Page 43 of Knight Watch

Chapter Nineteen

Kingsley triedhis best to give Sydney a sense of normalcy if only for an hour. The attorney had called and was on her way, and that didn’t allow much time before the police and Rutherford’s attorney came in with a possible warrant, or accusations against him and the other members of the Agency.

The possibility of having Sydney taken away, against his will, was almost too much to bear. At the thought, anger flooded his system and almost made it impossible to function. Only years of training and finely-honed skills helped him keep his emotions under control. He’d never thought loving someone would push him to the edge like that. She had become a necessity, like the air he breathed and the blood pumping in his body. Did she feel the same way about him?

Sydney was talking to Cleo and Caitlin as he stood by the door waiting for the attorney to arrive. It was evident by the animated way Cleo was speaking that she was doing it to distract Sydney from what was to come, and it was more proof of how amazing this team of people was. Each of them in their own way had kept an eye on her, and for that, he was grateful. They might have been the most unlikely team ever created, but it seemed that in helping Sydney, they had found the cohesion they needed for the future.

“Breathe, my friend. You look like you’re about to pop a vein or crack a tooth.” For a man as silent as Malco, he had a way with words when he did speak.

“So many things could go wrong.”

Malco turned to look at the women in the corner. “Rutherford seems to want to get her back at any cost. Don’t worry, he won’t succeed, that I can promise you.”

When Kingsley turned to look at him, he knew very well what he meant; the infamous plan B, the one that would inevitably have him kicked out of Alliance by fleeing with Sydney never to be seen again.

“I won’t let you do that. I won’t let you sacrifice your career for me, Malco.”

The former Green Beret gave him a stern look. “You’re blind if you can’t see the entire team wouldn’t go up to the barricades for you and Sydney. I never thought I’d say it, but consider us your annoying but caring family.”

Kingsley scoffed, but it seemed that Malco had spoken the truth. It showed in the commitment of everyone there. How extraordinary.

Movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention, breaking his thoughts. A woman clad in a dark blue suit and white blouse with high heels came through the entrance. Her thick brown hair was twisted into a knot and her green eyes perfectly framed by tortoise-shell glasses. Beautiful was a perfect way to describe her, but more like a cobra or a panther, enticing and deadly. Ready to strike.

He leaned toward Malco. “Ever seen her before?”

Malco shook his head. “No. From what I understand, she’s an old acquaintance of Shane’s. They worked a serious case together years ago. She’s new to the Miami scene.”

The newcomer looked around and smiled when Shane appeared to greet her.

“Frida!”

She was obviously a good friend from the way she kissed Shane’s cheek and then Emme’s who was standing by his side. “I have to say, Shane, you and Emme are the only two people I’d willingly get up at this hour for.”

“We wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t important.” Emme’s voice conveyed the urgency of the situation, and for that Kingsley was glad.

The woman touched Emme’s hand and nodded. “Let’s get started then.”

When she made her way to the conference room, Kingsley went to Sydney, standing by her side.

The woman looked around at the men and women before zeroing in on Sydney. “You must be Sydney. You’re the person I’ve been asked to defend, well, from the standpoint of the law at least. My name is Frida Montalvo. Pleased to meet you.”

Sydney blinked and took the offered hand of the woman before her. “Shane told you who I was?”

She smiled and sat. “As a matter I’ve never met anyone here apart from Shane and Emme. It was easy to recognize you. Not because you seemed afraid, but because you’re ready for a fight. The way the men have formed a protective circle around you is another giveaway.” Her green eyes went to Kingsley, and he had an uncomfortable feeling of being assessed.

Breaking contact, Frida took out a pen and paper and smiled at Sydney. “Now, tell me everything so I have enough ammunition to bring your uncle down. Start from the beginning and give me as much information as possible.”

Kingsley had to admit the woman was a machine, her mind seemed to go a mile a minute. She was careful of the questions she asked Sydney, attentive to her reactions and backed off when it was apparent it was too much. He was starting to like the attorney. He decided to withhold final judgment though until he saw how she handled herself with Rutherford and his attorneys.

He looked at his watch again and knew time was running out, but he could see the resolve on the faces of everyone around the conference table to finish the job they had started.

Scribbling a few more things on her notepad, Frida finally leaned back and looked around the table before setting her attention back on Sydney. “I don’t know what their angle of attack will be when they arrive. And yes, I know they’ll be here soon. Don’t think I didn’t notice all of you looking at your watches and at the clock on the wall, as if I didn’t know they were coming. I know it must be extremely difficult for you, and even though I suspect you want to, I think it would be better if you don’t attend the next meeting.”

Kingsley expected the contrary. “Why not? Isn’t her presence needed? Won’t they want to see her?”

Frida nodded and fished more papers from her satchel and pushed them toward Sydney. “You’re not obliged to be there if you appoint me your official attorney. Also, before coming here, I made a few phone calls and found out who made the request and which judge signed off on it.

“Their names are not important, but their reputations are notorious in town. They view women as weak and hysterical, so it’s natural they saw Mr. Rutherford’s request as logical and even sensible. That’s another clue to what they’re planning. They will probably try to portray you as being weak-minded and easily influenced, even delusional.