Page 63 of Studfinder

Jake nods in answer to Parker, still steepling his fingers. Parker glances at me. As we had spoken before this meeting, I warned her that Jake might actually resist sharing information. She’d also told me that if he didn’t speak up, she couldn’t do anything to help him. “Then if you’ll excuse me, I’m finished here.”

I wait for her exit before turning to Officer James. “I’m sorry I dragged you here,” I say to him. Ryan turns from me to Jake and back.

“It was worth a shot. I can’t make you talk, but I would have offered up something,” Ryan says. “Then again, it’s your life, man, and you’re so close to the end of this sentence.”

“Am I free to leave?” Jake asks, sounding a bit belligerent toward his parole officer.

“Free to leave this room, yes,” Ryan states, and Jake hastily stands without a glance back at me.

“Well, that imploded,” I state, scoffing at my failed attempt to right a wrong for the man I love who doesn’t love me.

Ryan shakes his head. “We see things like this all the time. Fear of giving up someone else. Retribution if he did.”

I sigh as I doubt this case is that devious. What could Nolan possibly do next to his brother? Ryan slowly rises and then turns to shake my hand.

“It was worth a shot,” I mumble.

Ryan narrows his eyes at me. “Why do you care?” His question isn’t intended to be derogatory. He’s simply curious, and I have to wonder myself. Why did I invest the time and energy into this risk when Jake clearly doesn’t want to be set free? He wants to serve his time and leave his brother behind, just like he’ll leave me.

25

Jake

As I exit the meeting room, I’m fuming. That insufferable woman. Anger nearly steams off my body. Walking away from Rita’s bed the other morning had been difficult enough. I wanted nothing more than to stay as she invited, but I needed to get my head clear and organize a plan. I needed to take steps to move forward, as she was always stating. I needed time to recover from what Nolan had done to me.

Still, I don’t know why Rita has to be so meddlesome. She should have asked me what I wanted to do. She should have talked to me. Then again, I’m the one who hadn’t answered her texts. I’m also the one who told her I was leaving Vermont. I had to get away from this place, and that presently includes her. Huffing out into the hallway and down a corridor, I see a familiar wheelchair and a woman next to my brother.

“Nolan?” My heart races double time at my brother in his seat. “What are you doing here?” I don’t want him anywhere near this courthouse or attorneys. Maybe he was onto something when he called them all snakes. Rita certainly had her own agenda for calling this meeting, but I can’t see what she’d gain.

“I got a call from this beautiful woman saying I was needed here to discuss your case.” Nolan looks over at the brunette next to him and winks. She shakes her head, and I’m certain she’s just endured minutes of my brother’s ruthless flirting.

“And you are?” I question her as she stands.

“May Shipley.” She holds out a hand to shake, and slowly, the name registers.

“As in Kaplan and Shipley,” I clarify, knowing the answer. I haven’t met Rita’s law partner, but I have heard her name often enough from stories Rita told me.

“Yes.” Behind me, I hear the soft clack of heels on tile, but I don’t turn around. I sense Rita’s presence before I see her.

“And you’re here with my brother because . . .?” I allow her to fill in the blank because I clearly do not understand what is happening.

“I’m here to offer your brother legal representation, should he need it.”

Nolan’s head cranes from May to me. “Why would I need legal representation?” His face blanches, and his voice squeaks.

“No reason,” I state, my voice terse. I step around my brother, ready to push him forward for an elevator, but he stops me.

“What’s going on?” he asks, looking from May to me and then to the woman I’m certain is behind me and behind this shit show.

“Nothing,” I mutter again. “I’ll explain when we get home.”

Nolan’s eyes widen, noticing how I don’t turn to face Rita. I simply nod at May and excuse both myself and my brother. Once inside the elevator, Nolan’s hands twitch in his lap.

“You’re scaring me,” he mutters, watching the elevator count down to the first floor.

“Not here,” I mumble. I’m holding it together by a thin thread, and I can’t risk exposing Nolan or myself in this courthouse.

Nolan and I arrived separately, which means I need to wait until we get home before I implode.