Where the badges had worried him a little, the uniform seemed to break him. Tears formed in his eyes and he backed away.
He bumped into Nico, changed direction, and hit Joe. “You messed with my sister, asshole. You’re going down as far as we can bury you.”
Stephens’s knees buckled at that, and he dropped to kneel on the floor. “Tansy, please.”
“No. You’re going to get exactly what you deserve.” Tansy grabbed onto Sam’s hand and he could feel her trembling.
She hated confrontation, hated conflict of any kind. But she wasn’t showing any fear to Stephens. She was strong and powerful, all the more so because of her level tone and steady eyes.
Marcus stepped forward and hoisted James to his feet. “You need to come down to the station with me. You’re lucky Vermont abolished its death penalty.”
Nico understood the tactic and chimed in. “The original crimes were committed in California. I believe the death penalty remains on the books out there. These crimes have crossed multiple state lines. There will be federal charges. Homeland security will also be involved.”
“Tansy, you have to help me.”
Sam thought she might break his fingers when she squeezed his hand again. She didn’t answer, but didn’t break eye contact either.
Nico and Marcus left the room, each holding one of the man’s arms. He continued to shout for Tansy as they marched him outside, down the steps, and to the trail.
When he was out of sight, Tansy sagged back in her seat and blew out a breath. She closed her eyes and the hand he held shook more violently.
Sam scooped her up to sit in his lap. Joe moved in to squeeze her shoulder as well.
Jetson nosed himself in between them all with a whine and licked her hand.
She let out a small laugh. “Thanks. I’m okay. Or I will be. Thanks, everyone.”
Joe kissed her head and sat in her vacated chair. Graham moved over to sit as well.
Tansy frowned. “They weren’t serious about the death penalty, were they? I couldn’t live with being responsible for that.”
Joe rubbed her arm. “They were just scaring the shit out of him. Letting him know he’s in deep and he’s not crawling out anytime soon.”
Sam nodded. “They’re prepping him. He’ll be scared enough to beg the Feds for protection in exchange for his testimony. Jail is the safest place for him right now.”
Sam tilted her chin until she looked right at him. “You’re not responsible for anything that happens to him. This is all on him. He’s an asshole who tried to use you and profit from it. Whatever happens, he deserves it.”
She nodded, but her eyes remained shadowed. His little warrior had a soft heart.
Jetson gave a soft woof as if to agree with Sam and rested his head on her thigh, making her smile and reach down to pet him.
Her eyes were sparkling again as she looked up at Sam. “So, tell me again how we ended up with this charmer?”
A Friend 'Til the End
Three months later
Sam traced the words on the new sign.
Midnight Security.
It was real.
Papers had been signed. Decisions made. Business cards and logo.
Spreadsheets and other things that hurt his brain. At least Tansy’s friend Cinnia had taken on most of that from Sacramento.
It was real.