Final Verdict. Jessica R. Patch

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      Beckett grimaced and put down his fork, wiped his mouth. “I see your point. But threats shouldn’t be ignored or taken casually. What if it wasn’t a scare tactic? What if it’s a warning of things to come?”

      “We take precautions other than me leaving my house. Besides, if he can find me at home, he can find me at someone else’s.”

      “True. But I don’t want you far from me.”

      “Well, I’m going to Richfield today. To interview—” Her phone rang. Not again. Oliver Benard. Her old law partner from Chicago had been calling the last several days, and Aurora had been ignoring every single one, including the vague voice mails informing her they needed to talk. About what? The fact it was Aurora’s fault his son had died at Renzetti’s hands in that car explosion? Instead of taking Aurora’s life, they’d taken Hayden’s. Aurora had been so ashamed and guilty, she hadn’t even attended Hayden’s funeral.

      Here she was talking bravery and she couldn’t even take Oliver’s phone call.

      “What is it? Is that an unknown caller? Again?”

      “No.” Aurora pocketed her phone and sipped her juice. “Just someone I can’t talk to.”

      Beckett buttered his toast. “Why?”

      “I don’t want to. Now, back to my day. I appreciate you picking me up from Blair’s this morning. But I can’t become your new sidekick. I have a life. I have work. And I have Richie’s case to dig into, which is why I’m going to Richfield this morning.”

      “I don’t like it. That’s two hours away.” He pushed his plate aside. “Put it off until tomorrow. I’ll go with you.”

      Aurora sized him up. Most of the time she could read people fairly well. This was a man bent on doing what he said he would—keeping her safe at all costs—which meant he wasn’t going to budge on this. “I’ll make a few calls and see if we can reschedule. If not, I’m doing it today, Beckett. I’ve put off defending my brother long enough.”

      He pointed to her plate. “Choke down your courage and I’ll get the check, then drop you at the courthouse.”

      Aurora groaned. “Are you going to escort me across the street to my office afterward, as well?”

      A sly grin cruised across his face. “Not if you eat your eggs.”

      She huffed, but a giggle surfaced in her throat. She switched the subject back to his hovering over her like she was some sheep in need of a shepherd. “This might be extreme.”

      “You have no idea what extreme is, Counselor.” Beckett motioned for Jace Black, co-owner of the establishment, to bring the check.

      She did know extreme, but the way Beckett said it, Aurora had a sneaky feeling he’d seen things that had nothing to do with SEAL missions or war. Something he kept private. A need to know rose up in her. A wish he’d confide in her. Which was silly. The last two days were the most she’d ever personally spent with Beckett. But she was beginning to see a side of him other than surly and unsociable. A sense of humor for one. Considerate. Thoughtful. She admired those attributes. Too much.

      He held the door open for her and led her to the Tahoe. At the courthouse, Aurora waved to Beckett as she entered, then she made her way to Kelly’s chambers. She knocked and was met with an invitation to come inside. Kelly sat behind her mahogany desk, robed. Her short, silver chin-length bob framed compassionate eyes. “I’m about to head into court, but I’m glad to see you. I heard about the threats.”

      “From who?”

      Kelly tented her fingers on the desk. “The town in general. Rumors were buzzing around the courthouse this morning.”

      “Oh. So, how is the baby?”

      “A doll. I have pictures.” Kelly beamed.

      Babies. Once upon a time she’d wanted to get married and have children of her own. But Richie had gone to prison and she’d jumped onto a different path. No time for real relationships or children. She’d been focused on work and all her pro bono cases, which had been the biggest appeal of the position at Benard, Lowenstein & Meyer. “So, you heard about the calls or the whiskey bottle?”

      Kelly’s mouth dropped open. “I heard your car got keyed and someone knocked out a window at your place. What else is going on?”

      Aurora shared the details.

      Kelly sat quietly, then clasped Aurora’s hand. “You should stay with me.”

      Aurora had no doubt Kelly would offer. “I’m fine. You know how this goes. It’ll blow over.” She hoped. “But I do need to vent about something. Oliver Benard has been calling me.”

      Kelly leaned back in her plush office chair. “So answer.”

      “I can’t. I’m scared.”

      “Scared to answer a phone call, but brave enough to stay in a house alone with threats coming through your front window.” Kelly pointed at her. “The invitation to stay with me stands. I think you’re being foolish by not accepting. However, I understand why you want to stand your ground and thus proclaim you’re not afraid of threats. But if they escalate...”

      “I’ll let you know and take you up on it. About Oliver?”

      “Take his call. You never know. He might want to show you some grace.”

      Grace.

      She didn’t deserve it. His son was dead because of her. “I’d rather crawl into a hole. What if he’s not calling to offer me gracious words?”

      “Why, after two years, would he call you if not to extend a little kindness?”

      “Anniversary of his son’s death is February fifteenth. Maybe he wants to make sure I remember.” Like she could forget.

      “Aurora.” Kelly’s motherly tone warmed her. Her own mother hadn’t been too motherly, and she’d spent most of her time locked in her bedroom. At least, when she wasn’t taking her antidepressants, which was most of the time. “Trust God to work on your behalf.”

      She’d trusted God once. Before Richie had been stamped guilty. Before Aurora had been. Before her world had crumbled all around her. It didn’t seem like God was there for her at all. “I’m heading to my office. I’ll think about what you said.”

      She was leaving Kelly’s chambers as her phone rang.

      Unknown Caller.

      Did she ignore it?

      Chills poked her spine, but she answered.

      No one spoke, only breath filtering lightly through the line.

      “I was doing my job. So back off. If you think I won’t figure out who you are, then you’re mistaken.”

      A dark and menacing laugh cut straight to her marrow. “We’ll see.”

      The line went dead.

      Had СКАЧАТЬ