Page 13 of Hidden Ties

When she heard heavy footsteps coming from down the hall, she yelled out for what seemed like the millionth time. “Hey! Don’t I get a phone call?” Coming close to the bars, she tried to get a look at the officer approaching as she continued her obnoxiousness. “Isn’t it, like, obstruction of justice or something if you don’t give me one?”

The officer came into view and stopped in front of her cell. It was the other one who had arrested her along with Daniels. Crossing his arms over his chest, he took in the sight of her. It was rather obvious by his facial expression that a day in prison hadn’t done much for her appearance.

“I guess you could call it that.”

“Yeah,” she agreed boastfully, glad she’d paid attention to things other than video games from time to time. She pointed an angry finger at the officer through the bars. “I have rights, you know, and I’ll also have you know I plan to sue every last one of you fuckers to kingdom come if you don’t open this door and let me the hell outta here right n—”

“Your lawyer is here.”

Shocked, Valerie eyed the policer officer distrustfully as the cell door clicked open. “How is a lawyer here for me when I haven’t been given my phone call yet?”

“I don’t know.” The officer shrugged before snapping, “How about you ask someone who gives a fuck? You coming or not?”

Damn, this guy is definitelynotOfficer Daniels.

She tried to remember if she had heard of any abuse about the police department in the news but drew a blank. Concluding they knew she was as poor as a church mouse and must’ve given her a court-appointed attorney, she stepped through the doorway. She’d take any excuse to get the hell out of that cell, even if it ended in another line of questioning.

Each time they had brought her to be questioned, their pleasant demeanors had changed once she had only responded with “I want a lawyer, asshole.”

Walking past other cells with inmates within, she wished she hadn’t watchedSilence of the Lambsso much. They weren’t exactly friendly faces. A few, she wanted to know what they were in for so she could Google them when she got out. She wanted to make sure they lived nowhere near her vicinity.

They went through a steel door, and she was ushered down another hallway than the one she had been taken to before.

Officer Asshole swiped his ID in front of a screen, and when a loudclickcould be heard, the officer opened the door. Not knowing what to expect, she poked her head inside to see a man sitting at a table.

Before she could straighten herself up to walk through the door, she was shoved from behind.

“I don’t have all day.”

Tripping forward, she somehow managed to save herself from falling straight down on her face.

“Officer Dunbar, that was completely unnecessary.”

The furious voice of the man who had jerked to his feet behind a table made the hair on her neck rise.

Officer Dunbar’s callous expression turned smug. “Kent, you have twenty minutes.”Snapping the door closed, he left her alone in the room with the other man.

“I’m afraid Officer Dunbar’s behavior is my fault.” Apologetically, he frowned, sitting back down on the chair. “He wanted you to be shackled before leaving your cell. I disagreed with him to his supervisor, and he took it out on you. Are you all right?”

“Yes.” Geez Louise, if she knew public attorneys were this hot, she wouldn’t have paid her parking tickets.

Blinking at his smile, she wished she had asked for a hairbrush before she’d left her cell. Most lawyers on television were old and tired-looking with gray hair. Even in in their younger years, no one would consider them sexy. This dude looked to be in his thirties, with bright blue eyes, and to call this one sexy would be an understatement. Staring at him without embarrassment, she memorized every detail about his face, picturing him as an avatar in another game she planned to design.

“Have a seat.”

Shaking herself out of the sexy stupor, she slid the other chair out and took a seat. “Do you mind me asking who you are?”

Something about him almost seemed familiar, but when her breath hitched in her throat at his grin, she knew there was no way she had ever met him. There was no forgetting a manlike him. And forget the parking tickets; this dude was worth committing a felony for. He was almost as good-looking as her neighbor …

Remembering what he did last night, she took that assessment back. This dude was better-looking. He seemed like the type to at least help her in with her groceries. She was going to Google his fine ass, too. She coulddefinitelysee him as an avatar.

“I’m sorry. I was so angry at Dunbar I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Kent Bryant. I’ve been hired to be your attorney.”

Reality rushed back at his introduction, and she grew confused. “So … you’re not a public attorney?”

“No, I’ve been retained as your attorney.”

“By whom?” she asked, amazed. Valerie had zero money and no friends.Well, at least in KC.