Promise Made (The Callahan Series) (12 page)

“If you’re sure I’m the one you want.”

“I’m sure, Kate. Real sure.”

“Because of the insurance money, the prosecution will try to prove that instead of killing Tobias in self-defense, you did it intentionally.”

Rita gasped. “I wouldn’t do such a thing.”

“I understand the kids weren’t there when this happened?” As much as she hated to, Kate had to ask the kids that question.

“Their bus picks them up for school at seven. Thank goodness they were gone when Toby woke up. I wouldn’t want them to see what happened.” She shivered, as just the thought was too much.

“Of course not.”

“Can you go over it again, step by step? Start when the kids left for school.”

Rita recounted the story. Kate was sure Rita had told it more than a half-dozen times already. Every detail was the same as before. When she finished, Kate hadn’t changed her mind. She was still convinced of Rita’s innocence. Was even more sure she could prove it.

“Just remember, Rita. Don’t talk to anyone about this. If anyone wants to talk to you, they have to call me first.”

“I understand.”

“It’s important, Rita.”

A half-smile formed on Rita’s damaged mouth. “You don’t have to worry. I’ll do everything you tell me to.” She grabbed Kate’s hand. “Thank you so much for helping me. I know you’ll get me back to my kids real soon.”

Kate hoped she was right.

“We have a bail hearing tomorrow. I’ll do my best to get you home before the trial.”

Tears were streaming down Rita’s face when Kate called out for Dugan to let her out.

She ignored the way her heart beat faster when Dugan was around, and headed straight for the front door.

“She’s innocent, Dugan. And I intend to prove it.”

Chapter Ten

“Bail is set at fifty thousand dollars,” Judge Adam Greer announced the next morning.

Kate looked at her client who had slumped in her chair at the figure, tears forming in her eyes.

Kate opened her mouth to object to the ruling only to shut it again. She didn’t want to start out on the wrong foot with a judge she didn’t know. Perhaps Rita could come up with the ten percent a bail bondsman would demand. But Rita had no money.

It could be worse. He could have denied bail altogether.

She looked around at the crowded courtroom and wondered why so many people were here. Eager for every morsel of news, the townspeople had turned out for something as dull as a bond hearing.

There was Dugan, sitting on the aisle seat in the second row. When they made eye contact, he shook his head. What would it take for him to realize Rita was innocent?

“Do you have five thousand dollars?” Kate asked her client.

Rita’s eyes were still swollen from the beating, but she managed to open them wide to give Kate an are-you-kidding look.

“If you don’t, you’ll be in jail until the trial.” The judge had already set the date. Four weeks from today.

Which meant in four weeks Kate would have to make plans for her future. She couldn’t think of it right now. She had to get Rita released so she could take care of her children.

“I can ask my sister. Maybe she can help.”

Kate handed Rita her cell phone. “Call her. The sooner you get the money, the sooner you’re out of here.”

No one was in a hurry to leave. The judge had ruled and left the bench. There was no reason to stay. Her gaze found Dugan. He hadn’t budged either.

Rita handed the cell phone back to Kate. “She’ll put her house up as collateral.”

Kate took care of the logistics, shut off her phone, and walked over to the bailiff to give him the information. Still, no one left.

Jonathan led Rita back to her cell. Kate gathered her papers, stuffed them in a briefcase and turned to leave. Dugan got out of his chair and walked toward her, scowling.

Every eye in the courtroom was on them. It was as if the two of them were on stage. She took a quick breath. This was ridiculous.

“What’s the matter, Dugan? Didn’t you like the judge’s ruling?”

“Figured he’d set bail. Didn’t think she could pay it.”

“Oh, she’ll pay it all right. Her kids deserve their mother.”

“Their mother is a cold-blooded killer.”

Dugan’s head was close to hers and they were whispering. Neither wanted this conversation overheard.

“Can you prove it?” she asked, still smiling. “Do you have evidence I’m not privy to?”

“You know better. Everything we have, you have. But we’ll get it.”

“You’d better hurry. You know the trial date.”

“Plenty of time.”

Kate looked into Dugan’s very green eyes. Honesty shined back at her, and what else? Longing maybe. Or regret. Emotions Kate was all too familiar with.

The courtroom disappeared; there was no one but the two of them. She leaned toward him, wanted to feel his hard body against hers—wanted his lips, his tongue, his hands.

For a moment she swayed. Dugan took her arm to steady her.

Gasps jerked her back. How could she have forgotten their audience? For that matter, how could she get caught up in a dream that would never happen?

“Are you all right?”

As if coming out of a stupor, she pressed her briefcase close to her chest, nodded, and turned to leave. “I have a lot to do.”

“Are you sure you’re all right? You look pale.”

“I’m fine, Dugan.”

He took her arm, walked her to the door. As they passed through the room, people got out of their chairs to follow them.

How long would this go on? How long until they gave up and talked about someone else? Not soon enough.

When they were outside she turned toward the courthouse. “I have to see the bail bondsman so Rita can be released this afternoon.”

“Just remember what I said about Rita.”

“The prosecutor agreed to go along with my manslaughter plea with special circumstance. He wouldn’t if he had a chance to get a capital murder conviction.”

“He doesn’t have enough for capital murder. He does have enough for manslaughter. Rita will serve time, as she should.”

Kate ignored Dugan, and left. A few minutes later, she gave the bail bondsman the information he needed, then left to file the proper papers at the courthouse. It wasn’t easy to ignore the questioning looks, or dodge the few people who meant to stop her. What was with them? Couldn’t they see she was working? She got out of there and went home.

The gossip was out of hand, but she didn’t know how to stop it. As she walked into the house, Yogi greeted her with whines and sharp barks of pleasure. Heidi wrapped herself around Kate’s legs. After petting them, she checked on Gram. Only Gram was nowhere in the house. Kate’s heart took a nosedive. Had she hurt herself again?

A note was propped on the kitchen table. “Gone to Ed’s house for the day. He’s having a fish fry tonight. See you around six. Love, Gram.”

Kate sank into the chair, dropped her head in her hands. She loved Gram so much just the thought of her being hurt again made Kate’s insides shake. But she felt better knowing Ed was with her.

She got herself under control, walked down the hall to her office. The answering machine blinked. She had five messages. All but one from Jenna was work related. The real estate agent had picked up the key to her condo and when could they get together?

She’d call Jenna later.

Right now, she had to tend to business.

She made a call to the bail bondsman to make sure the bond had been issued, and one to the jail. Sybil put her through to Jonathan.

“Ms. Johnson left a little while ago. She seemed real happy to be able to go home.”

Business taken care of, Kate leaned back, shut her eyes. It was unbelievable how busy she was, and she wondered if the other attorney in town was as busy. He’d been here forever, so she was sure he was.

She had four weeks to get ready for a jury trial on a criminal case. Thinking about it gave her chills. Someone’s life was in her hands. If she screwed up, Rita could go to jail for a very long time. Her sister had already told her she couldn’t take the kids on a permanent basis. If Rita were proven guilty, the state would put them in foster homes.

Kate couldn’t let that happen. Those girls had already lost too much. If they lost their mother they wouldn’t have a loving Gram like she did to jump in and give them the love and attention they deserved. More than likely, they’d grow up in foster care and face their own abandonment issues. God knew Kate was familiar with those. She wiped unbidden tears away. She wouldn’t let it happen.

Rita had been beaten within an inch of her life, had survived only because she kept a set of knives in a holder on her counter. She didn’t deserve jail time. And her children didn’t need to suffer because their dad had been a mean drunk.

A knock at the door sent her to her feet and Yogi into protective mode. He ran to the door and barked. Was it a client? Holding Yogi by his collar, Kate opened the door.

Donovan’s wife Phyl stood there. Puzzled, Kate waved her into her office. Yogi lay down close to Heidi. “I hope you don’t have legal problems.”

She’d known the Callahans ever since she’d been here. Donovan was Dugan’s oldest brother and ran their ranch. Gram had been invited to three of the kids’ weddings. Kate wasn’t. Which didn’t surprise her in the least.

Phyl gave Kate a small smile as she walked in and took a seat. Phyl was a rare beauty with blond hair and brown eyes flecked with gold. Instead of her usual jeans and boots, she had on a pretty blue sundress and white sandals. Donovan was a lucky guy.

“What can I do for you?”

Phyl took a deep breath, squirmed.

“Do you have a legal problem or is this a social call?”

“This is so embarrassing. Since the rest of the family lives in Houston, they asked me to talk to you.”

“The family?”

“Yes.” Phyl swallowed, clearly nervous and a little upset. “I hate to discuss this, but we’ve heard rumors about you and Dugan. The town seems to be split on whether you and Dugan should get back together.”

“Just a bunch of gossip.”

Phyl laughed, relaxed only a little. “Don’t I know it.”

“What has this got to do with the family?” Did she really want to know?

Phyl shut her eyes, as if trying to find a way to say what she’d come to say. “I want you to know I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been forced. At least I don’t think so.” She studied the floor a minute. “Maybe I would.” She lifted her head. “I’ve had a special relationship with Dugan since the day he took a bullet because of me. You know how the Callahans care for one another.”

“I do. But I still don’t know what this has to do with me.”

“It has everything to do with you. You were the love of his life once. You broke his heart when you didn’t show up for the wedding. Afterward, the family didn’t know if he’d ever recover. They want me to tell you they don’t want to see Dugan hurt again. We don’t,” she amended. “We’re not sure he can handle it a second time.” She looked at Kate, then took her hand. “They love their brother, Kate. I love him. None of us want to see him go through what he did five years ago.”

Wow. Kate’s cheeks burned. To know she and Dugan were a big topic with the townspeople was one thing. To know the Callahans were concerned over their loved one because of her was totally different.

This wasn’t good. Wasn’t intended. It had to stop. “I guess I understand how they feel. But there’s no need. Dugan and I rarely see each other.” Which wasn’t exactly true. They saw each other often enough to keep old memories alive and well. “More since I took on a murder case, but there’s no romance.” She shut her eyes a moment. What could she tell this lovely woman who had been coerced into coming here because a whole slew of brothers, a sister, and numerous in-laws cared for Dugan?

“I loved Dugan once with a passion. Frankly, sometimes I think I made a mistake when I left him at the altar. But I’ll never do anything about it. Please tell the family Dugan will be fine.”

Phyl’s face paled. “Why not? I can picture the two of you together.”

“Because.”

“Not an answer, Kate.”

Kate could see what Donovan saw in Phyl. She might be pretty as a picture, but she wasn’t afraid to take charge when necessary.

“I could tell you I’m crazy. You could just go back and tell the family. But you won’t, so I’ll just tell you the truth. I’m not out to get Dugan again. We’re not getting back together.”

Phyl crossed her heart. “I’m a Callahan by marriage, but I’m also a woman who cares deeply about Dugan. We all know you’re not crazy. But you just admitted you cared for him. Could it be love? I’m not sure about how Dugan feels now, but no woman has taken his heart the way you did. There has to be a big problem here. If you want to talk about it, maybe I can help.”

“You can’t help.” No one could.

“If you ever want to talk, will you call me? I guarantee I won’t blab.”

“Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind.”

“I’ll leave you to your work, but I want you to know I think you and Dugan would make a lovely couple.”

“It won’t happen.” Walking to the door, Kate asked about the family, told Phyl to tell Nellie, Dugan’s mother, hello, and said goodbye.

Back in her office, Kate’s head reeled.

Of course Dugan’s family didn’t want him to be hurt again. They loved him.

Deep in her heart she was afraid she
would
hurt him again.

She should stay away from him, but couldn’t. With Rita’s murder trial on the horizon, they’d be thrown together more than ever.

Kate was sure she could keep it professional. When the trial was over she’d leave. She might not have a choice.

Chapter Eleven

Kate looked at her watch. Five o’clock. Already? Where had the day gone? Quickly, she fed the animals and hurried to her room. After a quick shower she put on a pair of white slacks and a blue shirt. A dab of lip color and she was done.

The sun had barely tilted toward the Western horizon when Kate stepped outside. Gram’s roses drew her. She couldn’t resist them, so she picked up clippers from the porch to cut a few. The whites made Kate think of weddings so she quickly turned to the reds, which were as bright as Sybil’s lipstick.

The combination of red and white looked like spring and gave a lift to her heart.