For Wolf, it was the awakening of his desire and hunger, but the one man he wanted was the one he shouldn’t. The one he couldn’t have.
He knew then that it had all been a mistake. A terrible, wonderful, beautiful mistake.
Wolf: Sure. We’ll make a plan.
Forty minutes later, he was sitting at his desk, sipping coffee he’d brewed, reviewing his cases for the upcoming week. By four o’clock he’d prepared his files for the week, and he took a break and rubbed his eyes. The news played in the background, and the update at the top of the hour caught his ear:Bar owner caught in drug and possible underage prostitution and sex-trafficking sting.
He turned on the television to NY1 and waited for the story. The owner of the bar didn’t matter to him—Wolf might be a defense attorney, but he wasn’t about to defend some scum who used young girls and profited off them. That would be like defending his father, and that was a line he’d never cross.
The young women were his concern. He’d defend them for free and make sure they received all the help they needed. It was his small way of making amends to those women his father had hurt.
He called Elliot. “Is Win involved with the case of the bar owner arrested for running a prostitution ring?”
“Hello to you too.”
“Yes, hello. Is he?” He tapped his pen in time with his foot.
“It’s his case, yes. We all heard about it during the barbecue. Thanks for the last-minute text.”
“Sorry.” And he was. He hated hurting Elliot. “I told you. I had…something come up.”
“There’s always something coming up with you, Wolf. But today it would’ve been a good time for you to be here.”
“Why? Because of the arrest? Is Win home? I—”
“Wolf, enough. He’s not here. He’s at the station.”
“Of course. I’ll make my way there now.”
Elliot sighed. “I think you should call Spencer.”
Dumbfounded, he stared at the phone. “Why the hell would I do that?”
“Just call him, okay?”
“Yeah, sure. Have the women arrested been arraigned yet?”
“Wolf, hold on. I don’t know anything. I’m not the police, and I’m home, not at the precinct.”
“Sorry, you’re right. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Wol—”
Ignoring Elliot, he ended the call and pocketed his phone. Gathering up a legal pad and keys, he left his office and called for a car to take him to Win’s precinct. On the way over, he watched the news report again, writing down the names the reporters mentioned. He hesitated before texting Win but decided to hell with it and took a chance.
Wolf: I’m on my way to the precinct. If the women have no representation, I’m willing to take on their cases.
As expected, there was no response.
When he arrived at Win’s precinct, he received a surly glare from the desk sergeant. Nothing he didn’t expect. Having questioned numerous officers on the stand, he knew his reputation. Frankly, he didn’t give a damn.
“I’m here about the women arrested in the prostitution ring.”
Sergeant Denniger gave him the stink eye. “I figured. They’re still questioning them. You wanna wait, you can have a seat over there.” He jerked his head to the line of chairs.
“Thanks. And when you get the chance, can you let Detective Rogers know I’m here?”
“Uh-huh.”
