“Why did the two of you go looking for her?”
“We were worried. She didn’t show up or answer her phone.”
“But was there a particular reason to be worried?”
“She’d agreed the Sunday before to move in with us. We feared her boyfriend would react badly when he found out. She told us she was scared of him.”
“Objection, hearsay,” Dean said.
“Sustained, but, Mr. Dean, remember you’re questioning him now. You’re bringing this on yourself.”
“So you hire her, move her into your home, buy her things, and expect people to believe you’re not sleeping with her?”
The State Attorney looked like he wanted to slap Dean. “Objection!”
“Sustained.”
“I wish to answer that.”
Dean turned, shocked. The judge nodded. “Go ahead, Mr. Paulson.”
“Sleep with her? Yes, we have both ‘slept’ with Ms. Barton,” Tyler angrily said. “She went into hysterics in the doctor’s office and had to be sedated, thanks to Mr. LaRougue’s version of tender loving care. We had to sleep with our bedroom door open to hear her when she awoke, sobbing with panic, Mr. Dean, so one of us could hold her while she cried herself back to sleep. For several weeks, one of us had to sleep with her, as in stay in her room, so any of us could get any sleep. There was nothing sexual about that. She wouldn’t leave our home for nearly two weeks because of her injuries. It took her months to feel comfortable being alone in our home without one of us there.”
He turned a hard eye to Alex. “Then he tried to kill her again and nearly succeeded. She did nothing to him. I hope there’s a special hell for him.”
Dean looked shocked. “Move to strike.”
“Overruled. You asked, he answered. I suggest you finish with the witness if you have nothing further, Mr. Dean.”
“No further questions.”
That’s when the adrenaline shakes hit Tyler and he struggled to maintain his composure. If the jury acquitted Alex because of his outburst, he’d never forgive himself. He just couldn’t hold it in.
“Redirect?”
The State Attorney shook his head. “No.”
“The witness is excused.”
On shaky legs, Tyler stood and walked past Bob. Bob followed. Tyler caught his arm outside the door. “Will you take them home?”
“Sure, but—”
“Thank you.” Tyler turned and took long, quick strides down the hall, away from the witness room. Bob lost sight of him in the crowded corridor.
Tyler loosened his tie and jogged to the Lexus once outside the courthouse.
What a fucking arsehole, Paulson. You’ve done it again.
All she’d asked was for him to stay calm, and he couldn’t even do that one little thing for her. He beat his hands on the steering wheel.
“Fuck!” he screamed inside the closed car. He caught a glimpse of himself in the rear view mirror as he removed his tie.
They’d be better off without him. For now, at least. He couldn’t stand to face her, or Thomas. How would he ever look them in the eye again if they let the bastard go? All because he couldn’t do one little thing his angel had asked.
God, the fucking media would go batshit over him losing it on the stand. Christ.
He started the car and took off.
“What do you mean he left?”
Bob tried to pry Nevvie’s hand from his arm. “He asked me to take you home. I’m assuming he left.”
“Shit!” Nevvie bolted from the witness room, Thomas on her heels.
Panicked, she pushed through people, praying he hadn’t left yet. She ripped her BlackBerry from its holster and dared glance down for a second to speed-dial his number.
Straight to voice mail.
She heard Thomas behind her yelling for her to wait. She didn’t slow, trying to make it to the parking garage. As she rounded the corner, Tyler’s Lexus turned right, headed for the interstate.
“Tyler!” she screamed, running after him. She finally gave up at the corner, trying to catch her breath.
Thomas caught up with her. “Did you see him?”
She nodded, unable to speak, and pointed.
“He’s gone?”
She nodded, falling into his arms.
Thomas kept a steadying arm around her waist for the walk back to the courthouse. He suspected Tyler lost it on the stand.
Bob waited for them in the witness room. “What happened?” Thomas asked.
The attorney took a deep breath. “It wasn’t bad. It helped the prosecution.”
“Bob,” Nevvie whispered. “Please.”
Bob retold Tyler’s emotional outburst. She closed her eyes. “Shit,” she whispered. “I knew he’d do it. He’s running.”
Both men looked at her. “What?”
“He thinks he’s fucked it up. He promised me he’d stay calm and he didn’t. He’s trying to get away because he thinks that will take the pressure off us.”
The State Attorney entered the room. “Jury’s got it.” He looked at them. “Where’s Mr. Paulson?”
Thomas shook his head. “Apparently he wasn’t happy with his performance on the stand.”
“Oh. Well, I think he sealed our case. I looked at the jury when he was talking. All the women looked teary, and damn near half the men, too.”
Thomas was going to take Nevvie to get coffee when a bailiff entered the witness room. “Jury’s back.”
Bob scowled, glancing at his watch. “They have a question?”
Bailiff shook his head. “Verdict.”
“What? It’s only been fifteen minutes!”
Bailiff shook his head again. “Nope, ten. Took me a minute to get in here to tell you.”
Nevvie’s heart caught in her throat. “Is this bad, Bob?”
“I don’t know, but let’s get in there.”
Thomas held her hand as they followed Bob into the gallery. The judge returned and the jury entered. Nevvie couldn’t decipher the judge’s face when he read the paper before handing it to the bailiff to return to the foreman.
She closed her eyes and felt Thomas’ fingers grip hers, Bob’s arm around her shoulders.
“Will the foreman please read the verdict?”
“On the first count, of attempted murder, we find the defendant guilty.”
Nevvie slumped against Thomas, trying not to cry while Bob patted her on the back. She didn’t even hear all of the verdicts.
Alex screamed as the judge ordered him remanded to custody.
When they dragged Alex from the courtroom, Nevvie finally took a deep breath and smiled, then hugged Thomas and Bob.
The prosecutor walked over, and she hugged him too. “Thank you,” she said. “I can’t tell you how much.”
“It’s my job. Sentencing’s on Monday.” He looked at Bob. “Coordinate with my office. We’ll see you then.”
Bob put his hand on her back and guided her out of the courthouse. Thomas followed a couple of steps behind, wanting to hold her hand but afraid to with reporters hanging around. Once they were safely in Bob’s car and speeding away from downtown, Thomas turned to her.
“You okay, sugar?” He reached an arm over the seat and she gripped his hand.
“We’ve got to find him, Thomas.”
The first entrance ramp Tyler found led him to I-275 south. He followed it across the Bay, through St. Pete, and over the Sunshine Skyway. When he pulled out his wallet to pay the toll he realized not only was he low on cash, but missing his ATM card, too.
Dammit. What next?
When he reached the junction to pick up I-75, he blindly chose south.
Why not?
Maybe Miami. Get a room for a few days, let things die down. Once there he’d send Nevvie a text message so she could quit worrying. The last thing they needed—she needed—was him around.