Defenseless (4 page)

Mick's at Underground Atlanta was crowded as usual, but she didn't mind. She didn't realize how hungry she was until the various aromas assaulted her senses. She spotted Sharon seated in their favorite booth toward the back.

“There you are.” Sharon stood and gave Sonya a much-needed hug. “There wasn't much to do at the office, so I came early.”

“So everything is all right?” Sonya asked but wasn't really interested. Walters Intercorp was a solid company that she had built from the ground up. Yet today she didn't want to deal with business. Today she wanted to take care of what was most important: her sister.

“Dwayne said that you missed your appointment this morning, but I took the blame.”

“So you've talked to him?”

“Yeah, I think he's very interested in your case. I let him in on what little I know and—”

“And what did he say?”

“He just said that it sounded interesting.”

Sonya's hopes were lifted. The women ate their lunch as Sonya related what happened at the jail. When they finished their meal, Sharon headed back to the office. Sonya handled a few personal errands, then flew back to Hamilton, Locke and Associates. She was a few minutes early, so Carmen let her wait in Mr. Hamilton's office until he arrived. She sat in a jade leather chair. At least that was something she could tell that brother and sister had in common: a fetish for leather chairs.

At 4:10, she grew nervous that he wasn't going to show, but when she heard the door crack open, her fears subsided.

“Okay, Miss Walters, sorry to keep you waiting,” came the familiar baritone.

Sonya's eyes widened as she jumped to her feet, swirling around to her black Adonis, who stopped in midstride. “Please say that you're not Dwayne Hamilton,” Sonya whispered.

A crooked grin covered his lips as he replied, “The one and only.”

T
he room grew hot. Sonya's palms felt slick with moisture as a piercing headache stabbed her temples.

“Are you all right?” Dwayne asked with concern.

Sonya snatched her purse from the chair. “This is a mistake,” she said angrily.

Dwayne crossed over to his desk and plopped his briefcase down. “If that's the way you feel…You came to me, asking for help.”

“You are the last person I would ask for help!”

“Suit yourself,” he said, just as Sonya turned to leave. “But shouldn't you be thinking about your sister, Miss Walters?”

Sonya stopped at the door.

“I mean, let's face it—you're not hurting me by storming out of here. Business couldn't be better. You need me.”

Sonya turned to face him. “You are the most arrogant man I ever had the displeasure to meet. You are not the only lawyer in Atlanta, you know.”

“No, but I am the best,” he answered seriously.

Sonya watched him sit behind his desk. “I expected you to say nothing else.” Sonya smirked.

“Believe what you want, Miss Walters. You're more than welcome to find yourself a dime-a-dozen lawyer. It makes no difference to me. Just remember, you get what you pay for.”

Sonya held his gaze, trying to think of a good retort.

“Perhaps, Miss Walters, we should start again.” Dwayne stood and offered his hand. “I'm Dwayne Hamilton.”

Sonya never knew swallowing her pride would hurt so much. She stared at his outstretched hand for what seemed like eternity. She walked slowly to his desk and shook his hand. “Sonya Walters.”

Dwayne flashed her a smile that showed his pearl-white teeth. Sonya's cheeks flushed as she snatched back her hand.

“That didn't hurt, did it?”

Sonya squared her shoulders.

“Won't you have a seat?”

She returned to the leather chair. She crossed her legs, then cleared her throat when she noticed the direction of Dwayne's eyes.

A sly grin caressed his lips. “Now, Miss Walters, do you want to take it from the top?”

Sonya dropped her eyes to study her braided fingers. “I hardly know where to begin.”

“Begin with the murder.”

“Laura, my sister, called me at my home late last night. She said that she thought she had killed Curtis, her husband.”

“Why did she think that?”

“We didn't talk about that last night. She was too distraught to talk about it. I told her that I would get to her house as fast as I could.”

“Did she call the police?”

“She said that she was too scared, but they were there by the time I arrived—”

“That explains why you nearly ran me off the road,” Dwayne interrupted.

Sonya glanced up.

“Sorry, please continue.”

Sonya took a deep breath and told him everything that she knew. She never looked back at him. When she finished, she waited patiently through his silence. After a while, she wondered if he was still in the room. She lifted her head slowly to look at him. Their eyes locked. Sonya felt butterflies fluttering madly in the pit of her stomach. She didn't know how long they'd remained that way before Dwayne lowered his gaze to a notepad before him.

Sonya released a rush of air she'd been holding.

“Your sister doesn't remember killing her husband?” Dwayne asked thoughtfully.

Sonya cleared her throat before answering. “She said she had a blackout.”

“Do you believe her?”

Sonya jumped to her feet. “Of course I believe her! What kind of question is that?”

“Calm down, Miss Walters. These are questions I have to ask. I don't know your sister. I don't know her character.”

“Her character? You're making her sound like—”

“Like someone I don't know. Now, please, sit down.”

Sonya held his eyes for a brief moment then complied. “Laura was an abused housewife. If anything, this is a cut-and-dried case of self-defense.”

“The prosecution won't see it that way. It's their job to make your sister out to be a cold, calculating murderer. And that won't be hard to do.”

Fire sparked in Sonya's eyes. “How can you say that? Laura could never hurt anyone!”

“Yet we have one dead man.”

“That does it!” Sonya jumped up and raced to the door, but Dwayne made it there to block it.

“This is going to be a hard and painful experience for you and your family, Miss Walters. I wish that I could make it easy for you, but I can't. It's going to get worse. Every facet of your life will be up for grabs. That's what the prosecutor on this case will do. If you can't handle these questions, then you sister is in more trouble than you think.”

“I'm not going to sit here while you condemn her, Mr. Hamilton.”

“I'm not condemning her. If I take this case, it's imperative that I know everything there is to know about Laura.”

What he said made sense. Sonya silently took her seat.
What was it about him that put her on the defensive?
She watched him return to his desk with long, confident strides.

“Perhaps you should tell me how long your sister was in this abusive relationship.”

“I guess you could say that it's been going on since the beginning. She wouldn't admit it, though. She would always come up with some silly explanation about how she broke her nose.”

“Did she report these beatings?” Dwayne asked with a concerned voice.

“There were a few times when she called the police. But she refused to press charges.”

“That will cause a problem. Was she ever admitted into the hospital?”

Sonya fought her tears. “A few times.”

Dwayne continued writing down her responses. “How long were they married?”

“Eight months.”

“How about life insurance?” Dwayne asked, leaning back in his chair to study her.

Sonya shrugged her shoulders. “What about it?”

“It's a possible motive.”

Sonya clenched her jaws shut.

“I'm going to take this case, Miss Walters. It's going to be a tough one to win, though.”

Sonya remained silent. She didn't know whether or not to be happy.

“Miss Walters?”

Sonya flushed. He caught her staring again.

“Miss Walters, I was saying that I'll stop down at the jail tomorrow morning to talk with your sister. Meanwhile I suggest you get prepared for the police department to drag you in for questioning. You can put them off for only so long. They also won't be as gentle as I was, so get that chip off your shoulder.”

Sonya's cheeks heated, but before she could say anything he cut her off.

“And make sure you call me before they drag you in.” Dwayne pressed the intercom button. “Carmen, could you please come in here?”

In a flash Carmen appeared with pen and paper.

“Carmen, I need you to get me a copy of any criminal records on—” Dwayne flipped through his notes “—on a Curtis and Laura Durden. I want the works. I want to know about any traffic violations, civil suits. I even want to know if they have ever been picked up for jaywalking.”

Sonya tensed but was impressed by his take-charge attitude.

“I want copies of any medical info you can get your hands on. See who's handling this case downtown.”

Carmen kept nodding her head as she took notes.

Dwayne glanced over to Sonya. “Also get me any criminal record on Sonya Walters.”

Sonya's eyes widened. “Why me?”

“I don't like surprises. And conspiracy isn't too far-fetched for the prosecution to conjure up.”

“Conspiracy? That's absurd,” Sonya shouted.

Dwayne hid a smile. “That may be true, but I know how our wonderful judicial system is. It's now the battle of wits. Guilt or innocence has very little to do with it.”

“That's a bitter pill to swallow,” Sonya answered sarcastically.

“Then I suggest you find some water,” Dwayne retaliated.

“Is there anything else?” Carmen jumped in.

“I want a copy of last night's police report on my desk by morning. We've already lost a day's worth of work.”

“Yes, sir,” Carmen said, leaving the room.

“As for you, Miss Walters, I suggest you go home and get some much-needed rest. There isn't much more we can do today,” he said, picking up the phone.

Gathering herself together, she headed for the door. The sound of his voice halted her exit.

“May I ask you a question?”

Sonya turned to face him.

“Did you try to get Laura help?”

Sonya's shoulders slumped in defeat. “Often,” she said softly. “I've taken her to group meetings and to different counselors. Nothing worked. Whenever I thought something was working, Curtis would come back into the picture. He promised her the moon, and she believed him. He told her how much he would change, or how very sorry he was for hurting her. And every time she would take him back.” Sonya's eyes brimmed with tears. “But the beatings got worse.” Her lips trembled. “I tried. Oh, how I tried to help. But she…wouldn't listen.” Her vision blurred as tears flowed freely down her face. Before she knew it, she was encased between two powerful arms.

“It's going to be all right,” he whispered against her hair.

Sonya remained enclosed in his arms. His strength comforted her. It made her feel safe. She didn't know how long she stayed that way, but it was well after the tears subsided.

“Are you all right?” he asked tenderly.

Sonya pushed away from his chest and smiled meekly at him. “I'm sorry.”

“Don't be.” His eyes caressed her face.

“Maybe I should go.”

Dwayne nodded. “I'll call you tomorrow.”

Sonya turned and walked out the door. She started walking down the hallway when she heard Carmen call after her.

“Yes,” she answered.

“I need you to fill out this information sheet for our files.”

Sonya took the sheet and went to sit next to Carmen's desk.

“He's handsome, isn't he?” Carmen said, watching Sonya.

“Pardon me?” Sonya glanced over to Carmen.

“Mr. Hamilton. He's quite a catch, wouldn't you say?”

“I haven't noticed,” Sonya answered.

Carmen sat down behind her desk. “Really?” she said, sounding unconvinced. “Are you available yourself? I mean, I didn't see a ring or anything.”

Sonya finished filling out the sheet and placed it on Carmen's desk. She knew what Carmen was trying to do. “That's not any of your business.”

“I tend to make anything dealing with Dwayne my business.”

Sonya wasn't sure if Carmen's eyes flared with anger. It was hard to tell through the secretary's green contact lenses.

“Does Dwayne know about your overprotectiveness?” Sonya used his first name to irritate Carmen. This time she was sure her eyes flared angrily.

Carmen stood so she could be at eye level with Sonya. “Enough with the games—he's mine. So back off!”

Sonya squared her shoulders and glared at the witless secretary. “I don't see any rings on your fingers, either. So that makes him fair game. Don't you think?”

“I'm warning you,” Carmen muttered.

“Don't you ever threaten me. You don't have the slightest idea who you are dealing with.”

The women exchanged venomous looks until they heard the door to Dwayne's office open. Sonya then witnessed a miraculous change in Carmen's attitude. “Thank you, Miss Walters. I'll make sure Mr. Hamilton receives this.” Carmen held up the completed information sheet.

Unsmiling, Sonya turned and left Carmen's desk, storming past Dwayne.

“What has gotten into her?” Dwayne asked once Sonya was out of earshot.

“She's probably just stressed out,” Carmen lied easily.

Dwayne turned to face his secretary. “Yeah, that's probably it. Did you make those phone calls?”

“I was about to get right on it.”

Dwayne smiled and walked back into his office. It was well past six now. It was time to go home. He had promised Bridget that he would be home for dinner. He grabbed his briefcase and jacket and left.

He pulled into his driveway thirty minutes later. At least Bridget was home. Her blue Samurai Jeep was already parked in the driveway.

When he opened the door to the house, Buffy greeted him. “Hello, girl. How was your day?” he asked the black Lab.