Worth the Risk(98)

A crowd of more than fifty had turned out to show public support for her. But, not wanting the public to think they had anything to do with trying to burn her out, the city was doing its best to put their own spin on things. And doing a good job, as was evident by the cruelly aimed questions.

Did you know Stephen McKinney owned Trace Development?

Did you know they wanted your property?

Did you know the horses were in the barn when you set it on fire?

She felt every hit and realized she wasn’t numb after all, only wished she was.

This evidentiary hearing would determine if the state had enough to move forward with charges against Stephen and/or Dave. Or herself. She had no doubt she was under suspicion as well.

The sudden cold air of the government building had her hunching deeper into her sweater.

Luke peeled off to speak to Zach talking off to the side with the fire chief. Nick led her to a cushioned bench outside Courtroom Two. She sat, her legs weak and watery. “Wait here.”

Ridiculous that her nerves were more about seeing Stephen for the first time in two weeks than about taking the stand. Her empty hands brushed at her sides, no pockets. She pulled a piece of hair around her finger.

“Ready?” Nick appeared beside her.

“Yes.” She didn’t have a choice.

“You’re still holding up,” Luke said. “It’ll be over soon.”

Her brothers had faith in her. That was something. The room was oddly odorless. Not musty. Not clean. The thirty or so rows of wooden benches were half full. She took a seat in the third row on the right. The judge’s platform was still empty. The jury box was also and would remain so.

No one was on trial here today, not formally, but witnesses and all involved parties would be called. She’d already been warned their defense attorney would be allowed to ask her questions. That even though she wasn’t accused, it might feel like she was. There was a spotlight shining on this entire affair, thanks to her, trying to make the city out as the bad guy, and they wanted a swift end.

The ADA and defense attorneys sat at opposite tables both with files and folders. Camila, the woman Stephen had brought out with him that first time, probably the one he’d mentioned a few weeks ago, sat behind them next to Dave.

Hannah covered her mouth and swallowed hard against the sudden urge to vomit. Had that been part of the plan too? His own personal lawyer whom he’d slept with? Was still sleeping with?

She was going to be sick. She stood, tripped over Nick’s feet trying to get past. A second before she stepped into the aisle, her eyes flicked up and the bottom seemed to drop out. Stephen, striding purposefully down the aisle. His face hard and dangerous, and still made her heart turn over with want.

Her eyes met his for a fraction of a second before she stumbled back into her seat. The shock at seeing him knocked back the nausea.

Nick put his arm around her. “You okay?”

No. She wasn’t okay. And she remained not okay for the next two hours as the depositions were read. The crime was described to everyone by the fire marshal. The judge asked questions, on and on, repetitive and tiresome. She willed it to be over.

Her gaze fell on the rail dividing the benches from the front. She wondered if Stephen had been in a courtroom since that day he’d told her about. Even after everything, her heart hurt for him.

The ADA spoke to the judge, read the facts aloud. Barrels of fire accelerant had been found in the woods near Stephen’s house, which had led to his original questioning, but it wasn’t holding up. No fingerprints, no record of sale, and even the fire chief admitted they couldn’t be certain it was the exact accelerant used.

Didn’t mean he was innocent. A lot of people, including her brothers, were convinced that Trace Development’s somewhat devious buying scheme made him suspect.

Then she was called.

Nick stood to let her out. He gave her hand a last squeeze. “Don’t look at him.”

With her pulse thundering in her ears, she walked slowly to the front of the room. She wiped her damp palms on her skirt, then swore to tell the whole truth.

The courtroom was daunting from this position. All eyes on her, bracing for whatever question they threw at her. Way worse than it looked on TV. It took everything she had not to look at Stephen. He was her support. He was the one who made her feel strong. It killed her not to reach for it now.

The slightest turn of her head, a tiny shift of her eyes would lead them to his. But no matter how much she avoided him, she still felt his burning gaze. So hot she was sweating. For two weeks all she could see when she thought of him was his face when she’d asked for the truth. His silence and the answer in his eyes couldn’t have been more clear.