Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
“I’m the criminal attorney here,” Reese says. “And the person who’s dealt with Debbie. She’s unstable. We will need protection and we have it. I hired helped. But what I’m telling you all right now, is that I need us to have multiple plans, and they all need to consider that as I just said, she’s unstable. I don’t want to set her off, if we can get her on tape, and get the police to get involved on a broader scale, than an order, that might trigger some rash action on her part.”
“She won’t go public,” I say. “If she does, she won’t get the money.”
“Not true,” Gabe says. “I had a big wig I represented that was getting blackmailed over a pregnancy. The baby wasn’t his which is exactly why she went public. She wanted my client to pay her off to retract the story and say she lied. And he did.”
My stomach knots. “In other words. She might go public to force Reese into protecting his reputation.”
“That’s the worst-case scenario,” Gabe confirms.
Reid disagrees. “The worst case scenario is her coming after Cat because she’s a crazy fucking bitch who’s obsessed with Reese.” He looks at Reese. “She needs protection.”
“Arranged,” Reese confirms. “And I agree. Protecting Cat is everything.”
In other words, I’m pregnant with his child, and a crazy pregnant woman might well come after me. Which is believable, since I’m the one she came to at the courthouse.
Chapter sixty-one
Cat
Protecting Reese is what’s important. Protecting my baby is what’s important, I think. Protecting his or her father is what’s important. “Crazy stalkers kill the people they get obsessed about, too,” I say, turning to Reese. “You will have someone with you tomorrow, right?”
“Royce has it all taken care of. I’m fine. You’re the one I’m worried about”
“Lauren’s going with me to the doctor in the morning. I have a feeling Royce will be tagging along.”
“Why are you going to the doctor?” Gabe asks.
I glance in his direction. “Nothing that’s going to kill me,” I say and needing an escape from all these watchful eyes, I quickly refocus on Reese and add, “I have to write my column and you need to get your team here working.”
“You’re my team tonight,” he says.
“Reese—”
His hands come down on my arms. “There’s nothing that happened today in court that changes my strategy. You were there. You know that. I’m going to win. We’re going to win. Write your column. I’ll finish up here and you can help me prep for tomorrow the way you always help me prep.” He kisses me. “Go. Write. I’ll find you when we’re done.”
He’s decided he’s not having his team over. He’s affected by this Debbie thing and worrying about me to the point that it’s affecting his case. “Just to be sure we’re on the same page. You’re not telling your client yet, right?”
“No,” he says. “I’m not telling Dana until we find out where this trap we’re setting for Debbie leads us and I hope like hell that’s a good decision.”
“It’s a good decision,” Reid says. “We’ll end this one way or the other. You have my word.”
I am suddenly glad Reid’s involved because he’s intelligent and hard in every way, brutal even. When Reid makes a statement like that, he doesn’t fail. I know. I’ve felt his wrath.
I kiss Reese and head out of the kitchen. I’m two steps down the hallway when Gabe catches my arm. “You okay?”
“I’m not used to you and Reid acting like you care.”
“Come on now. The past two years you and I have come a long way. That’s not fair.”
He’s right. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s Reid that I’m not used to, but I’m fine.” I hug him. “Thank you, Gabe.”
“Call me after the doctor tomorrow, okay?” He pulls back to look at me. “Reese will be in court. I’m free tomorrow, so I’m going to come watch Reese with you after your appointment.”
“You want to sit with me in court?”
“Yeah. I might learn something from that husband of yours.”
“You don’t even practice the same kind of law and you’re a master at your job.”
His eyes light with what is apparently a naughty private joke of some sort. “I won’t even go where that comment could take me. Call me when you leave the doctor.” He kisses my cheek and heads back to the kitchen, leaving me with a smile that I appreciate today more than usual.
I turn away and a few minutes later I’m on the bed in the master bedroom, my laptop in my hands. I think of the day in court that ended with Debbie confronting me and one word comes in mind: Lies. This DA is all about lies which is why I’ve been working on a book with Lori to expose him. We’ve also decided to release it after he leaves the office for one reason: Protecting the firm and its clients. I don’t like it and this trial is stirring the pot for me. I start typing and that one word is back on my mind: Lies. Debbie’s lies. The DA’s lies. The prosecutor’s lies. And so I start my Cat Does Crime column now with that word: Lies.