“We were arrested for trespassing, but there’s something more going on. I
can’t get into it over the phone, but I need your help.”
“I can wire you money for bail. How much do you need?”
“No.” I chewed the inside of my cheek, wondering how best to phrase this next part. “Cash, I need you to come out here.”
“Genie…” There was a long silence. “Baby, it’s the middle of the week. I have classes.”
“I know, I know, and I’m sorry to even ask, but I don’t know if there’s anyone else who can help me.”
Voices were muffled in the background. Lots of chatter and people laughing. It sounded like he was already at school. “Why didn’t you call your uncle? He must have lawyers.”
He did. Callum had at least a half dozen highly skilled lawyers on retainer. They were experts in finance and contracts; they kept his businesses running and his secrets safe. But none of them knew a damn thing about paranormal law because they’d never had to before. Cash, on the other hand, was the closest thing I had to an expert, and I was hoping he might be able to use that magnificent brain of his to save our asses.
“I need you. You’re the only one who can help us.” I considered making it an Obi-Wan joke since Cash was a giant Star Wars nerd, but he might not take my plea seriously if I attempted humor. And I was desperate for him to take this seriously.
“Us.” He paused again. “We and us. Who are you there with, Genie?”
This was going to sound infinitely more complicated without being able to give him the whole story, but I couldn’t share all the details on a phone that was likely tapped. It wasn’t like I had anything to hide, but Cash deserved to know why I had been arrested with another man.
“Wilder, one of the wolves from Callum’s pack. We came here looking for his brother, and things have gotten a lot worse since we showed up.”
“I thought you were leaving town to keep a low profile. I thought the whole plan of this little break was for you to keep your head down and stay safe. So how, then, do you end up in jail on the totally opposite side of the state?” He didn’t sound angry so much as exhausted.
“Like I said, it’s a long story, but I promise it’s a good one. Or a bad one, depending on how you look at it. But, Cash…you’re the only one I can count on right now.” I wasn’t actually sure what he was going to say. It was a lot to ask, and our relationship wasn’t in the best place lately. There was an unspoken tension between us these last few months, and my werewolf connections had a lot to do with that. Calling him out here for werewolf-related drama might be pushing my luck too far. “Please,” I added. “I love you.”
“I love you too, babe.” He sighed, one of those heavy, my-life-is-so-complicated sighs. “Okay. I’ll be there in two hours. Don’t say anything. Tell your friend not to say anything either.”
He hung up before I could tell him about Hank and the probable murder charges. Maybe it was for the best if he was already here when I revealed that news.
I could be like Surprise! Murder investigation! when he finally showed up.
Girlfriend of the year, right here.
Josie perked up when I disconnected the phone. She led me back down the hall to my cell. “I tried to see if I could move you into the same block as your boyfriend, but the sheriff wasn’t having it. Guessing you didn’t tell him what he wanted to hear?”
“If I told him what he wanted to hear, I’d be lying. And I don’t make it a habit to lie to the cops.”
She stared at me, and I could tell she was trying to get a read on whether or not I was bullshitting her. I had a funny feeling about Josie. If she was given a nudge in the right direction, I wondered if she might be able to help me. But how could I find out for sure without tipping my hand? I didn’t want to say anything about what we’d witnessed until Cash arrived. If I told her Wilder and I had seen Timothy literally throw an innocent woman to the wolves, I wouldn’t have any aces left up my sleeve.
“How well do you know Timothy Deerling?” I asked instead. Might be better to see if she worshipped the guy or gave me some indication of her opinion on him, one way or the other.
“Pastor Tim? Why do you ask?”
“What kind of person is he?”
She shrugged, and I made a mental note that she hadn’t immediately swooned over how wonderful he was. “He’s only been in town about three years. Moved here from Greensburg with his wife Shannon. He’s…enthusiastic. It’s hard to really say anything about him, you know? He’s the only reason this town still exists.”
Ah yes. Timothy Deerling, the beloved savior of Franklinton, LA.
“Boosting the economy doesn’t make him a good person.”
She opened the door to my cell and made a funny face at me. “You guys have something against Pastor Tim?”
Aside from the fact I doubted he was actually a pastor and his so-called church was a scam designed to turn gullible idiots into vicious bigots? No. Tim and I were besties.
“Never mind.” I showed myself into the room and flopped onto the bed. Before she closed the door, I said, “Hey, if it’s not too much to ask, can you let Wilder know our lawyer is coming?”