Page 17

NETTIE GAZED AT her boss, a knot tightening in her stomach as she realized the situation had escalated far beyond mere chaos. It wasn’t the kind of turmoil that involved gunfire or immediate danger, but the damage to her heart was just as real. She could sense the impending judgment in her boss’s eyes—he would never comprehend Mr. McNabb’s presence in her home, regardless of the circumstances that led to it. Deep down, Nettie knew she had no viable excuse for letting him in without the presence of opposing counsel. It was a decision she had made hastily, and she could already feel the repercussions looming, ready to strike when she least expected it.

“Nettie,” DA King said, “are you all right?”

She felt the urge to scream, a primal instinct bubbling beneath the surface. What kind of question was that? She had been shot at not once but twice in the span of a single day, her career hanging precariously in the balance. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

As her boss looked at her expectantly, she wrestled with the truth. She couldn’t bring herself to lie and claim that Mr. McNabb had just arrived—everyone knew the deputies would contradict her. Yet the thought of fabricating a story twisted in her gut. She had always despised dishonesty. So, she settled for a half-truth, forcing a strong tone despite the tremor in her voice. “I’m fine. Just shaken.” Even she could hear the residual unsteadiness in her words as if the threat still loomed over her.

“Nettie, Mr. McNabb, I will need to take your statements,” Sheriff Necaise declared as he surveyed the two with a sharp gaze.

“Of course,” Nettie replied, stepping forward with determination.

“I have a question,” District Attorney King interjected, his tone dripping with disdain. “What exactly brings you here, Mr. McNabb?”

Nettie observed Mr. McNabb closely, noting how he shifted from the image of a resolute warrior poised to face any challenge to a charming man whose boyish grin seemed to erase years from his face. With a playful chuckle, he answered, “Kittens.”

Startled by Mr. McNabb’s unexpected response, DA King arched an eyebrow in disbelief. “Kittens?” he asked as if struggling to comprehend the significance of the answer.

Mr. McNabb’s earlier grin vanished, replaced by a deep furrow in his brow. He took a moment to gather his thoughts, inhaling deeply before releasing a heavy sigh as though he were carrying an immense weight on his shoulders. “Yes, kittens,” he repeated, the gravity of his situation evident in his tone. “I discovered them abandoned on the road and had nowhere else to bring them.”

DA King’s expression tightened, skepticism flickering in his eyes. “And your immediate thought was to call ADA Broussard at this late hour?”

Mr. McNabb narrowed his gaze, his frustration palpable. “No, I didn’t think of her first. She was, quite frankly, my last resort.”

Nettie shifted uncomfortably, her heart sinking as she processed his admission. The revelation stung more than she anticipated. The fact that he hadn’t considered her his first option stirred an unsettling mix of emotions within her. Though she tried to dismiss it, the notion lingered, casting a shadow over her thoughts.

“Are you finished, counselor?” Sheriff Necaise’s voice cut through the tension as he addressed DA King, effectively rescuing Nettie from the deep waters of her explanation about their visit.

A knot tightened in her stomach at the thought of what would happen if Sheriff Necaise discovered the secret she shared with Mr. McNabb—Casper. Just moments before, they had shared a fleeting kiss that could land her in serious trouble.

DA King’s sharp gaze swept over Nettie and Casper again, studying their expressions as if trying to decipher their unspoken secrets. “Not right now,” he replied coolly, his tone chilling the air between them. “Nettie, I’ll need you in my office first thing in the morning.” With that, he turned on his heel, striding purposefully away toward the blinking lights of his car parked in the distance.

Sheriff Necaise sighed heavily, his brow furrowing as he turned to face Nettie and Casper. “This doesn’t look good,” he said, a hint of concern lacing his words as he placed a reassuring hand on Nettie’s shoulder. “I’ll do what I can to keep it innocent, but the way it appears...well, it doesn’t leave much room for interpretation.”

Nettie shook her head, a spark of determination igniting in her eyes. “Don’t worry about it, Beau. I can handle DA King.”

“Well, kiddo,” Beau said, “this officially marks the end of our agreement. You’re not just going to have guards. You’re going into protective custody now.”

“But—” she began to protest, her brow knitting together in a deep frown of confusion. The weight of her thoughts pressed down on her as she grappled with the situation. She understood it was for the best, especially given the looming danger surrounding her. Yet her unwavering commitment to her work and the desire to spare her colleague from additional burden hung heavily in the balance of her decision-making. Each reason swirled in her mind like storm clouds, battling for clarity as she stood at this crossroads.

“Let us handle this,” Casper interjected, appearing to surprise himself. He cleared his throat, the tension between the group palpable as he continued. “You’re already stretched thin, and with two of your deputies injured, it’s not safe for you to manage this alone. Hamilton Investigation and Security has a proven track record in protecting clients. We could take over her protection duties, allowing her to focus on her work remotely, away from the danger.”

Beau’s gaze shifted to Casper, a furrow of concern on his brow. “We can’t afford any high-end security,” he stated.

Casper shook his head, his expression resolute. “We take on numerous pro bono cases each year. This one will be no different,” he insisted firmly.

Beau raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Are you able to make that agreement?” he asked, probing for assurance.

“I am,” Casper replied confidently.

Turning to Nettie, Beau sought her opinion. “Nettie? How do you feel about that?”

Nettie paused, the thought of being whisked away into virtual anonymity with unfamiliar faces gnawing at her. “I—” she started, grappling with her feelings.

“Good,” Beau interjected with an encouraging smile, eager to move forward. “Let’s work out the details.”

“He can’t be someone protecting me,” she piped up, her eyes narrowing in determination. “That is non-negotiable.”

Casper’s gaze met hers, a reassuring smile spreading across his face. “Don’t worry about it. I won’t be bothering you again,” he said, his tone light as if to ease her concerns. He turned to the sheriff, professionalism dripping from him. “Coastal Investigations will keep her safe until the team arrives tomorrow.”

Beau nodded thoughtfully, his brow furrowing slightly. “I’m good with that. JD and Cassie can handle it,” he replied confidently, glancing toward Nettie. “Especially now that they’ve got assistance from that former FBI guy.”

Nettie felt a surge of frustration rising within her. She opened her mouth to voice her concerns, intending to assert her presence in the plans around her. But as she took a deep breath, she hesitated. With the weight of two shootings hanging over her, the power to make decisions felt stripped away.

A tremor coursed through her stomach, a visceral reminder of the fear that had gripped her since this morning. Someone had targeted her not once but twice in a single day, and the chilling reality struck her hard: not just one but two attackers had conspired against her. The first shooter was safely behind bars, but the thought of another lurking in the shadows sent icy fingers of dread creeping up her spine.

What had led her to this nightmare? What terrible fate had befallen her to warrant such a deadly pursuit? And the most haunting question of all—who sought her demise?

A sudden realization washed over her. Casper had been conveniently present both times—at the courthouse, standing firmly by her side and within the familiar confines of her home, a steadfast guardian. The timing of his appearances felt almost too perfect, too orchestrated. As her weary mind began to race with unsettling thoughts, she couldn’t shake the nagging suspicion that there was more to his acts of protection than mere coincidence. Had he, in some twisted way, engineered the very incidents that put her in peril so that he could swoop in and be her savior? If that were true, didn’t it mean she would owe him a debt, one he could call upon in court?

Logic teetered on the edge of her consciousness, but the eerie coincidences tangled with her jumbled thoughts like a dark web. She felt trapped in a labyrinth of uncertainty, each turn leading her further into a reality that could very well haunt her. It was a bitter relief that he wouldn’t be part of her protective detail. On one hand, it was a necessity—a boundary dictated by their court relationship. On the other hand, an undeniable longing stirred within her. She missed the warmth of his presence, especially when they had washed the little kitten together, laughter echoing between them, or that fleeting kiss that sent shivers coursing through her.

Was that kiss merely a tactic to sway her emotions, to tilt the scales in his favor during the trial? The more she pondered, the more tangled her thoughts became. If—no, she forced herself to think of him as Mr. McNabb, not Casper—the enigmatic figure she thought she knew was indeed orchestrating these dangers around her, what kind of peril would his colleagues unleash?

“Don’t worry, Nettie,” he assured her calmly, almost soothingly. “We’ll take great care of you.”

But therein lay her concern. Those very words filled her with an unsettling dread.