Page 40

Nutsbe tucked the bag over his arm and reached for his phone on the bench. “Extreme, like what?”
“Beyond bog walking?” Marvin asked. “I don’t know what the hell you guys are up to at Iniquus.”
Chapter Fifteen
Nutsbe
Olivia had explained where she liked to park on court days and how she left home early in order to get her coveted spot by the trees. Other than this small public lot, there wasn’t much in the way of quick-access parking once the courts and local businesses got going for the day.
Iniquus Automotive Department had sent two vehicles over early that morning to hold spots for Candace and Nutsbe. Whenever a tactical team was on protective duty, automotive performed this function to ensure their principals had the least possible exposure.
Now that Beowolf had weaved his magic and calmed Candace enough that she was willing to go to court, Nutsbe waited for Candace to back out of her driveway. He had Automotive on the line, letting them know they were en route. Drivers would stay in the placeholder vehicles and pull out just as Candace and Nutsbe drove in.
Nutsbe had been right about needing the two spaces. He would have gladly driven Candace to and from, especially if sitting in the vehicle and petting Beowolf would have helped calm her nerves. But Candace wanted the control. If the need for flight arose, she wanted her keys and her wheels with no attachments to someone else’s agenda.
Nutsbe got it. He even agreed with it. That’s why he’d made the arrangements as they were this morning. And why he didn’t put up the fight that he could tell she was expecting.
Candace followed her GPS to the lot, pulling in slowly as instructed. And with Nutsbe on the phone, giving her the go-ahead, she pulled into the newly-opened space, then waited in the car for him to park next to her and unload Beowolf from the back.
Nutsbe rounded to Candace’s door. She was clinging to the steering wheel, staring straight ahead. After a moment, he knocked lightly. She visibly swallowed and pushed the door open.
As Candace climbed from her car, Nutsbe took a moment to scan the parking lot. Everything looked quiet. The people who had left the courts for lunch and those on the afternoon dockets were making their way up the sidewalk to the front entrance for the afternoon sessions.
Nutsbe pulled a couple of clean rags from the side pouch on the go bag he had hooked over one shoulder. He used a rag to clean inside and out of Beowolf’s slobbery lips, then tucked the cloth in his belt and handed a second one to Candace. “Precaution.” He smiled and tried to project confidence to help Candace feel safe. “I didn’t tell you before, but you look very pretty. I think the jury will better understand what happened to you without the spikes.” He touched his ear. “That’s one man’s opinion. I’m sure that when you get home, putting on your steel shoes is going to feel good.”
“I can’t remember the person who bought this dress. She is so remote from me now.” Her frown tugged long, and she held her eyes wide.
“Whale eyes” was the term when a dog held their lids that way, a sign of mounting anxiety.
Beowolf lowered his head, pressing Nutsbe out of the way to get over to Candace.
Crouching, Candace wrapped her arms around his head. “Hey, buddy. Thanks.”
Nutsbe had a tickle on the back of his neck. He lifted his head and did another scan as he said, “You have your driver’s license?” Woods to the left, parking garage to the right, roadway to the rear, and straight in front was the side door to the courthouse. They’d have to go round to the front to gain entry.
“Yes.”
“Do you have anything with you that might be considered a weapon?”
She came to her feet. “You and Beowolf.”
“Okay, yes.” That didn’t sit quite right with Nutsbe. Yeah, sure, if this Offsed guy or anyone else was coming after Candace, he’d interfere. Beowolf—beyond his breeding of tackle and squash? It wouldn’t be great if the court dog suddenly bit a chunk out of someone’s leg. “No knives, even like a box opener or a multitool?”
“No.”
He pointed to her bag. “You’ll need to leave your phone in the car.”
“I will not. My phone is always in my pocket. I’ll just put it on airplane mode.”
“They’ll stop you from going in and tell you to take it back to your car. I’d just leave it in the car, to begin with. As a matter of fact, you might want to consider leaving your purse in the trunk and taking only your keys in with you. It would simplify things at security. If you don’t have a pocket, I could hold on to them for you.” He patted the strap of his pack.
She sighed.
“I know. It feels bad. I get that. I had to leave my phone, too. It’s such a part of our existence. Not having it readily handy is strange. But we play by the rules. We go through the motions. You answer the questions, and then your part is over. This part, anyway.”
“Over will feel good.”
***