“Do we have an issue here?” I take a step forward, figuring now is as good a time as any to intervene.
“Wrapping it up, thank you,” Ms. Larson snaps, eyes on the deputy.
“The sooner your boy is shipped off to the penitentiary, the better,” Keller snarls. “Takes up far too much of our time to keep you assholes in line when you’re here.”
“Sounds like Crow had a valid reason for acting out to me.”
“We don’t live by the same rules as you,” Keller says, leaning close. “If you want to visit him, you’re out of luck. His privileges have been revoked for the day.”
“You can’t do that,” Ms. Larson bites.
Keller lets himself through the locked door to the far side of the reception. “Watch me.” He slides a sign from beside Crow’s name on the board listing all the cells, then flips it over to read RESTRICTED.
Cunt.“Come on,” I jerk my head toward the exit, ushering Ms. Larson outside. “I’ll buy you coffee, and you can tell me what happened.”
“I don’t know how you tolerate their shit,” she mumbles, bashing the door open with a stiff arm.
I follow her through, stopping it from swinging back into me too hard. “We don’t.”
She reaches the sidewalk and stalls, leather slimline satchel hanging at her side, and faces the sky to growl.
“You new with the firm?” I ask, studying her delicate features. “We haven’t had you before.”
“Yeah. I am.” She huffs a laugh. “I guess this is my initiation.”
The woman’s pretty. Right up Crow’s alley with her dark hair and alabaster skin, lips painted a viciously deep shade of red.
“You’ll do better if you don’t let them get to you,” I say. “You’re in the right. They’re not. Never forget that.”
She looks at me as though I’m crazy. “Your man committed murder.”
I tilt my head. “Did he?”
She lets out another frustrated grumble and scours the street. “Which way to coffee, buster. I need caffeine before I end up in there with him.”
I extend my arm toward the cafe. “Right this way.”
Her heels clip at a fair pace along the sidewalk. I have to lengthen my strides to catch up. “Sorry that I wasn’t here to meet you earlier.”
“It’s fine.”
Sounds anything but fine. “The Sheriffs like to test new blood.”
“I see that.”
“Have you had many cases like his?”
She spares me a glance and then powers on. “I’ve had enough to know what I’m doing.” Her phone rings inside her satchel, and she stops walking with another growl. “Excuse me.”
I step to the side of the pavement and lean against a wall while she digs the device out and barks a greeting into the mouthpiece. My gaze roams the street, seeking any signs of Kyra. I have no idea what I’ll say when I see her. Or even what Ishouldsay.
I want to continue what we started. I want her close so I know she’s safe, and I want her with me when I come home to rest each night.
But it’s not fair to drag her along with me when I have no hope of being what she needs.
I’m not going to be like my father and ruin her like he ruined my mom.
“Sorry,” Ms. Larson offers, shoving her phone away. “Lead us on.”
