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“Yes,” Teague answered for him.
“You’ve all watched too many TV shows.” He stepped closer.
Muffy’s weight seemed to grow heavier on my foot, like he was my anchor and wasn’t going to let this man take me away.
I refused to turn around. If he wanted cuffs on my wrists, he’d have to make the effort.
“Read your paperwork again, hon. You’re making a mistake.” Miss Adeline, the old woman who ran Grey Paws, the dog rescue, with Pepper, finally spoke with her sharp tongue. “Let me see it. I’ll do it for you.” She held out her hand.
The agent was not amused. “Are you mocking me?”
“No. I’m helping you. What a fool you’ll look like when we prove you arrested the wrong person,” she said.
How I’d ended up with all these people who would blindly support me I’d never understand.
“Unless you’re a judge, that’s not happening.” He circled me, grabbed the arm Beau wasn’t holding, and yanked it behind my back.
Another strike.
Beau didn’t release her grip, even when he jerked my other arm back.
The metal was warm from where he’d grasped the cuffs in his palm. I’d expected it to be cold.
He tightened them so they cut into my wrists.
I said nothing.
He wanted me to complain, and I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
“You’re a criminal!”
An old VW bus painted in a shocking teal and white color scheme stopped in the street.
I’d only seen those faces once, and it hadn’t been pleasant.
The boy’s announcement to all of Chelsea was downright humiliating. I wasn’t angry. He hadn’t meant for it to be harmful.
He was simply being honest.
Jade eyes penetrated me from the driver’s seat. They held every bit of the disdain they had the last time we’d met, and they were no less intimidating now.
The boy opened the passenger door and raced toward me.
“Eric!” she called to no avail.
“What did you do?” There was an innocence about him I envied. For all the judgment in his sister’s eyes, only simple curiosity was in his. “You were nice to me.”
Had I been?
When had anyone ever called me nice?
Lexie Logan sprinted around the van. Her long purple dress flowed behind. I’d give her extra points for speed on pencil-thin heels. She had on gold feather earrings that dangled almost to her shoulders.
Eric had on a purple bow tie to match her dress. They were an interesting pair who seemed to excel at sprinting as well as gourmet dog food.
“Eric, you can’t jump out of the van whenever you want,” she said breathlessly. Her judgmental expression directed at me had morphed to one of worry over him.
“I didn’t jump. I pulled on the handle and got out.”
