Virginia Vaughan - No Safe Haven

This wasn’t the first time she’d seen him in prosecutor mode, but it was the first time she’d had no ties to the case so she had no reason to analyze his tactics. Instead, she watched the length of his stride, the swagger in his step and the way he charmed the jury with his boyish grin as he made opening remarks. The case he portrayed sounded solid. She glanced at the jury members. They were responding to him, watching him as he moved, leaning forward to hang on his every word. They trusted him.

She smiled. She understood their reaction. It was easy to trust him.

He caught her eye when he turned. A small smile played on his lips. Her face burned with embarrassment, knowing she’d been admiring not his work but his physical presence. And he’d just caught her doing it.

When the judge recessed for the day, Andrew scooped up his briefcase and headed her way. “Hi, Jessica, do you have an interest in this case?”

She felt her face redden as she realized the only interest she had in this case was standing right in front of her. “Not really. I need to talk to you.”

His brows scrunched in worry. “Did something happen to Sarah?” He pulled out his phone to check his messages.

“Sarah’s fine.” Jessica reached her hand out to stop him, but when her fingers touched his arm, a jolt of electricity caused her to momentarily forget what she wanted to say. She stared up into his questioning eyes as he waited for her to finish. “There is something we need to discuss.”

He glanced at his watch then back at a group of people standing across the room. Jessica recognized one of them as the district attorney.

“If now isn’t a good time, we can talk later.”

“No. Let’s talk now.” He took her arm and led her through the doors of the courtroom.

“This won’t take long.”

He led her to a bench outside the courtroom and they took a seat. Jessica noticed the D.A. glancing toward them.

“If you really need to go...” She pointed his way.

He shook his head. “I’ll catch up with him later. What’s going on?”

“It’s Sarah. She is refusing to press charges against Robert. She won’t testify against him either if the D.A.’s office decides to pursue the case.”

His whole body seemed to clench. “What? Why?”

“She’s afraid. It’s not an uncommon phenomenon.”

“I’ll talk to her.”

The sternness in his tone bit at her. “You can’t bully her into making this decision. She has to take these steps on her own.”

“I’m not going to bully her. I’m just going to help her along.”

She knew his kind of “helping.” “You can’t do that.”

“Why not? I’m her brother.”

“You just can’t. All you’ll do is push her away.”

He grumbled and rubbed his face. Frustration dripped from every muscle. “I don’t even understand my sister anymore.”

“Control is a difficult thing to give up.”

“It’s better than giving up your life, isn’t it?”

“Said the man who is always in control.” Her thoughts slipped into words before she had a chance to stop them, but she didn’t care. The condescension in his voice rubbed her wrong. Who was he to judge anyone? He’d never been in Sarah’s situation.

Or hers.

“Wait a minute. How did this turn around to be about me? I haven’t done anything but try to help Sarah.”

“You judge her for the choices she’s made.”

“She’s made bad choices. That’s not my fault.”

“No, but a little understanding wouldn’t hurt. Isn’t she paying a high enough price? She doesn’t need her perfect brother looking down his nose at her, as well.” Jessica hopped up so fast she knocked over his briefcase.

Even as she stomped away she knew she was being irrational. Just being with him, listening to him, dredged up memories she’d tried to bury for years. It wasn’t Andrew’s fault, yet he was catching the blame.

He reminded her so much of Dean with his protective nature and the frustration in his voice. Dean hadn’t known how to help her, just as Andrew was finding it hard to take care of Sarah. She should be trying to make it easier for them both but instead she was struggling herself. After all these years, after all the families she’d counseled, why was this coming up now? And, more important, how did she stop it from happening so she could focus on her job?

She rushed down the courthouse steps and walked quickly toward her car, aware that Andrew was behind her. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—let him see the tears pressing to let loose.

She stopped as she neared her car and noticed something on her windshield. Beneath the wiper, she spotted a white envelope. It wouldn’t have caught her attention as anything more than a flyer if a bright red rose wasn’t sitting on top of it.

Andrew caught up to her. “We need to talk about this. What did I say that upset you?”

She ignored his question and pulled the envelope from the windshield. Her name was typed in the center. She tore open the seal and pulled out a folded piece of paper. The note was typed and unsigned, but the five little words stopped her cold. She quickly scanned the area. No familiar faces jumped out at her, but someone had been at her car. Someone had left this note for her to find. This she couldn’t write off as paranoia.

Andrew noticed her demeanor. He reached out and touched her arm. “You’re shaking.” His voice grew stern. “What’s the matter?”

She held out the note and he read it.

You can’t stop true love.

Someone was out there taunting her, watching her, stalking her. And no one knew better than Jessica not to take this threat lightly.

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