I sat in the back of the courtroom and waited. The lawyers were all at their appropriate tables, the judge silently looking through paperwork on the bench. A half a dozen cases had already been processed, and more than three dozen more were waiting in the wings. But I was only interested in one.

Finally, they brought him in, chains clinking with every step. His ankles and wrists were shackled. I guess he’d caused some trouble in the county jail, getting into fights with some of the other inmates. He looked as though he’d been on the losing end of a few of those. Like Smythe when he made his appearance a week ago, Sanders looked like he’d become someone’s punching bag. But he didn’t look as broken as Smythe had. There was still a smugness to his expression, a cockiness to his walk. I was hoping a little more time in jail would end that, too.

“Tyler Sanders,” the bailiff called. He stepped up to the defendant’s table as the judge watched, his eyes narrowed as he took in the same things I’d noted.

“You’re accused of vehicular manslaughter and failure to render assistance at the scene of an accident, Mr. Sanders. How do you plead?”

“Not guilty,” he said quickly and clearly.

The judge lowered his head, reading through some paperwork there on his desk. “Bail, counselor?”

The prosecutor seemed to be new to the job. He was scattered and unprepared. But this case was one that he had under control.

“A million,” he announced immediately.

“Your honor, that’s ridiculous!” the defense attorney said. “My client is a model citizen, a respected member of his church—”

“The church is what got him into this situation in the first place,” the prosecutor countered. “And, considering the heinousness of the crime, I think a million is quite generous.”

“But, your honor, my client—”

“Enough!” the judge cried. “Bail is set at a million. Take this scum out of my sight!”

Sanders turned to follow the guard out, but then he caught sight of me. He smiled brightly, his split lip breaking open and beginning to bleed again. The blood ran down over his white teeth as he continued to stare at me even after the guard grabbed his arm and pulled him from the room.

It was creepy. Unsettling. But I would be at each and every one of his court appearances because I owed it to Harry. I owed him so much more, but this was the least I could do. I had to be sure his killer faced justice.

But first, I had a promise to a beautiful woman to keep.

 

 

Alli looked up as I tapped on her office door. She smiled when she saw me, jumping up to give me a hug.

“What’s that for?” I asked, drawing her in close for a second before gently pushing her away.

“You did what you said you would do. I can’t…no man has ever kept a promise to me before.”

“Well, then, I’m on a roll.” I held out an envelope to her. “Harry made me promise I’d give this to you if anything ever happened to him.”

Alli stared at the envelope like she was afraid to touch it. Her eyes moved from it to me, a little frown touching her full lips.

“When did he give it to you?”

“The first night I was in town.”

“He knew even then?” She caught her breath, tears welling in her eyes for the first time since I’d met her. “He gave it to you then?”

“He cared about you.”

“Damn fool,” she whispered.

Alli took the envelope and pushed it into a back pocket. Then she focused on me. “How are things with you and Ruth?”

I shrugged. “She moved back into her apartment. And her parents came around to see her, so I guess fences are getting mended.”

“I suppose it helps that it was because of you that her brother wasn’t caught up in the Guardian roundup.”

“Could be. He’s asked for a job, you know.”

“Are you considering it?”

“I am, actually. He kept his end of the bargain. I guess it’s my turn to keep my end.”

“So, now what?”

“All the women in my life keep asking me that.” I smiled softly. “Ruth wants to go to Memphis, see where I grew up. We’re leaving in the morning.”

“Uh oh, sounds like something a woman looking for a ring on her finger might do.”

“You think?”

“I know. I’ve been around that block a few times.”

“Maybe.”

“How do you feel about that?”

I wasn’t quite sure. The idea of settling down and having a houseful of kids still appealed to me, surprise, surprise. But when I’d imagined that life, it had been with Raelyn. Was I really ready to refocus my dream, change my leading lady that easily? I really wasn’t sure.

“I think I’ll cross that particular bridge when I come to it.”

“Just make sure you don’t burn it before she crosses, too.”

“Thank you, oh-so-wise woman.”

Alli slapped my arm. “Don’t be a prick.”

I kissed her check, pleased at the laughter that slipped from between her lips. It’d been a while since I’d heard it.

“Quentin and Patrick are going to continue to keep an eye on you while I’m gone. Most of the Guardians are gone, but we can’t be too careful, you know?”

“Overprotective much?”

“Just until we know the big players aren’t making bail.”

“Okay, Daddy.” She threw her arms around my neck and whispered, “Thanks for caring,” against my ear.

“Always.”

I walked out, wondering what was in that letter from Harry and why she didn’t read it in front of me. I guess I couldn’t blame her. I’m not sure I would have wanted to read a letter of that nature in front of someone, either. But I hoped it was a good thing and not something that was just going to prick at the scab of her grief. I wouldn’t want to be the cause of any more pain for her.

But then my thoughts moved on. I was going home tomorrow. I wouldn’t have thought it would be that big of a deal, but a part of me was deeply excited to be back in my own territory. The excitement was tempered slightly when I imagined taking Ruth there. But only a little.

I wondered how Rae would respond to seeing me again. Would she be happy to see me, or indifferent? And how would I feel at seeing her again? Again, I wasn’t sure.

I’d never been so uncertain in all my life.