Page 3 of Savage in the Streets
“Get out!” I snap, pointing toward the door. “I don’t want your help.”
He chuckles. “You do realize that it will be hours before they get a public defender in here?”
“I don’t care, just as long as you’re not here on my brother’s behalf.”
“You’re going to need my help. I haven’t had a chance to fully review the case, but if you’re found guilty, you could spend years behind bars. A good plea deal will see you out in half that time. A little more will be shaved off for good behavior. That’sifyou can behave.”
“You don’t even think the possibility exists that I’m innocent, do you?”
His arrogant grin widens, and I know with absolute certainty that I hate this man almost as much as I do my brother.
“Once we see the judge, he’ll set your bail. I’ll make sure it gets paid, and where you go from there…” He bobs his head from side to side.
“Are you suggesting I skip town?”
“It’s certainly better than spending years in the pen.”
“Won’t you get in trouble?”
“It’ll be a black smear on my record that’ll get glossed over eventually.”
“How do you know my brother?”
His lips become a tight line. It bemuses me that my rather innocuous question could become a thief of joy to such a straight-and-narrow looking man.
“Just keep your mouth closed. We’ll be in front of the judge in no time. Then, we never have to see each other again.”
Chapter 2
Ashton
The last thingI want is to be carrying out favors for miscreants like Caleb Savage, but life has a way of forcing your hand.
At least Bailey has tried to maintain some semblance of a normal life, opening up a beauty salon and, by all accounts, working pretty damn hard to get by.
It’s not surprising that someone with a background like hers would resort to theft, but the scale at which she committed her crimes is pretty damn impressive.
“Little Ash, is that you?” Judge Robin Fischer says.
“Ah, that’s Mr. Ward, thank you very much.”
“Get over here and give me a hug.”
He takes me into his massive arms, and for a moment, I worry he’s not going to let go.
And I can’t blame him. It’s like we’ve traveled back in time.
We part, but his hand finds my shoulder, and his eyes look on at me with a fatherly pride that I’ve never seen from my own dad.
“How’s the wife?” I ask, forcing a smile.
“Karen’s good,” he says with a dazed nod. “Keeping busy. Ever since Carolyn passed…well, it’s been difficult.”
My heart lurches at the mere mention of the girl who I’ll never get to see grow old. Someone who meant so much to me. It’s been ten long years, yet, it feels like it was yesterday that we were last huddled in a booth at Big Benny’s, planning our lives.
“I can only imagine,” I finally reply.
“How’s Liz?”
