Thank goodness it’s Friday.
Elizabeth loved her job and all her commitments, but this week had been a doozy. It had also been a good week. She and Talon had dined with her parents. Seeing Talon in the one tailored suit he owned had almost made her call to cancel. Staying home to play “Find the Tattoos” was very tempting. To her surprise, they had given him a chance. Of course, Talon’s charm had won them over. He’d also brought a very unique hostess gift her mother loved. Thank goodness, the pickled beets had found someone who would love them.
She’d break it to them gently that he was in a motorcycle club. In a few months.
Professionally, Elizabeth had won her cases and felt like she’d helped people. Sometimes working in the court system was frustrating. There was only room for rights and wrongs even if shades of gray should exist.
Finishing her last case at the courthouse, Elizabeth slid her papers back in her briefcase as she mentally reviewed her schedule. She had a couple of meetings back at her office and then she could head home to Talon.
“Home,” she repeated to herself.
It had been a long time since she’d actually wanted to have time off. Spending the weekend with her ex-husband had been stressful and unpleasant. Then after their divorce, the quiet had been overwhelming. Going home sounded good again now.
Smiling, she turned to leave the trial area. The grizzled face in front of her made her grab her phone.
“Don’t. Actually, you can if you want. Talon should know what’s going on,” Vengeance said.
She knew he remained sitting to appear less threatening. His bulk would automatically put people on alert. “What’s going on?”
“I’d like to hire you. Well, Slash needs to hire you.”
“What? Hire me to do what?”
“Is there somewhere we could talk?” he asked as people bustled into the courtroom for the next proceeding.
“I’m not comfortable being alone with you,” Elizabeth said bluntly.
“I get that.”
Searching his face, Elizabeth noted none of the aggressive posturing she’d seen with Vengeance each time she’d met him before. She wasn’t going to forget his bullying behavior at the farmer’s market, but whatever had brought him here must be important for him to give her a peek behind the Devil’s Jester persona.
She pulled up her schedule on her phone. “I have ninety minutes open this afternoon at four. Do you want to meet me in my office? Be aware, I will have others with me for protection.”
“Slash will need to come,” Vengeance added.
“And Slash wishes to talk to me?”
“He’ll be there,” Vengeance promised.
“Four o’clock promptly.” Elizabeth pulled a card from her pocket with her contact information and handed it over.
Nodding, the large biker stood and tucked the card in his pocket before heading for the exit.
“Is everything okay, Ms. Sinclair?” the bailiff asked.
Aware the officer had hovered behind her during the conversation to make sure everything was okay, Elizabeth smiled and said, “Thank you for the backup. I think everything is okay. I need to make a phone call, and then could someone walk me to my car just in case?”
“Of course. I’ll alert them at the front desk.”
“Thank you.”
Selecting Talon’s number, she walked from the courtroom and leaned back against a wall.
“Trouble?”
She could hear him moving and knew he was preparing to come to her. “I’m okay. I hope you can meet me at my office at four. Slash and Vengeance have made an appointment to discuss hiring me.”
“Those assholes can find another lawyer.”
“You don’t get to make that decision.”
“Little girl…”
She interrupted him. “I know you’re concerned. I am, too. My office staff will be on alert and I’m inviting you to be there. This is my job.”
“I don’t like this.”
Elizabeth could feel the tension in his words. “I know.”
“I’ll be there at three.”
“You don’t need to come scare people in my office,” she said with a smile, understanding he’d backed away from his complete refusal for her to see them. “And don’t bring the Shadowridge Guardians. I don’t want everyone on edge and ready to explode.”
She could hear him thinking as the silence stretched between them.
Finally, he said, “I’ll be there alone, but everyone will be on alert.”
“And at least five miles away from my office.”
“You’re demanding a lot, Little girl. I don’t like it.”
“I know.”
“I’ll be there at three,” he stated firmly.
“I look forward to seeing you.”
Clicking off the call, Elizabeth smiled at her phone. That had gone better than she expected.
Talon’s three o’clock actually started at two fifteen, but Elizabeth didn’t do anything more than smile at him as she walked through the reception area to pick up the woman who was her two thirty appointment. Her staff was used to a wide variety of people visiting her. Most of the toughest characters were already in jail and she visited them there.
She continued with her day and even had a few minutes to work on paperwork before a message came through that her four o’clock appointment had arrived. After taking one last sip of coffee to bolster herself, Elizabeth headed for the lobby. Talon sat on one side of the arranged chairs while Slash and Vengeance occupied the other.
“Come in, gentlemen,” she invited with a wave toward her office.
As she sat behind her desk, Talon leaned against the wall near where the two chairs for her guests sat. “This is out of the norm for a meeting, but given the events leading up to the appointment, it seems appropriate. Slash, I understand this meeting is for you.”
“Vengeance dragged me here,” the Devil’s Jesters’ president growled.
“And you agree to have Vengeance and Talon here during our conversation?” Elizabeth asked pointedly.
“Yes,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Tell me what’s going on and I’ll let you know whether or not I think I can help you,” Elizabeth requested, dragging a pad in front of her and picking up a pen to make notes.
“My old lady died six months ago. Her parents are trying to take our kids.”
“Your old lady as in your girlfriend?” Elizabeth tried to unravel what he was saying.
“We weren’t married but had been together for eleven years. She got sick and refused to go to the doctor. By the time I got her there, the doctors said there was nothing left to do. She was gone fast,” Slash reported. His voice was mechanical as if he were forcing himself to keep any emotion at bay.
“I’m sorry. Did you live together?”
“Yes.”
“With the children?”
“Yes. I have a small home in Lexington.”
“Thank you. And her parents are now seeking custody of the children?”
“Yes. They state I am not a good influence on their lives and can’t provide a stable homelife.” Slash’s face took on a shade of red and Elizabeth knew he was trying to control his temper as he recited words he’d obviously memorized in anger.
“Do you have a criminal record?” she asked.
“None after eighteen.”
“Juvenile records usually remain sealed. No charges currently pending?” Elizabeth continued to gather background.
“No.”
“So, they’re alleging you’re not a good parent because you are a Devil’s Jester?”
“Yes.”
“And you plan to continue to be a Devil’s Jester?” Elizabeth verified.
“I won’t lose my children,” Slash said definitively.
“Tell me about her parents. What are their names? Are they retired? What did they do?”
“Alena Mitchell was a truck driver and Jack Hambly owns a trucking company.”
“They aren’t married?”
“No. They don’t believe in marriage. At least that’s what Jalena told me.”
“What was Jalena’s last name?”
“Mitchell. Jalena lived most of the time with her grandmother because her mom was on the road, driving loads cross country,” Slash shared.
“And Jack Hambly? How involved was her father in Jalena’s life?”
“I never heard her talk about him. I don’t think he was even around while Jalena was growing up.”
“What do you do?” Elizabeth asked.
Slash shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Vengeance elbowed him and nodded at Elizabeth in an awkwardly encouraging man exchange.
“I design and create playground equipment.”
Elizabeth heard Talon exhale in surprise and saw him lean closer. Understanding the surprised reaction, she deliberately didn’t look his way.
“How old are your children? What are their names?”
“Jalinda is nine and Jerome is seven. They go to Lexington elementary school. Jalinda is in fourth grade and Jerome is in second.”
“How do your work hours match your children’s?”
“I flex my hours to theirs. If one is sick and can’t go to school, my parents stay with them. They’re both retired teachers,” Slash explained.
“Do they have any reason to question the stability of your household? Are there financial concerns or difficulties with the school?”
“No. My house is paid off. I don’t believe in spoiling kids, but we have everything we need. Their bellies are full and they’re healthy.”
“You haven’t talked to a lawyer about this?” Elizabeth questioned.
“I thought they’d drop it. They’ve never been interested in the kids before. Or any of us. We spend holidays and free time with my folks. We always have—even when Jalena was here.”
“Do you know why they’re doing this?”
“I think they want the money.”
“Money?” Elizabeth echoed.
“Jalena was a gambler. A good one. That’s how we met. She wiped me out during a poker game and then bought me a beer to apologize.”
“She had money?”
“A lot. Four hundred thousand dollars. It’s in a special account at the bank for the kids’ college tuition.”
“And it can be accessed to pay for their upkeep?” Elizabeth guessed.
“Yes. But I’ll never do that. They’re smart kids. Jerome is skipping third grade next year to go on to fourth.”
“Okay, I think I’ve got everything I need. Slash, there’s no way anyone should be able to take your kids away—despite your participation in a motorcycle club—unless there is evidence the Devil’s Jesters are involved in illegal activities. Can your guys stay away from anything negative for a year?”
“A year?” Vengeance echoed.
“That’s probably how long this will take to go through the family court. These things move slow,” Elizabeth confirmed. “This isn’t my specialty. I’m a defense attorney who deals with criminal charges. You need a lawyer well versed in family law. I have the perfect suggestion for you, though.”
“Someone else won’t understand,” Slash said, shaking his head.
“It doesn’t take experience with a motorcycle group to understand a money grab. My colleague is intelligent, compassionate, and right down the hall. She’s who I would hire if I needed a family lawyer. Should I call to see if she can come join our meeting?”
“She’s good?” Slash asked, staring directly at Elizabeth.
“She’s the best.”
“Do it.”
As Elizabeth found her colleague’s number, Slash said, “Thank you, Elizabeth. My kids are everything to me. They’re all I have left of their mother.”
“Then we’re going to take care of this. No scary moves from here on out. If you want to make an appointment, call and schedule one. Don’t chase her down with a horde of bikers,” Elizabeth warned.
Slash nodded. “It seemed like a good idea at the time to convince you.”
A snort of laughter exploded from Talon at the side of the room. Vengeance and Slash turned to look at him as Elizabeth held her breath.
“Only bikers would think of recruiting a lawyer with a posse,” Talon said with a smirk.
Vengeance bristled and tightened his hands into fists, immediately ready to take insult. To Elizabeth’s relief, Slash put a hand on his forearm and shook his head. “He’s right. It was a biker thing to do. Jump into battle first.”
“Your kids are worth making a good plan,” Talon suggested.
“Damn right, they are,” Slash answered.