The Plan (The Hillers of Barratt County #4)

Chapter 25

25

Ronnie had given Giavonna a special mission—find anything that stood out. The two of them were going through everything to do with the Tolben case, looking for anything that was different from what George expected. If Giavonna found something, she’d have Ronnie check. Then… they’d make a list for George when he came back. It was tedious work, but Ronnie was determined.

The Tolben case hurt him. And she was going to fix it.

They were going to start their together kind of life without that case hanging over them. They just were.

Genny had accompanied Giavonna to get away from Greer—or so she’d said. But Ronnie suspected Genny had had something bothering her—and wanted to avoid home for a few hours.

Chad Fields was there again—and he’d apparently said something to upset her. Genny was by the filing cabinet, flipping through folders, trying to figure out what they were about. Ronnie had checked, they were fine for her to look at—nothing confidential in them. She was a smart kid, but the law most definitely was not her thing.

George was still gone—his meeting with Hendricks Barratt, the law professor, had ended up being a lot longer than he’d thought. But he’d sounded intent and almost excited on the phone when he’d called to check on her—and Alien-baby. He was a man-on-a-mission again. This time that mission wasn’t her.

Things were getting back to normal—with one notable exception. He’d kissed her goodbye before he’d left.

Genny yawned dramatically.

“How do you do this all day?” she asked, stretching her legs out in front of her. “Is it always like this?”

The kid was bored. Hard to miss that. She’d already emptied most of the trash out of the back room. Until they got to the paint store, there wasn’t much she could do today. And Ronnie had to pick out colors first. Or…she’d just let George’s sisters. They were super-excited to be aunties.

Ronnie smirked. “You get used to it. Besides, somebody has to keep your brother out of trouble.”

Giavonna snorted softly from across the room. “Good luck with that. But there have been a few times I’ve been tempted to climb out the bathroom window when I’ve filled in for you, Ronnie. I’m just not sure I would fit. No sense lying about it. Working for George can be… difficult.”

No kidding.

Ronnie smiled, shaking her head. “Your brother just needs proper training, that’s all.”

“How exactly does one properly train a boyfriend anyway?” Genny asked. The look on her face made Ronnie laugh. This girl was one of a kind. But she had George’s eyes. Maybe… maybe their baby would have those same eyes and be just as adorable as this little sister of George’s. Ronnie would like that.

The front door banged open before she could answer. Much harder than it should.

Ronnie looked up. It took her a moment to recognize the man standing there. Without his judicial robes he just looked so… unremarkable really. Kind of scraggly and puny.

“Judge Felner,” she said, standing slowly. He’d never been to George’s office before. That just wasn’t something judges did. If he wanted to talk to George, he’d summon him instead. “What are you doing here? George is at FCU, the law school there, speaking with Hendricks Barratt. I’m not sure when he’ll make it back, but you can leave him a message.”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he just stared—first at Giavonna, who had straightened in her chair, then at Genny, who stood frozen by the filing cabinet.

This didn’t feel right.

When he jerked his hand out of his pocket she saw…

Ronnie barely had time to register the dull gleam of metal. She moved.

“Genny, go! Lock the door!” she shouted, shoving Genny backward toward the bathroom. Genny almost fell, but she grabbed the handle and steadied herself. It was a heavy door, and it locked—from the inside. Ronnie blocked it with her own body until Ronnie could swing that door shut. There was a window in there… and Genny was so small. She’d fit. Genny would fit. Genny could get out. Hopefully, Genny would get out.

Ronnie turned back toward Judge Felner. She shifted, between him and Giavonna. Her pulse thundered in her ears, but her voice came out steady. “Put it down, judge. You don’t want to hurt us. I’m pregnant and Giavonna’s only a teenager. She just stopped by to file for her brother for extra money. Is this what you really want?”

Judge Felner had two children, she thought. One of them wasn’t much older than Giavonna.

He blinked at her, his grip tightening on whatever he was holding. His knuckles were bone white, his mouth twitching as if trying to form words but failing.

“Put it down. Please.”

His eyes flickered—anger, fear, desperation, all warring beneath the surface. “You don’t understand. He’s… Hiller’s going to ruin everything. He’s just making it all worse.”

“George isn’t here, Your Honor. You need to leave.”

Giavonna shifted behind her, her voice tight. “Ronnie…”

“Stay behind me,” Ronnie told George’s sister. She wasn’t going to let anything happen to this girl.

Holland’s eyes flicked to the bathroom door. “That girl… she’s calling for help, isn’t she?”

“I don’t think so. She doesn’t have a cell phone. She’s only sixteen. And that is just the bathroom. I just don’t want her out here. She’s just a little girl, Judge Felner. She doesn’t even drive a car yet. You aren’t going to hurt her, or scare her anymore. I’m not going to let you.”

“I… just want to finish this. With Hiller. So all of this will just go away. Why can’t it all just go away?”