Page 17 of Defend Me

“We’ll post bail immediately,” Caden promises me. I nod. I don’t have words right now. Isla presses her hand to her heart and gives me a nod. Charlotte and Grace surround her as they leave the courthouse. I see Mike Cochran and Cody Briggs meet my eyes before they leave as well—Mike has all the arrogance I’d expect from an asshole I’ve put in the drunk tank a dozen times. Cody looks sad, like I’m a fallen idol who’s let him down.

I didn’t do this!I want to shout at them.

“Come on,” Von says, gripping my arm.

“Where are you taking him?” Pop says.

Her jaw tics again. “Home.”

Home. The word has never felt so potent or so powerful.

The three of us push through the phalanx of reporters. Letitia manages to keep them back somewhat as we race down the courthouse steps and into the town car. Von sits in the front with Alex while Pop and I take the backseat. I’m grateful for the tinted windows as we peel away from the curb.

“They’re letting you out,” Pop says, wiping more tears from his eyes. “You can come home.”

“Yeah,” I say, still not quite believing it myself.

“Alex, take me to the sheriff’s department,” Von says. Alex nods. She turns to me. “Caden is there posting bail. Alex will drive you home. We will meet first thing tomorrow to start preparing your defense.”

“Thank you, Von,” I say. “You were amazing in there.”

I’ve never actually seen Von in action. While this was far from a trial, she’s sharp, capable, and shows extraordinary self-control.

“Tell me about this judge,” she says.

“I didn’t like the way he was looking at you, Noah,” Pop adds.

“And what was that with not setting the trial date?” I say to Von.

“I don’t know,” she says. “Is that normal for him?”

“I’ve never seen him do that before. But Judge Warner is a very old-school jurist,” I say. “Always favors the prosecution. Likes to get trials off his docket as quickly as possible. Doesn’t stand for showboating.”

Something flashes in Von’s eyes—hope, maybe? But it’s gone before I can really process it.

“Let me guess,” Von says. “Card carrying member of the Good Old Boys club?”

I nod. “I hate to have to say this but…it’s best if you stick to…” God, I’m going to sound like such an asshole. I clear my throat. “Wearing dresses,” I finish lamely.

She snorts. “Yeah, I figured that out the second he called me young lady.” Her nostrils flare. “Fine. I’ll have Grayson look into his previous cases, read his rulings. Make sure we come prepared.”

“Who’s Grayson?” I ask.

“He’s my second chair,” Von says. I think back to the well-dressed man I saw in the courtroom. “You’ll meet him tomorrow.”

We stop at the sheriff’s department, and I look away. I don’t know how I’ll ever go inside that building again, regardless of what happens next. The thought pricks at my heart. All I ever wanted was to be a deputy.

Von gets out, then leans in to remind me. “Tomorrow. Nine am sharp. Alex will take you home now.”

Then she slams the door shut.

When Alex drops me and Pop off at the small white house I grew up in, I thank him profusely.

“Not a problem,” Alex says. He gives me a kind smile. “The Evertons will take care of you. They take care of their people.”

I’ve known Alex for as long as he’s worked for the Everton family.

But then my heart lifts as I hear the most wonderful sound in the entire world: the joyful bark of a dog.

---