Marina shook her head. She’d had enough interesting to last a lifetime. What she desperately wanted right now was boring.

Absolutely. Stunningly. Boring.

Marina was almost to heart attack point when Luke knocked on Halcyon’s door. She was strung so tight she actually snapped the handle right off the coffee mug she’d been holding. Fortunately, it was empty, although she had no idea when she’d actually drunk the coffee her sister had poured her. Maybe she should cut back on the caffeine.

She shook her head. Who was she kidding? Death was the only way to decrease her current level of stress.

Luke introduced himself to Halcyon, who pointed to the kitchen and strolled behind him, mouthing to Marina, “He is so hot!”

Marina ignored her completely. Unless Judge Leger had started batting for the other team, Luke’s hotness wasn’t going to make a bit of difference to the job ahead of him. Marina hopped off her stool and extended her hand as he walked into the room.

“Thank you so much for coming,” she said. “I’m sure Adelaide told you how desperate the situation is.”

He nodded. “She gave me the highlights reel. I’m really sorry you’re going through this—all of it. Can you tell me what happened?”

Marina relayed what Avery had told her, deviating occasionally to throw in some backstory when he asked questions to clarify. When she was done, he shook his head.

“And this girl’s father is the local sue-happy lawyer, whom half the town is in debt to?” he asked.

“I’m afraid so,” Marina said. “And it gets worse. Judge Leger is his second cousin.”

A flash of anger passed across his face and he shook his head. “This is exactly the sort of thing that sent me into the woods, away from people.”

Marina felt her chest tighten. “If you don’t want to help, I completely understand.”

“No,” he said. “That’s not it at all. I definitely want to help. I’m just trying to figure out the best way that I can, given all the things stacked against you. How long has this Judge Leger been in office?”

“I don’t know,” Marina said. “Twenty years? Maybe longer?”

“And when is the next election?” he asked.

“Next year,” Halcyon said.

“And can I assume he’s not interested in retirement any time soon?” he asked.

“No way,” Marina said. “He’d die in that chair if the state would let him.”

“Besides,” Halcyon said, “there’s no one to run against him. That’s why he’s still in the seat. Young blood doesn’t want a career out here in the sticks, and the older ones couldn’t beat him or they already would have.”

“Sounds familiar,” he said. “But it’s not entirely unworkable. People like Leger act like they’re untouchable but if he’s not interested in giving up his seat, then he’ll be constantly watching for any challengers and avoiding anything that might sway a vote to new blood. It’s possible to find someone younger who’d live out in the sticks. Trust me, a lot of us grow weary of bigger-city politics and hassle after a few years.”