that can definitely be arranged.” His green eyes flashed. “What’s it going to be?”
“My client understands now, Your Honor,” Suzannah assured him, concerned that Justin was hopelessly prejudicing himself in Taylor’s eyes by his misguided hero routine. Didn’t the agent understand that this angry jurist was going to decide his fate on a murder charge? They didn’t dare alienate him more than they had already done.
So she added with a respectful smile, “Thank you for your patience, Your Honor.”
The judge exhaled slowly, eyeing each of them in turn. “We’re all clear, then? We’ll meet back here tomorrow for another round of fun and games? Fine. You’re dismissed. Bailiff? Next case, and make it snappy. We’re already running behind, thanks to Suzy the e-lawyer.”
She clenched her fists at her sides, forcing herself to give the judge one last humble smile before she turned and stalked past a wide-eyed Tony and down the aisle, bursting through the double doors to the hallway before the guard could open them for her. She knew she was being trailed by Justin and his former lawyers. She just hoped they had the good sense to keep their heads down and their mouths shut indefinitely.
But as soon as the doors had closed behind them Justin dared to address her. “Hey, Suzy! Wait up.”
She spun around and stuck her finger in his face. “Not a word. Not—one—word. Is that clear?”
“Ms. Ryder?”
She sent Justin’s former attorney her most frustrated glare. “That goes for you, too. All of you. Just be quiet and let me think.”
“But—”
“Do you have a freaking death wish?” she demanded. But it was clear the government lawyers weren’t going to back down, so she assured them soberly, “We’ve got a huge problem on our hands. That judge has it in for me, which means we can’t possibly get a fair shake from him. But we don’t dare piss him off any more either. At least not until I’m sure how to handle it. So give me a little time. And space. I’ll get in touch as soon as I figure a few things out.”
“We can help,” the attorney insisted.
“Really? Because so far you’ve been a big fat zero.” She pressed her fingers to her temples. “I’ve got to talk to my senior partner. Maybe he’ll have some ideas. And at least my secretary can start drafting up a fee agreement, because believe me, Russo, you’re gonna pay through the nose for this.”
“No problem,” Justin replied. “I’m just glad to have you on my team.”
“Cut the crap. I’m not in the mood to be conned. Or seduced. Those are your two specialties, right?”
“I have more than two,” he assured her with a playful smile.
She folded her arms across her chest to stop herself from reaching out and strangling him. Then she told the attorneys, “Give me a number where I can reach you later today. Will you be available?”
“Anytime, anyplace,” the dark-haired one assured her, handing her his card. “Good luck.”
“Yeah, good luck,” the blond man echoed. “Here’s my card, too. We’ll be waiting.”
When they had hurried away, Suzannah gave Justin a weary sigh. “Are you staying in a hotel?”
“Yeah, the Charlton. They’ve got a coffee bar in the lobby, if you want to meet there. Or if you want me to come to your office, that’s fine, too. Whatever you say.”
Suzannah hesitated, imagining the commotion if she showed up at her dignified law firm with a sexy, swaggering FBI agent when she was supposed to be on vacation. The women would be impressed. Her senior partner? Probably not so much. At least not without some well-executed preparation.
“The coffee bar sounds good. I’ll meet you there. Take a few minutes to gather up whatever you need to brief me. And to change out of your suit if you want.” She arched her eyebrow for emphasis. “If you’re smart, you’ll cooperate with me. If I’m lucky, you’ll run, and I’ll be off the hook.”
“I’m not a flight risk. Not just because I’m cocky,” he added with a wink, “but because I’m innocent.”
Biting back an expletive, she told him between gritted teeth, “Just do what I say, okay?”
“I need to tell you something first. Something important.”
“Fine. Make it quick.”
His smile warmed. “I’m honestly grateful to you for taking this on. I know it’s not how you wanted to spend your vacation, but I really need your help. Those two guys Justice found for me are probably fine lawyers, but they can’t possibly be one hundred percent on my side. That’s why I need you. So…thanks.”
She closed her eyes and sighed in exaggerated martyrdom. “Fine. You’re welcome. Whatever. Now let’s just go to the hotel so you can freaking brief me.”
“Sure, Suzy,” he said fondly. “Whatever you say. You’re the boss.”
“This is S-3. Please identify yourself.”
“Essie? It’s me. Got a minute?”
Spinner Kristie Hennessy smiled with relief at the sound of Justin’s voice. “I was hoping you’d call. How did things go in court today? Are you comfortable with the attorneys the government supplied? Director McGregor says they’re the best.”
“It went great, but not because of those stiffs. I hired a new lawyer this morning. That’s why I called. I was hoping you could check her out for me.”
“You hired her on the morning of your court appearance?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “Luckily she’s a quick study. Her name’s Suzannah Ryder. Every bone in my body tells me she’s clean, but if you could run a check—”
“I’m on it.” Kristie’s fingers flew across her keyboard.
“I drew a hard-ass for a judge,” Justin was explaining, “so I figured I’d better call in reinforcements if I wanted to stay free pending trial. Suzy just won a big victory against this particular judge, so I figured she could come through for me. And she did.”
“Suzy?” Kristie grimaced. “I’m guessing she’s attractive?”
“Are you jealous?” he said, his tone teasing. Then he added more seriously, “It’s her attitude that sold me, Essie. She effing radiates confidence, but with enough vulnerability to keep things interesting.”
A recent photo of Suzannah Ryder flashed across Kristie’s computer screen. Honey-blond curls, huge blue eyes and cheekbones so striking that Kristie made a note to incorporate them into one of the composite pictures she sometimes built for SPIN ops.
“She’s darling.”
“Yeah,” Justin confirmed. “But I hired her for her guts. My question to you is, is she as good as I think she is?”
“Her reputation’s spotless, at
