“I already tried the other guy over in Fall Creek,” he said, as if reading my mind. “But he didn’t answer. Please,” he pleaded. “As a personal favor? Your dad always handled these.”
I glanced at Emerson, and she mouthed, “What’s going on?”
“Hang on a sec,” I said to Grant before covering the speaker with my hand. “Grant says he has a guy who needs a lawyer.”
“What are you waiting for?” She shooed me toward the door, and it almost felt as if she were trying to get rid of me. “You can help, right?”
I could, but did I want to? I huffed, hating that my mind immediately jumped to Ethan and everything he’d told me about my dad. I felt I owed this to both of them, not to mention Grant had asked as a personal favor.
“Yeah, but are you sure?” I hesitated. “I was really looking forward to bingeingGet Organizedwith ice cream.”
She lifted a shoulder. “Netflix can wait.”
She said that, but I was headed back to Boston tomorrow—at least temporarily. I had to attend the hearing, but then I was giving my notice. Whether I went to work somewhere else or started my own firm, I was going to take on the types of cases I wanted. I was going to try to use my law degree to make a difference.
As to where I was going to live… Well… I sighed. That was still to be determined. Maybe if Ethan would stop avoiding me. Maybe if he’d let me explain.
“Um.” I uncovered the phone speaker. “Okay. Yeah. I’m on my way.”
“Thanks, Audrey.” Grant blew out a breath. “I really appreciate it.”
I returned Emerson’s phone, and she grabbed my purse and handed it to me. After a quick hug at the door, I was on my way to the station. As the fields passed outside my window, my mind drifted to Ethan. I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, frustrated and hurt.
That he wouldn’t give me the benefit of the doubt.
That he wanted to believe the worst of me.
That he thought I was a liar, and he wasn’t completely off base.
With a heavy sigh, I pulled into the lot of the station. I needed to get my head on straight. No reason to fuck up someone else’s life as well.
Grant was waiting at the entrance. “Audrey, hey.” He greeted me with a hug. “Thanks for coming.”
“Sure.” I hesitated. “I’m not sure this is a good idea. I’m licensed in California, but this isn’t the type of law I usually practice.”
“You defend criminals, don’t you?”
I scrunched up my face. “Yeah, but usually, they’re being investigated by the FBI, not—” I waved a hand through the air. “Well, what did this guy do?”
“We booked him for disturbing the peace. Right this way,” Grant said, leading me down the hall.
I followed, trying to ignore the curious looks from the other officers. Maybe I should’ve changed. As it was, I was still in my leggings and boots with an oversized sweater. I squared my shoulders. I might not look like a professional, but I could act like one.
“Wait.” I placed my hand on Grant’s forearm. “You said he had a prior? Do you have his file? I should probably glance over it before I go in.”
“Oh, right.” He chuckled, placing a hand to his forehead. “Why don’t you go in and get acquainted while I grab it for you,” he suggested.
I furrowed my brow. His behavior seemed strange, but it wasn’t like I knew what the protocol was. I rarely interacted with our clients, let alone at the police station.
“Um, okay. Sure.”
He opened the door to the interrogation room, and I stepped inside. The man at the table looked up, and I faltered. His dark hair was even more disheveled than usual, one eye swollen, the skin mottled as it took on a blueish hue.
“Ethan?” I felt as if my heart might shatter—both from the sight of his face and from being in the same room as him. “What happened?”
He glanced away, standing without looking at me. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling as if his silence were worse than anything he could say.
He walked over to the door and pounded on it. “I already told you it was self-defense. I don’t need a lawyer, and I certainly don’t need her. Now, let me go.”
