Lance grinned. “And she’s real. That’s what I love about Alex.”
I swallowed hard past the lump in my throat. “Thank you, Lance.”
“Which is why we’re here today,” Clifford said. “Usually Alexa’s protests don’t really harm anyone, but she got a little carried away with her latest sit-in and now she needs to do some house arrest time.”
Chase jerked back. “Are you telling me she’s going to be on house arresthere?In my house?”
“Yep,” Lance said.
“I didn’t agree to this,” Chase said. “I know the law. This has to go through me.”
Clifford frowned. “I was led to believe that Lance had everything taken care of. I’ve worked with Lance a couple of times helping Alexa, and there’s never been a problem before.”
“No.” Chase glared at Lance. “I can’t have a convicted criminal living under my roof. You know that.”
I could feel myself starting to shake. Usually I was made of stronger stuff, but the events from the last few weeks were really playing on me. Clifford was right, usually I protested in peace and didn’t get my dander up. Now I was paying the price for having a temper. Lance must have noticed my trembling, because he casually walked over and gave me a hug.
“Don’t worry, Alex,” Lance said. “I thought—”
He was interrupted by the sound of a car horn blaring as it and another car roared up the driveway. A few seconds later, the Geriatric Gang came barreling through the door.
Chapter 4
“We’re just in time I see,” Mimi said.
Chase’s eyes flashed. “You all knew about this? About her house arrest?”
Sheriff stepped forward and laid a hand on Chase’s shoulder. “Yes, Chase, we did. Judge here knows her and thought her living here would be a great idea.”
I smiled weakly at Judge.
“I can vouch for Miss Martin,” Judge said.
Chase turned to me, and I wanted to melt down into the floor. “Did you know about all this? The fact you’d be staying here under house arrest?”
“No! Yes! Sort of!” I cried. “I had no idea you were a cop until last night! I swear! I knew I’d be staying here under house arrest, but I didn’t know who or what you were.”
He whirled back and threw up his hands. “Pops? Really?”
“Oh my gosh,” I gasped. “Sheriff is yourgrandpa?” Now it was my turn to stare accusingly at the older man. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Sheriff grinned and shrugged. “Must have slipped my mind. Old age, ya know?”
“This really isn’t a big deal,” Clifford said. “Because I know Lance personally, and I’ve met Judge a number of times, I was able to bend some rules a little using my discretion. As long asanyperson living in the household is willing to accept responsibility for Miss Martin, she will be allowed to have visitorsandshe can do her community hours next week.”
Chase’s nostrils flared. “I’mthe only other person besides Miss Martin living in this household.”
“Great,” Clifford said, “then you won’t mind taking responsibility for her.”
Taking pity on Chase, I stepped closer to him. “I’m really sorry. I had no idea you didn’t know about this. I never meant to deceive you.”
A little of the fire went out of his eyes, and he ran a hand behind his neck. “I actually believe you. I mean, now that I see who your friends are, I can believe they deceived you like they deceived me.”
“Oh now,” Mimi said. “Stop making it out to be more than it is.”
“Yeah,” Ingrid said, her hand on her Saxe, “it’s not like little Alexa here knifed a man in a back alley in Reno just to watch him die and is now needing a place to hide out.”
That got a few chuckles and snorts from the elderly gang.
