Page 39 of The Lawyer
Legal representation? We don’t have legal representation.
My stomach bottoms out and leaves a hollow sensation in its place. “What … is he okay? What’s happened?”
“He’s been arrested for a serious crime. As he’s asked for legal assistance, we can’t continue our questions until he has representation.”
“Um … okay. Okay. Can I see him? Talk to him?” My heart pounds in my chest as I fight to take this in.
“I’m afraid not, Miss Etherington, unless you’re his lawyer.”
“No. Of course, I'm not. No. Okay, I’ll be down … I’ll sort it. I’ll sort it.” Panic strikes, and I shake my free hand as I worry about the problem in my head.
Family lawyer? We don't have anything like that. I wouldn’t even know where to start. Although, I thought you could get free legal support.
Why didn't Ash ask for that?
Landon.
He’s a lawyer. I have no idea if he’s the right kind of lawyer. He deals with companies and paperwork, and he’s not been in a courtroom since I’ve been his PA, or not that I know of. I scroll through my contacts anyway, cursing the fact that I've not added his number to my personal phone. He must know someone.
Racing to dig into my bag, I find my work mobile with several text messages and a voicemail notification on the screen. I ignore every one of them and call him.
He answers on the second ring.
“I believe you’re paid to be my PA, not pick and choose your hours, Miss Etherington-”
I cut him off. “Ash has been arrested. I just got a call from a detective and need to find legal representation for him. Do you know anyone I can call? Or what I should do?” Silence stretches across the line, and my heart sinks.
I shouldn’t have called.
“What’s he been arrested for?”
“I don’t know. They said he’s in serious trouble, and they need more interview time, but because he's requested a lawyer, they can't question him until he's got a lawyer present.” Did that even make sense? I can't think.
And now more silence on the line.
I nibble at my thumbnail, waiting for him to say something else.
“Smart kid. I’ll meet you at the station. Where is he?”
“Walworth. Are you sure? I didn’t know if this was your thing? I mean, the lawyer bit and—”
“Now is not the time to be questioning my capabilities, Willow.”
“I’m sorry. Thank you. And … I’m sorry for ruining your night.” I squeeze my eyes shut. It was a generic comment. He wouldn’t know I meant his night with Juniper.
“It’s nothing I can’t reschedule. Hang up. I’ll see you shortly.”
I nod and do as he says before I take a few deep breaths and walk outside. The car that was supposed to be taking me to Landon’s pulls up, and I simply redirect the driver to the police station.
As we wind our way through the streets of London, my phone pings. Jackson. I already know what it will say. It makes me think about the money that Landon’s just lost because of my request, and guilt ricochets through me. I’ll have to find a way to pay him back, but right now, I may need the money. Hell, maybe I should have given Ash the money he asked for in the first place. That might be what this is all about.
The journey seems to take twice as long as needed, as if London just got busier because I needed to be somewhere. We finally pull up outside a brick-built building blending into the residential surroundings.
I race into the reception and run straight into Landon.
“Rather forward of you,” he says, as he holds my shoulders.
I gather myself and look up towards him. “How did you get here so fast?”
