Green Eyes placed his full wattage of a smile on her. At his side, she had to look up to see him. This close, she felt like a pixie in the presence of a dragon.
“Is Karen OK?”
“Oh, she’s fine. We’ll have them all out of here in a couple of hours.”
“I don’t even know why they’re here. My parents just went back to talk to my brother, Zach.”
Gwen and Neil exchanged glances.
“Why don’t we step outside and talk?”
Judy followed them outside and away from anyone listening.
“From what I’m told,” Gwen began, “a girl named Becky ran away from home with her boyfriend.”
“Nolan?”
“Right,” Gwen said. “Zach and Karen found them hiding and put them up in the hotel for a couple of days until they could figure out how to keep Becky safe.”
“What’s wrong with Becky?”
Gwen sighed. “According to Karen, her parents abuse her. They accused Karen and Zach of kidnapping…and her boyfriend of other nefarious acts.”
The picture was clearing before Judy’s eyes. “Becky’s always been so shy.”
“You know her?”
Judy nodded. “Hilton is a small town. Everyone knows everyone.”
Gwen glanced at the men. “Do you know where Becky lives?”
“Of course. Why?”
As the question escaped Judy’s mouth, a news van pulled into the driveway.
Neil moved between the newly arrived media and his wife.
“Karen believes Becky is in grave danger. She’ll not be allowed to go anywhere near Becky until these ridiculous charges are dropped. And if I know Karen, she’ll ignore the court to help the girl.”
From behind them, a man with a microphone approached, his eyes narrowed on Judy.
“Aren’t you Michael Wolfe’s sister?” the reporter asked.
Rick moved between Judy and the reporter. “No comment.” His deep voice made the reporter pause, but not for long.
“Is it true Michael’s wife is being detained?”
“What about no comment did you misunderstand?” Rick’s voice lowered and the smile on his face fell.
Neil ushered Gwen back into the station.
“Is it true Mrs. Wolfe was found naked in the hotel with Mr. Wolfe’s brother?”
Judy froze. Her eyes grew big.
Rick placed his large hand on her back and gently pushed her through the door and away from the reporter.
The reporter didn’t follow them inside right away.
“Is that true?” Judy asked Gwen.
The soft expression on Gwen’s face confirmed the reporter’s accusation. “It’s not what you think.”
What is it then?
The reporter took that moment to push inside the station.
Rick turned toward the door and once again blocked Judy from their annoying presence. “Dude, you’re starting to piss me off.”
Gwen grabbed Judy’s arm and pulled her away. “I know you’re confused. I can assure you that everything is going to be OK. I’ve already spoken with Michael. He’s on his way here now.”
Her stomach turned thinking of her brother. “Poor Mike.”
“Mike is more concerned for Karen and Zach’s safety right now than for himself. Listen, Judy…Karen told me that Becky is pregnant.”
The rest of the air in Judy’s lungs left and her head felt dizzy. “Really?”
“Yes. If her parents abuse her, she could be in danger.”
Judy glanced at the police officers that were intervening between Rick, Neil, and the reporter.
“Then tell the police and let them handle it.”
“Karen has. But they’ve given no indication that they are following up on her accusations. To them, Karen is the criminal.”
That Judy didn’t believe, and she knew Zach would never kidnap anyone. “The entire situation is ridiculous.”
“Agreed. Would you be willing to check on Becky for Karen?”
Judy nodded. “Of course.”
Gwen glanced around. “Can you go to her home now and make sure she’s safe? Rick can go with you…keep you both safe.”
Judy glanced at the broad back of the man blocking the reporter.
Her parents wouldn’t like it, but she couldn’t say no. Judy nodded.
Gwen tapped Rick on the back and spoke to him in hushed tones. Green Eyes glanced Judy’s way and smiled briefly.
Rick stepped around the officers and met Judy by the desk. He smiled at the female officer. “Is there a back door we can use to escape the media?”
The woman nodded and ushered them around the counter and through another door. A small corridor later, Judy and Rick were running to a rental car and tearing out of the parking lot.
She stared out the back window, expecting the reporter to give chase. Only no cars or vans pulled behind them. “Take the freeway north.”
Rick switched lanes, maneuvered the car onto the freeway. Only when she was sure no one followed did Judy twist in her seat and pull on her belt, and she felt the green-eyed stare of the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen in her life fall on her…again.
Oh, boy!
Chapter Twenty-Six
An officer led Karen into a large room and sat her on a bench to wait for the judge. They brought Nolan in next, then Zach.
“Are you OK?” Zach asked.
“I’ve had better days,” she told him truthfully. Beyond them, the room filled up with their family and friends. Janice and Sawyer wouldn’t meet her eyes. She could only imagine what was going through their heads.
Samantha, Blake, Neil, and Gwen offered smiles as they took their seats.
“Did you talk to the lawyer?” Karen asked.
“Yeah. We’re all set,” Zach told her.
“Are we getting out of here?” Nolan asked.
“We should.”
A commotion brought everyone’s attention to the back door of the room.
Several people walked into the room with handheld recording devices, their eyes swung toward the three of them.
“Great, reporters.”
Zach shook his head. The three of them sat with their hands behind their backs in handcuffs. Humiliation crawled up Karen’s spine.
The lawyer who’d visited Karen earlier walked into the room followed by two more men dressed just as well. Three-piece, fifteen-hundred-dollar suits were a sure bet of highly paid lawyers. All of whom Blake and Samantha brought in. Leave it to a millionaire duke to have the best.
“All rise for the honorable Judge Stanhope.”