Chapter Three
Diamond went into her office, followed closely by The Last Riders. Holly was filing papers in the cabinet when she turned to see who came in. Diamond wasn’t surprised when the woman’s mouth fell open as the office filled with several of the bikers.
“Holly, I’ll be in my office if you need me.” A nod was the only response the woman could manage besides the look that begged her not to leave her alone with the dangerous looking men that were taking a seat on the few chairs and small couch she had available for seating.
Winter, Viper and the heavily tattooed biker followed her inside her private office. Diamond went behind her desk, placing her briefcase on the neat surface before taking a seat.
“What’s going on, Winter?” Diamond decided not to beat around the bush; the faster she found out what they wanted, the faster she could get rid of them.
“One of our members has been arrested in the murder of Samantha Bedford,” Viper answered her question. Diamond blew out a breath of air. She had been expecting that, thanks to the brief information that Caleb had told her before court. Drug possession, assault, DUI;those were what she had dealt with since moving to Treepoint. She had never thought to represent a case for a client with the seriousness of a murder charge.
“I am going to save us both some time. I don’t have the experience to defend a murder case.” Diamond started to rise to her feet.
“The best criminal defense lawyer in the state of Kentucky just walked out on us. That asshole will defend anyone for the right amount of money. Knox pisses everyone off. There’s not a lawyer that won’t become angry and quit with his attitude. I don’t want to be looking for a new lawyer everyday, we need someone that isn’t going to run away the first time that Knox gets angry and scares the shit out of them.”
“I’m sorry.” Actually she wasn’t, Diamond thought again, rising to show them the door.
“I’ll pay whatever fee you want,” Viper stated, looking around her office. Diamond sat back down.
“If money is no object, then you can afford any lawyer you want,” Diamond protested, but then paused, rethinking whether she really wanted to talk them out of hiring her.
“Money didn’t prevent Harris from walking out on us,” Viper said in disgust.
Diamond just bet. Lawyers were notoriously uptight, leaving the men like Knox to the lower lawyers to deal with. Diamond swallowed. She was one of the lower lawyers hungry enough to need the money and the exposure the case would bring.
“How much money are we talking about?” Diamond asked.
The gleam in Viper’s eyes said he knew he had her. Diamond forced down her anger and mentally added another figure on for his being an asshole.
“Let’s cut to the chase. You prove Knox is innocent, I’ll give you five hundred thousand dollars.”
Diamond’s figure went out her open door, liking his much better.
“I take it you believe Knox is innocent?” Diamond queried.
“I know he is,” Viper stated without pausing.
“You can’t be so sure. Everyone has a breaking point, and from what you’re telling me, Knox isn’t the sweetest man in the county. Perhaps they got in an argument—”
“If he had killed her, Ms. Richards, no one would have found the body.”
Diamond’s eyes widened at Viper’s calm reply while Winter winced, but didn’t speak up, which led her to believe that she felt the same way. She stared out into her outer office at the men who were listening and saw the agreement on their faces.
Damn. Diamond knew she shouldn’t touch this case, however the money was too much to resist. Even if she bailed, they would still have to pay her for the hours she billed.
As if reading her thoughts, Viper stated, “Of course, if you quit on us, I won’t pay you one fucking dime.”
Diamond started to protest, but she could see that this part was nonnegotiable.
“All right, you have a deal.” Diamond heard herself agree while at the same time she wanted to smack herself silly. Her eyes saw one of The Last Riders get up from his chair in the lobby and go to Holly’s desk, leaning against it as he spoke casually to her. She could tell from the seductive smile on the man’s face he was making a play for her quiet secretary.
She was right. The sound of a chair hitting the wall sounded in the outside room and Holly all but ran into the room, coming to stand behind Diamond’s chair with her face flaming red. The man gave a smile and came to stand in the doorway, watching with a predatory gleam in his eyes.
“Ms. Richards, your next appointment is due in ten minutes.” Holly’s voice was surprisingly firm, but she remained behind her desk. The Last Riders didn’t try to hide their amusement at Holly’s reaction.
“Stop it, Rider. Go on outside,” Winter snapped at the man who then turned and walked away with a final wink at Holly.
“Thanks, Holly.” Diamond stared hard at Viper. “After I’m finished with my next client, I’ll go down to the sheriff’s office and see what they have on him. I’ll keep in touch. Get a bail bondsman ready for a call. I’ll see what I can do about getting him out. Is he going to be a flight risk?”
“Knox wouldn’t run if you pointed a gun at him. It’s not in him; he is a soldier. He stands and fights.”
“Good to know because, if he takes off, I’ll still expect my money, and you can find yourself another lawyer.”
“Deal,” Viper said, walking out her door and taking his men with him.
Winter paused before leaving. “Thank you, Ms. Richards.”
Diamond nodded her head, watching as her office emptied and Holly came to stand next to her.
“You took a case involving one of them?” she questioned.
“Yes,” Diamond said grimly. “I did.”
“What did he do?”
“They arrested him for killing Samantha Bedford.” Diamond kept staring out of her office, seriously thinking about running after them and telling them to find another lawyer.
“Can I quit?” Holly asked her boss, gripping the desk.
“No.”
* * *
Diamond took a deep breath to steady her nerves before going into the sheriff’s office. The small office wasn’t very busy as the dispatcher sat behind the front desk and watched curiously while Diamond approached.
“Hello, is the sheriff in?” Diamond requested.
“He sure is, honey. You wanting to see him?”
“Yes, thank you.” Expecting the woman to pick up the phone, Diamond jumped when the woman yelled.
“Sheriff! You have someone here wantin’ to talk to you.” The office door at the end of the hall opened showing the sheriff.
“Come on back.” His loud voice filled the office. Diamond hid her wince at the lack of decorum.
“Sheriff.” Diamond extended her hand towards the large man who everyone in town respected. Diamond had met him before, several times, at the courthouse.
“What can I do for you, Ms. Richards?”
“I’d like to talk to my client, Knox Bates. I’ve scheduled a hearing in the morning to set bail.”
Diamond didn’t see surprise on his face when she told him she was representing Knox.
“Have you met Knox before?”
“No, but I know he must be a little difficult if his other lawyer quit,” Diamond answered.
“Little doesn’t describe anything about Knox. Prepare yourself.” Diamond ignored his warning. Thanks to her parents’ lifestyle, she had been exposed to some hardass bikers and she had held her own. She wasn’t worried about dealing with Knox.
The sheriff went into his office again before coming back with the keys and then walked down the short hallway, Diamond following behind. The steel door was unlocked and pushed opened.