Page 44 of Last First Time
I shove my hands into my pants pockets. I’m going to have to burn this suit. There is no amount of dry cleaning available to get the lingering jail scent out of the wool fabric. “Honestly? Not so much. Legal talk totally sounds like blah blah blah to me. That’s what lawyers are for, right?”
One of the men snorts. “I thought most politicians were lawyers. How are you supposed to be in politics and yet not speak the language?”
I shrug. “I guess I only ever worried about helping people. I don’t care about habeas corpus or whatever.”
The two men look at me like I have spontaneously turned into some sort of weird animal, then one of them reaches out and claps me on the shoulder, almost knocking me down to the ugly carpet with his friendly man-to-man gesture. “Maybe you really are an okay guy, Harrington.”
I grin up at the big man who almost leveled me. “Maybe? Does this mean you’re not going to bump me off this afternoon either?”
The guys laugh and one of them gestures toward the ceiling. “Cameras, remember? If we wanted to make you disappear, we’d never get caught talking to you like this on video.”
I have got to stop making murder jokes with men who have definitely murdered people before. I am in way over my head here, in case the night in jail and follow-up trip in an unmarked black car hadn’t quite given it away before. But apparently, I have some sort of guardian angel looking out for me, someone who is giving me a do-over for yesterday.
“So, what about this press conference? I have zero interest in making some sort of public speech about how I got hauled in for beating in von Esrington’s face.” I flick a glance at the camera. “Allegedly.”
Huey shrugs. “We were told that you were going to speak to the reporters assembled outside once your release was finalized. I know you didn’t summon the giant crowd of reporters out there, but if you giving them a few lines of no comment will get rid of them, then I’m going to be the man dragging you down there personally.”
Louie nods. “They’ve already rushed the doors at least once. Apparently, they’re harassing people who are coming into the courthouse, and we can’t exactly divert all the marshals in the building out there to chase them off with sticks.”
I eye his sidearm, then slowly slide my gaze to his service weapon. “Yeah, sticks.”
Even Huey looks a little shocked. “Are you suggesting we take a few shots at the dirtbag papparazi reporters outside?”
Louie puts his hand over his heart in an overly theatrical gesture of shock. “My God,” he murmurs.
I give them both a slow clap. “I personally think you could get the entire horde to disperse with a little tear gas, but a bullet or two in the air might be faster.”
Their mouths quirk up a little around the edges. That’s practically a standing ovation from these two statues. I tip my imaginary hat to them both. “You’re welcome for the security advice too.”
The men look at me, and Huey starts jingling the loose change in his pocket. So, he does have a nervous type of tell after all. Apparently, it takes an army of blood-thirsty reporters to bring it out, but now I’m finally ready to play poker with him. I smile. “I guess we’d better get this show on the road so you two can escort me back to Valentine.”
At that, the two men cackle. “Yeah, we’re not a taxi service.”
“I get that, but also you dragged me hours away from my car and my home. How am I supposed to get back?” I try my weepy looking puppy dog eyes on them, but both men are still all but laughing at my expense.
“Not my problem, sir. Look. You’re out on bail. That means that you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here. I’m sure you can catch an Uber to the bus station or something.”
I huff. “You still think I’m going to go down and talk pretty at those reporters when you’re not even willing to give me a ride home?” I cross my arms in front of me. “You’re going to have to at least let me use a phone. Mine’s dead and I need to talk to my worthless ass lawyer.”
The men still looked amused. “Your worthless ass lawyer apparently worked all night to get the paperwork together for your release this morning. Most people who bond out still have to sit around for a day or so while their attorney gets their shoes shined or whatever.”
I heave out a disgusted sigh. I really want to be mad at somebody in this scenario, but I can’t think of who. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”
Huey nods. “The whole building has been on lockdown since we arrived. Once the reporters disperse, we can let people out again.”
I blanch. “Exactly how many people are out there?”
The two giant marshals look at each other. “Well, I haven’t checked for myself, but at last count there were around seventy-five.”
I swear, then apologize to the men for losing my cool. But seriously, don’t these jackals have something better to do than chase after the non-story of the century? Who cares if I am in love with Karisma Troudeau? She obviously doesn’t think I’m worth even two entire phone calls. I may have managed to finagle my way out of the friend zone, but she left me in the dust all the same.
We take a service elevator to the ground floor, and I can hear the noise of the crowd even before I see the glass front doors. My pulse picks up immediately, my flight or fight instincts screaming at me to get out of this situation.
But then sitting on a chair by the door and sweet talking one of the other federal marshals is Karisma. My Karisma. Have I actually lost my mind, or is she actually here?
Her gaze finds me, and she gives me a nod. “Nice of you to join us, jail bird.”
Huey chokes a little behind me. “Guess that’s her, huh?”
