Adelaide hurried off and Marina stared.

“That woman is full of surprises,” Marina said.

“So was Luke,” Halcyon said as they headed into the parking lot. “I thought Leger was going to pop a vein.”

“He didn’t think we’d find representation. And he likely figured even if we did, it would be someone who would kowtow to him.”

“Good thing we sprang Luke on them last-minute. They didn’t have time to dig up some dirt on him.”

“You’re assuming there is some.”

“Everyone has some dirt, even if it’s just something embarrassing.”

“I suppose you’re right. Still, he seems like a nice guy.”

Halcyon’s eyes narrowed. “You like him.”

Marina felt a blush creep up her face. “Of course I like him. He just kept Avery from sitting in jail until trial.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

“I don’t know him well enough to like him that way.”

“Okay. I’ll give you that, but you’re attracted to him. Why is that so hard to admit?”

“Because I don’t do instant attraction. That’s your field of expertise. And I just left my husband three days ago, and my daughter is looking at a felony conviction over Harold’s dumbassery, and none of this insanity matters at all if I don’t find the ring before the bad guys take over the universe.”

Halcyon shrugged. “So the timing’s not great.”

Marina stared at her sister for a couple seconds, then laughed. “You are really something.”

Halcyon grinned. “That’s what they all tell me.”

Chapter Eighteen

The bail bondsman, Mike Thompson, was a guy Marina and Halcyon had gone to school with. He’d also managed to coax Halcyon into a couple of dates. He was rough around the edges and would scare the crap out of someone in a dark alley, but Marina supposed that was what made him good at his job. People were afraid to cross him. In reality, he’d always been nice and polite when Marina had run into him in town. His expression when they entered his office was one of surprise, but pleasantly so.

He waved them to two chairs in front of his desk. “I can’t imagine what I could do for you two. Are you collecting for some local charity?”

“I wish that were the case,” Marina said and handed him the paper Luke had given her. “I need to bail my daughter out of jail.”

His eyes widened as he unfolded the paper. “Avery’s in jail?”

He scanned the document and Marina could see his jaw flex.

“What is this about?” he asked. “If you don’t mind my asking.”

Marina gave him the short version of the fight, figuring he already knew the prequel part. He spent the entire time shaking his head in disbelief.

“I’m so sorry,” he said. “Avery is a good kid and neither of you deserves this. I gotta be honest, I never liked Harold and always wondered what you saw in him, but I don’t pretend to understand women all that well. My wife tends to agree that I’m clueless.”