by Carys Jones
‘I hear you loud and clear.’
‘Good, good.’ Edmond now settled himself once more at his desk.
‘When I read your profile I knew you could handle things here. It will most likely seem a doddle compared to what you had to deal with in the city. The thing is to remember that Avalon is full of good people, for the most part. There is the odd bad apple but most cases are property disputes, drunken brawls, that kind of thing. Nothing too wayward. It may seem menial at times but it is ultimately rewarding. Like I said, it is a town full of good people and they are always more than grateful for our help. Only the other day Mrs. McKenzie from the small farm down the road sent me a basket of lovely apples to thank me for helping her husband when he got sentenced a DUI.’
Aiden nodded.
‘We get a lot of DUIs. Folk just don’t think, but we have a good relationship with the local law enforcement who keeps us up to speed on things. Buck Fern is the local sheriff and has been as long as I can remember. Straight as an arrow that man. Folks round her respect him and that’s important in keeping the peace and all that. I’ll get him to pop by later this week; no doubt he’ll be keen to meet you.’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘You got family, Mr. Connelly?’
‘Yes, a wife and daughter.’ Aiden’s reply clearly pleased Edmond. ‘And please, call me Aiden,’ he added.
‘Well Aiden, how old is your little ray of sunshine?’
‘Meegan turns two next month.’
‘Two, how wonderful! My grandson Grant was two just last week. Lovely age. Well, I suppose I need to stop smacking my gums with you and get down to working. We are starting to sound like a couple of hens with our cackling!’
Aiden could feel himself warming towards the old man. You couldn’t help but like him.
‘But first things first, you cannot work without coffee.’ Edmond pressed the intercom on his desk. ‘Betty, my dear.’
‘Yes, Mr. Cope.’ Her response came back crackly through the machine.
‘Can we have two coffees?’ To Aiden he whispered, ‘You do drink coffee, son?’ Aiden nodded. ‘Yes, two coffees please, Betty.’
‘Right away.’
‘Thank you, my dear.’
After Betty has bustled in with two steaming coffees and a plate of biscuits, Edmond handed Aiden a thin brown file. On the front it read:
White, Brandy
Case no. 2315
Aiden assumed it was a routine DUI and was about to read the notes when Edmond stopped him.
‘Now that there is an unusual case. It is pretty much open, shut, not much to be done. I’m giving it to you as I thought you would have experience in that sort of thing, and being new to town, folk might not want you delving into their personal matters quite so fast.’
Intrigued, Aiden opened the file.
‘A murder case?’ He could not conceal his shock. A shiver of excitement ran down his spine. He was prepared to deal with domestic disputes, unruly neighbours, but a murder! This was legal gold!
‘Don’t get too excited there, Aiden. Like I said, open, shut. Mrs.White is a resident here in Avalon, we represent her as an obligation, not through choice. She has already confessed to the crime and is awaiting sentencing over at Eastham Ladies Penitentiary, about twenty miles east of here.’
‘I see,’ Aiden muttered, his eyes scanning the records before him.
‘She murdered her husband in cold blood, terrible matter. Shook the town to its core. He was a beloved town hero. She must have been possessed by the devil himself to do such a thing.’
‘When is the hearing?’
‘Three weeks from now. You just need to go over, give her legal support, explain what will likely occur after her guilty plea.’
‘So, she is down for first degree murder?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘So under state law…?’
‘It will be the death penalty, son. No messing about here.’
‘My God, she’s only twenty-four.’
‘It ain’t pretty, son. Murder never is. If you feel this case is a little too heavy for you, just say. Personally, I knew Brandon and know his father well, we go to the same church. It wouldn’t feel right representing Mrs. White myself. I’m sure you understand.’
‘Yeah.’
‘That is the downside of working in such a small town. You know pretty much everyone who walks through them doors and it is hard not to be attached or emotionally involved. Especially this case. Everyone round here is still reeling from it all.’
‘Any idea why she did it?’
‘None at all. As her lawyer I guess it is your job to suss that out. That’s if you want the case?’
‘Yeah, yes, of course! I dealt with a lot of murder suspects in Chicago so it is not a problem at all.’
‘Well then, I most heartily welcome you to Cope and May Solicitors at Law. May we enjoy a long and prosperous working relationship together.’ Edmond raised his coffee mug in celebration, as did Aiden. In his mind, Edmond was all too aware of the bottle of sweet, sweet liquor nestling just inches from him but reasoned it was too early on in his relationship with Aiden to break it out, even when a toast was in order. Besides, it was only half past nine in the morning. To drink before noon was something only winos did.
Aiden spent the rest of the day researching the Brandy White case. Edmond had been right when he had said that it was open, shut. Mrs. White had confessed to the murder of her husband almost immediately, in fact she had been the one who had dialled 911. He had seen this kind of thing before, domestic argument gotten out of hand. They had only intended to fire a warning shot. The police report made for chilling reading: Mr. White had been stabbed in the chest six times. Mrs. White was apparently covered in his blood and hysterical when police arrived at the scene. Aiden made a call to Eastham to arrange a visit for the following day.
It was early afternoon and Aiden felt that he was all wrapped up with his work and prepared for his visit to Brandy the next day. Edmond must have sensed this as at 2pm he looked over from his desk. He had been typing furiously at his computer pretty much all day, apart from the occasional call to Betty for coffee.
‘Fancy calling it a day, Aiden? I’ve got Mr. and Mrs. Johnson in here this afternoon to discuss setting up a will so I’ll be needing the office to myself anyways.’
‘Only if you are sure?’
‘Yes, its fine. There are no strict hours here, just get the work done. So you are popping over to Eastham tomorrow?’
‘Sure am.’
‘I like your style, just dive right in. If you could pop by on your way back, just to report in and that?’
‘Of course.’
‘Wonderful. Betty has some directions to Eastham in her desk, I’m sure she won’t mind fishing those out for you.’
Aiden said his goodbyes, gathered up his briefcase and jacket and went out to talk to Betty. Left alone, Edmond felt that he more than deserved the small drink which he was already pouring for himself.
‘Terrible business.’ Betty was shaking her head as she riffled through her drawer looking for the directions. ‘He was a lovely young man, so handsome. And she…well, beauty clearly is more than skin deep. Ah, here it is.’ She handed Aiden a crumpled piece of typed paper with a faded map on the back. ‘I’m sorry it isn’t very clear, dear. We rarely have the need to visit the Ladies’ prison you see. Usually the men making all the trouble, no offence.’
‘None taken.’
‘If you get stranded just give me a call, I’ve lived here all my life and know my way around Avalon like the back of my hand.’
‘Thanks, I will.’
‘Well, best of luck with your first case, Mr. Connelly. Not that you’ll need it.’
‘Thank you, Betty.’
Aiden was satisfied with his first day at work. He had a decent case; he was leaving at a very reasonable hour. He couldn’t wait to get home and spend the evening with his wife and daughter.
‘Well, I could c
ertainly get used to this!’ Isla exclaimed as her husband entered the kitchen at 2.30pm. ‘On work days I’m not used to seeing you during daylight hours!’
‘I know, great isn’t it?’ Aiden beamed as he kissed his wife on the cheek. ‘And how is Daddy’s favourite girl?’ Meegan was sat in her high chair and squealed with excitement when she saw Aiden.
‘She’s been helping Mommy wash up.’
‘Good girl.’ He ruffled her fine hair and placed his briefcase down on the table.
‘So, good day?’
‘Yeah, really good. The place is small but I expected that. I really like the guy, Edmond Cope, seems really genuine.’
‘You should invite him round for dinner. I take it he is married?’
‘Woah, get you Suzie Homemaker! Since when do we invite people round for dinner? Four days in Avalon and you are a changed woman!’
‘Give over.’ Isla dried her hands on the tea towel and playfully flicked him with it. ‘We are in a new town and it will be good for us to make friends with people. Besides, with you working I’m going to get lonely and be in need of adult companionship, there is only so much baby talk I can handle.’
‘Well, I’ll ask him then, although I don’t want to blur the lines between work and home.’
‘This isn’t Chicago, Aid. People here aren’t ruthless and spineless, they are kind.’
‘What makes you so sure?’
‘Well, since being here I’ve been to the grocery store and today the salon and everyone is always super nice, although they keep inviting me to church…’
‘See?’
‘What?’
‘They are already trying to ram their belief system down our throats.’
‘Don’t be so silly. They are just trying to make us feel part of the community. We are going on Sunday and that’s final End of discussion.’
‘What?’ Aiden made a mock face of disgust at Meegan who burst into fits of giggles.
‘It will be good for us. Besides, Meegan has never even been christened.’
‘Since when were you interested in all that religious stuff?’
‘Jeez, Aid, I’m just trying to make a good impression. Whilst you are at work I’ve got to be here holding down the fort and I don’t want us to be the heathen family who don’t attend church. If we plan on settling here we are going to need friends.’ Isla’s hands were now placed firmly on her hips as she stared him down.
‘I’m just jossling you, honey. Of course I’ll go to church Sunday. I need to start making contacts of my own. Edmond was saying how he’d introduce me to the local sheriff soon.’
‘Sounds good. So was it all cattle ownership suits and someone erecting a fence on another’s lawn?’
‘Actually, I got a murder case.’ Isla’s eyes widened.
‘What, here? I thought this was a safe place!’
‘It is, it is. I haven’t established much yet, but it seems a simple domestic case. Wife stabs husband in a frenzy.’
‘I can relate to that,’ Isla teased.
‘It is nothing I haven’t dealt with before. I’m going to meet the suspect tomorrow.’
‘Where?’
‘Local Women’s Prison. I’ll let you know what it’s like, for when they take you in for losing it with me.’
‘Cheek!’ Isla threw the tea towel from beside her at Aiden but he caught it mid-air.
‘Nice try,’ he laughed, and Meegan joined in.
‘Well, I am busy tomorrow, too.’
‘Oh yeah?’
‘Meegan and I are going to get beautified at the local salon. They were more than happy for me to take her there whilst I got my hair done. I could never have done that in Chicago.’
‘See, we are already reaping the benefits. I’m home; you are now a God-fearing housewife…’
‘And since you are home, you can prepare tea tonight with me for a change.’
‘What is on the menu for chez Connelly?’
‘Spaghetti bolognaise.’
‘Ah, bellisimo!’
That evening was one of the most pleasant Aiden had experienced in a long time. He cooked dinner with his wife, played with his daughter, and as the sun set he didn’t feel exhausted and drained, he felt alive. He sprawled across the couch, glass of wine in hand, surrounded by cardboard boxes in various stages of unpacking. The house was slowly starting to come together and feel like home. Isla had already started to paint some of the walls which made a huge difference. A little time and a little love and it would be amazing. He looked out into the garden wistfully, imagining summer barbeques with friends, Meegan playing happily with Edmond’s grandson, Grant. The men enjoying ice-cold beers, the women nattering over some wine. Isla seemed to be settling in which was good news. This was all such a culture shock for her but she was taking it really well. Aiden assumed that finding the beauty salon had made a big impact on her mood. His wife loved to pamper and shop. Since shopping was confined to the few stores Avalon had to offer she would have to make do with pampering for now, not that he was complaining.
‘You coming to bed, baby?’ Isla asked from the doorway.
Aiden craned his neck to see her and noticed a familiar, knowing glint in her eyes. He sprang up from the couch and bounded upstairs like an excited schoolboy. Oh yes, he most certainly could get used to this life.
CARINA™
ISBN: 978 1 474 00753 5
Second to Cry
Copyright © 2014 Carys Jones
Published in Great Britain (2014)
by Carina, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
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