Keys To My Cuffs (The Heroes of The Dixie Wardens MC Book 4) by Lani Lynn Vale Page B

eyebrows. “And like I said, Mr. Fine, you need to get your client to work with the DA, and this could all be over before the holidays. If not, they we’ll be starting the trial tomorrow. Is that clear?”
    Even me, a lowly paid detective for the BPD, knew better than to contradict Judge Keen; obviously, Varian’s bozo lawyer did not.
    His gavel clanged hard against the wood of his desk. “Mr. Fine, the next words out of your mouth better be something related to the case and not your Christmas break, or you’ll be held in contempt of court.”
    Fine’s mouth thinned into a pissed off line as he held his tongue and took his seat. Then he motioned with his hand in Dortea’s direction.
    “We offer you a reduced sentence of twenty five years if you will give us the names of the men who’ve been helping you while you were incarcerated over the past five months,” Dortea said stiffly.
    “On one condition.” Varian said ignoring his lawyer’s attempt to beckon him to stop speaking.
    “Mr. Strong, I advise you to take counsel with your lawyer before you go making deals that you can’t get out of,” Judge Keen said in a bored tone.
    “We’ve spoken at length about this already. I’d just like to have my thoughts on record, and then we can discuss a deal,” he grinned at the old man.
    Judge Keen’s eyes narrowed, but that was the only outward sign that he was annoyed.
    “And that would be, Mr. Strong?” Dortea asked sweetly.
    “I want to speak to Rector. Alone.” Varian smiled.
    They all turned to me at once.
    I was sitting in the back of the room.
    I was only supposed to be there in case any of the facts were needed on the case. I wasn’t supposed to actually be needed.
    That motherfucker.
    I nodded once, and they all stood, emptying the room out in less than a minute.
    Varian’s lawyer was the last to leave, and he glared at me, as if saying with his mind that I’d better watch it.
    What did he take me as? A vagrant?
    “What do you want, Strong?” I asked once the lawyer closed the door.
    “Nothing. I’m going to take the plea. I just wanted to see your face when I said what I had to say,” he said smoothly.
    “And what exactly did you have to say?” I asked just as smoothly.
    My outer tone didn’t portray the inner turmoil. What was he going to say? Did he know something I didn’t?
    “You know, you’re not the only one who watched that neighborhood,” he said in a bored tone.
    Outwardly, I was as cool as a cucumber, but inwardly, I was wary. On the edge of my seat. Where was he going with this?
    “Is that right?” I asked.
    “Yep. Saw you watching that girl next door to you. Saw you running behind her every morning. Saw that your windows are real close to each other’s,” he smiled widely.
    My body froze. My lungs stopped producing the oxygen that my blood needed. Everything in me came to a standstill, waiting to see where he was going with this.
    My jaw tightened until it was clenched so hard my molars hurt.
    “I was just wanting to make an observation. You can have the lawyer brought in,” he smiled.
    Standing up stiffly, I walked to the door and opened it.
    Once they were seated, I left.
    I was no longer needed, and I was in a hurry to make sure Channing was all right.

***
    The drive took less than nine minutes.
    I’d just pulled onto the street that ran outside our subdivision when I saw her sitting down on the curb. I would’ve passed her by had she not fallen backwards as I passed.
    She was wearing a tight pair of black running shorts and an oversized t-shirt, and her hot pink running shoes that she always wore when she ran.
    Pulling over quickly, I came to a stop directly in front of her and shut the engine off.
    “Jesus Christ,” I snapped. “Are you okay?”
    “Fine,” she wheezed. “I just forgot my inhaler; I needed to take a break before it got too bad.”
    Reaching for her hand, I lifted her up until she was in a sitting position. “Get on, I’ll take you