“Don’t you talk to her, you piece of shit!” Zach was in his face. “You own her land! You bought her land, you motherfucker!” Zach lunged, but two of his fellow firefighters grabbed him before he made contact.
Another man, one with a badge, took Stephen by the arm. “You’re wanted for questioning in an arson investigation. You’re not under arrest at this time but you are required to come with us.”
“Get off me.” Stephen jerked away, using his size and strength to easily shake him loose, and catching him in the face with his elbow in the process.
The man came back harder, Zach with him, her brother erupting into a string of curses and threats.
Her pulse pounded in her ears. The room was like a house of mirrors and everywhere she looked something was wrong. Stephen with both powerful arms locked behind his back. Zach losing his cool. Men she’d known for years from the firehouse standing in the middle of Stephen’s office.
“Okay! All right!” Stephen stopped fighting against the men’s hold. “Take care of Hannah,” he said, looking at Zach. “Someone needs to stay with her.”
“Fuck you,” Zach spat.
Then Stephen’s hot, brown eyes pinned hers until that was the only thing she could see. But she felt like she wasn’t seeing him at all. The blood drained from her face and she felt herself sway.
“I didn’t set that fire, Hannah. You know that.”
No. She didn’t know anything. Not about him. Not about herself. She didn’t know people at all. Seconds passed; the only thing marking time was the pounding of her heart and the pain of it being broken.
Chapter 45
A warm drizzle dampened the steps of the courthouse as Hannah walked stiffly past a horde of reporters. Numb and unseeing, eyes straight ahead, nestled protectively between her brothers. Luke’s hand tightened around hers, Nick’s arm at her back. Cameras flashed, reporters lobbed questions.
A crowd of more than fifty had turned out to show public support for her. But, not wanting the public to think they had anything to do with trying to burn her out, the city was doing its best to put their own spin on things. And doing a good job, as was evident by the cruelly aimed questions.
Did you know Stephen McKinney owned Trace Development?
Did you know they wanted your property?
Did you know the horses were in the barn when you set it on fire?
She felt every hit and realized she wasn’t numb after all, only wished she was.
This evidentiary hearing would determine if the state had enough to move forward with charges against Stephen and/or Dave. Or herself. She had no doubt she was under suspicion as well.
The sudden cold air of the government building had her hunching deeper into her sweater.
Luke peeled off to speak to Zach talking off to the side with the fire chief. Nick led her to a cushioned bench outside Courtroom Two. She sat, her legs weak and watery. “Wait here.”
Ridiculous that her nerves were more about seeing Stephen for the first time in two weeks than about taking the stand. Her empty hands brushed at her sides, no pockets. She pulled a piece of hair around her finger.
“Ready?” Nick appeared beside her.
“Yes.” She didn’t have a choice.
“You’re still holding up,” Luke said. “It’ll be over soon.”
Her brothers had faith in her. That was something. The room was oddly odorless. Not musty. Not clean. The thirty or so rows of wooden benches were half full. She took a seat in the third row on the right. The judge’s platform was still empty. The jury box was also and would remain so.
No one was on trial here today, not formally, but witnesses and all involved parties would be called. She’d already been warned their defense attorney would be allowed to ask her questions. That even though she wasn’t accused, it might feel like she was. There was a spotlight shining on this entire affair, thanks to her, trying to make the city out as the bad guy, and they wanted a swift end.
The ADA and defense attorneys sat at opposite tables both with files and folders. Camila, the woman Stephen had brought out with him that first time, probably the one he’d mentioned a few weeks ago, sat behind them next to Dave.
Hannah covered her mouth and swallowed hard against the sudden urge to vomit. Had that been part of the plan too? His own personal lawyer whom he’d slept with? Was still sleeping with?
She was going to be sick. She stood, tripped over Nick’s feet trying to get past. A second before she stepped into the aisle, her eyes flicked up and the bottom seemed to drop out. Stephen, striding purposefully down the aisle. His face hard and dangerous, and still made her heart turn over with want.
Her eyes met his for a fraction of a second before she stumbled back into her seat. The shock at seeing him knocked back the nausea.
Nick put his arm around her. “You okay?”