“Yeah. When I got into the trusts and estates, I realized my error. There’s no area of the law where you don’t deal with shitty people, but I do see less than some.”

“Hoss, huh?”

“I’m not telling you to bribe someone,” she said. “But if you choose to do something like that without my knowledge, Hoss is where I’d start.”

48

Lacey

The landscape deprived me of breath, it was so gorgeous. And the ride… Holding on to Rock’s strong body while we nearly flew over the road held me captive.

Still, though, the thought of what had occurred this morning didn’t completely leave my mind. I’d nearly been arrested.

As an accessory to a murder I knew nothing about.

In law school, we’d read cases about false arrest and imprisonment. There were even cases where an innocent person had been executed. They were rare, but they did occur. Statistically, they were insignificant.

They no longer seemed so insignificant now that I was starring in one.

Someone wanted me to pay for Derek Wolfe’s murder. Why? I had no idea. All I’d done was draw up his will. I hadn’t handled any of his other trust work. Robert had handed Derek over to me when he stopped practicing less than a year ago. Maybe Robert would know something. I made a mental note to get in touch with him when I returned to Manhattan.

When we finally arrived back at Rock’s cabin, he stared at me.

“What?”

“You look so beautiful. You’re glowing.”

I attempted a smile. “I’m sure I’ve got a bad case of helmet head.”

“You look perfect, Lacey.” He feathered his fingers over my cheek.

My nipples hardened against my bra.

“I wish I could bottle up this moment,” he continued.

I nodded. “Me too.”

“But I can’t. I need to find Hoss. I know where he and Manny hang out at night. If you think he’s the one—”

“Only a hunch,” I said. “I can’t make any guarantees. I could be wrong, and he’ll be pissed as hell that you’re asking.”

“Old Hoss won’t be pissed. He’ll respect me for trying.”

“He’ll respect you for bribing him?”

“Well,” he laughed. “Maybe not. But I have to try. I need to find out what’s going on. Someone has been keeping tabs on me, and someone is trying to drag you into this. That means someone knows what you mean to me. I’m beginning to think…”

“What, babe?”

“My father’s had someone watching me this whole time. Here I thought I was alone in this cabin. Away from his vileness. Damn!” He looked up at the light fixture in his kitchen. “You son of a bitch! You were watching me the whole time, weren’t you? You fucked up S.O.B.!”

I stroked his arm. “Rock, that’s just a light.”