Page 64 of Tessa's Trust

“Nana, I should probably get going, but I have to tell you, I really don’t see Pierce and Donna together.” I whispered the last so nobody could hear.

“Who says I’m looking for him to be with Donna?” she asked smoothly.

All right. I didn’t want to know. Sometimes, it was better just to cut your losses. “Alrighty, Nana, thanks for calling.”

“Wait, wait, wait a minute,” she said. “The paper said you spent the night with Nick. Is that true?”

Embarrassment clacked through me. “Nana, we don’t really need to talk about that,” I said, blushing so hard and fast my ears rang.

She sighed. “I’ll take that as a yes. All right, you have a good day, sweetheart. Love you.”

“Love you, too.” I disconnected. I didn’t know if she was more disappointed that I’d been with an Italian man or that I’d been caught having a sleepover outside of marriage. My grandmothers were both rather old-fashioned. However, I had noticed they were more than willing to toss their morals to the wind to get what they wanted. I didn’t regret a moment of my night with Nick, although I felt as confused as ever now.

Bud stood like a massive bulwark near the doorway. His hair was in a buzz cut, and his face was broad like a boxer’s. “Where to now?” he asked.

“I want to run over to the courthouse and talk to Nick really quick.”

Bud nodded. He could have made a slight remark or wink, but he didn’t. He was all business, which was something I admired about him.

“Thanks for watching over me,” I said. “You were a great help in getting Mert Smiley to the hospital.” In fact, Bud had known exactly what to do to position Mert on the floor and make sure his airway was clear as we waited for the paramedics to arrive.

“Glad to help,” Bud mumbled.

There was a time we were trying to fix Bud up with my sister Donna until we found out he was married with an estranged wife. I wanted to ask him about his personal life, but he was keeping things professional, so I should probably do the same.

He opened the door. “I’m only on you for a few more minutes, and then I’m off. We don’t have a night officer who can cover you. We’re just too short-staffed.”

“Oh, that’s okay.” I waved a hand. “I really don’t think I’m in danger.”

“Huh,” he said. “Your sister always says that, and then somebody shoots at us.”

Somebody had already shot at me, but that person was in a jail cell. “I’ll be okay, Bud. You don’t have to worry.”

He rolled his eyes, which was more emotion than I’d ever seen from him. Then we walked across the gravel-covered ice to the courthouse.

Bud looked at his watch. “It’s five o’clock. I have to get going. You sure you’re covered?”

“I’m good. Don’t worry about me,” I said.

I had to leave my weapon in the car because I knew I’d go through the metal detector, but there were bailiffs and guards around, as well as police officers. The justice area of town took up two corners of the city park, with the lake at the south end and the local college to the west. This was probably one of the safest places in all of Idaho at the moment. “All right, have a good night, Bud.”

“You, too.” He gave the bailiff across the room a short nod and took off.

I went through the metal detector and then meandered down to the courtrooms on the lower level. I knew from watching Anna in action that the misdemeanor courtrooms were downstairs, and that’s where Nick had said he’d be. The first two were empty, and I reached the third just as he walked out.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hi,” I murmured.

Basanelli looked good in courtroom gear. His suit was a dark charcoal, and his tie gray and green striped. It was a lighter look on him than I’d seen in other courtrooms, but since this was a misdemeanor and not a felony, that made sense to me.

“Have you read Jolene’s article yet?” I asked without preamble.

He nodded. “Saw it on my phone a few minutes ago. Makes us both look bad.”

People filed out of the courtroom, pretty much ignoring us. I didn’t know any of them, so I did the same. I swallowed. “Is it going to hurt your career?”

He lifted one dark eyebrow, looking like a panther about to strike. “Sleeping with you?”

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