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With an apologetic look to Jared, she said, “I’m so sorry, I’ve got to go. I’ll be in touch.”
With that, she headed back to the part of BTS Headquarters that existed behind the security doors, letting them close firmly behind her.
* * *
Cole sat in the holding area outside the commissioner’s office, staring at his feet. Somehow, his lawyer had managed to sneak them inside the building. The news of his arrest had made it to the media, and he wasn’t looking forward to his mugshot being on the front page. Which it would be, no doubt.
He looked up when someone called to him from the side of the room. Jared waved at him, and he made his way over. “Anything?”
He’d been desperate for word from Joey for the last twenty-four hours. Scenarios of her in handcuffs had been haunting him last night in his jail cell—an experience he never thought he’d share with Jared, but here he was.
“I’m sorry, man. She barely came out to see me when I stopped by to tell her about you. I haven’t heard a word since.”
Cole felt his heart sink. His only hope had been that somehow Joey would stand by him through all this. Maybe even figure out how to prove his innocence.
But she was too busy for him.
His lawyer joined the conversation with a wordless nod to Jared. Then he turned to Cole. “We were supposed to meet with Commissioner Davis, but there was a last-minute change of schedule. We’re on the docket for Commissioner O’Hara at nine thirty.”
Cole frowned. “Do you know why the change?”
His lawyer shrugged and shook his head. “No idea, but I’m not looking a gift horse in the mouth. Davis is notoriously tough on defendants up for murder. We’ve got a much better shot with O’Hara.”
Well, that was good news. He said a quick prayer of thanks for that small blessing. However it worked out, he wasn’t going to stop seeing God’s hand in this crazy situation.
He saw a woman down the hall. Was she looking at him? Her big sunglasses made it hard to tell. She tipped them down and Cole gasped. His lawyer turned to him, “What’s wrong?”
“I, uh, need to use the restroom.”
“Officer, my client would like to use the facilities. Can someone escort him?”
* * *
Joey listened to Cole’s excuse through the listening device she’d slipped on his attorney’s lapel. She ducked into the men’s room.
A few moments later, Cole came inside. “What are you doing here? You can’t be here! They’re still looking for you,” he whispered his concerns, but she silenced them by pressing her lips against his.
“I’m so sorry this is happening, Cole. Jared came and told me and I just—”
Cole kissed her again, then pulled away. “You shouldn’t have come.”
Joey shook her head. “I’ll be just fine, don’t worry about me. Besides, someone had to make sure you got a good judge for your bail hearing.”
Cole paused, then smiled. “You did that?”
She nodded. “It’s not a guarantee or anything. I just hope it’s enough. From what I pulled of court records, O’Hara is the most defendant-friendly when it comes to setting bail. I’m just hoping she doesn’t hold your fortune against you.”
Cole touched her cheek, and she savored the contact. “Like you do?”
“Like I used to,” she corrected him.
He stared into her eyes. “Thank you,” he said. “What about your other job? The big top-secret one? Don’t you need to be working on that?”
She nodded but grabbed his hand and squeezed. “This was more important. I called in some reinforcements for the other thing. You and I? We’ll get to the bottom of this. As soon as you’re out on bail, Jared will be waiting outside, and you can come be with me at BTS.”
“Sounds like heaven,” he responded.
A bang on the door interrupted their embrace. Cole turned and yelled, “I’ll be right out.”
