Page 3 of The Keeper

Keegan didn’t wait for him to finish his answer before pressing forward. “And if your evidence is so solid, why would you want to offer a plea bargain?”

Rueben was so proud of his friend and gave his leg an assuring pat. He thought the gesture earned a slight tic in Seth’s jaw but figured it was just wishful thinking on his part.

Lyndhurst’s brow eased back down, and he offered a disarming smile. “You ask excellent questions.”

The fatherly smile returned, and Reuben braced himself for dadsplaining. If the guy referred to either of them as son, Rueben would immediately leave. Daddy issues, anyone?

“We want the Carsons to help us locate the two members of Salvation Anew we’ve been unable to find.” Keegan called them Brother Cain and Brother Abel, and just the reference to them made his best friend shiver. “A plea agreement provides a good incentive for them to help us. It also means swifter justice and avoiding a long, costly, and potentially embarrassing trial. A flush crept up Keegan’s neck, and he narrowed his eyes. “Embarrassing for who? You surely don’t mean me. I’m the victim. Nothing I did deserved their cruel treatment.”

Lyndhurst shook his head and held up his hands, palms out. “Of course not. I misspoke. Triggering is a better term than embarrassing. The testimony might cause you undue harm.”

“That’s what I have a therapist for, Mr. Lyndhurst, which you would’ve known if you’d discussed the situation with me. I think you’re more concerned about seating jury members who secretly agree that being gay is wrong and won’t take their crimes against me seriously.”

“No, no, son. Don’t put words in my mouth.”

Rueben rose to his feet and claimed Seth’s attention for the first time. Gray eyes the color of a winter storm widened slightly before he lowered his gaze again. “Let’s get out of here. This guy kept us waiting for nearly thirty minutes, and it’s clear he doesn’t care how we feel.” Rueben applied the latter part to Seth too.

Keegan stood up, but they hadn’t taken a single step before Lyndhurst shot to his feet.

“Please stay,” the prosecutor said. “I’ve botched this completely, and I apologize.” He gestured to the seats in front of his desk. “Won’t you sit?”

Rueben and Keegan locked eyes for a few seconds before reclaiming the chairs.

Lyndhurst exhaled a long breath. “Thank you.” He placed his elbows on the desk and steepled his hands, then tapped his forefingers against his chin a few times as he studied them. “I do care very much about what happened to you and getting justice for what the Carsons put you through. Mr. Scott, I’m very glad you’re getting therapy and feel prepared to listen to testimony or possibly offer it during the trial, but the defense attorneys will be brutal. They’re going to say a lot of harsh things to cast their clients in a better light.”

“You mean like shifting the blame to me? I didn’t enter that compound of my own free will. My options were to join my mother or lose everything—my family, my home, and my financial support. But even if I had joined freely, I never consented to the barbaric physical, mental, and sexual abuse they inflicted upon me. I will stand before anyone and speak my truth because I have nothing to be ashamed of, sir.”

Rueben reached for Keegan’s hand and squeezed it. His boo had grown up and was well on his way to being a fierce badass. Keegan rotated his wrist and laced their fingers together so Rueben felt the slight tremor ripple through him. Keegan’s boldness had come at a price, but that only made Rueben prouder.

Lyndhurst studied Keegan for several moments before he nodded. “I underestimated you.”

“Most people do. That’s my superpower.”

“You’ll need to use that to your advantage if or when you take the stand.” The prosecutor held his hand up before Keegan could respond. “If I get the chance to put the Carsons away for a long time through a plea deal, I’m going to take it. That’s the best possible outcome for all involved—this office, the taxpayers, and both of you. I wear many hats and answer to many people, and I promise that I’m taking your concerns seriously.”

“You can at least keep them informed about what’s happening.” Seth’s rich voice drew Rueben’s attention like a magnet, and he missed the prosecutor’s response. Seth nodded curtly at Lyndhurst and kept his gaze there.

“That’s good enough for me,” Keegan said.

Rueben forced his gaze back to the prosecutor. He wasn’t sure he trusted Lyndhurst, but Seth approved of his response, and so had Keegan. “For me as well.”

Lyndhurst huffed a sigh. “Good, because if we can’t reach a plea agreement with the defendants, this case could drag out for another two or three years.”

Rueben’s heart lurched, and his mouth gaped open in shock. He darted a helpless glance at Seth, urging him to do something, and this time, Rueben saw a definite tic in his jaw. The sexy sentinel in the corner offered nothing—not assurances or comfort. Just nothing. That minuscule negative reaction was the only animation in his stony visage. There was no doubt Seth would prefer swift justice, but Rueben hoped the disappointment was more personal than professional.

“Two or three years,” Keegan whispered.

“That’s common in high-profile cases like this one. The Carsons have excellent representation, and I anticipate the first volley of filings to delay the proceedings soon.”

“Why?” Rueben asked.

“We have preliminary and evidentiary proceedings on the docket for next month. There is a bevy of reasons they could file for continuations, and I expect they’ll exploit them all before we get to jury selection.”

“But two or three years?” Keegan repeated.

Lyndhurst nodded. “We want a piece of the Carsons. Our attorney general wants to take a swing at them, and the federal prosecutors are salivating to get a chance, also. You’ve got three different court systems jockeying for position. There’s a lot going on, which plays into the defense’s hands. All they have to do is keep filing motions to delay the hearings and trials.”

“Christ,” Keegan said.

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