubt that he has or will because they have more to gain by you not appearing. Trust me when I tell you that neither Defense Counsel nor his client will be thinking about what's best for you. They'll act in the senator’s best interest, and he’ll do everything he can to deny or downplay his association with you. Despite his and your best efforts, your involvement
will
get out, and the media will have a field day assassinating your character. Thomas Martin and Justin Wade will do nothing to protect your reputation and everything to protect the Wade name. All we ask is that you tell your story, no embellishment, just the
truth
, Ms. Bain."

She gnaws on her bottom lip, and I soften my tone. "If you cooperate with us, defense will try to discredit your testimony under cross-examination; but as I've said, they won't really want to draw attention to your association with the senator. Ms. Maddox and I will prepare you for anything we believe they'll throw at you."

Her eyes dart to mine before she averts them to stare at some point between Jodi and me.

"You have the opportunity to salvage whatever you can of your reputation; surely you have an interest in doing that? Joseph Cordi and Justin Wade have expensive attorneys working to protect their freedom and reputations. Don't you want to give
your
account of things, to fight for
your
reputation?" I press.

The hand she raises to tuck a wayward tendril of hair behind her ear trembles. I watch her lovely profile as her long lashes flutter nervously. Against all conscious thought, I feel the now familiar and unwanted pull of attraction. I steel myself against its onslaught.
She
made the decision to enter into this arrangement with Joseph and Justin, I remind myself. Why do I care that she's upset and looking so damned fragile right now?

I turn to Jodi, ready to call an end to the meeting. "Ms. Bain?" she appeals, ignoring me to address the obstinate woman. "Are you
sure
you won't reconsider?"

Angelique shakes her head slowly. I detect a hint of tears and look away, not wanting to witness her distress.

"Then I'm afraid you'll be subpoenaed in the next few days. We regret that it has to happen this way," Jodi says sympathetically.

"I appreciate your concern, Ms. Maddox, but I've decided what I should do," she replies almost inaudibly.

I get to my feet. "If your decision is based on a need or desire to protect Justin Wade or to aid Thomas Martin, it's a wasted gesture. They don't care about your wellbeing now, and they won’t care about it after the trial, whatever the outcome. When this is over, I hope you remember that you had a choice in the matter, Ms. Bain. You
still
have." I pause, giving her the opportunity to reconsider. She remains unresponsive.

"Ms. Maddox will see you out. If that's all right?" I address my question at Jodi, who nods in response.

I resist the temptation to slam the door on my way out. I’m angry and frustrated by her stubbornness, her willingness to sacrifice her own best interests. For what, I wonder? To save Justin Wade, who, I have no doubt, doesn’t give a damn about her? Why do I even care, I ask myself; I’ll get her on the stand, come what may. I’m confused by my feelings of guilt and apprehension for what she’s about to face. My physical response to her is even more unsettling. No matter how much or hard I try to fight this unwanted attraction, she's like a magnet, inexorably drawing me in.

Jodi pops her head into my office to discuss the meeting. I tell her I have somewhere I have to be and then studiously ignore her concerned look as I hastily clear my desk.

"I’ll see you in the morning," she says quietly before leaving.

"Have a good night," I belatedly reply.

.

.

"Don't you ever get tired of having your ass handed to you on a platter?" Nick taunts as we make our way to the piste.

"Not tonight, old man," I counter, determinedly slipping my mask on.

"Well shit, who'd have thought?" he pants when calling a halt to our session.

"I've had a shitty day, and I admit that I may have taken some of it out on you, but it feels great to have finally shut you up," I reply with a satisfied grin.

I felt so frustrated and tightly wound coming out of that meeting that I called Nick. I battled those feelings, not him, as we thrust and parried our way through several matches, and in the process, I’ve managed to beat him. It remains to be seen whether I've managed to conquer my unwanted feelings as decidedly as I have my opponent tonight.

"Thanks again for fitting me in at such short notice. I really appreciate it," I say when saying goodbye.

"Anytime, Adam." He pats me on the shoulder. "Just don’t expect to win next time!"

I should have slept like a log, but I’ve just woken from another dream. In it, I had visions of myself as a little boy helplessly watching Eleanor drink herself into a near stupor then inject herself with some substance. Her green eyes, so reminiscent of mine, grew progressively more dull and lifeless while a dark, threatening figure watched from the shadows.

Those visions were upsetting, yes, but given my childhood, I can understand my subconscious conjuring them up. What disturbs and confuses me more is what followed. In the dream, I entered my bedroom… my
present-day
bedroom where a decidedly feminine form occupied the bed. Her naked back was turned to me as she lay with the sheet pulled up to her waist, long, dark hair spilling around her. The feeling of happiness and desire I felt at the sight of her nearly overwhelmed me. I hurriedly removed my clothing to slip in behind her, and placing my arm over her waist, I pulled her close, marveling at how well we fit together. She murmured incoherently, her body relaxing as if it subconsciously recognized mine as mine did hers.

The feel of her pert, rounded ass moving against me, left me hard and wanting. I inched my hand between her legs, and she responded by pushing back into me. I teased her as I gently ground myself against her pliant body while stroking her sensitive bud. She stirred, and with a low moan, throatily whispered my name. I sped up the movement of my hand, and she reached back to grip my hip. I raised her leg and slid into her, groaning at the sensation of being engulfed in her welcoming heat.