Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Was the irritation she heard in her voice because she thought she would leave empty-handed yet again? Alanna couldn’t blame her. She had left the lawyer to defend her without giving her a leg to stand on.
Clasping her cold hands together on the table, she tried to gauge how much she should disclose to a woman who looked as if the scariest thing she had ever had to deal with was stepping on a piece of gum in her designer shoes.
“Why did you choose to represent me instead of Elizabeth?” Alanna asked curiously.
The lawyer closed her briefcase and scooted her chair closer to the table. “Because, when I met you, you reminded me a little of myself. I’m good at hiding my emotions as well.”
Alanna raised a hand to press her fingers against her temple, the slight headache she had woken up to that morning becoming more pronounced.
“Deputy Porter told me you’re married to the sheriff?”
“I am.” The lawyer answered after giving her a questioning glance.
“Happily?”
“How does how happy my marriage is pertain to me defending you in a court of law?”
Alanna dropped her hand back to the table to lean her face closer to Mrs. Bates, wanting to see if her eyes would reveal the truth for the question she was about to ask. “Because I want to know if he’s going to protect you with every beat of his heart, or if you’ll be on your own.”
The woman met her eyes without shying away, nor did she lean away from their faces being just an inch apart. “We’re very happily married. You’re worried about my protection? Is that why you’ve refused to answer any of my questions?”
“Partially.”
Her gaze became discerning. “You’ve been protecting Elizabeth, too.”
“You have no concept of how dangerous Owen is.” Alanna settled back in her chair. “Mrs. Bates, refer me to another attorney to defend me. Preferably a man.”
The lawyer’s shoulders arched back, as if she had just been insulted. “You don’t think I can defend you equally as well as a man?”
Alanna shook her head. “That isn’t what I’m saying. Owen is dangerous. He won’t like that you will be defending me, and the fact that you’re a woman will only make him happier if he decides to go after you.”
Her lawyer gave her a steely-eyed stare. “If he comes after me, he’ll end up with more than he bargained for.”
She may think that now, but Alanna had no doubt that the lawyer was going to rue the day she didn’t take her up on the offer to get someone else to take over defending her.
“I think you’re going to end up with more than you bargained for …” Alanna couldn’t consciously let the woman walk blindly into her nightmare life without letting her know what she was getting into. “Owen is sick. He gets his kicks by hurting women … Mrs. Bates, you have no clue …” Alanna chewed on her bottom lip.
“I have repeatedly asked you to call me Diamond.”
Alanna refused to use Diamond’s first name in person. She had to remain detached from her.
Her lawyer gave her a quizzical smile. “I’m well aware of Owen Hudson’s attitude where women are concerned. I’m curious as to why you’re more concerned for my safety versus your own?”
Alanna stood up, unable to sit still another moment. Being couped up in the small rooms was getting to her.
“Oh, I’m terrified of him.” Alanna nodded her head as she spoke. “Why do you think I haven’t been anxious to get out? At least, in jail, I don’t have to be afraid when I close my eyes.”
“Then what made you decide to finally talk to me?”
“Because I would rather take my chances with Owen than having to deal with Deputy Porter monitoring me morning, noon, and night. Is he normally so irritating, or has he been doing it just to get me to talk to you?”
Mrs. Bates’s lips twitched in humor. “Sadly, abrasiveness comes to Greer naturally. He takes a lot of patience to deal with.”
Alanna thought that was the understatement of the century.
“Deputy Porter would make a saint want to strangle him.”
“As much as we could discuss how obnoxious Greer is until we’re old and gray, I would really like to hear how you found yourself in this situation.”
“You don’t believe I’m the mastermind of kidnapping my niece?”
The lawyer narrowed her eyes on her. “I need you to be one hundred percent honest with me. Any discussions between us are protected under attorney-client privilege. I won’t even disclose anything to my husband without your permission. So, let’s begin again, this time with you being completely truthful. Elizabeth has no family connection to you. She’s not your niece. You have no immediate siblings, nor any half- or stepsiblings.”
“You’ve done your homework.” Alanna stopped chewing on her lip when she tasted a tinge of blood.