Andrew paced in the room where they waited their turn to go into the courtroom for arraignment. He glanced at his watch again. Frustration mounted from all the hours of waiting.

“Calm down, Andrew,” his attorney said. “You getting agitated isn’t going to help any. You need to be level-headed.”

“I am fucking level-headed,” he growled. “It’s everything else, like wasting time here when your people should be out there searching for my innocence.”

“Don’t worry, Andrew. Just because I’m stuck in here doesn’t mean my team isn’t out working.”

Andrew grumbled and kept pacing. When his phone rang, he snatched it from his pocket. Not knowing the number, he was going to ignore the call, but answered it for having nothing better to do.

“Mr. Carter. Detective Hudson here.”

Great. Just the one he wanted to talk to. The reason he was in this damn room awaiting his future. He almost hung up on the man.

“What do you need, Detective?” Andrew said, “I’m waiting to go into the courtroom.”

“This’ll be quick. Have you heard from Miss Berte in the last twenty minutes? I’ve been calling her, but she’s not answering.”

His frown killed his stress, giving rise to concern. “No, why?”

“She left me several emails of evidence and a voicemail saying she was going to get a confession.”

“Confession?” Andrew repeated. “Who is she getting a confession from?”

“She seems to think Jen’s husband Ted killed Jen,” the detective said.

“She what? Where did that thought come from.”

“Not sure but her evidence for your innocence is physical and looks convincing.”

He breathed out a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”

“Maybe,” Hudson replied, “but the person I think she’s gone to see is Ted.”

Andrew asked, “Do you think Ted is guilty? Is she putting herself in danger?”

“Actually, Ted isn’t Ted,” the detective said. “I just got in information I’ve been waiting for. Turns out Ted Ortiz is really Frederick Harper. One of the FBIs most wanted sex offenders. He didn’t show up for court and has been in hiding since.”

“Is Alex with him?” Andrew asked.

“I was hoping you’d know.”

Andrew ran a hand through his hair, panic settling in his chest. How was he to know where she was? Then he remembered the app he put on her phone. “Wait a second, Detective.”

Tapping on the icon on his phone, the program opened and one red dot showed up on the map, as well as a blue one. The address for each location popped onto the screen. He read off the address.

“That sounds familiar,” Hudson said. “That could be it. I need to check the file.”

Andrew straightened. “So you’re telling me my girlfriend is at the home of a violent sex predator, by herself?”

“It’ll take me some time to get there from this side of town, but we’ll get to her.”

“Yeah, after she’s dead.” Andrew hung up the phone and stretched his hand out to Turner. “I need your keys.”

The attorney dug in his pocket, a frown on his face. “Why?”

“Alex is in danger and I have to get to her now.”

“You can’t go anywhere without me. You’ll be arrested,” Turner replied.

“Then let’s go.” Andrew headed for the door.

Turner ran after him. “But the arraignment. The courtroom is opening.”

“Then let them come after me. I’m getting Alexandra safe then we can talk with the judge.” Andrew ran into the rain, Turner doing his best to catch up. Andrew would leave the old man behind if needed—illegal or not.

He’d be fine as long as the police didn’t apprehend him before getting to Alexandra.