Page 254 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
When Regan glares at Lucas with her arms crossed in front of her chest, he fumbles out a string of mumbled words.
Smirking, Regan devotes her attention back to the judge. “Mr. Marco can’t recount a single time that has happened because it doesn’t happen. Internal Affairs’ agents are simply that, internal. Their jurisdiction does not extend to external matters outside of their agency. Ms. Veneto was only on the scene because her soon-to-be brother-in-law was identified as the officer who processed the initial request from the Sheriff’s Office at Parkerville for Ms. Shroud’s arrest.”
When she's granted permission, she hands the judge two official police reports and photographs from an article in last week’s newspaper announcing Theresa’s younger sister, Ella, is soon to marry Officer Tate in February. When walking back to stand next to Isabelle, Regan audaciously winks at the DA. Even though he's fuming with so much anger that steam is billowing out of his ears, he still flushes from Regan’s taunt.
From the photos Hunter presented to me yesterday, there's no doubt Mr. Marco has a fascination with powerful blonde women, but a woman with a stature like Regan’s is way above his pay grade, even when it comes from dirty blood money.
The judge places the documents onto the podium before his eyes lift to Lucas. “After perusing these documents, I have to agree with Ms. Myers. There was no legitimate reason for the evidence in the murder of Ms. Shroud to be collected by Ms. Veneto. But, even if there were a legitimate reason, none of the evidence you've presented me with is admissible. With that in mind—”
“Ms. Veneto’s interest in Ms. Shroud’s case came about when she was investigating the illicit affair between Ms. Brahn and Mr. Isaac Holt, a man whom Ms. Brahn was brought to Ravenshoe to assist in a special undercover FBI operation of, not fall into bed with.”
My teeth grit, angered over Lucas’s fictitious allegations. Isabelle was assigned to the team in Ravenshoe to investigate me, but it was under false assumptions. She was unaware of the malicious ruse they were trying to force on her.
“And what does that investigation have to do with this case?” the judge questions, gaining my attention. “Ms. Brahn isn’t in my courtroom under the presumption she's on trial without a jury of her peers for the murder of Megan Shroud. She's also not here to answer questions on herallegedaffair with Mr. Holt. We're here to discuss the premises relating to the gathering of evidence in this case. Evidence that Ms. Myers has demonstrated was not amassed, documented, or processed with due diligence, which leaves me no choice but to side with Ms. Myers.”
Lucas scoffs while nervously fumbling with papers on his desk. He looks like a petrified man, like having the charges against Isabelle dismissed is a matter of life and death. Only now do I realize how dirty his hands are. I have no doubt Theresa and members of her family are deeply embedded in Lucas’s new venture into corruption. Now, he has no chance of escaping their malevolent clutches.
“You’ll let a murderer off scot-free because of a few missing signatures on the chain-of-evidence documentation? That’s the most absurd notion I’ve ever heard.” Lucas’s eyes widen when he realizes his statement was loud enough for the judge to hear.
The judge’s gaze narrows as his lips set into a firm line. “I'll be more than happy to continue our discussion on absurd reactions in my chambers once this hearing is over, Mr. Marco.”
His gaze shifts to me sitting in the back of the courtroom for a few seconds before his eyes turn down to Isabelle. “My wife hates the inventor of donut holes. Not a small dislike, she hates, hates him. Does that mean I should seek harm on their creator because she cries when she can’t fit into her favorite jeans? No, it doesn’t. Millions of people fall in love every day. That doesn’t mean they wake up the next day and choose to participate in a crime.”
He stands from his chair and leans over the podium. “With any arrest, the evidence must show an objective, factual basis for believing the defendant committed a crime. In this case, I do not find probable cause. All charges against Isabelle Brahn pertaining to the murder case of Megan Shroud have been dismissed. You're free to go, Ms. Brahn.” He slams his gavel down onto the podium three times before exiting the courtroom.
Isabelle shakily stands from her chair at the direction of the bailiff. When the judge exits, she wraps her arms around Regan’s neck. A large smirk curves on my mouth when her excited gaze shifts back to me. A huge grin is stretched across her face, and happy tears are welling in her eyes.
Now that nothing is standing between us, it’s time to take my girl home.
CHAPTER9
ISABELLE
All the weight I’ve been carrying on my shoulders is suddenly alleviated with three bangs of a judge’s gavel on a wooden podium. Sweet relief washes through me as I bite the inside of my cheek, fighting hard to keep my tears at bay.
“All rise,” requests the bailiff.
I stand to my feet, my knees wobbling so much they clang together. An excited and immature squeal escapes my lips as I wrap my arms around Regan’s shoulders when the judge leaves the courtroom. Regan is taken back by my over-friendliness.
“Thank you,” I whisper into her ear.
“I’m not the one you should be thanking.”
I don’t need to spin around to know who she's gesturing her head to. I felt his presence the instant he walked into the courtroom. A man with an impressive aura like Isaac doesn’t need an introduction. His stature exudes from him in imperceptible waves. Even without seeing him, my body is conscious of his every move.
When my head flings to the back of the courtroom, dizziness clusters in my brain. Not just from my foolhardy movements but because of the mouth-watering smirk carved on Isaac’s perfectly etched mouth. The fiery spark that was kindled in his eyes earlier is even more paramount. No doubt, he’s feeling the same serene sentiment I'm experiencing. All the obstacles that were impeding us being together have been removed, clearing the path for us to create a stable, solid relationship that will survive any storm.
My breathing labors when Isaac scoots out of the bench seat and ambles toward me. His long strides close the distance between us quickly. After banding his arms around my waist, he pulls me in close to his body. All the nerves juddering my insides soothe when he presses his lips against mine. His kiss is possessive and claiming while also passionate. He nips my lower lip before his tongue soothes the sting of his bite, not caring that we're standing across from a man who mere minutes ago accused me of only bedding him in an attempt to net him in an elaborate FBI sting.
When the false statement fired off the DA’s tongue, I nearly vaulted from my chair, wanting to vehemently deny his claims, but then I remembered Isaac knows me, he knows me better than anyone ever has, so he’d never believe a word dribbled from the vindictive DA’s tongue.
When Isaac inches back, my heart is bursting at the seams, and my panties are drenched. It’s so surreal he can calm me while turning me on at the same time. No man has ever had this type of power over me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love him so much, I feel like I need him in my life just to breathe. Even when he is this close to me, it’s hard to rein in my desire to be possessed by him.
“Are you ready to go home?”
Just him speaking has my insides aching for him to kiss me again, but I nod instead.
A few moments later, we’re following Regan out of the courtroom door. I’ve just notice Alex standing at the side, talking on a cell phone when Ryan steps into view, startling me.
