Page 31 of Wild Justice

Jay managed to place his hand over his girlfriend’s mouth, effectively shutting down whatever was coming next. But Allie had already made her point and thrown down the gauntlet. This couldn’t be a friendly discussion. She wanted to do battle.

Okay, we can do that.

Jay looked mortified at Allie’s behavior, but Lulu didn’t hold him responsible in the least. This wasn’t his fault. Allie had made her choices, and this was what she wanted. She thought her remark would get under Lulu’s skin. She wanted to inflict a hurt.

In Lulu’s experience, when someone lashed out like that it meant they were hurting deep inside. Whether they hated themselves or whatever their psychological wounds were, they wanted company in their pain, afraid that someone might hurt them even more.

But just because she sympathized with Allie, didn’t mean that the woman was going to find her behavior a winner in this scenario. It only meant that Lulu wasn’t planning to get down to her level and go personal. She was going to be the professional in this situation.

“I’m so sorry, Lulu. Allie tell her you’re sorry. She doesn’t know what she’s saying. She and I have both been so thrown by what’s happened,” Jay moaned. “Please don’t listen to her. She just needs some quiet time to calm down.”

“Absolutely,” Lulu finally said after a long silence. She’d weighed her options and decided how to move forward. “I’ll see both of you at nine tomorrow morning. Bring your attorneys, if you like. If you don’t show up, a deputy will be sent to escort you. Do you have any questions?”

Allie opened her mouth, but Jay elbowed her and shook his head.

“No questions. We’ll be there.”

From the nasty expression on Allie’s face, these two were about to have a big argument as soon as Lulu and Kai stepped out of the house.

But it did beg the question…just why was Allie so determined not to talk to the police? Did she have something to hide?

If she did, Lulu was going to find it.

Allie hadn’t closedthe front door fully, and Kai had heard it all.

Lulu should have bitch slapped that woman for saying what she did, but she’d remained calm and cool. Kai admired her self-control because he’d almost done it for her, but had held back since he didn’t want to go to jail. And he had no doubts that Lulu would love putting him in handcuffs.

Stop with your dirty mind. Don’t think about her doing that.

Clearly, he needed to get out more. Go on a date. Have sex. Thinking kinky thoughts about the new sheriff was a terrible idea. He didn’t even really know her. Seeing one another briefly during the summer didn’t count toward any sort of friendship.

He hadn’t socialized all that much since he’d moved to Harper, to be honest. He’d been busy settling in, decluttering his grandpa’s house, making changes at the newspaper to perhaps make it at least break even. He didn’t hold out much hope of it being hugely profitable. But he’d kept busy, ignoring any need for human companionship and contact. He’d told himself that it could come later. Later…when he had more time.

Was it later now? Was Lulu sashaying unexpectedly into his life a message from the universe?

We’re putting this incredibly gorgeous and sexy woman in your path. What are you going to do about it?

For the moment, he wasn’t going to do anything. Impulsively jumping into asking a woman out wasn’t part of his personality, no matter how much he might wish it was. He was the cautious type, taking his time and surveying the landscape. He’d weigh his options, not rushing into any decisions.

And the majority of the time, that strategy had worked for him. It helped him at work and in business, not making crazy bonehead decisions on the spur of the moment. His friends and co-workers had called him “savvy and sharp”, “intelligent”, and “wise.” They’d come to him for advice often, acknowledging his expertise. It wasn’t a terrible way to live.

But it had also kept him from doing some things that, looking back, he’d wished he had. Opportunities didn’t always last forever. They came and went, and if he didn’t jump in time? They were gone, most never to return. He didn’t like being the guy withregrets of the road not taken.

He’d told a buddy about his dilemma, and his friend had given him a short and succinct answer.

“Dude, your problem is you think too damn much. Relax and enjoy the ride.”

Kai’s friend wasn’t wrong. His brain was difficult to turn off, if not impossible. It made sleep sometimes elusive, too.

Lulu turned out of Jay Bradford’s neighborhood and headed toward town.

“You haven’t said much.”

“I’m wondering how you didn’t smack some sense into her,” he replied.

“Because I’m not that kind of cop. Or person. Besides, she already seemed over the top upset, and I didn’t want to make it worse.”

“I feel for Bradford. He’s got his hands full with her. She seems…what’s the word I’m looking for…paranoid? Yes, paranoid about his fidelity. Whether he’s done anything for her to feel that way, I don’t know.”

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