“Goddammit!” Mason shouted, climbing to his feet.

“We’re goin’ to have to fight this case out of the courtroom. Find out how the judge was bought. Find evidence linking Chief Deputy Simmons and the DA to abuse of power.”

“You want to go after Joe?” I asked, my stomach tumbling like a washing machine.

“You bet your ass I do,” Carter said, looking me square in the eye. “And the DA, and anyone else who’s a part of this mess.” He sat up. “I have some—ahem—contacts who might be able to help me gather some information.”

Mason snorted. “I bet you do.”

Carter gave him a pointed stare. “Isn’t that why you came to me, Deveraux?”

Mason released a low growl and turned his back to us.

I stood up and put a hand on Mason’s arm. I knew he was wrestling with his conscience. It had to kill him to be in this position, where our fates were riding on someone with ties to the criminal underworld.

If Carter Hale’s connections upset him this much, how would he feel if he found out about my involvement with Skeeter? And how long could I keep it from him?

He turned to me and stared deep into my eyes. “Do it,” he grunted. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“So that’s my assignment,” Carter said. “Yours is to attack the senior Simmons from another front.”

“I’m already working on it.”

“Any progress?”

His face darkened. “No.”

Carter looked at me. “I have a few contacts who might be able to dig up a little dirt on the senior Simmons as well.”

“Do I want to know who they are?” Mason asked.

A ghost of a smile lifted Carter’s mouth. “I suspect not.”

“Is there anything else?” Mason asked.

“No. As soon as I find out anything about Mr. Stout, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

Mason nodded and took my hand. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you home.”

“Rose, you might want to stay at home and inside for a day or two,” Carter said. “At least until we know more about your benefactor.”

Mason nodded. “Agreed.” Then he squeezed my hand and started to lead me out of the room.

I pulled him to a stop. “Carter. I know you and Mason don’t see eye to eye, so thank you for taking my case anyway.”

“Oh …” he drawled. “You can thank your friend Neely Kate for that. And be sure to tell her I’m still waiting for that cupcake she promised me.”

I lifted my eyebrows. “Be careful what you ask for.”

Mason didn’t budge; he just looked Carter over, taking his measure. “Rose is right,” he finally said. “Thank you for changing your mind about taking the case. You are the best attorney for the job.”

Carter grinned from ear to ear. “Why, thank you, counselor. I’m sure it was difficult for you to spit that out.”

“Maybe so, but it’s true nonetheless.”

“Not to worry, Deveraux. Between all of us, we’ll save your girl … and you too, while we’re at it.”

I shot Carter a frown as I pushed Mason toward the door. “I’m eager to see Muffy. Let’s get goin’.”

Mason let me push him down the hall and out the front door. Once we were outside, we were hit again with a blast of cold air. He shrugged off his coat and wrapped it around my shoulders. “Are you hungry? Do you want to get a late lunch from Merilee’s?”

The gun holster strapped to his chest caught my eye and sent a chill down my back that had nothing to do with the cold.

I glanced up at him, distraught by how exhausted he looked. “Does your momma have any of her delicious leftovers?”

A soft smile lit up his face. “She’s been stress-cooking all weekend. You can have your pick of just about anything you like.”

“Then let’s go there.”

He pulled out his phone and texted while we walked to his car, which he’d parked a few spots down from Carter’s office. As he opened my car door, he slipped the phone back into his pants pocket. “Your sister’s liable to take my head off. I just included her in a group text telling everyone you’re out and safe.”

“She’ll get over it.” She might not, but Violet was the least of my worries.

As Mason headed to his mother’s, I asked, “Do you know where my phone is?” I worried what texts might be on it. If Skeeter really had left town, he might have texted or called to warn me.

“It’s at home. Do you need it?”

I did, but it could wait. I was going to revel in being free for a few hours before I jumped back headlong into trouble.

Chapter 4

Maeve greeted us at the front door with tears in her eyes. Muffy barked her fool head off until I scooped her up in my arms, and then she proceeded to smother my cheeks and nose with licks. Next came a plume of noxious fumes, but I’d missed her so much I didn’t mind, even if my eyes watered a little.

Maeve heated up some meatloaf and mashed potatoes, and I ate half of the food on my plate before pushing it away, my stomach a basket of nerves. I might be out of jail, but I definitely wasn’t free.

After we visited with Maeve for a little while longer, we took Muffy home to the farm. As soon as we were inside the front door, Mason ran into the kitchen to turn off the alarm. Muffy raced after him, probably assuming that he was in a hurry to fill her food bowl. I took a moment to look around the place I’d grown to love as home. My gaze landed on Mason as he returned to the front room. I was so lucky to have this man who would literally do anything in his power to protect me. I’d wasted twenty-four of my twenty-five years, but I had gained so much since last May. I couldn’t help but think I was about to lose it all if we failed to best J.R. Simmons.