*
The look on the marshal’s face was priceless. Erin kept enjoying that fact as she showered and then chose another casual look from the clothing Tori had brought previously. It was a pleasant bit of enjoyment she was finding in keeping the man with such an ego and straight-arrow-lawman mentality about him on his toes, obviously trying to figure things out as she stepped outside his preconceived ideas of her. Her father had done that, as had her ex…and they both had been shocked a time or two as she had found a backbone and her own voice along the way.
The morning had been surprising and enjoyable. Being an only child, she had often envied those who weren’t alone in their childhood. It was obvious that the Parkers enjoyed a good relationship. And it had been easy to join in the smiles and good-natured ribbing. She usually spent her mornings on weekends quite differently. Coffee, an egg and toast, and a stack of briefs and sentencing reports to read before next week’s docket could be considered. Same ritual over and over. She had formed her own work rut. But she had stepped out of it that morning. And the freedom was surprising. Her smile stayed with her longer and she kept checking it in the mirror.
“I am here,” she announced, going back into the kitchen area. “I said I would find something for breakfast.”
“I am not exactly helpless,” Rance said, his gaze taking in the contents of the refrigerator, a carton of eggs in one hand, while he grabbed a package of bacon with the other, then used his shoulder to shut the refrigerator door. In the movement, the package of bacon slipped to the floor. He overcompensated for the loss in trying to grab for it and the egg carton slipped at the same time. Erin made a quick dive forward with outstretched hands and managed to stop the eggs in midair. She straightened, setting the carton safely on the cabinet beside her.
“Yes, I can see that. Perhaps you might want to catch a shower or shave or whatever while I handle all of this. You know what they say about too many cooks in the kitchen at one time.”
“I think you’re trying to handle me, Judge Latham.”
“Let’s just say that I’m saving your bacon on this one.” Her delivery was precise, tongue in cheek and she offered an innocent smile to boot. She reached for the bacon and took it from his hand.
“Are you a closet comedian, in addition to all else?”
“No,” she said with a shake of her head, “just a person who would like eggs scrambled in a pan on the stove and not in a mess on the floor.”
“I have a phone call to make, and a shower might be good about now, too.”
“Perhaps I might make a call later…to my office assistant? I promise not to give away anything about our location. You can listen in, too. I just need to make some adjustments in my weekly schedule.”
“Nice try.” He smiled in response. “But anything you need can be relayed by me, to my boss, who makes all determinations on what constitutes an emergency. And I believe your schedule has been placed in the dark so to speak for the next few weeks…as far as anyone is concerned. Your assistant has a nice vacation for now.”
She was no longer smiling. “My court schedule is my business…no one else’s. You have no right to—”
“Yes, I have every right… In fact, Your Honor, I have all the rights at this time. Consider that this is a nice country vacation you can enjoy for the foreseeable future…however long or brief it might be.”
He didn’t wait for a response but turned on his heel and left her to debate aiming one of those eggs at the center of his back…or not.
*
“The native is getting restless. Any good news?”
There was a mirthless chuckle on the other end of the phone. Rance was glad that someone still had a sense of humor, even if it was his boss.
“Good news? Well, the other judges are still alive and seeming to enjoy their enforced time away from the courthouse. I’m sensing that your detainee might not be so amiable?”
“Amiable? That is such an ambiguous description, isn’t it? Let’s just say that she’s still able to use her skills in irritating others to her advantage. And she is not on vacation. Any news at all about when she might be delivered back to her bench?”
“Well, you have my sympathy—sounds like you drew the short straw of the group. In fact, the only movement has been in her direction. The clerk went into her office yesterday and there was a piece of white copy paper in the center of her desk…with a large X in the center of it…in blood. That sent her screaming from the room and we’re trying to keep the lid on all of that.”
“Blood…human, animal, fake? How did it get left there? Cameras catch anything?” He fired off the questions like the investigator he was.
“All is being covered. Your mind is not to worry about that part. You do have to be extra vigilant in case this points to her being next on the list, and that can only make someone more determined.”
“Exactly. I know you guys have it handled. But it is my habit to be doing instead of sitting.”
“The governor has given all assets we need, as have the Feds. You just do your part and keep her safe and happy…so to speak.”
“I’ll deserve a medal if I pull all that off. I’ll wait for that freedom call from you and hope it comes sooner rather than later.”
Rance knew that all hands were on deck, plus a lot more, and working around the clock. This needed to be resolved, no dangling ends left to chance. The criminal needed to be behind bars and away from society for there to be a period on the case file. In the meantime, he would figure out what she needed to know or not. He turned on the hot water full blast in the shower.
Chapter Seven
“We’re having carrots for breakfast?”
