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“I’d like to speak with Miss Butler, please. This is ADA Cardozo.”
After a moment, Bella came on the line, her normally smooth voice thin with anxiety. “Mr.Cardozo? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing with your case,” he assured her. “We’re still starting voir dire on Monday. I wanted to let you know that I’ll be there, in case you saw the news about my son and wondered.”
She exhaled shakily. “I nearly called you, but I figured you’d be out of your mind with worry today and I didn’t want to add to it. And every time I rehearsed what I’d say to you, I called myself a selfish bitch.”
“My son is fine and you’re certainly not selfish.”
“Thank you. I don’t know how I’d focus if something happened to my little girl.”
“I’ll focus. Don’t worry.” And he would. He might not know how he’d do it now, but by Monday he’d have it figured out. Bella Butler deserved no less. “You have a good evening.”
“You too, Mr.Cardozo.”
Locking his computer, Kaj left his home office and made his way down the stairs to the living room, where he heard multiple voices. Pasting a bright smile on his face, he stepped off the bottom stair and stopped cold.
Elijah sat on the floor next to a monster dog that looked as if it could swallow him in one huge gulp. Seeing a photo of the dog was one thing, but here? In his living room? “Holy shit,” he whispered.
Elijah looked up, a grin on his face. “This is Czar. Isn’t he—”
A loud growl cut off whatever Elijah had been about to say. Seconds later the big dog was on its feet—its four huge feet, easily the size of dinner plates.
“Czar, sit.” Val rose from the sofa, touching the dog’s head lightly as he obeyed. “Good boy. Kaj, come and meet Czar. Walk slowly.”
Kaj swallowed hard. “Uh... I don’t know about this.”
Elijah’s grin faltered. “He’s a nice dog, Dad. Don’t be scared.”
Kaj’s gaze flicked to the two other people in the room. The women sat on the sofa, holding hands. One was tall like Val, but with long black hair. The other was so small that “petite” seemed too big a word to describe her. Her hair was braided and pinned to her head just like Val’s, but it was bright purple. And she wore a fifties-style dress with an honest-to-God crinoline. Both women appeared to be amused.
“It’ll be okay,” the smaller woman said. “Even I can control him. He’s very gentle.”
Val held out her hand to Kaj. “Come on. It’ll be all right.”
Warily, Kaj held his breath and took her hand, earning him a smile as she led him to the hairy beast. He wasn’t sure if it was her smile or the fact that Elijah was grinning again that had him relaxing.
She stopped in front of the dog, who hadn’t moved a muscle. “Czar, say hello.”
Immediately the dog’s stubby tail began wagging and his tongue came lolling out.
Kaj let out the breath he’d been holding before scratching the dog behind its ears. “Hi, Czar. You’re very large.”
Val chuckled. “Like I said, nobody bothers me when I’m walking with Czar. These are my friends MaryBeth and Jessica.”
Kaj’s lips twitched as he held out a hand to the taller woman. “Mary Popshins, it’s nice to meet you.”
The tall woman laughed as she shook his hand. “Oh, no. I’m not Mary Popshins. I’m Jessica.” She gestured to the tiny woman. “This is my wife, MaryBeth. Aka Mary Popshins.”
Kaj blinked at the tiny woman. “You’re Mary Popshins?”
She stood and, holding out her skirts, properly curtsied. “I am.” She grinned up at him. “Don’t worry. You’re not the first person to make that assumption and won’t be the last.”
He was still gaping. “You play roller derby?”
“She’s a jammer,” Jessica said proudly.
“That’s the scorer, Dad,” Elijah informed him seriously.
