Page 43 of Bridles and Bribery

They engaged in a glaring match over the seat. “I need to speak with you and Jillian inside. Now.”

Eloise’s face seemed to crumple. “Does this mean you heard from Dave?”

He nodded grimly. “I have, and he’s somewhere safe.” He didn’t share any more details until they were seated in the great room.

He pulled off his Stetson and took a knee in front of Jillian. “Let me begin by assuring you he’s unharmed.”

A sobbing breath escaped her. The way he said it told her she wasn’t going to like what he said next.

“He witnessed a bombing the authorities believe was intended for his client,” Gil continued.

“Witnessed?” Eloise’s voice was sharp. “I thought he was working on a case to uncover the Prophet’s identity.”

“Closed.” Gil’s jaw tightened.

Jillian straightened. “He found the Prophet?”

“He did. Turns out there’s more than one.” Gil tapped his Stetson against his knee. “There’s the guy who’s been sending out warnings to the intended victims before the crimes against them played out. And there are the actual criminals, who launched an online comedy campaign in the Prophet’s name to discredit him. Diabolically clever, if you ask me, and it almost worked.”

“If it weren’t for Dave’s lawyerly interference.” Eloise clapped her hands in satisfaction. “That’s my boy!”

“Yep.” Gil’s expression softened. “He jumped in andbusted the case wide open. Then he did exactly what he should’ve done next. He took it straight to the Feds.”

“Say it isn’t so,” Eloise groaned softly. Her entire body wilted against the sofa cushions.

Jillian didn’t know why her mother-in-law sounded so worked up about it. Dave had successfully closed his case. It was over, wasn’t it? “How soon can we see him again?” She was more than ready to have her husband back. Her heart fluttered at the thought.

“That’s the tricky part about working with the Feds.” Gil stood and started pacing the room. “Dave’s investigation led to the arrest of two very dangerous criminals who’ve already tried to take him out of the picture once. Unfortunately, they succeeded in taking one of his clients out of the picture.”

Somebody is dead?Jillian’s thoughts swam dizzily. She’d known there were dangers involved in Dave’s career as a criminal lawyer, but…

“Exactly how many clients is Dave representing in Dallas?” Eloise demanded sharply.

“It started off as a family of three,” Gil sighed. “The case now rests on Dave’s testimony and that of his two remaining clients.”

Because one of them was murdered, and my husband could be next.Jillian’s stomach pitched with nausea.I’m going to be sick.

She jolted as her mother-in-law hopped to her feet like an angry hen to face Gil. “Over my dead, lifeless carcass are they going to take my only child into federal witness protection! So help me, if you don’t do something to stop this madness, I will!”

He caught her when she stumbled and gently walkedher backwards toward the sofa. “I’m doing something,” he grated out. “If you’ll give me ten seconds to explain…”

Jillian wasn’t sure why her mother-in-law was so livid. “What’s so bad about witness protection?” she asked faintly. From where she was sitting, it sounded like a good idea, considering all the bullets and bombs that had peppered the case so far.

Tears gushed from Eloise’s eyes. “Because accepting protection from the federal government has some very long and lasting strings attached! They’ll change Dave’s name, send him to a new town, and give him a whole new life — a life that doesn’t include me, you, your baby, Gil, or anyone else he’s ever known.” She shook her head vehemently, shaking a tear loose and sending it flying. “We’d never see him again,” she concluded with a sob of hysteria.

“Which is why Dave has already turned them down flat. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.” Gil shot a harried look at Jillian. “So if you’re done scaring the living daylights out of Jillian, I’d be glad to fill you in on the actual plan.” His expression grew hard with determination. “The top brass at Lonestar Security has assured me they’re going to spare no resources to ensure his safety and the safety of his clients.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Eloise choked, not looking the least bit mollified.

“It means we’re gonna do our own version of witness protection. It won’t be easy, and you’re not gonna see as much of Dave as you’d like before the court trial, but he’ll still be part of our lives. That’s what matters.”

Part?Jillian heard one thing the loudest — the sticking point that Gil had left unsaid. Her husband still wasn’t coming home.

At least, not yet.

Jillian couldn’t imagine slipping backinto her normal routine after what Gil had just finished confiding in them, but Eloise insisted that was exactly what they were going to do.

“If anyone is spying on us, they’re going to see two women having the time of their lives at a dinner party,” she declared grandly. “This is the best way to help Dave. Trust me.”

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