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“St. Bernard?” Jaylen asked. “For court?”
“Bullmastiff,” Olivia corrected. “Two hundred pounds. But he was gentle and nurturing.”
“Okay. And you were imagining yourself naked in this scene? Look, Olivia,” Jaylen’s voice turned exasperated. “I’m tired, and I have my attention on you, the rice mess, and Tilly all at the same time. Stop talking in circles. Cut to the chase.”
“I told Nutsbe about Mickey leaving me, then the woman dumping Mickey, then Mickey wanting me to take him back.”
“Did you also tell him that Mickey thought the other woman’s money bags were present-day, and your money bags were years in the future?” Jaylen’s voice ratcheted up with indignation like it always did whenever they were talking about Mickey. “That the shithead would rather be a millionaire present tense, than wait for your aunt to pass. A bird in the hand kind of disgusting thought process? You told him that?”
“I didn’t say that, no. Just that my divorce is the reason I have a raspberry door with an extra splash of TMI.” Olivia rubbed her thumb between her brows, hoping the throb wouldn’t become a full-blown headache.
“Yeah, I guess that’s a lot to take in with a greeting handshake.”
Olivia’s phone rang.
“Let me guess, Mickey.”
“Yup.”
“Take it,” Jaylen said. “At least tell him that you want this to stop. It’s harassment, isn’t it?”
“I’ll do that. Tell him I’m blocking the number. Look, I’ll call you back when I get home, so you don’t worry. Love you!”
On the third ring, Olivia swiped the call open. “What?” she barked.
“Thank god. Olivia, listen. This is an emergency. I need to talk to you now. In person.”
“Your lawyer can talk to my lawyer in court.”
“Please, Olivia. I’m begging you. I have something to tell you, and not over the phone. Are you at your place? I’m heading that way now.”
Fear sizzled up her spine.
Olivia had had enough court cases where the victim said, “I should have trusted my instincts. I knew that something bad was waiting for me if I walked past that car. But—" There was always a “but,” which usually involved expense or inconvenience. “But I didn’t have money for a cab.” “But it was raining, and I was tired.”
Not wanting to fall into that category, Olivia lied. “I am not. And I won’t be heading home in the foreseeable future. I’m not staying at the Millrace house right now. So you’re heading in the wrong direction.” She pulled to a stop at the light. “I’m hanging up and blocking your number. Don’t you dare reach out to me in any way ever again.”
A veil of perspiration left her damp and cold. She reached out a shaking hand to cut off the vents, then gripped the steering wheel.
Olivia had been in the courtroom facing down violent predators for over a decade. Was her job frightening at times? Absolutely.
But in all of her years dealing with objectively dangerous criminals, Olivia had never experienced this wash of absolute primal terror lighting her nerves like this. She was heading toward a full-blown panic attack.
Flipping her blinker on, Olivia pulled to the side of the road, hoping her heart would stop thundering in her chest. She rested her head between her hands on the steering wheel and tried to find some space for air around the edges of her terror.
Chapter Ten
Nutsbe
Bob drove silently, taking sideroads to stay off the highway and out of the post-workday snarl. It was a perk to have navigation from Iniquus. The computer system could develop the most strategic path from Point A to Point B in real time. It lowered stress and increased the operators’ time efficiency.
Nutsbe draped an arm over the back of the seat, rubbing Beowolf’s head.
The whole way back to the campus, Nutsbe held on to the picture of Olivia smiling at him. She’d not only told him where she lived, but she was candid about her personal situation and the upcoming divorce. Did she say all that to let him know she was almost free? That she might be interested in him? Kind of sounded that way to Nutsbe.
“Home again, home again,” Bob said, pulling into a spot by Cerberus Headquarters' front door. “How about you get Beowolf and hand the lead to me so Beowolf has a clear understanding of who’s in charge now.” Bob reached up to press the automatic button to raise the hatch.
As the lift gate pinged a warning to stand clear, Beowolf crouched in the back, waiting for Nutsbe to round the vehicle and give him an unload command.
