Lids scrunched, I pray.
Seconds later, an irate male voice rises over the chaos. “What the fuck is going on here?”
Kade?
As I crack open my eyes, he stomps across the lot, fury radiating off him.
“Stop right there.” Much like Smokey-the-Bear directing traffic, one of the guys snaps out two flat palms. “We’re executing a warrant.”
“More like executing my witness,” the sheriff snaps. “She’s holding a freaking cell phone, for chrissakes.”
He turns on the others, voice thundering. “Are you stupid as well as blind? You fire one bullet, and I swear to God, I’ll arrest every last one of you for murder. There will be no death by cop in my county. Understood?”
They glare for what seems like an eternity. Behind me, the lobby door slides open. As air whooshes out of the building, a strong arm yanks me inside.
For the first time since I was little, I turn, sobbing into my brother’s broad chest.
My lawyer, fists curled tightly, strides in front of all the raised weapons and holds out his phone. “I’d like to see where this alleged warrant gives you the right to execute my client without due process.”
He taps the screen. “By the way, I’ve been streaming all of this. You’re famous now. You will make your families extremely proud—especially those with daughters.”
From behind a door, the guy in charge shouts, “Get back. She’s a killer.”
My brother leans in, whispering, “Don’t say anything, okay?”
I nod. Too scared to speak, my thoughts race.
I now believe they wanted to kill me for sure. How convenient for them, ya think? No charges. No trial. No mention of a lunatic in the forest scaring off tourists. How did they learn where I was?
Only Kade knew.
Crap, did he set me up to die?
Reading my mind, my only protector steps toward Mr. Ito, “The FBI said we had twenty-four hours.”
The fat-ass cop next to them chuckles. “Judge Holman’s a friend. He agreed—gettin' this woman behind bars was imperative.”
I'm thinking this Smokey is somewhat familiar. Too damn familiar. My spidey senses tingle.
Whoever he is, his eyes wander. He wants me dead.
Chapter 21
Kade
Thank God, I waited when the cruisers entered the parking lot. What the hell was Griffin thinking? The moron nearly got her killed.
Before I can take two steps toward the building’s entrance, her brother gets in my face. “Don’t you think you’ve done enough damage, Kade?”
For the first time since accepting the temporary position, I consider handing in my badge. I don’t want any part of this kind of justice.
Powerless, I watch the State Police take Briana away in cuffs. As she’s put inside the back seat of a cruiser, something inside of me cracks. It’s not physical, but it hurts worse than a punch to the gut.
Screw protocol. It’s time to take the lead.
Beside my truck, ear to my phone, I walk Hunt through what happened. “No shit, Scott, if a squirrel had dropped an acorn, the coroner would be taking her to the morgue.”
Silence lingers, followed by a hiss. “I swear I had no idea. Griffin’s probably cozied up to a local judge. Don’t worry. I’m on it. He won’t know what hit him.”
