AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And then he’d fucked it all up.
All because of his sense of justice.
Groaning, he slapped a hand down on his laptop lid and took a long swallow of his beer. No matter how many times he apologized or tried to explain, she wouldn’t hear him out. The woman was as stubborn as a mule and twice as headstrong. Cal respected that. Honestly, he did. Ellie had moved mountains trying to save her sister, and only someone with her iron will could have managed it.
But damn, if it didn’t make it hard to win her back.
When he took on Jaxon Thorne as a client, he’d seen it as his duty— the cornerstone of his profession. He disagreed with the man’s actions, but everyone had the right to a fair trial. That was what justice stood for. That was what he stood for.
Ellie, however, didn’t see it that way. To her, he’d betrayed her sister and everything their relationship stood for by defending the man she believed was responsible raping and nearly killing Alexis.
He replayed their last conversation in his mind, her anger and disappointment stinging even now. He had hoped she’d understand why he chose to defend Jaxon Thorne, but she was steadfast in her rage. He tried to explain that everyone deserved a fair trial, even those society deemed monsters, but she simply turned away, leaving him alone in the room with his remorse.
There had to be some way he could make it up to her...
“Rose said Connelly was here.”
He jumped at Ash’s gruff voice and scowled up at the sheriff. “Hi to you, too. Good to see you, Ash. It is a nice night, isn’t it?”
Ash’s scowl deepened. “I don’t do small talk.”
“Oh, believe me,” Cal muttered into his beer. “I’m aware.”
“Is Connelly here or not?”
“You just missed him. He’s on his way back to Veronica’s.” Cal frowned and set down his beer. Ash looked exhausted and more stressed than usual. “Why, what’s wrong? Is Veronica okay?”
“Why wouldn’t she…?” Surprised confusion flashed over Ash’s expression before he schooled it back into its usual stoic mask. He shook his head. “No, she’s fine as far as I know. Zak’s on duty there tonight and reported all was quiet when I spoke to him about an hour ago.”
“Okay, then. Has there been a break in the case of his super fan?”
Ash eyed him suspiciously. “Are you his lawyer?”
“Does he need one?”
“He might.”
Cal curled his hand around the twenty Connelly had left to pay for his half of their bill. He’d just count that as a retainer. “Then yep. What’s up?”
“You’re a pain in the ass, Holden.” Lines of annoyance carved into Ash’s forehead with his next deep scowl. But, after a stubborn moment, he relented and took the seat Connelly had vacated. “We found Sara Parker.”
“The woman who was stalking Connelly?”
“That’s the one.”
“Well, if she’s in town, feel free to arrest her. He has a restraining order.”
“He won’t need that anymore. She’s dead. She’s the Jane Doe we found sliced to ribbons. His so-called super fan turned her into one of the scenes from his book.”
Cal sucked in a sharp breath and released it with a soft “Fuck.” Then he narrowed his eyes at the sheriff. “Wait. You know damn well Connelly didn’t hurt her.”
“I still have to question him.” Ash stood. “I assume you want to be present for that? I’m going to Veronica’s now.”
Cal slapped down money to cover the bill and followed Ash out the door. “If Sara Parker was following Connelly, she must have gotten in the Stalker’s way.”
Ash cursed softly as he unlocked his Tahoe. “Don’t tell me you and Alexis have roped Connelly into your conspiracy theories about The Shadow Stalker.”
“It isn’t a conspiracy theory.”
