Laurel wanted to get out of there before Abigail could reach her, so she slid into the aisle and walked into the hallway, hurrying toward the two glass doors. Energy and movement sounded behind her as everyone exited the courtroom quickly.
“Agent Snow, wait a sec.” The prosecuting attorney hustled up, her gaze darting to where Abigail and Agent Norrs stood against the far wall, talking animatedly.
Darn it. Laurel turned as the pretty lawyer rushed up. “Hi, Ms. Hornhart. What can I do for you?”
The woman took a deep breath. “Abigail’s attorney just filed a motion for an expedited trial. I’m inclined to join the motion.”
Laurel looked toward Abigail. Her attorney had acted fast. Since he wasn’t currently with Abigail, she obviously knew it was happening. “I wonder what she’s afraid we’ll find out?”
Hornhart shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’m going to put her away for good. The court has an opening the week after next.” She blushed. “I have a friend in the scheduling department. I’ll need to meet with you to go over your testimony and will have my scheduler call you later to get on our calendar.”
Laurel clicked through her plans. “That’s fine.” She’d already given an interview, but she could brush up on testimonial strategy.
“Excellent.” Hornhart’s eyes gleamed.
“Let’s go.” Huck motioned toward the glass doors, leaning over to whisper when they were far enough away, “I can smell her ambition. While it’s working for us now, I don’t trust her.”
Laurel didn’t need to trust her. She needed the woman to do her job. She pushed open the doors with Huck at her side and then nearly fell back as the rush of reporters moved forward.
Huck instantly covered her, stepping in front of her and making a path through them. “Watch the steps,” he said quietly.
Laurel nodded, keeping an eye on the hard marble steps as she made her way down them.
“Laurel?” Abigail called out amid the rapid snapping of cameras.
Laurel kept her head down and continued descending.
Huck stiffened in front of her and she ran into his back. “What?”
An odd ping whizzed through the air. “Gun!” Huck bellowed, pivoting and taking her down to the ground. Pain clicked through her shoulder as she landed between two hard steps. Her jacket tore.
Several people screamed.
Huck instantly bounded up, his weapon in his hand. “Stay down.”
“No.” Laurel pushed to her feet, drawing her gun from the holster at her thigh. “Who’s down?” she yelled, looking around wildly.
People began picking themselves off the ground. Her gaze caught on Agent Norrs above the steps on the landing, who knelt by a prone Abigail. He lifted his hand off her, looking numbly at the blood covering his palm. His eyes widened. “She was shot. We need an ambulance. Now!”
Chapter 2
Laurel paced back and forth in the hospital emergency waiting room, her shoulder aching and her suit jacket crumpled into a ball on a leather chair. The shooting had hit the news, and her mother had already phoned her from an island in the middle of the Caribbean. Laurel had strongly supported Deidre in taking a month on a sunny cruise with her new beau, Fish and Wildlife captain Monty Buckley, who was healing after successful cancer treatments. Having them both out of town while Abigail’s legal proceedings continued was just a blessing. Period.
The outside glass doors opened and Viv Vuittron hustled inside, her wet tennis shoes squeaking on the tile. “Laurel?”
Laurel moved toward the girl. She was the eldest of the three of the Vuittron girls, whose mom, Kate, ran the local FBI office. “Viv? Are you back from softball camp already?” Time seemed to be flying.
“Yeah. I got back last night.”
Wasn’t today a teacher’s work day? The girl should be sleeping. “What are you doing here?”
The girl pushed blond hair over her shoulder, her blue eyes wide. “I was on my way to my internship at Oakridge since there’s no school today, and I heard about the shooting. The local news named you and said you’d headed to the hospital.” She rushed Laurel into a fierce hug. “I was worried.”
Laurel returned the hug and stepped back. “I’m fine, honey. The bullet hit Abigail, and I’m waiting to hear about her.”
Viv exhaled slowly. “Okay. Good.” She looked around the vacant waiting room. “Since you’re here, I was wondering if you’d help me?”
“Always.” Laurel focused more fully on the sixteen-year-old. “What do you need?”
