Forty-eight
Gwyneth walked into the interview room. Caitlin was seated, head buried in her hands, and her shoulders were trembling. “Caitlin?"
Her sister looked up, her eyes red and swollen, but her gaze was stony and full of hatred. “What the hell do you want?"
"They tell me you asked for an attorney, so I came.” Gwyn patted the briefcase.
"Why? To gloat?"
"Just what I said. It was a crime of passion. You weren't thinking clearly. He'd mistreated you. I think we can get the DA to reduce the charges—voluntary manslaughter or, worst case scenario, murder two."
"Why would you, of all people, want to help me? I tried to frame you. Richard and I wanted to—” Caitlin stopped. “For God's sake, are you that stupid?"
"No. I guess I've always been drawn to hopeless causes—and I owe you."
"Damn straight you owe me.” Caitlin stood up. “And acting holier-than-thou, volunteering to be my attorney? Helping to get my sentence reduced? That's just a sop to your conscience. I'll still do hard time. None of it will bring Richard back,” she wailed.
"I'm not licensed in Virginia, and I don't blame you for being skeptical.” Gwyneth sat down. “But I can help prepare your defense until I can find you someone who can represent you. I owe you that much."
Still ashamed of her casual attitude, she continued, “I never bothered to look you up after our father died. I guess I didn't want to be reminded of his infidelity. It broke my mother's heart and killed her."
"Your mother was a drunk."
Gwyneth swallowed her anger, forcing it down. “Not until our father betrayed her. Look here. I want to help you. The rest is immaterial."
"Great. So, now you can go home and sleep at night. You've done your best for your poor, illegitimate half-sister. Well, I might not be here if you hadn't had all our father's attention."
"All his attention? You didn't know our father. I doubt he spent any more time with me than he did with you. He was so concerned with making money. He never attended a dance recital, never made it to graduation—not even law school. I spent my life trying to dazzle him with my achievements, but it was a waste."
"Poor thing, he just left you a fortune.” Anger twisted Caitlin's face into an ugly mask. “He didn't leave me a damned dime."
"I should've looked you up and given you a share. It might've kept you from killing Richard. He was a jerk, but I didn't want him dead.” Gwyneth shook her head in disbelief at the results of her father's affair so long ago. “But why did you kill Richard? I still don't understand that."
"He was falling in love with you. I could hear it in his voice.” Caitlin sat down again, as if her admission had sapped all her energy.
"No, he wasn't. He just didn't want to lose his chance at my trust fund."
Caitlin raised her chin a defiant notch. “He told me you were terrible in bed. At first, it was all he could do to keep it up. But then, when you broke up with him, he started acting like he was jealous."
"He was always about the money. You should've been more patient."
"If I had, you'd be dead."
"Maybe. But you're the one facing a murder charge, and I'm an attorney who has a personal interest in your case. Think about it."
Gwyneth stood up and walked to the door. “Guard!"
"Wait."
Turning slowly, Gwyneth looked at her sister.
"All right, I-I want you to help me."
Gwyneth walked back to the table and sat down across from her sister. She took a pen and legal pad from the briefcase. “Now, let's go over it—from the very beginning."
* * * *
Two hours later, Mike shut the bedroom door behind him. He pulled Gwyn into his arms. “Alone at last."
"Uh-huh.” She emitted a purr that sent a surge to his groin. “Am I wrong?” she asked, looking up at him with troubled blue eyes.
He sighed. Alone didn't mean he was going to get lucky any time soon.
"No, just a little crazy, but you have a big heart."
Mike took her trembling chin in his hand and gazed down into her eyes. “You know, she'd have cheered you all the way to the gas chamber."
"I know. But I can understand why she hates me."
"She's a killer."
Gwyn bristled in his arms. “And as such, she's entitled to the best defense possible."
"And that has to be with your help?"
"Yes."
"She needs an attorney with experience in capital cases."
"And I've prosecuted capital cases. I know the system."
"You're actually going to help get her off?” What was it about lawyers? How could Gwyn possibly help defend someone so obviously guilty?
"Not off—not completely. I don't think any lawyer could do that. But in her own way, Caitlin's another woman who's been abused and ignored—first by our father, then Richard. I have to try. I bear some responsibility in this. I should've tried to find her after father died and shared the estate with her. I could've prevented all this."
"You're naïve. Greed is greed. Half your estate wouldn't have been enough. Not with mother Lilith whispering in one ear and Richard in the other."
"Maybe."
"Not maybe."
"I'm still going to help her."
Mike sighed. “I know. I'm already resigned to the hours this case is going to take you from my side."
"You seem to know an awful lot tonight, Mike Carlton. What else do you know?"
"Hmm.” He kissed her, full lips, then pulled back to gaze into her eyes. “I know that I love you, in spite of your prickly personality—not to mention that you're the highest maintenance female I've ever known."
Gwyn pulled back from him, arching an eyebrow. “Oh, I guess I should just be grateful that you're willing to put up with what are really minor eccentricities."
"Damn straight.” Mike's arm around her waist was strong, but tender. “Even though I risk death every time I get near you?"
"Risk death?"
"Yes,” she purred, “from my heart speeding up so fast I can't breathe."
"Then, for the sake of your heart—I suppose I should give you up?"
"Like hell, you will.” She ran a fingertip lightly across his mouth, tracing the curve of his sensual bottom lip.
Mike swallowed and shook his head. “Counselor, your language has taken a turn for the worse."
"It's the company I keep.” She gazed up into his eyes of lake green.
"Then, I guess it's downhill from here, ‘cause I'm not going anywhere. And neither are you.” He backed her against the door.
Gwyneth chewed her bottom lip. “What about your son? Do you think he'll accept me?"
"He will. He's a good kid. You and Marina reached some kind of agreement, didn't you?"
"Yes, I like her. There's just one more thing. Unless I'm mistaken, Adam's going to end up with two new stepparents, not just one. That's a pretty big adjustment for a small boy."
"He's a little boy who's always been surrounded by love. I don't see that changing, do you?"
"No, not as long as we take it slow. I don't want to overwhelm him."
"Taking it slow...” He let out a sigh and cupped her breast. “Isn't my best event."
Gwyneth giggled. “You know, sometimes you talk too much."
Mike inclined his head and effectively silenced her chatter with his lips.
"Why don't we go to bed ... sometime tonight?” she teased.
He growled softly, his breath warm on her neck. “Let's play detective and new client."
"Only if I'm the detective and you're the client."
Mike pulled her to him and laughed aloud. “Oh, yeah, I can't think of anyone I'd rather have for my private eye."
Meet Marie-Nicole Ryan
Marie-Nicole Ryan is a nurse who has always loved reading romance and mysteries. She lives and works in Nashville, Tennessee. Her son thinks it's cool that she's an author. Her Chow Chow, Tazz, has no comment. This is her third publish
ed novel.
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Visit www.wings-press.com for information on additional titles by this and other authors.
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