Page 58 of Dead Man's Alibi

But Cal was worked up and wantedsomething.“You know, if you were the one who met with Jules Hyatt, you’re going to have some serious explaining to do.”

Hayes stopped getting into the car.Turned slowly to face Cal.

His gaze was furious again, but, per usual, he spoke with a calm evenness.“I don’t know what this is.What you think you’re doing siccing Jill on me like I’m stupid orthatinfluenced by a pretty woman.”

Cal didn’t need to delve into why Hayes noting she was pretty bothered him.

“Or pretending you understand me because you’ve spent five seconds in my past.Orthreateningme like you have any idea what happened.But I’ve had enough.Harassment is a two-way street, and I know lawyers too.So back off.Allof you.”

The threat did what it intended.Pissed him the hell off.“I don’t want to believe this of you.I’ve defended you.Hell, I’ve helped you.”

“I’ve helpedyou,” Hayes shot back.“I told you a long time ago I don’t buy that your brother’s some perfect saint hero.I think it’s pretty pathetic that instead of accepting that, you want to turn it around on me.Try to psychoanalyze me.I’m an officer of the law.Some of us take the law seriously.”

“Yeah, some of us do.Some of us believe in due process.Not deciding someone was guilty long before he was accused of murder.Sounds like you’ve got a vendetta.”

“Sounds like you can’t admit the apple might not fall far from the tree.”

“So, what?This reallyisabout my father?”Cal demanded.

“No, it’s about evidence.It’s about investigative work, of the real police kind.It’s about putting a murderer behind bars forgood.Now you can be the good brother and defense attorney and try to muck up the waters, but believe you me, this case?Open and shut.”

Cal really didn’t care for Jake’s confidence.“I think you might underestimate how good I am at my job.”

“Do I?Because I’m not worried, Bennet.I’m not worried at all.”

Cal didn’t think that was particularly true as Hayes ducked into his car.Which was almost a relief.

Almost.

Chapter Twenty

Honor’s Edge Investigations Office

After the arraignment,Sam had convinced herbabysittersto drop her off at Honor’s Edge.She’d made the excuse that she needed to do some work, pick up some things from home, and have her own damn vehicle.

It had taken some fast talking, some lying, certainly, but they’d relented once she’d promised to be back up at the ranch by dinner time.

It was a promise she didn’t intend to break.Mostly because she’d seen the relief in Nate when she’d said Aly made breakfast every morning.

Maybe worrying about her kept him busy, but she didn’t want to add to his worry.So she’d sleep at the ranch—andtryto sleep.Maybe she’d even make more of an effort to eat if she could stomach it.

She sat at her computer trying to concentrate.She wasn’t taking any new cases, but a couple of old ones needed some paperwork finished up.Luckily, Nate had been in between cases, so she didn’t have any work to do on his behalf and have to explain… why.

What a positive…

Despite the sarcasm in her own head, she did feel a bit more settled.Actually, seeing Nate had somehow been both harder—the jumpsuit, the cuffs—and a relief.He was whole and himself and maybe there was some way for this to be okay if he was.Maybe thinking her past had to repeat wasn’t fair tohim.

Maybe this wasn’t about her historical failures.Maybe it was about how strong and goodNatewas.

She held onto that hope.Doubted it, certainly, but didn’t let it shrivel up and die.

Because hope mattered.Maybe she’d failed her father for fifteen years, but she’d also kept him going with hope.

She thought about Landon telling her she wasn’t alone and fifteen anymore.It still surprised her how powerful that realization had been.

There was something really comforting about having Aly and even Landon around.Something like an anchor in feeling like someone… cared to tend her or have other people tend her.

Basically, she wasn’t alone.