Page 7 of Framed

Maybe he really was from there. But why would he choose to tell me this now?

“I didn’t call you in here to talk about my origin story. Nor do I want to threaten you,” he added after a moment of silence. “I never liked how that town handled the allegations against you. You were just a kid.”

“Wasn’t aware that you cared,” I responded sarcastically as I leaned back in the chair. The sincerity in his words made my body relax a little bit, but my mind was still tense.

I couldn’t figure out his angle. Everyonealwayshad an angle.

He cleared his throat and looked away. “I don’t.”

The scoff escaped my lips before I was able to stop it.At least he’s honest.

He ignored the noise, which was probably a good thing for me. I wasn’t in the position to get smart or mouth off. My fate was literally in his hands.

My pulse skipped a beat as Briggs faced me again, his expression utterly unreadable. “I want to give you an opportunity to get out.”

chapter two

Scarlett

“Why?”Iwasdumbfounded.I didn’t put anything past anyone—I’d long since learned my lesson about the depths to which people were willing to sink—but this was not what I’d expected to hear when I walked in here today.

From Aaron Briggs, of all people.

While Briggs only showed his face on occasion, I couldn’t remember a time when I’d actually interacted with him before. I couldn’t remember ever hearing about him doing something nice for anybody, either.

An offer like this had to come with a price.

“My reasons are irrelevant, Miss Rose.” He folded his hands on the desk between us. “But let’s just say that I would be doing someone a huge disservice if I didn’t offer you the help you need right now.”

“Who?” I couldn’t help but ask. My curious nature sometimes got the better of me.

“A mutual friend, if you will.” Briggs studied my face with a look that I couldn’t quite place. It made me uncomfortable.

Considering I didn’t haveanyfriends, I doubted we had anymutualones.

“Does this friend have a name?” I was at a disadvantage right now. His knowledge gave him the upper hand and we both knew it.

“They do,” he replied, but didn’t elaborate. A pinch of irritation nibbled at the edge of my nerves. He didn’t even try to hide his evasiveness. “The court requested your immediate release, while they prepare for Jonathan Sinclair’s trial.”

Relief and shock battled for control of my body. I felt like I was swaying on the spot. What would it be like to walk out of here? I couldn’t even imagine it. Couldn’t imagine picking out my own clothes again. Sleeping in a bed that wasn’t a sheet of plywood. Looking out a window wider than the width of my hand.

Then I replayed his words in my head.Immediate release.That didn’t mean my charges were being dropped. “Just release? No charges dropped?” I shook my head.

That made more sense. It was never going to be that simple.

But Briggs shocked me again. “No, you’re free to go.” His watchful brown irises now studied my face for a reaction. I wondered distantly what he’d make of my confused frown. Whatever he thought, he sighed and scratched his chin. “I had a third party look into the evidence against you. My men found that everything was circumstantial at best. I’m not even sure how you got arrested in the first place or how they got the charges to stick.”

“If that’s true, how come my lawyers never mentioned it?” I was genuinely confused. My team of lawyers had insisted time after time that they were doing the best they could to get me out. All along, I’d believed them.

“I wondered that myself, so I looked into that as well.” He unfolded his hand and tapped his thumbs together. “When time permits, it may be wise to ask your father about it.”

I heard his words but my brain couldn’t process them. “My father?” I repeated his words, and my brain finally caught up. I crossed my arms over my blue suit. “What does my father have to do with this?”

“You should ask your father about that as well,” he said. His tone was that of an order, not a suggestion.

I wanted to screech in frustration. Why couldn’t he just tell me? “Why would you go through all of this trouble for someone you don’t even know?”

“I told you already. You remind me of someone I used to know.”

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