“You’re finished,” I said. “You tried to find me because you were afraid I’d come back and cause problems for you. You were right. I’m never going to stop until you get everything you deserve. So drop the act. You don’t have to pretend you’re happy to see me, or shocked that I’m not dead. You tried to ruin my life and you failed. But I’m sure as hell about to ruin yours.”
The color drained from the judge’s face. I was vaguely aware of applause on the street, my friends and neighbors cheering for me. But it seemed muffled and far away. I was laser-focused on the people in front of me. I watched with a grim sense of satisfaction as the judge’s fear turned into something much more permanent.
Defeat.
He knew he was done. I’d seen that look in someone’s eyes once before—the only artist I’d ever worked with who had been too damaged for me to help. The judge’s jaw went slack and his shoulders sagged. He was an intelligent man. He knew the kingdom he’d built was already crumbling and there was nothing he could do to save it.
Imogen, however, continued to stare at me with those cold, dead eyes. No emotion crossed her features. But I didn’t think she was capable of feeling anything.
Cassidy stepped past me, and the rest of the street came back into focus. Fanny Sue Tomaschek, deputy sheriff, and Sheriff Tucker were closing in on the Kendalls, one on either side. Whether to keep the rumbling crowd away from them or to take them into custody, I wasn’t sure.
“I’m gonna need y’all to clear out,” Sheriff Tucker said. He approached them warily, one hand twitching like he was ready to pull his sidearm on them if necessary. Cassidy’s body language matched her father’s. “Go on home and stay there. Don’t think about leaving town. We’ll be needing the both of you shortly.”
Gibson stepped in between me and the Kendalls. “Did you say everything you needed to?”
I looked up at his face. At those beautiful blue eyes beneath his furrowed brow. And I smiled. “Yes. I did.”
“Good.” He grabbed my arm and hustled me up the street. “Let’s get out of here.”
I barely noticed Gibson helping me into his truck. The roar of his engine while he drove us out of town. I was in a daze when he hit the brakes in front of his house and ushered me inside.
Cash greeted us, all barks and licks and excited tail-wagging. I giggled, crouching down to love on the silly one-eyed dog. And then I grabbed Gibson’s hand and dragged him to his bedroom. Slid into his bed and pulled him in with me.
He wrapped me in his strong embrace. I felt safe. Whole. And loved. So loved I felt like I could do anything. I’d faced my demons and won. If Gibson asked me to, I was pretty sure I could fly.
42
GIBSON
The sound of my phone ringing woke me with a start. Callie stirred, making a sweet little sleepy noise when I pulled my arm out from under her. I hadn’t meant to fall asleep. But my poor girl had been exhausted, and the feel of her slow breathing while I held her had made me drift right off.
I found my phone on the floor and answered, my voice hoarse. “Yeah?”
“You two all right?” Bowie asked.
“Fine, yeah. What’s goin’ on?”
“I have good news and bad news,” he said, and didn’t wait for me to pick which one I wanted to hear first. “The good news is, FBI rolled into town and took the judge into custody.”
“Thank fuck. What’s the bad news?”
“Mrs. Kendall is missing.”
I sat bolt upright. “What?”
“Sheriff had two people watching their house so they wouldn’t leave. FBI showed up and the judge surrendered without a fuss. But his wife wasn’t there. Not only that, the judge had a big bruise on his forehead. Looks like she knocked him out and got away, but we don’t know how she got past the deputies.”
“How long has she been missing?”
“Not sure,” he said. “Cass just found out and called to tell me. The sheriff escorted them to their house himself. She went inside with the judge and that was the last anyone saw her. But that was hours ago.”
Callie lifted herself onto her elbow, the sheet pulled up over her chest. She watched me with concern on her face.
I glanced at the window. The curtain was closed, but no light peeked