Bailed Out (The Anna Albertini Files #2) - Rebecca Zanetti Page 0,108
time.” I moved toward him. “This is a good kid who lost his uncle, who was his only relative, a year ago and is alone. He feels awful about your land and was going to plead guilty until I pushed up next to him to keep him from going away for five years.” Although, now that I’d had time to really think about it, the judge wouldn’t have let that happen. He probably had been about to order someone to represent the kid, and I just got there first.
McLerrison frowned. “How’d he afford you?”
“He gave me a penny.” For the first time, the man’s lips twitched. “And he insisted on working off the fee. I figured maybe he could work for you for a while? The flower beds could use some tending, and he could use a friend. A good example.”
McLerrison’s eyes softened. “I lost my Twillie two years ago and haven’t had time to work on the flower beds.” He studied me. “All right. I’ll call and drop the charges, but that kid needs to be here tomorrow morning at five. No later. Got it?”
Oh, thank goodness. “Yes. You’re the best, and thank you.” I made a mental note to bring him some cheesecake the following week when I was back in town. “I think you’ll be good for him.” Maybe Oliver would be good for the old farmer, too.
“All right. Drive carefully out of here. The turkeys are running wild.”
“Okay.” I smiled and returned to my car, driving very carefully out of there. Once I reached the main road, I put my car in neutral and called Oliver.
The kid was overjoyed at the turn of events and couldn’t wait to be at the farm in the morning. Yeah, I was patting myself on the back. Then I sat there and planned what to pack to stay with my folks.
The idea of Rhino out there made me shiver. Sometimes morons were more dangerous than smart criminals. The language he’d used about women being BGC Property still made me nauseous. I quickly dialed Kelsey and held my breath until she finally answered.
“It’s Anna,” I said quickly. “Rhino is still out and is definitely dangerous. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said, sounding tired. “The doors are locked, and I have a gun under my bed. I’m taking the day off.” She sounded drugged but calm.
“What did you take?” I asked.
“Valium. Night, Anna.” She hung up.
I shook my head. That woman needed help. I looked toward the private drive to the Walker Funeral Home. Did Krissy have the tattoo as well? If so, she could be in danger. Setting the car in drive, I made a right turn to go give her a heads up.
Then I’d go home, see my mom, and figure out what to do with Aiden.
If he returned to Idaho.
Chapter 39
The funeral home was quiet except for a loading truck over to the side. I walked into the front reception area to see Krissy at the desk, rifling through the calming cream file folders. She looked up. “Remind me to give my sister a raise. The paperwork on this side of it is a pain.” Today she wore the scrubs again and looked all professional with her hair up, although the bruises had gotten even deeper across her pretty face.
I faltered. “Hey, I talked to the police, and Rhino is out on the loose, so I wanted to give you a heads up to watch out for him. Maybe he’s fled the jurisdiction, but he definitely had a hard on for any woman involved with the BGC group.”
She blew out air. “Wonderful. Rhino is on the loose. That guy is nuts.”
I totally agreed. The woman was too pale. “How are you feeling, Krissy?”
She set the files down and pushed a wayward strand of hair out of her eyes. “My face hurts and I’m not sure how I feel about Rich. I think it’s my fault he’s dead.”
“No.” I rushed forward. “It’s not your fault. He made his choices.”
She sighed. “Yeah, but if I wouldn’t have lost it on the stand in court, then he wouldn’t have wanted to run, and everything wouldn’t have exploded. I loved him. But he beat the crap out of me. This is all so confusing because I’m not that woman, you know?”
I nodded. “What you need is a vacation. Let’s plan that trip to the coast.” I’d made a new friend, and she needed some help.