Knox's Stand (The Last Riders 3)

“Let’s go.” As Rider took Knox’s arm, he shrugged it off, turning on his heel and leaving. Diamond released her breath. The stench of sex still hung heavy in the air that had surrounded them as they left.

Revolted at herself for letting her body react to his last night brought her attention back to the men tossing Knox’s things casually throughout the room. His bedside table drawer was pulled open and spilled onto his bed. The men laughed at the sex toys and large number of condoms displayed.

“Gentlemen.” Diamond’s voice held professional reproof. The men threw her dirty looks. Thurman walked to the bed, glancing down at the mess.

“You’ve got yourself a hell of a pervert for a client, Di.” His sarcastic voice angered her.

“I wonder what I would find in your drawers if I went through them with no notice.” Thurman turned red, but didn’t say anything else.

“Look at this.” One of the troopers had pulled out Knox’s chest of drawers. There was a bag taped to the back. The trooper opened the bag, pulling out dozens of pictures.

Caleb took the pictures, going through them one by one before throwing them on the bed. “She has her clothes on and is over age; those are useless.”

Diamond could see the pictures from the doorway. There were a least a dozen pictures of a pretty, young woman with blond hair. Knox had obviously not wanted anyone to see them.

“I’ve got it.” One of the troopers had pulled open a bottom draw, holding the jewelry that Mrs. Langley had described to her.

“Take pictures of each one and bag it,” Thurman said, smiling smugly. Diamond raised a brow at his unprofessional behavior.

“Don’t you think it’s strange he takes more trouble to hide innocent pictures than jewelry he took off a murder victim?” Diamond questioned the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

“So, he’s a dumb fuck; we already knew that.” Thurman shrugged at her comment.

“We’ve found what we’re looking for, we can go.” He motioned the troopers out of the room. “Take him back into custody.” He told the last trooper as he came out of the room.

“Why?” Diamond argued. “He didn’t resist.”

“With this, the chances of his taking flight increase.”

“He’s not going to run,” Diamond tried to reason with him.

“I’m sure his ass won’t be in their long, Di, but he’s going back to jail,” he said, walking off and leaving her no alternative other than to follow. Hesitating, she went back into Knox’s room, opening the drawers she found him a shirt and socks. Picking up his large boots, she hurried down the steps where he was already in handcuffs, being lead down the steps.

“Diamond? Why are they arresting Knox again?” Viper yelled angrily.

“Someone called in a tip last night. They found what they were looking for, that’s why they’re taking him back in. Don’t worry; the court is just going to raise his bail. The quicker you let me get out of here, the sooner I can get him out.”

“Go,” Viper answered begrudgingly. “When you’re done, I expect to see you.”

Diamond nodded before going down the steps. All The Last Riders were standing on the porch with Evie and Bliss among them, still wearing their coverings. Diamond avoided eye contact as she carried Knox’s clothes down the steps, getting into her car then followed the procession of cars down the mountain.

Holly wouldn’t be in the office; she had called last night and told Diamond that she was still ill. She was going to have to wait until she got to town to make the phone calls she needed. The twenty-minute drive was frustrating, but Diamond used the time to organize her thoughts, formulating a plan of action.

As soon as she pulled into the sheriff’s office’s parking lot, she watched as the troopers pulled Knox from the back of the squad car. Calling in what few favors she had earned in the short time she had been practicing in Treepoint, she managed to get a hearing later that afternoon.

She knew they were going to raise the bond he was on to a huge sum. Calling Viper and confirming the funds would be available, she was hopeful that Knox would be out that day.

Picking up Knox’s clothes, she went into the small office. The sheriff was talking to David Thurman so Diamond handed Knox’s clothes to the receptionist. The woman rose from her seat and then went through the clothes before handing them to the sheriff. He looked at Diamond while taking the clothes from his secretary then excused himself, going into the rooms where the cells were.

Thurman turned at the sheriff’s abrupt departure, seeing Diamond standing by the front desk.

“Quick work, Diamond. I heard you finagled him onto the docket.”

“Nothing has changed, David. This shouldn’t affect his bond. He hasn’t tried to flee and has no intention of doing so.”

He laughed at her. “I think you’re misjudging your client. I think when he realizes his case just went into the dumpster that he is going to run.”

“He won’t.”

“He’s a known member of a motorcycle gang, what makes you think that he’s not going to run?”

“Because he didn’t kill her, David. Did you even research the man you are trying for murder?” Before he could say anything, Diamond filled him in on the facts that she had learned. “He graduated at the top of his class in high school before going into the Navy at eighteen where he stayed, becoming a navy seal. He has served on several dangerous missions before becoming elite at search and rescue. He has donated his time to several countries after natural disasters to help recover victims. He’s also very wealthy; several of the patents that The Last Riders have are his and the products the patents are on sell extremely well. One is a hatchet that turns into a small shovel so that rescuers can use it to help get victims out that are covered in ruble.

“So, no, I don’t think a man who is extremely sensitive to others in dire circumstances killed a young woman to steal her jewelry when he could easily buy her the whole jewelry store.”

Thurman turned pale at Diamond’s information. “Why didn’t my investigators find out about his money?”

“They didn’t dig deep enough. The business is in The Last Riders’ names, but I did a patent search with Knox’s name. He keeps his money within the business for his own reasons. I haven’t asked, but from what I gather, he could care less about his wealth. His bike isn’t even an expensive make.”

David shrugged, gathering his wits. Diamond could practically see the wheels turning. “The money just makes him an even bigger flight risk. He has the funds to leave the country. Thanks, Diamond.”

“Tell yourself that, Thurman, if it makes you feel better for putting a veteran that has honorably served his country and still volunteers his time in dangerous situations behind bars. I don’t happen to think Judge Creech, a veteran himself, will see it the same way.” Diamond turned on her heel, running into the sheriff who had come up from behind.

“I agree also. I don’t think he’s a flight risk, and why would they call that tip into the state police and not the sheriff’s office?”

“Probably because the tipster knows the preferential treatment The Last Riders receive from you,” Thurman said wit

h rancor.

The Sheriff gave Thurman a look of steel. “I think it’s more likely that they thought that someone from this office would recognize their voice. This is all premature bullshit anyway; until the final autopsy report comes back from Frankfort, you’re way ahead of yourself.” The sheriff didn’t back down from Thurman.

“I didn’t realize there was a question about the autopsy?” Diamond said. It was the first time she had heard that the autopsy was in question.

“There isn’t,” Thurman prevaricated.

“There is,” The sheriff disagreed.

“David, if you’re using your power to railroad an innocent man...” Diamond stared at the man, aghast at the thought of someone with his power trying to push an innocent man into prison.

“He had the jewelry! How innocent could he be?” Thurman retorted nastily.

“That house is never locked during the day when everyone works at the factory next door, and with the influx of new employees, anyone could have planted that jewelry,” The Sheriff argued.

“We’ll know that once we fingerprint it, won’t we, Sheriff? Now, if you two are done fighting about putting a murderer behind bars where he belongs, I need to get back to the office. I have court this afternoon.” Thurman left both Diamond and the Sheriff staring after him.

“He’s a dumb fuck,” The Sheriff said.

“Yes, he is,” Diamond confirmed, but he was a dumb fuck that had the power of the State of Kentucky behind him. He was more than able to put Knox away; innocent or not.

Chapter Nine

“Thanks for the clothes,” Knox grudgingly thanked the lawyer as she handed him the paperwork releasing him from jail for the second time that week.

“You’re welcome,” Diamond’s response was just as begrudging.

His long steps had no trouble keeping up with her strides outside the courtroom where Viper and Rider were waiting.

Before Viper could talk, Diamond cut him off, “The bond wasn’t raised, pending the result of the final autopsy. When the autopsy or fingerprints come back, he could be back in, Viper. Whoever called that tip in wants him to take the fall. Any enemies that want him out of the way?” Diamond questioned.