The glass doors of the conference room swung open and Darla stopped, mid-sentence. She glared at the secretary standing in the doorway. She did not like intrusions.
“What is the matter, Marta?” she asked without attempting to mask the dissatisfaction in her voice.
Marta stammered as she attempted to answer, hoping she wouldn’t get her head chewed off.
“Uh … I’m … I’m very sorry to interrupt, but there’s a Jasper Connor on the phone, calling from prison, and he insists he needs to speak with you.”
Darla smirked and arched a perfectly shaped brow.
“Always with the drama" she muttered.
Darla was never one for anyone interrupting her process, and this included well-paying ones accused of murder.
“Take a message.” She flicked her hand at Marta as if she was a fly, and then suddenly stopped her, “Wait. Lauren … go take the call. See if you can help Jasper while I finish the meeting.”
Lauren had been hanging on Darla’s every word as she first introduced her to the group, and then went over the current cases. They hadn’t yet discussed Jasper’s case, so Lauren was not prepared to speak with him in the slightest. Still, she rose from the table and asked Marta to bring her Jasper’s file, and to transfer the call to her office. She closed the door and waited for the line to blink.
*
Jasper leaned his large form against the wall, waiting for Darla to get on the phone. Generally, anyone that found out that Darla Lovell was Jasper’s attorney was shocked by the news. They were first surprised that a high-powered attorney such as Darla would represent a Brass Bonds MC member. The Brass Bonds was known as a small-time gang, with a bike garage and tattoo shop on the outskirts of the city. Most often, they were brought in for small-time, gang-related crimes, mostly guns and drug charges. Not to mention, the fact that most people thought a biker couldn’t afford an attorney like Darla Lovell, but, as usual, there was more going on than meets the eye.
“C’mon you bitch, get on the phone.” Jasper was getting antsy.
Finally, a female voice on the other line spoke.
“Hello … this is Lauren Holden. I’m a new associate here, at Bliss, Lovell, and Wiseman. Darla Lovell is …”
Jasper cut her off.
“Wait. Who are you? Where is Darla? Put Darla on the phone now!” the volume of his voice beginning to rise.
It caught the attention of the guard standing nearby, who threatened to end Jasper’s call early. Jasper lowered his voice, but kept his tone insistent. “I don’t care who you are, but you go get Darla, right now, and tell her to get her ass on this phone. You tell her it’s Jasper Conner. She knows the deal. Get her now. I’m not dealing with a secretary.”
Lauren held the phone away from her ear, and took a deep breath before answering back.
“I’m not her secretary. I’m an attorney here, and she asked me to assist you, which I am more than capable of doing, while she’s finishes her staff meeting.”
Jasper lost his mind.
“A staff meeting? Get her on the phone now! I don’t give a shit about her staff! You tell her they found Lucas’ body and I want her on the phone now!”
The guard came around and stood next to Jasper. Jasper held his hand up to indicate that he had it under control. He was bigger than the guard, and could easily take him down, but that would mean solitary, and a beating later on by more than one guard.
Lauren remained calm, even though Jasper was yelling at her on the other end of the phone.
“I understand you prefer the expertise of Ms. Lovell, and I will relay the message that you are displeased that she didn’t get on the phone herself. Is there a number she can call you back?” As soon as Lauren said it, she winced knowing she just asked the wrong question.
“IS THERE A NUMBER SHE CAN CALL ME BACK?” Jasper lost his control. “Yeah, it’s 1-800-KISS MY ASS!”
The guard was on him now, taking the phone from his hand, and hanging it up. Jasper didn’t fight him, even though anger surged through his body. His fists clenched until his knuckles were white.
“Let’s go Jas … back in the cell. I’m sure lover-girl will show up tomorrow with muffins or something.” The guards had a bet that the only way Jasper could afford Darla was by banging her. Jasper may have been a low-life criminal in their eyes, but no one could doubt that every woman fell for Jasper – all women, from the lawyers to the whores.
*
Lauren stared at the phone a moment, before putting it back in its cradle. She didn’t see Darla in the doorway. The woman moved like the wind.
“Don’t worry too much about Jasper,” Darla said. Lauren looked up surprised, then shook her head.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Lovell. I really didn’t handle this well. He’s really upset, and said ‘they found Lucas Jackson’s body.’”
Lauren looked up confused. Marta still hadn’t brought in the case file. Darla waved it off.
“Don’t worry, really. Jasper is just under an enormous amount of pressure with the state trying to frame him for the murder. Nothing I can’t handle. In fact, I’d like you to go to the prison and meet with him. You’ll be working the case with me, so you may as well meet with him now and get acquainted. I will warn you, he is quite the good-looking bad boy, so be careful of his … charms.”
Darla flashed a wicked grin toward Lauren that made Lauren wonder if Darla had engaged in something other than a professional relationship with the man. Plus, the woman seemed incredibly confident in handling the case. Lauren, on the other hand, was beginning to panic about meeting Jasper – especially after how he spoke to her on the phone.
“I’ll head over there, right away, Ms. Lovell.”
Lauren watched Darla turn to leave the room. Marta passed her in the hall, carrying the file. She dropped it on the desk, but didn’t stick around for questions, leaving Lauren there to figure it out for herself. When Lauren flipped open the file, she saw a photo of Jasper Connor, and her heart skipped a beat.