Harmony's Way(58)

"You're getting too bossy to suit me," she informed him, moving to his side as they neared the lobby doors.

"I'm not bossy, ask anyone," he growled. "I'm as easygoing as they come."

"I'm glad I wasn't eating when you made that little statement." She gave a mock cough.

"I would have choked."

He threw her a glare as they moved through the night, the summer night surrounding them, the hint of rain bringing a relief from summer's heat.

"Let's go—"

"Sheriff Jacobs?"

Lance turned at the sound of the county prosecutor's voice.

He turned to watch as she moved out of her vehicle and walked toward them.

"Stephanie." He nodded in greeting. "You're out late."

"I had to come into the office late." Her smile was strained as she nodded in Harmony's direction. "Alonzo's lawyer just bailed out Ms. Lancaster's assailant."

"He was slow," Lance grunted. "I expected that earlier."

"He also bailed Tommy Mason." She dropped her bombshell with a grimace. "We just released him from lockup."

"Well, low and behold, the U.S. justice system prevails once again." Harmony's snide comment had Lance mirroring Stephanie's grimace.

"He's only out on bail," she assured Harmony. "The trial will be another matter."

"Good luck there." Harmony leaned against the front of the Raider, watching the prosecutor mockingly. "Personally, my money is on Alonzo. He knows how to hire lawyers, Ms. Atwater, and if Mason is part of his organization, then Alonzo will see to it that he goes free."

"Like hell." Lance turned to her then. "Not here, Harmony. Not in this case. Tommy fired on officers and we have your testimony that he was holding his wife hostage. He won't get out of it."

"Then he'll disappear into Alonzo's organization and you'll be lucky if you ever catch up with him." She shrugged as though it didn't matter. "So much for the promise I made to that kid, huh? I bet he's real safe right now." Lance saw the shadows of pain and rage burning in her eyes when she turned that bright, false smile up at him. "So, did you mention dinner? I'm hungry."

She wasn't hungry, she was brooding. He could see it in her.

"Lance, I'm really sorry about this," Stephanie said softly. "The bail was ridiculously high. We had no idea Alonzo would step in like this."

Lance sighed wearily. "Let's pray he sticks to his routine and spends a few nights drinking and having fun before he goes home. I'll have the deputies keep an eye on him and see if we can't pull him back in."

Stephanie nodded her dark head in agreement, her brown eyes concerned as she stared at Harmony.

"Bring him back in, Lance, and we'll keep him this time."

Harmony snorted at that.

"Thanks again, Stephanie."

She nodded again before turning and moving back to her car. Lance turned to Harmony, taking in her emotionless features, her raging eyes as she watched the other woman leave.

"Have you slept with her?" She turned her gaze to him, arching her brow as though curious.

"Did I ask if you've slept with Dane?" he growled. "And what does that have to do with anything?"

"And if I have slept with Dane?" The question wasn't a comfortable one. "I wasn't a virgin when I came to your bed, Lance."

"This has nothing to do with Mason, Harmony," he snapped.