Page 1

Prologue

“Twenty years! What the actual fuck?” Jeannie gripped the wooden partition separating her from her brother until her knuckles turned white. She’d known he would get some time, but this was too much. He couldn’t stay locked up for twenty years. Not her free-spirited, adrenaline junkie brother who spent most of his time surfing at the beach or racing his motorcycle through town. His dirty blond hair had already darkened several shades, a clear sign he now spent most of his time indoors.

The attorney zipped his briefcase closed and shrugged. “Sorry, ma’am. The judge had the discretion to sentence anywhere from fifteen to twenty-five years.” He briefly glanced up, and up, at his six-foot-three client, then shook his head. “There was nothing else I could have done.”

“Nothing else you could have done?” she whisper-shouted, struggling to control her temper lest she wind up in jail, too. “You could have done your job, you sorry-ass pieceof—”

“Jeannie, let it go.” The chain connecting Ben’s handcuffs to his waist clanked as he reached over to pry her fingers from the wooden barrier. His large hands engulfed hers and he frowned when he noticed how her nails had been chewed to the quick. “They found drugs in my car and bedroom. I don’t blame the jury for finding me guilty or how the judge sentenced me. It is what it is.”

“But it wasn’t yours!” Jeannie said, her eyes welling with tears.

“About that,” the lawyer said, his eyes darting over to the prosecutor’s desk. “A person could request to have that evidence tested independently. It’s not cheap. In fact, it’s ridiculously expensive. But that’s what the rich guys with private attorneys do, and sometimes they get lucky and those test results offer enough reasonable doubt to sway a jury.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.” She nodded, a determined look on her face. “I know you didn’t do this. I’ll get you out of here, I promise.” She wrapped her arms around him, bristling where his beard scratched her cheek. Another change. Where was the brother she’d teased relentlessly about his manscaping? If he’d changed this much in a few months, would she even recognize him after twenty years? As her tears began to fall, she gave him a final squeeze and ran from the courtroom.

Al sat in silence as Jeannie ran out, still in shock over his best friend’s sentencing.

“Al, I’ve only got a few minutes before they take me back.”

“Jesus, Ben.” His voice cracked as he rubbed his eyes, desperate to remain strong for his friend. “I never should have left you that night. I’m so sorry.”

“I’m not.” Ben glanced at the waiting corrections officer and lowered his voice. “If you’d stayed, you’d be right here next to me. I may not have done most of what they said, but I’m far from innocent. Maybe it’s karma catching up.”

“Oh, Ben, you can’t believe—” Al started.

“It doesn’t matter what I believe. What matters now is Jeannie. You know our mother is useless.” Ben closed his eyes and sighed. “You want to make it up to me? Get a real job. Play it straight so you can stay out there and keep an eye on my sister. Get her out of that trailer park and don’t let any of those jacknuts she insists on dating hurt her.”

Al grinned, thankful for the moment of levity. Jeannie was two years younger than they were, and at seventeen seemed to delight in going out with boys that she knew her brother would hate. But Ben was right. Without him, Jeannie wouldn’t have anyone looking out for her.

“Don’t worry.” Al nodded, looking out into the empty hallway. “I’ve got her. And I’ve got you, too. We won’t give up. We’ll find a way to get you out of there.”

Chapter 1

Several Years Later…

“You really didn’t order any strippers?” Al’s shoulders drooped as he slumped into his deck chair.

“Why would I?” Hunter asked, glancing up from behind the grill.

Al sighed loudly. The man might look like some airhead surfer dude with his shaggy blond hair and board shorts, but he was actually a genius and ran their crime lab.Did Al really need to spell it out?

“Because it’s a bachelor party? Strippers are a requirement.”

“Not when it’s the sheriff’s bachelor party and it’s being held at a senator’s beach house.” Hunter flipped the steaks, letting the sizzling coals drown out Al’s groan.

“That’s no excuse. We could have gone to the strip club first and then come back here.”

“But would a strip club have decorations like these?” Hunter pointed to the red and white balloons and strings of multi-colored lights that decorated his girlfriend’s deck.

“Oh, you’re right. What was I thinking? Half-naked women dancing on stage have nothing on Christmas lights and a homemade balloon arch.”

“Hey, I worked hard on that arch! I went through half a page of calculations just to figure out the number of balloons.”

“And what a beautiful arch it is,” Christian said before draining the last of his beer from the bottle. “I’m sure the middle school would love to use it at their next dance.”

He walked across the deck and pulled another beer from the cooler. His dark blue button-down shirt and khaki slacks were a little stuffy for a backyard party, but that was Christian. Al called it “sheriff chic.”

Hunter folded his arms across his chest, covering his “Kiss the Nerd” apron. “Okay, assholes. Make fun of my decorations. But with Congress in session, Snow has been stuck in DC. I had to find some way to fill my time. Crafting is fun.”