“I figured. I have to go. I’ll see you in an hour or so, and we can discuss it.”

Hanging up on Barry, I reached down to pet and rain praise on the puppy for doing his business before I called Jake. Despite the pit of regret lodged in my belly, I knew I couldn’t make him wait any longer.

“Aly! Are you all right? Why didn’t you call?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to drag you into this.”

“A little late for that. For a moment, I was the cops’ number-one suspect. They swung by here last night with all kinds of questions. After all, I showed up last minute and took you back to my place with your dog, leaving your place wide open to a break-in. Plus there’s the little issue of you letting me out of jail scot-free.”

“Oh God.” I held the phone tightly to my ear, pacing the same patch of grass outside the nursing home, the pollen lingering in the dew clogging my throat. Or was that my own stupidity?

“I’m sorry this happened to you, Aly. I didn’t do it, though. You believe me? The guy didn’t press charges; you were free to let me go that night. Plus you know Cameron hit a trigger with me, a nasty one. I wouldn’t have fucked him up if he hadn’t. Aly?”

“No, I don’t think it was you, but they’re not going to buy it unless I find them a suspect. We need to stay away from each other while I do.”

“Goddamn it! Don’t do this,” he pleaded. “Don’t make me the bad guy. I’m not in this situation. I’m the good one, trying to help.” He paused for a moment, then said, “Move to my place.”

“I can’t move into your place!” I shrieked, then composed myself as I glanced around, hoping no one was around yet this early in the morning.

“Calm down, Legs. I meant the duplex unit I offered you.”

My breathing kicked into high gear. How did he manage to be so infuriating and sexy at the same time? And how did I end up being the desperate damsel in distress? I was perfectly capable of taking care of myself—usually—but my options were so limited at this point, I didn’t know what to do.

“It’s really not up for discussion,” he said, trying to reason with me. “I know your place is all tied up in the investigation, and the only other place you can go with a dog—quickly—is my rental. I’ll be by at four today to help you take some stuff over to your new digs.”

“Jake.” I sighed, my resolve dissipating. “I have to run into the office and discuss this with my coworkers.”

“County building at four?”

I nodded. I was back to that again until I heard Jake growl my name into the receiver, thinking I hadn’t responded.

“Okay.”

Aly

After showering quickly in my mom’s bathroom, I hurriedly headed to my office. Maverick was a good boy, curled up in my duffel bag on the bus until we hit town, and when I got off the bus, I leashed him and set him on the ground. We walked toward the county building, me with my work face on, and him squatting every chance he could. When I got to the county building, I picked him up and placed him inside the bag again for the elevator ride up to my office, giving the security guy a quick flash of my ID and a bright smile.

Once inside my safe place, surrounded by law books and legal documents, I relaxed for the first time in twenty-four hours, including my impromptu date with Jake.

I’d barely settled in when Barry stuck his head inside my door. He was wearing khakis and a button-down shirt and sweater, like he usually did when he came into the office on a weekend. On someone else it might look preppy, but his slacks were wrinkled and his sweater had a stain that looked suspiciously like tomato sauce.

“Aly, we have to talk. What the . . .” His eyes grew wide. “What the heck is that?”

“Come in. It’s my dog, my new puppy. We were displaced last night. Don’t worry, I’m making new living arrangements tonight.” I waved a dismissive hand in the air as if I faced crises like this regularly.

Frowning, he tore his gaze away from the puppy and focused on me. “Whatever. Listen, you know who did this? You know what he wants?”

“He wants us to get rid of the charges.”

Barry dropped into my guest chair with a huff. “He’s in the wind, our guy, jumped bail. No one knows where the fuck he is, but he’s either lurking around you or having someone else do his dirty work is my guess.” He rested his elbows on the chair’s arms, drilling his eyes into mine over his entwined fingers. “I found out last night that he went MIA. They’re going over traffic cam footage looking for him. The freaking ankle monitor they put on him isn’t working, but I don’t know why. It’s anyone’s best guess as to where or when he’ll turn up. You need to watch your back, Aly.”

Frustrated, I blew out a long breath. Knowing Cameron had found a way to ditch his ankle monitor changed everything. “Why didn’t you call me?”

“I thought maybe he’d turn up by morning, but then this happened with you. Shit!” he exclaimed, then gave me a questioning look. “Maybe you should come stay with me? I’d feel a hell of a lot better knowing you’re safe.”

What the hell is going on? I have more offers than ever before to stay with men?

“Barry, don’t be ridiculous. I’m moving to a new apartment. A secure building,” I lied. “I’ll be fine. Let’s find our client. We work together; we can’t live together.”

“I worry about you, Aly. You try to be so tough, but we all need a little help.”

Uncomfortable, I steered the subject back to our client. “I just don’t get him—Cameron. He says he didn’t do any of it, claims the photos were planted in his apartment, yet he makes a big deal about his belief in free speech. So why run like this? What point is he trying to prove?” I ran my hand across my brow in frustration and squeezed my forehead, attempting to keep the headache looming at bay. “I should’ve known better. His actions were right there, niggling in the back of my brain. This is on me. I’ve been distracted.”

“Don’t do this to yourself. He’s acting insane, but it feels like too much of a put-on,” he said, focusing his gaze over my shoulder like he always did when he was pondering something. “Does he want an insanity plea? Why would he want that if he claims he didn’t do any of it?”

“There were pictures of the crime scenes in his apartment, taped all over the walls. Like bragging rights.”

“This guy is zigzagging all over the place. Did you ever get him to mention any names of close friends or girlfriends?” He ran his hand through his greasy hair; obviously he’d skipped a shower this morning.

“No, although it certainly felt like he was protecting someone. Just go!” I told him. “Get out of here and find Cameron. I have to meet with the cops from last night again and get some work done. When we find him, we’ll demand some answers.”

Focusing back on me, Barry reached over my desk and squeezed my hand, something he’d never done in the two-plus years we’d worked together. It was meant to be brotherly, I was sure, but somehow it didn’t feel like it.

Either way, I couldn’t dwell on that right now. I needed to figure out how I was going to deal with my new landlord.

At five minutes after four, I walked outside to find Jake’s Hummer waiting for me in front of the county building, pulled up next to the curb with its flashers on. As soon as Maverick was released from my bag, he started going nuts in the same way I wanted to. Jake got out of the truck wearing ragged dark jeans, a tight-fitting black T-shirt, and some type of athletic shoes, looking formidable and delectable as he walked toward us.

Afraid my own tail was wagging, I simply said, “Hey.”

“Hey, you.” He opened the truck door for me, then picked up Maverick from the ground and settled him into my lap. “He’s not going to be able to do that much longer, you know, sit on your lap. He’s going to be eighty or ninety pounds when he’s done growing.”