First Surrender (Chance Encounters #3)

Chapter Four

Natalie

“ I need you to consider that this case might not go how you want.” The words the prosecutor told me after the judge dismissed the warrant are at the forefront of my thoughts, harassing me.

Of course, it isn’t going how I want because Declan Randolph is still breathing. I want him lined up in front of a firing squad.

I’m grumbling about it and the incompetence of every man that I’ve encountered today when I pull into the gravel lot behind my apartment. Dec’s bus will drop him off soon so I sit in my car in the heat until it does. Even in the south, it stays cold in the mountains early in the year. Not nearly as cold as New York was, but there’s still a chill in the air.

I never expected to be stuck living in my hometown, I always had big dreams to travel until my mom got pregnant. I hate the fake niceties of people that you’ve known your whole life who judge you behind closed doors. I hate that there are only two semi-decent restaurants. I hate that the only apartment I could find is on the second floor above a paint shop. If the fumes kill me one day I’m suing. Or rather, I’ll tell Dec to sue so he can get a nice goose egg to start a new life.

A police car drives by as I’m staring at the road waiting for the yellow bus to pull up and it reminds me of Sheriff Small Dick. I was pretty proud of the little nickname that rolled off the top of my head.

When he didn’t react, I wanted to scream. He’s like a robot, completely emotionless, and all I want to do is get under his skin.

Twice now he has interrupted me when I’m standing up for myself. Twice he has tried to be a savior to someone who has not asked to be saved. It’s clearly a part of his God complex. Save all the women and children first. Blah, blah, blah.

He’s probably used to women throwing themselves at him for that very reason and it makes me want to puke. He comes near me and I want to stick my hands in his objectively perfect hair and fuck it up.

The bus arrives before I can go off on another tangent in my head and I meet Dec at the bottom of the metal staircase that leads up to our door. “Hey, buddy. How was school?”

“It was okay, our class didn’t get recess because some kids were being loud during attendance.” His little shoulders are slumped as we ascend the stairs. My sweet baby brother and his big heart. It kills me that he misses out on fun because of some stupid kids.

“Well, it happens. I’m sure you’ll get to play tomorrow,” I assure him. I’m never as cynical to him as I am in my head.

“Yeah, I hope so. Can I have a snack in front of the TV today?” He asks as he dumps his Spider-Man backpack into the corner of the entryway. I don’t have the heart to disappoint, so I agree and he gallops to the kitchen, completely forgetting his not-so-great school day.

I hope he can always keep that spirit. Let the bad roll off your back and move on. I want him to have a good future and to accomplish everything he wants. My only dream now is for him to accomplish his.

* * *

When I got the call from Prosecutor Fulton for another emergency hearing, I knew I’d have to leave straight for work. Normally I’d try to get someone to cover my shift, but I only had a day’s notice and none of my coworkers are that generous. I don’t blame them, we all have chaotic lives.

I hurry up the steps of the Rollins County Courthouse, tightening the belt on my only long coat. It hits mid-thigh and shows a lot of leg, especially since I’m wearing black nylons. I keep one hand pressed to the bottom hem to keep it from fluttering open in the wind while the other clasps the lapels together.

Just as I’m about to body check the door open since my hands are hard at work to conceal my work uniform, someone opens it for me with an arm stretched high above my head.

They hold the door ajar while I enter the lobby and take a second to correct my disheveled wind-blown hair. “Thank yo-” I start to say to the kind stranger until I see who it is. “Oh.”

“Ma’am.” He nods politely before breezing past me, his wrinkle-free black polo is stretched across his chest at my eye level.

“Don’t ma’am, me,” I retort, attempting to match pace with him. I don’t know who entered us into the silent competition to get through the metal detectors first, but I’m going to win.

He steps up to the conveyor belt and pauses, so I cut him in line. I dump my purse into a tub and shuffle in front of him. He mumbles something but not loud enough for me to hear.

Not my fault that only one of us was prepared. The older-than-dirt security guard ushers me through the metal detector but it beeps. Shit.

“It’s the buckle on my coat,” I explain to him. He only raises his eyebrows and waves me to the side while Sheriff Small Dick steps around the metal detector without ever emptying his pockets.

As he begins waving his handheld wand around me like a sorcerer, I try my best to conceal my frustration. I don’t have time for this. It beeps again, not on my coat.

“Miss, you need to remove the coat.”

“What, no, I can’t.” My heart thunders in my chest. This is bad.

“I insist, or you’ll have to leave the premises.” The old man waits patiently for my response, though I can tell I won’t be able to sweet talk my way out of this. I have to get to the courtroom. The Sheriff stands off to the side, waiting for me or waiting to see what happens. I’m not sure.

With my head held high and my back turned to the rest of the lobby, I let my belt go and flash what’s underneath to the security guard. His mouth falls open and I’m convinced a fly buzzes in while he remembers he’s supposed to be searching me.

“You’re free to go on, miss. Thank you,” he says a little too appreciatively while I roll my eyes. I stomp across the tiled floors, loudly clacking in my heels, cursing this day.

“What just happened?” The Sheriff asks from behind me, his long strides catching up to mine quickly.

“None of your business.” He cuts in front of me before I can go through the tall wooden doors that lead to the courtroom.

“Natalie, this is my courthouse. It is my business.”

The use of my first name like he knows me, or that he’s sly for figuring it out makes me want to slap the smug look off his face. I mean his face looks as stoic as normal, but I imagine on the inside he’s feeling smug.

“If that was true, you would have pulled me aside back there. You didn’t because you have no real power. It’s all in your little head. So, leave me alone.” I cross my arms, tapping my foot obnoxiously because he won’t take the hint and move out of my way. That’s when I notice his downcast gaze.

From his height advantage over me, his line of sight is aimed directly down the front of my coat. I glance down, already suspecting what he is seeing and I balk. For Christ’s sake. The lapels of my coat have separated and he can see exactly what I was hiding. A blood-red bustier.

“Yes. I have tits. Now, move!” I shove past him, righting my coat and wrapping it tightly around myself.

I can’t make myself look him in the eyes but I refuse to be embarrassed. I’m doing what I need to do to ensure my brother is taken care of. Fuck anyone’s opinion.

I plop down in my normal seat right behind the bar with a huff, rolling my neck to release the tension. Could this day get any worse?

Prosecutor Fulton enters and unlike the other times, he ignores me. Whatever. It means I don’t need to hide my dislike for his overpowering odor. The judge enters and they run through the motions like they do each time.

I can feel him behind me and it irks me that I know he’s there. Even worse, he knows what I’m hiding underneath my coat. Only paying customers get to witness it and it’s the only way I can stomach it.

The judge starts speaking again so I focus in front of me, forcefully ignoring the aggravating pervert behind me with the superiority complex.

“What’s the decision, Prosecutor?” Judge Reisner folds his hands in front of him, waiting patiently.

“We’re offering the defendant a deal. If he agrees to supply information to the Rollins County Sheriff’s Office, he can plead guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter. With his time served.”

My jaw unhinges, dropping in disbelief. They drone about stipulations to the deal but I stop hearing them.

Declan’s not going to be charged for murdering my mother.