After the arraignment, I had a brief chat with Castille and then returned to the office.
My work tended to pile up exponentially while I was away from my desk. After all, Castille wasn't my only client. I had meetings and prep sessions set for the rest of the week.
I never looked forward to parsing the dirty details of my client's misdeeds. Though few knew it, my particular line of work was an acquired taste for me, not my first choice in how to use my law degree. But it was a line of work that paid the bills and kept me on top, and I'd discovered a while ago that those two things were the only ones that really mattered.
Still, I had a spring in my step that wouldn't even be dissuaded by my too-high heels. I felt energized, more alive, after sparring with Lincoln. I was relieved when he put up a good fight. He took charge in the bedroom and the courtroom. My wet dream come to life.
"How'd it go?" Vinnie asked as I dropped my bag and kicked my heels up on my desk.
"Not bad. Got in the first hit on the competition."
"The disqualification motion work?"
"No, of course not. But it was fun to argue all the same." I couldn't squelch the smile that crept into my face, remembering how he went a round with me. Just jabs, mostly, but I could tell he knew how to punch.
Vinnie sat down in the chair across from me. "You sure are in high spirits for someone who lost a motion. Who's opposing counsel?"
"Wood."
"I know wood makes you happy. I didn't know Wood made you happy." He waggled his eyebrows.
I clasped my hands behind my head. "And there's an AUSA from New Orleans, too, Lincoln Granade."
Vinnie nodded, figuring out the reason for my "high spirits" with a wary look. "Aha, he sounds, err, explosive."
"He is."
Vinnie sighed. "Be careful with that. We don't need another Jonesy running around, making eyes at you and getting everyone at the courthouse whispering even more."
"I can handle myself."
I didn't need a lecture from my associate, though his earnest brown eyes were more helpful than reproachful. He was right, of course. I needed to get my head out of my ass. Problem was, I suffered from small flashbacks of Lincoln's dick wedged tightly inside me and had more than a little trouble keeping my composure. I wanted more of it, more of him. I couldn't tell Vinnie my Lincoln problem. Besides, maybe I was making it out to be more than it was. Sleeping with opposing counsel didn't bother me in the least. I'd skirted the rules of professional conduct for the entirety of my years of practice.
Then again, Lincoln was a danger, and damn if that didn't just whet my appetite more. Those green eyes with the mysterious scar curving through his right brow were a lure into a trap that it would be better for me to avoid. Castille's case was far from chump change. And if what Lincoln said was true, he'd sewn up his evidence tighter than my skirt, which was saying something. I would need to stay sharp to keep my client away from a six-by-six cell.
"I'm just saying, boss, seems like we need to keep our eye on the ball here." Vinnie held his palms up to me, trying to ward off any vitriol. It was well known I didn't take criticism with grace or appreciation.
I kicked my heels down, back on solid ground. "Fine, fine. I want you and Drew to get to work sorting through every box of shit Castille brought us. Any computers in there?"
Vinnie relaxed back into his chair. The storm he'd braced for hadn't risen from me. He was right. I needed to focus.
"Yeah, a hard drive and an old laptop. I'll send them out for processing."
"Good. I want you two to make this your first-priority case. Pawn off the Linemont trial and the Clarendon arbitration on Cassie. Those cases will keep for a while. I can push back the hearing dates for months. Castille is on a rocket docket, trial in a hundred and twenty days, not to mention Lincoln and Wood already have a yearlong headstart."
"Four months? We only have four months? Jesus. Forget about it." Vinnie's Bronx accent thickened right along with his dismay.
"We can handle this. You, me, and Drew. We just have to start at a run."
"If you say so, boss."
"I do. So get to fucking work. I'll even let you boss Drew around some."
Vin grinned.
These were things I could control, my staff, my caseloads, what work got done and by whom. I dusted away the fine film of lust Lincoln had deposited in the nooks of my mind and got back down to my business-saving clients from their sins.
He rose to leave. "How soon do you want a report on the documents?"