Come Back for Me (Arrowood Brothers #1)(30)

“At this time, we plead the fifth and wish to await the trial.”

The judge doesn’t look surprised, but I am.

Mendoza leans over, his voice a soft whisper. “They know there’s enough evidence to keep the case from being thrown out and it’s best to wait for the trial instead of having to recant anything he says now.”

Right, God forbid he dig himself a hole. The same rights should be afforded the people who witnessed it and me—the victim.

How unfair is this all?

The judge leans forward, his arms resting on the desk in front of him, and he looks to the defense and then to the prosecutor.

“I find myself sitting in these proceedings more than I’d like to be. A family being torn apart, and there’s always some flighty reason that the defense presents. As though the woman or child were asking for what happened. I’m not sure when we as judges felt that this was allowable. But it’s not. Mr. Walcott, I’ve looked over your wife’s medical records, heard her testimony, and have made note of your lack thereof. I’ve heard the account of the night, seen the images that the prosecution put forth, and heard how your seven-year-old daughter is who went for help, believing that her mother was going to die. Now, this isn’t the trial, but it is to decide whether you’re released until that trial, and if so, at what cost. Usually, the courts say one hundred thousand dollars and calls it a day, but I’m reminded of a case that is similar to this. One where the outcome of this case, I fear if I were not to follow my gut, will be much like that one. Therefore, I’m denying the request for bail.”





Chapter Thirteen


Ellie





Relief so sweet fills me that I can barely contain myself. We’re on our way back to Connor’s so I can grab Hadley and my things to go back to my house. Connor’s place is . . . strange. It’s clean, but very sterile with its single couch and outdated television. Each bedroom has a queen size bed and a dresser, but that’s it.

It’s a house, but not a home.

Even though my home isn’t great, it’s at least comfortable.

I lean my head back in the seat and release a breath through my nose. “I can’t believe they held him.”

“Honestly, I can’t either.”

I look over at him. “You thought they’d release him?”

Connor tilts his head to the side. “I did. Usually, they go with bail, I hoped Nate could push back enough. I was prepared though if it didn’t . . .”

“If it didn’t, what?”

He glances over and then goes back to the road. “I wasn’t sure what I’d do.”

“I’m sure you had some plan.”

Connor laughs. “I had some crazy ideas, that’s for sure.”

I’m sure he did. We get to the beginning of his driveway and Connor stops the car.

“Is everything okay?” I ask as we sit here.

He looks up at the sign that says his last name and then over to me. “My mother . . . she was sentimental in every way. She wanted us to have traditions we would pass on to our children. When we came to the driveway, she would stop the car and make us answer a question. Each of us had a different answer based on what she thought fit our needs.”

“That’s sweet.”

My mother was the same. She was always trying to make holidays special and doing things that have stayed with me. Every year for my birthday, my mother would come into my room with a cake in her hands, and we would eat it for breakfast. It’s a tradition I’ve carried on with my daughter, who thinks it’s the best thing in the world.

“It didn’t matter that, after she died, no one asked the question aloud. My brothers and I still stop the car and stare at this sign, wondering what life would’ve been like if she lived.”

It’s clear that her impact on her sons was far greater than she could ever know. “What was the question?”

“What is one truth about an arrow?”

I touch his arm, and it drops from the wheel, which he was gripping. My hand drifts down to his, taking his fingers in mine. “Tell me what your truth is?” I say softly, not wanting to break the spell of the moment.

“You can’t take a shot until you break your bow.”

“What does it mean?”

Connor moves his hand, covering mine completely. “It means you have to pull back on the bow, use all your might to fight against the strain in your arm as you’re going for what you want. It means that if you don’t break the bow, you can’t ever go forward and hit the target.”

My heart begins to pound hard in my chest, both of our breathing is quiet as we watch each other. The words are so poignant to my life right now. I’ve been unwilling to make any ripples for fear of what would come, but until I stand and change the form of my life, I’ll never go anywhere.

“I can see how much your mother influenced you. Also, you did break the bow, Connor. You left this place that morning and became a SEAL and a hero. When you came back, you became a hero to Hadley and me as well. Thank you for sharing that with me.”

He opens his mouth to say something but then stops. “You’re welcome.”

I look down at our hands, and we both pull back. “I’m sorry. I should . . . I’m clearly a mess and you’re being so nice. It’s been a rough couple of days, and I’m . . .”