Chapter 2
Two
Aubrey stared at the office phone for a beat, indecision warring with a need to know. She hated bothering Stephen during the week, since his docket was typically full. She blew out a breath. Oh, for crying out loud. This was getting ridiculous.
She picked up the receiver and dialed the judge’s office.
“Renegade Courthouse. Judge Stephen Mullinax’s office.”
Aubrey’s stomach dropped at the sound of Claire Carnforth’s greeting—she sounded stressed.
Claire had been working for the judge for a couple of years now, and even though she was young, she kept him organized and on schedule.
Aubrey checked the caller ID and verified she’d dialed the judge’s direct line.
“Hello?” Claire said.
“Hey, sorry. It’s Aubrey Richardson. Is the judge in?
” Please be in. She really needed to speak with him about some last-minute changes to Renegade Days.
Well, that and he hadn’t returned any of her calls or texts.
She couldn’t remember many days since she moved to Renegade when he hadn’t sent her a text or called to see how she was doing.
“No, he hasn’t. He missed his eleven a.m. appointment. I’m worried.”
“Me too.” This wasn’t like him. He was always punctual, and even though he had a busy schedule, he always made time for Aubrey. “When was the last time you heard from him?”
“He left work early on Monday. Said he had to meet someone at home. I even called his housekeeper yesterday when he never showed, and she said she was sure he’d be back soon. But where did he go?”
A sense of dread settled in Aubrey’s stomach, but she forced herself to remain positive. “Thanks, Claire. I’m sure he’s around somewhere. Maybe he got caught up in something sensitive and that’s why he’s out of contact.”
“Yeah, sure, that has to be it.” Hope clung to Claire’s statement.
Aubrey prayed it was true. But all the what-ifs pummeled her best deflections. “Tell you what. I’ll go to his house and check on him.”
“Would you?”
“I’d be happy to do that.” Aubrey grabbed her purse from her desk drawer and locked her computer. “If the judge contacts you while I’m out, will you let me know?”
“Not a problem. And thanks again, Aubrey.”
“Anytime.” She disconnected the call. She was going to have to take matters into her own hands. If Stephen wouldn’t talk to her, she would ride over there and see him.
She poked her head in Liam’s office. “Got a minute?”
He glanced up from a file he was reading and leaned back in his office chair. “I need a break from these files. What’s on your mind?”
She tugged her purse higher on her shoulder. “I need you to cover the front desk while I’m gone. Maybe an hour.”
“I’m intrigued.”
“My life isn’t a mystery, and it’s not a case to be solved.
” Aubrey braced herself against the doorframe and fidgeted with the purse strap, hoping that didn’t sound too harsh.
Nothing about her needed to intrigue anyone.
She exhaled. “Sorry. I’m going to swing by the judge’s house on my lunch break.
I’m part of the organizing committee for Renegade Days, and he’s helping me. ”
Liam grinned and his dimple peeked through. “That’s all you’ve been talking about for weeks now.”
“I know.” She felt heat climb up her neck. She’d lived in the shadows for so long. Helping with Renegade Days gave her a sense of purpose. A sense of belonging.
She tried to shrug off his comment. “I’m actually a little bit worried about the judge. He’s not answering his phone.”
Liam frowned. “He’s a pretty busy guy. I’m sure he’s just gotten caught up in something.”
Maybe Liam was right. Maybe she needed to give this to the Lord, exercise a little faith. But it had been a long time since she had done that. Did she even know how?
Liam’s easygoing smile returned. “Admit it. You’re getting bored behind that desk, and you’re looking for something to add excitement to your life.”
She forced herself to smile. “I’m just trying to work on the Renegade Days festival. I’ve had enough excitement in my life, and it was overrated, thank you very much.”
If only he knew. But nothing had happened to her since she moved here.
The man she’d testified against was still in a federal prison, with no chance for parole.
She’d trusted Judge Mullinax’s judgment when he convinced her that uprooting her life and moving here was the best thing for her and her family.
Renegade was safe, and so was she.
“Really? You want things to be boring? That’s an interesting take on a community festival that’s the highlight of a lot of people’s year.” He leaned forward. “What about Butler? If you need an assist, I’m sure he’d be happy to help.”
Aubrey snorted. “Hardly. Ethan and I should just agree to stay in our own corners.” She should give up trying to win him over with brownies.
Liam laughed at her discomfort. “Butler is a good guy. He’s a bit closed off, but he just needs the right person in his life to help him. Like Sam and me.”
He thought Ethan needed a girlfriend? She snorted. “I don’t think I’m the right woman for the job. It’s awkward being around him.”
“That’s because he likes you.”
“What are you, in sixth grade?” Aubrey shook her head. “Anyway, I still need to find the judge.”
Liam frowned. “Now that you mention it, the judge is always around the coffee shop or charming the older ladies at the Mountain View Café. I haven’t seen him.”
She huffed out a breath. “Right? He loves a good cup of coffee and a fresh doughnut. Chatting with his gaggle of lady friends.”
She paused a moment, choosing her words.
“Here’s the thing. We’re having our final run-through of the stagecoach robbery tomorrow, and the judge is portraying the sheriff.
I’ve got this bad feeling something is…off.
” Lately, he’d distanced himself whenever she wanted to talk or even meet up for breakfast on a Saturday morning.
“I’m going to see if I can track him down. ”
Liam sat upright, his steady gaze searching hers. His deep-blue. eyes twinkled. “Maybe you should take Butler with you. You know, for backup.”
“What? No!” She’d have swatted his arm if he were nearer, and he knew it.
Liam grinned. That rascal. Why was he pushing her toward Ethan?
What a ridiculous idea. If she was into the whole tall, dark, and handsome-with-a-side-of-grump type of guy, Ethan was it.
But in every way other than simple attraction, it was a bad idea.
“Look, if I wanted to scare somebody away, I’d take Ethan. ”
Liam’s smile faded. “I don’t think you should go alone.” He closed his laptop and locked his desk.
“It’s just a visit to an old friend. Nothing is going to happen.”
Liam leaned against the desk. “I don’t know, Aubrey.” He rubbed his chin with his knuckles. “Like you said, this entire situation feels off. Let me go with you.”
“I tell you what.” She grabbed her cell phone out of her oversized bag. “I’ll call Jenna and have her meet me there.”
“I’ll have the police meet you out there.”
She opened her mouth, but Liam cut her off. “Please? For my peace of mind.”
“Fine.”
Liam followed her outside into the bright July sunshine.
Even though it was the middle of summer, the mountain range to the west ensured that the town had moderate temperatures, not blazing hot like the Southern states.
In some ways, she missed her small hometown in North Carolina.
But days like this, when the sun was shining, the humidity was low, and a soft breeze swirled around her…
Yeah, she liked this part of the country.
She unlocked her SUV, started the engine, and rolled down the window. Liam rested his palms on the roof and leaned in, examining the interior of her vehicle. He whistled. “Nice ride. Is it new?”
“Yep. Picked it up a couple of weeks ago. With the cold winters, I needed a dependable car. My old two-door Honda Accord was on its last legs.”
She didn’t mention that the judge had helped her with a huge down payment. If her coworkers knew about his generosity, it would raise some red flags. They might get the wrong idea about her relationship with him.
“That car was, what? Almost thirty years old?”
She nodded and patted the steering wheel. “Look, I’ll be fine.”
“Sometimes people surprise us.” He quirked one eyebrow, tapped the roof with his knuckles, and stepped back. “So be careful.”
“I’m sure it’s my overactive imagination and he decided to take a couple of personal days.” She held up her phone. “I have my cell phone, and I’m calling Jenna now. Watch my desk.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Liam gave her a mock salute.
She drove away, blowing out a sigh. She didn’t have time for overprotective-big-brother vibes. She’d been on her own for a long time. But that was just the way Liam was—with everyone.
There was no way it meant he’d noticed something about her that he was trying to figure out. After all, if it were obvious, Ethan would have seen through her a long time ago.
She left the hustle of the crowded city behind for the relative peace of the newer developments at the outskirts of the city limits, navigating out of downtown Renegade and going west into the suburbs near the Renegade Mountain range.
This town was a sanctuary for her. Here, she was accepted, no questions asked.
She had a job she loved, close friends, a sense of belonging.
No one saw her as the girl whose sister had been murdered.
She had a good life here. She enjoyed spending time with Stephen at his house.
He always had company, and when he was on vacation, she would house-sit and make herself at home, make use of his in-ground pool.
She exhaled and called Jenna. When her friend picked up, Aubrey said, “Hey, girl, what are you doing right now?”