Page 36 of Scorched

“Oh, geez. It’s the girl squad, isn’t it? How has London kept this hidden from me?”

She giggled. “Your wife doesn’t tell you everything.”

“I don’t doubt it. She’s entitled to her privacy, even from me. So, is this going to be a topic of conversation at book club next week?”

Maggie blinked. She’d forgotten all about it. “If we even still have it. I’m not sure what’s going to happen. I’ll have to call the others and find out.”

Seb frowned. “Yeah.”

“How’s Thomas? He looked pretty devastated before we all ran into the barn.”

“He is. But he’s also pissed. And he’s not letting it shut him down. He and Rayna were going to call all his clients today—thank God he backs everything up to a cloud server—and let them know there would be a temporary clinic on the ranch opening in a couple days until a new facility is built. They’re going to use his house for domestic pets. Dad and Brady are going to set aside some space in one of the barns for stock animals.”

“Did anyone get any sleep last night?”

Seb shook his head. “Not really, no. Everyone was too keyed up.”

“What about the animals at the clinic? Did he lose many?”

“He didn’t lose any, actually. With Lorraine still off, he referred all his patients who needed round-the-clock care to another vet. The horses in the barn were boarders.”

“That’s fantastic. And I’m glad there’s a plan. If I can do anything to help, let me know.”

“Right now, just take it easy. At least it’s the weekend, so you can relax.”

She snorted, or at least tried to. It came out more of an airy huff. “Weekends are for people who aren’t taking most of next week off and didn’t get a complicated domestic case dropped on them yesterday.”

“You didn’t have to take the case, you know.”

“Yes. I did. You didn’t see that woman.”

His mouth pulled. “Angie Tulley?”

“Okay, maybe you did.”

“Her husband is a piece of trash I’ve been trying to take out for a long time. I’m glad she’s finally doing something about her situation. What prompted it? I know my deputies were out at their place yesterday, but I haven’t read the report. The clinic fire has usurped everything else. Did she finally just have enough?”

“He hit one of their kids. And she’s pregnant again. When she tried to stop him from beating their oldest, he punched her in the stomach. She picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed him four times. He’s in the hospital, but going to live. Kerr charged them both with domestic violence. She called me to represent her.”

“Jesus. Is she out on bail? What about the kids?”

Maggie nodded. “She posted her own bail, and I got the judge to allow me to place her and the children in a women’s shelter. It’s one recognized by the courts, so he didn’t have a problem with it. And she doesn’t want to run. She just wants away from her husband.”

“You shouldn’t have any trouble proving self-defense.”

“Maybe. Four stab wounds could be considered more than self-defense. But she didn’t kill him or aim for the places that would.”

“If their history gets brought into the trial, I think she’ll be fine. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

“I will.”

“When’s the first hearing?”

“Tuesday. It’s my only case next week. I hope my voice clears up some by then.”

“You need a partner. Someone you can hand things over to when you’re sick.”

“I have an arrangement with another law firm in Pueblo, but I try not to give them things on such short notice. They handle my cases for me when I’m on vacation, or if I’m too sick to move. I’ll just get some throat lozenges, take a giant water bottle, and apologize to the court for my funky voice.”

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