“Paul didn’t mention you on the phone. He never said he was handing me off.”
“He did the right thing.”
I thought about testing him. Quizzing him to see what he knew about the Corban business, but I didn’t know how much time I had in this room with him, and I needed to get out of this fucking place.
“Can you get me out?” I asked.
“I can.” He nodded. “But it’s going to cost you at the bail hearing.”
“How much?”
He wrote down a number, scratched it out and replaced it with a higher dollar amount. “The judge is ready in the morning. I’m hoping she’ll be lenient. You’re a member of the community, with ties here.”
“That’s what you’re going with?”
“You and I both know if you wanted to run and leave the country you could. I also know that Paul said you aren’t going anywhere.”
“I’m not,” I stated.
“My job is to make that case in front of the judge. I’ll get you out on bail.”
“And what about Crew? Is anyone out looking for him?”
“They are. They’re scouring every property you own. Every inch. I saw the warrants.”
My stomach dropped. Kennedy.
“Baxter, you have to get out of here. I need you to drive to the stables. I’ll draw a map. Whatever. I need you to go there. And…” I started to pull on the cuffs. They cut into my wrists. I needed the pen and paper to draw the map for him.
He leaned closer. “I never asked if you were guilty or innocent. Don’t start a fucking confession.”
“It’s not a confession,” I barked. “I’m keeping someone safe. Someone else from getting kidnapped. She was grabbed too when Crew was, but she got away. I wanted her to lie low while we figured out which family did this.” I gritted my teeth together. “I did not kidnap Crew. I wouldn’t. There’s no reason.”
“Who is at the stables?” he asked.
“Kennedy Martin. Can you get her to Kimble? I don’t know the guy’s last name. He just goes by Kimble. I’ll give you all the information. He’s her head of security.”
He looked confused, but slid the pad of paper within my reach, along with the pen.
I did the best I could to recall numbers and addresses. I relied too much on my phone.
“Before this is cut short, how did these charges even stick?” I asked. “Why would anyone suspect me of this?”
Baxter Barnes leaned over. “Anonymous tip. Said they saw you.”
“What? That’s insane.”
The attorney shrugged. “Problem is that sometimes insane is enough when the sharks are looking for blood. Something about you being a sworn enemy to Kennedy Martin, the woman you’re hiding. This is your way of getting back at her—taking her right-hand man.”
“Oh fuck. Look, that’s not—"
The door opened. The bailiff stood, waiting to take me back to holding.
“Corban,” he grunted.
I nodded at him. “Please,” I urged Baxter. “There’s nothing more important than her. And she’ll tell you everything about the last twenty-four hours.” The bailiff unlocked the cuffs from the table.
“I’ll see you at the hearing in the morning, Mr. Corban.”