Archer turned back around and gave the other man a nod. Sooner he could get the official green light to move forward, the sooner he could get to Cassie’s house and scope out the scene of the crime for himself.
Making his way over to the table, he joined Chase and Lucky. Once he and Logan were settled in their usual seats, Archer began.
“Have any of you been following the news covering the Cassandra Montgomery case?”
“Montgomery…” Lucky’s blue gaze met his. “Oh, shit. You talkin’ about the Black Widow Lawyer?” When Archer nodded his confirmation, the other man let out low whistle and spread his lips into a knowing, crooked grin. “Never seen a murderer as hot as that one.”
“Cassie isn’t a murderer.” The growled denial was out of his mouth before Archer could stop it. “She’s a client.”
Every set of eyes staring back at him grew wide, including Logan’s. “Uh…what do you mean she’s a client?”
Yeah, this was the part where he apologized. “Okay, look. Before you say anything, I know we’re supposed to meet as a team before we agree to take on anyone new. But?—”
“Ah, hell.” Chase glanced at the other two men before turning his turquoise eyes back Archer’s way. “You already told her we’d take her case, didn’t you?”
“I know what you’re going to say, and you’re right. I should’ve talked to y’all first, and that’s on me. But I’m telling you, there’s more to this case than the cops and D.A. are seeing. I’ve felt it in my gut ever since news broke about her estranged husband’s murder.”
A heavy, unsettled feeling he couldn’t seem to shake.
“Let’s back up a few steps.” Repositioning himself in his chair, Logan rested his elbows on the table. With his fingers linked together in front of him in a casual manner, their team leader suggested, “Why don’t you give us the rundown from where this whole thing began? Might help us understand your urgency to take on the Montgomery woman as a client.”
His friend—his team leader—was right. Archer needed to take a breath and follow the same advice he’d given Cassie…
I find the beginning’s usually the best place to start.
Filling his lungs to their capacity, he released the inhaled air slowly before he began. Over the next few minutes, he recapped the story as he knew it, starting with that very first news footage he’d seen and going from there.
Archer shared the details that had been released to the public via various television and social media outlets. He recounted the present day’s events, starting with seeing Cassie on the news as she’d left the courthouse, after having been bonded out that very morning, to her coming to the office seeking E.N.S.’s services. And finally, Archer ended his summation of the situation by passing along the small bit of intel he’d gained during their shared lunch.
“That’s it.” He glanced around the table. “That’s what I know up to this point.”
The room grew quiet as the others processed all he’d shared. After waiting a beat, it was Lucky who finally broke the silence.
“So this Montgomery chick wants us to investigate a murder she’s been charged with committing while also protecting her from the supposed ‘real’ killer?” The tech genius arched a disbelieving brow. “I don’t know, man. Sounds pretty desperate to me. Almost like she wants to use us as part of her defense or something.”
“Cassie,” he bit back sharply.
Lucky shot him a frown. “What?”
“Her name is Cassie, and sheisdesperate. Her future…hell, herlifeis on the line. Of course, she’s hoping to use us as part of her defense. That’s kind of the whole point in hiring us to begin with.”
He could hear the sharpness in his own tone and knew it was undeserved. After all, Lucky’s suspicions surrounding Cassie’s innocence and intent weren’t anything Archer hadn’t already pondered himself. But the primal urge to safeguard a woman he barely knew was instantaneous and without conscious thought.
It was also confusing as hell.
“Dude, relax.” Lucky’s expression turned guarded as he held up a hand to stave off another unwarranted verbal dress-down. “I wasn’t trying to ruffle your feathers. I’m just saying, we’ve barely gotten this company off the ground.” His big eyes traveled around the table before landing back on Archer’s. “I’m just not sure taking on a client who’s been charged with murder is the best move for the business.”
Archer’s initial instinct was to pop back with another sharp remark. But the other man did have a point.
Releasing a deep sigh, he ran a hand over his short, dark beard. “I get what you’re saying, Jason. I really do.” His gaze remained locked with Lucky’s. “And if I were sitting where you are, I’d probably be saying the same thing. But I’ve beenfollowing this case from the beginning, and it’s been gnawing at me ever since.”
“Why?” Chase spoke up next. “You know this chi…uh…woman personally or something?”
He gave a curt shake of his head. “Never met her before today.”
“So why the obsession?”
“I’m not obsessed,” Archer insisted, though in the back of his mind he knew the claim was a lie. “I just don’t want to see an innocent woman sent to prison for a crime she didn’t commit. Or worse, since…according to her…she was the killer’s intended victim.”