tentative smile. “I know it makes no sense, but it’s the only way I have of explaining how I feel.”
“I just carry a really big gun. That gives me peace.” He smirked.
She laughed and squeezed his hand. Something about the way she did that made him remember good feelings from the past. He shook them off.
“Once we’re downtown, I’ll get a cab to take you back to the apartment.”
She shook her head. “No way. I’ll go with you to court.”
Tactical error. One glance told him how scared she remained. Even though it was his idea of pure hell, he knew being inside that courthouse would help temper her fear. “If you’re sure.”
* * *
Gabriella was feeling downright mellow by the time he pulled into a parking garage ten minutes later. After going through security, they went up in the elevators to the fifth floor. Shane went into the bathroom to change into a shirt and slacks. As soon as he came out, a man looking to be in his late fifties and wearing a slightly rumpled suit greeted Shane with a robust handshake.
“I’m so glad you could make it.” The man glanced in her direction.
Shane made the introductions. “Gabriella Santos, Vince Perry.”
She held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.” The man had a nice smile and welcoming demeanor. To be honest, though, it was the fact that they were now surrounded by men and women wearing guns and sworn to protect that made her feel a whole lot better.
“Same here.”
Shane motioned toward her and smiled. “I almost didn’t make it. If Gabriella hadn’t come to get me, I wouldn’t have known until it was too late.”
“Quite a coincidence they finally get around to hearing my motion this late in the day with virtually no notice.” Vince shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Whatever dirty tricks they’re trying to pull, you made it here. The judge will be calling the case in a few minutes. But I’ve got to tell you, Tony’s been acting kind of weird, like something’s bothering him, but he won’t talk.” His mouth pulled into a tight grimace, as if he wanted to say more. “I’ve got the motion prepared, but I’ll need your testimony about the alibi witness if the judge asks for it.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
The bailiff came out to call the case and Shane ushered her inside. She sat in one of the seats towards the back while Shane moved in close to the defense table. A handful of other people sat in the courtroom. The young man in the orange jumpsuit sitting at the table with Vince was obviously the defendant, Tony Marcos. A female attorney was at the opposite table, and a few spectators were scattered in seats behind the rails.
Judging by the hushed silence and angry expressions, almost everyone knew Shane. And they weren’t happy about his arrival. There was a definite vibe in the air that hovered somewhere between bad and horribly bad.
The state’s attorney looked really angry. Gabriella couldn’t tell if it was due to the woman’s bad choice of wardrobe or frustration with the case. Even a blind man could tell the woman was having a ‘What Not to Wear’ moment.
Wearing a pair of boring, sensible flats, a too-tight and equally boring brownish-black suit with a white turned dingy beige blouse peeping from beneath the suit jacket, she shuffled through paperwork while she waited for the judge to enter the courtroom. Since Gabriella’s sister was a state’s attorney, she knew the woman was both overworked and underpaid, so she gave her bad fashion choices a pass, although she had a nearly irresistible urge to offer her a makeover.
Instead, she bit her tongue and glanced around the courtroom. She’d watched her sister during a trial and knew that, unlike on TV, trials were typically lackluster and boring. Today, however, the whole courtroom seemed charged with a kind of frenetic energy, although she couldn’t pinpoint the cause.
When the judge entered, the mood ratcheted up even more. A stern looking man of
“I just carry a really big gun. That gives me peace.” He smirked.
She laughed and squeezed his hand. Something about the way she did that made him remember good feelings from the past. He shook them off.
“Once we’re downtown, I’ll get a cab to take you back to the apartment.”
She shook her head. “No way. I’ll go with you to court.”
Tactical error. One glance told him how scared she remained. Even though it was his idea of pure hell, he knew being inside that courthouse would help temper her fear. “If you’re sure.”
* * *
Gabriella was feeling downright mellow by the time he pulled into a parking garage ten minutes later. After going through security, they went up in the elevators to the fifth floor. Shane went into the bathroom to change into a shirt and slacks. As soon as he came out, a man looking to be in his late fifties and wearing a slightly rumpled suit greeted Shane with a robust handshake.
“I’m so glad you could make it.” The man glanced in her direction.
Shane made the introductions. “Gabriella Santos, Vince Perry.”
She held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.” The man had a nice smile and welcoming demeanor. To be honest, though, it was the fact that they were now surrounded by men and women wearing guns and sworn to protect that made her feel a whole lot better.
“Same here.”
Shane motioned toward her and smiled. “I almost didn’t make it. If Gabriella hadn’t come to get me, I wouldn’t have known until it was too late.”
“Quite a coincidence they finally get around to hearing my motion this late in the day with virtually no notice.” Vince shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Whatever dirty tricks they’re trying to pull, you made it here. The judge will be calling the case in a few minutes. But I’ve got to tell you, Tony’s been acting kind of weird, like something’s bothering him, but he won’t talk.” His mouth pulled into a tight grimace, as if he wanted to say more. “I’ve got the motion prepared, but I’ll need your testimony about the alibi witness if the judge asks for it.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
The bailiff came out to call the case and Shane ushered her inside. She sat in one of the seats towards the back while Shane moved in close to the defense table. A handful of other people sat in the courtroom. The young man in the orange jumpsuit sitting at the table with Vince was obviously the defendant, Tony Marcos. A female attorney was at the opposite table, and a few spectators were scattered in seats behind the rails.
Judging by the hushed silence and angry expressions, almost everyone knew Shane. And they weren’t happy about his arrival. There was a definite vibe in the air that hovered somewhere between bad and horribly bad.
The state’s attorney looked really angry. Gabriella couldn’t tell if it was due to the woman’s bad choice of wardrobe or frustration with the case. Even a blind man could tell the woman was having a ‘What Not to Wear’ moment.
Wearing a pair of boring, sensible flats, a too-tight and equally boring brownish-black suit with a white turned dingy beige blouse peeping from beneath the suit jacket, she shuffled through paperwork while she waited for the judge to enter the courtroom. Since Gabriella’s sister was a state’s attorney, she knew the woman was both overworked and underpaid, so she gave her bad fashion choices a pass, although she had a nearly irresistible urge to offer her a makeover.
Instead, she bit her tongue and glanced around the courtroom. She’d watched her sister during a trial and knew that, unlike on TV, trials were typically lackluster and boring. Today, however, the whole courtroom seemed charged with a kind of frenetic energy, although she couldn’t pinpoint the cause.
When the judge entered, the mood ratcheted up even more. A stern looking man of
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