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CHAPTER ONE

A FEW DAYS ago Callie James was planning a romantic surprise for her boyfriend.

Now she found herself in front of a judge who held Callie’s future in her hands.

She swallowed the lump in her throat that held back the bile churning wildly in her digestive tract. Her folded hands on the defense table were damp as she waited for the judge to speak.

Callie never got into trouble. Sure, she’d received a speeding ticket once and had the occasional library book fine, but that’s as far as it went. She’d never come close to the possibility of jail time.

The judge turned her attention from the papers in front of her to the scattered observers in the courtroom. She cleared her throat and looked over horn-rimmed reading glasses to focus on the prosecution side of the room. “The charge is malicious destruction of property?”

“Yes, Your Honor.” Her now ex-boyfriend, Andrew, who happened to be a Maryland Assistant State’s Attorney, rose from his seat at the prosecution table and straightened his conservative navy-and-white diagonally striped tie, which he wore with his equally conservative navy suit.

“You’re prosecuting the case on your own behalf?” The female judge’s wizened eyes narrowed in disapproval.

“No, Your Honor,” he said quickly and looked down to his right.

A much younger but similarly dressed man seated next to him stood up. “ASA Ross, Your Honor.”

Was this guy even out of law school yet? He had the haircut of a six-year-old and the lanky build of a fourteen-year-old who was wearing his father’s suit.

When the judge smiled at ASA Ross, Callie figured this was it. They were all conspirators in her downfall. They were going to lock her up and throw away the key.

“Harvey Goodman for the defense, Your Honor.” Callie’s lawyer was her financial firm’s house counsel and the only person she could think of to call. Harvey was nearing retirement age and she just hoped he wasn’t out of his league. His expertise was in mergers and acquisitions—he probably hadn’t litigated since law school. Which was likely about the same time he’d bought his suit, whose buttons strained over his middle.

“Thank you, Mr. Goodman. I understand your client rejected the state’s plea agreement?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Andrew interjected, and Harvey nodded.

“Mr. Slater. If you’re not prosecuting the case,” the judge admonished, “then please allow Mr. Ross to speak.”

“Yes, Your Honor. I apologize.” Andrew played the admonished attorney well.

ASA Ross spoke. “The plea was rejected.”

The judge wrinkled her nose as she looked over the papers on her large, wood-paneled desk that placed her a few feet higher than everyone else in the courtroom. “Mr. Slater, you’re claiming Ms. James came into your apartment, lost her temper for no apparent reason, and then threw your Dresden vase—value forty-five hundred dollars—on the floor and left?”

“That’s correct.” Andrew’s tone was sharp but deferential.

“No apparent reason?” The whispered words were out of Callie’s mouth before she could stop them, earning her a stern look and a shush from Harvey.

“You’ll have your chance, Ms. James,” the judge told her then turned to Andrew. “How would you classify your relationship with Ms. James?”

Andrew glanced quickly at Callie before answering. “A romantic one.”

Callie coughed and immediately lowered her head when the judge glared at her.

“Keep quiet,” her lawyer whispered out of the corner of his mouth.

“How long have the two of you been involved?” the judge asked Andrew.

Too long, Callie realized, but hindsight was always twenty-twenty.

“A few months” was Andrew’s answer.

Except that the incident had taken place on their six-month anniversary. The reason Callie had been taking Andrew a romantic dinner when he’d had to work late. Or so he’d said that’s what he was doing.

“Do you have anything else to add?” the judge asked.

“No, Your Honor.” Andrew took his seat.

The judge turned to Harvey and Callie. “Ms. James, you’ve rejected the state’s plea agreement?”

Callie rose, displeased when her voice was shaky. “That’s correct, Your Honor.”

Sounding incredulous, the judge stared straight at Callie. “May I ask why? You do know that if you don’t accept the plea that consists of paying restitution, then you can be subject to not only reimbursement but also a fine of twenty-five hundred dollars and up to three years in prison if found guilty?”

Callie inhaled, straightening her spine. “I understand, Your Honor.” Her lawyer had explained in depth. “I didn’t lose my temper, and I can’t admit to causing damage when I’m not sure I did it. If I did break the vase, then it was accidental and happened because Mr. Slater—” She stared at Andrew, narrowed her gaze, and said calmly, “Because Mr. Slater is a lying ba—”

“Objection!” Andrew was on his feet so fast he nearly toppled over the table in front of him.

The judge banged her gavel at the sudden commotion in the gallery. “Order!” Bang, bang, bang. “Order!”

When everyone quieted, the judge first reprimanded Andrew in a no-nonsense manner. “Your objection is moot, Mr. Slater. This is an arraignment, not a trial. And I’ll remind you for the last time that you’re not the one prosecuting this case.” Her gaze went to ASA Ross.

“Of course, Your Honor.” Andrew had the decency to lower his head in deference before taking his seat.

Then the judge addressed Callie. “Ms. James, please keep your personal opinions to yourself and stick to the facts.”

Callie nodded. “I’m sorry.”

The judge straightened her back and folded her hands on the desk in front of her. “Why don’t you tell me your version of what happened and why you won’t accept the plea agreement?”

As Callie began to explain how she’d been going to surprise Andrew with dinner because he said he’d be working late, the anger rushed through her as if she were reliving it. She unclenched her fists, relaxed her shoulders and blew out a breath, techniques she’d always used successfully to diffuse the first signs of anger.

“So you brought him dinner. Then what?” The judge’s smirk said she didn’t want to hear about some lover’s spat.

“It was our six-month anniversary.” Callie glanced at Andrew. Her confidence got a boost when he colored with embarrassment. “I had a key to his apartment and I didn’t bother knocking since he’d told me he was still at work. I took the food directly to the kitchen and heard a noise in the bedroom.” Callie swallowed. There was that pesky bile again. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Thinking Andrew had gotten home earlier than expected, I went to surprise him.” She drew in a breath. “He was in bed with a...woman.” Callie had other names for Andrew’s former colleague but refused to lower herself to their level.

A choking sound from the back of the room had Callie and several others turning.

Heat suffused Callie’s face and spread through her body as she relived Andrew’s betrayal. There was the woman, standing at the back of the courtroom as if she belonged. So sure of herself that she’d come to observe Callie’s further humiliation. How long had their affair been going on? Was it serious or merely a one-night fling?

Callie didn’t care. Once a cheater, always a cheater. She’d never take Andrew back.

The judge gave her a little prod. “What happened next?”

Truthfully, Callie wasn’t a hundred percent sure. Everything had blurred as she’d run out of the apartment. The blood rushing in her ears had been so loud that if she had knocked over Andrew’s precious vase, she hadn’t heard or felt it.

“I ran out of the apartment and went home.” Callie shrugged her shoulders. “I have no recollection of knocking over his vase, accidentally or on purpose. I do know that I didn’t throw it.”

The next thing she remembered was waking to the ringing phone, her pillowcase wet from tears, thinking Andrew had wanted to apologize. Instead he’d wanted her to reimburse him for the stupid vase. The thing was ugly, with some kind of battle scene on it, but he’d bought it in Germany several years ago and claimed it was very expensive.

Callie had refused to pay him and a few choice words to describe her feelings about his betrayal had remained unspoken. In return, he’d offered her a few hours to think about her options. The only option she’d been interested in was the one where she’d never see him again.

She’d gone to work as usual the next day. When she hadn’t heard back from him, she’d assumed he’d come to his senses and realized it was unfair to make her pay for something she didn’t break.

The following morning she’d awoken to banging on her apartment door. Two officers were there to escort her to the Montgomery County Detention Center. She’d spent several hours in an interrogation room until her lawyer made arrangements for her arraignment. At least she hadn’t been subjected to a jail cell.

She’d sworn to herself right then and there that she would never, ever, get involved with an assistant state’s attorney again. Or a lawyer. Or anyone else who could put her in this kind of position.

For that matter, she was swearing off men altogether.

Period.

The judge drummed her fingers on her desk, appearing to want Callie to say more.

“Your Honor, if I did knock over Mr. Slater’s vase, then it was by accident.” Callie couldn’t help adding, “An accident caused directly by Mr. Slater’s own inexcusable actions.”

The judge’s brows rose but she kept her focus on Callie while raising a hand to quiet Andrew, who was halfway out of his chair.

He pinched his lips shut but not before glaring at Callie as he sat.

She guessed he didn’t expect his private “affair” would come out in public. He probably thought he’d scared her and she’d gladly pay for his precious vase now.

“Then you admit you broke the vase?” the judge asked.

“No.”

“No?”

“I don’t remember bumping into it or breaking it, so I can’t say for sure that I broke it. We only have his version of events, and I’m not about to accept the opinion of a known liar.”

The judge nodded. “Thank you.” She turned to Andrew. “Mr. Slater, did you see Ms. James break the vase?”

“Well—”

The judge nodded, pursing her lips. “That’s what I thought. Do you perhaps have a witness who will come forward to verify that Ms. James broke the vase?”

Andrew looked to the back of the room where the witch was now seated, shaking her head vigorously.

Andrew turned back to the judge. “No, I don’t.”

“So it’s a ‘he said, she said’ case?”

Andrew looked at Callie, disgust on his face. “Unfortunately yes, Your Honor.”

“And you still think you can be successful at trial?” The judge wanted to know.

Again Andrew glanced to the back of the courtroom before answering. He straightened. “Yes, I do.”

The judge addressed Callie. “I know you don’t want to accept the plea agreement from the state, but I have an alternative so as to stop wasting the court’s time and the state’s money.”

Callie waited for the judge to continue, her knees knocking. Maybe she should have just given Andrew the money for his ridiculous vase.

Then again, why should she give him the satisfaction? He’d already gotten what he wanted. Callie glanced back at the woman she’d last seen straddling him.

Callie straightened her shoulders and raised her head high. She had nothing to be sorry for.

“Ms. James, I don’t know whether or not you broke Mr. Slater’s vase. And if you did, I don’t know if it was on purpose or by accident. So my solution to this is Solomonesque.” From the confused looks the judge was getting from around the courtroom, Callie wasn’t the only one who didn’t get her meaning. “King Solomon, people. You know, cut the baby in half and all that?”

Callie still didn’t understand.

“Okay, Ms. James, you will pay for half of the vase.” She looked at the papers in front of her. “That comes to two thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars.” She looked at Andrew. “That means, Mr. Slater, you will be responsible for the other half.”

Neither party spoke.

“Is that agreeable to both of you?” the judge asked.

“But—” Callie was about to say no. The whole thing was not fair.

The judge held up a hand. “Let me remind you, Ms. James. If you don’t accept this agreement, then bail will be set and a trial date chosen. Mr. Slater will likely have time to convince a particular witness to testify and back his version of events, leaving you to defend yourself in front of a jury of your peers, and you seem to have no witnesses to make your case.”

Callie couldn’t believe it. Andrew was going to win because, no matter what she did, she would have to pay.

She spoke through clenched teeth, fisting her hands so tight that her nails dug into her flesh. “I have no other options?” She was an expert at controlling her temper, had done it out of necessity, but she was a hair’s width away from losing it.

The judge watched her carefully. “No, you don’t. And I’m going to add something beneficial to your overall well-being. I don’t know if you broke Mr. Slater’s vase, but, frankly, you appear to be wound way too tight. I’d like you to get some anger management therapy.”

Callie’s eyes nearly popped from their sockets. Was the judge kidding? Callie held back the hysterical laughter choking her. “Why do I need therapy when he’s the one who lied and cheated?” She pointed at Andrew, quite pleased with himself. She snapped her mouth shut.

“You’re making my point, Ms. James,” the judge cautioned. “I’m beginning to think you may have broken the vase on purpose.” The judge made a note on her papers. “So I need to know if you accept the plea deal. Pay for half the vase, seek therapy, and I’m going to add one hundred hours of community service to the deal.”

“Community service?” Her lawyer finally spoke up. “That’s completely unfair, Your Honor.”

“Mr. Goodman, your client can gladly turn down the plea and go to trial. I won’t repeat what I said before about a possible fine and jail time. I think she understands.”

Callie went numb. Why was she being punished and Andrew came out the winner?

“May I have a moment with my client?” Harvey asked.

“A moment,” the judge said. “I have other cases pending.”

“Yes, Your Honor.” Harvey turned to Callie and lowered his voice. “I’m recommending you take the deal.”

“What!” She whispered but several heads turned in her direction. “I can’t take the deal. I’m not guilty.”

“If you don’t, then you could end up in jail. You know he’s going to get the other woman to testify against you.”

“Will this go on my record if I accept the plea?” She’d made a name for herself in the financial world. This could ruin her career.

“I’ll ask for it to be expunged after you complete your therapy and community service,” Harvey said.

Community service. You’ve got to be kidding. She pictured herself in a reflective vest as she picked up trash along I-270 on a hot July day.

“I can probably get your community service limited to some pro bono tax returns for struggling businesses,” Harvey told her.

That didn’t sound so bad. And she could probably handle a few sessions with a shrink. Heaven knew she had enough childhood stuff to fill a few hours.

“Okay,” she finally said. “As long as it all gets expunged when I’m done.”

Harvey addressed the judge. “There are two conditions we’d like to attend to, Your Honor. The matter of expunging Ms. James’s record and some kind of proof of the value of the vase.”

Nice touch, Harvey. Paying for half wouldn’t be a financial burden for Callie, but the principal of paying for it definitely irked her.

The judge made notes. “Those conditions are acceptable.” Then she turned to Andrew. “Mr. Slater, can you provide the court with a proper document?”

“I’d be happy to do that, Your Honor.”

Callie was tempted to wipe that smirk off his face but instead breathed in and out, in and out.

The judge turned to the clerk. “Have both parties sign the appropriate documents.” She banged her gavel. “The court is in recess for fifteen minutes.”

Everyone stood until the judge exited the courtroom through her private door. Loath to speak to Andrew ever again, Callie whispered to Harvey, “Get me out of here.”

“Callie!” Andrew came up behind her as she hurried down the courthouse hallway.

She slowed her pace but didn’t stop completely. “What?”

Andrew hesitated a few seconds before blurting out, “I want my key back.”

Of course he did. She stopped, dug through her hobo bag and struggled to remove his key from her ring. Instead of throwing it at him like she wanted to, she very smoothly held it out to him.

He tossed it a few inches in the air and caught it, his pleasure at her expense almost more than she could bear. “You know I only want the best for you.”

She stared at him, curious why he felt the need to say anything to her.

“That’s why I suggested the judge add therapy to the plea.”

He’d suggested it? Then she was right about them all being in cahoots. She kept her tone neutral. “So you think I need to control my anger?”

He shook his head. “No, I think you need to start expressing your feelings.” He looked down the hall to where his bed partner waited and then back at Callie. “You’re a wonderful person, Callie, but you’re as emotionally reserved as a rock.”

* * *

SEVERAL WEEKS AND anger management therapy sessions later, Callie’s therapist harrumphed and scratched his head. Nearly halfway into today’s session and he was clearly frustrated. Callie suspected he was trying to bring out some anger in her, or at least some kind of emotion. In her defense, she’d spent years bottling up those emotions and she wasn’t sure she knew how to unleash them. Or wanted to.

Dr. Hammond seemed perfectly nice. He was a middle-aged man of average height, average weight and above-average intelligence as far as Callie could judge. Just not the person with whom she was comfortable sharing her innermost thoughts.

“Let’s get back to your mother,” Dr. Hammond said in his monotone voice. “She died when you were very young?”

“Yes.” A pink bathrobe and fuzzy pink slippers constituted her faint memory of the woman who’d died when Callie was three. She didn’t even remember her face, forced to consult one of the few faded pictures she’d held on to.

“Were you upset when she died?”

“Of course I was upset,” she said evenly. “Who wouldn’t be? I was young and had no mother.” Callie’s pulse sped up, so she took control of her breathing. In and out. In and out. “But I couldn’t do anything about it and it wasn’t her fault that she was killed.”

“Are you still angry?”

Callie’s brow furrowed. Her mother had been gone twenty-six years. She missed her or, more specifically, she missed having a mother figure. She didn’t know what it was like to have a mother to turn to in tough times. Like when she’d caught Andrew cheating.

She spoke calmly. “Car jacking is a horrific act of violence, but I don’t dwell on it.”

“Are you close to your father?” Dr. Hammond shifted in his seat and crossed one leg over the other.

“No.”

“When was the last time you two spoke?”

Callie did the math in her head. “About eleven years ago.”

Dr. Hammond’s eyebrows rose. “That’s a long time.” When Callie didn’t comment further, he asked, “What was the circumstance that led to your loss of communication?”

Callie nearly smiled at Dr. Hammond’s formal turn of phrase rather than simply asking why she’d shut her father out of her life. “I left for college.”

“I see.”

No, he probably didn’t, but Callie couldn’t disclose her personal demons to this stranger, no matter how soothingly he spoke.

“Did you and your father have an altercation?”

“No.”

“Would you like to rekindle a relationship with him?”

She hadn’t even considered it. “That’s not an option.”

Dr. Hammond cocked his head and asked, “Did he molest you?”

Callie’s eyes widened and she straightened in her chair. “No, of course not. He’d never do that.” Her father was the sweetest man she’d ever known. Maybe too sweet, blinding him to the deceit surrounding him.

Dr. Hammond watched Callie through narrowed eyes and finally nodded as he made notes in his file. “Let’s move on to your stepmother,” Dr. Hammond suggested.

Let’s not. “What about her?” Breathe deeply. In and out.

“How old were you when she came into your life?”

Callie’s stomach churned. “She was my mother’s friend, her maid of honor when my parents married.”

Dr. Hammond made another note. “How would you characterize your relationship?”

Callie couldn’t do this. She couldn’t discuss her stepmother. “She’s my father’s wife.” She took a halting breath. “Can’t we talk about something else?”

Dr. Hammond was silent for several minutes. “Callie, I’m at a loss here. The court sent you to me, but I can’t help you if you insist on burying your emotions. You need to open up.”

Callie didn’t know what to say. She’d spent most of her life keeping her thoughts and emotions to herself. Any anger burning her insides remained unspoken. That’s what kept her out of trouble.

Until recently.

Most people would have screamed and yelled at Andrew and the woman on top of him, but Callie didn’t operate like that. She’d learned early on to curb her temper, no matter how unfair the circumstances. After that, only once had she ever lost complete control of her temper. It was a slipup as a teenager and she was lucky it hadn’t ruined the rest of her life.

“I don’t know what you want me to say. Nothing in my past has anything to do with me finding my boyfriend in bed with another woman.” She fisted and relaxed her hands several times. “It didn’t make me lose my temper and break an expensive vase. Though I almost wish I had so at least I’d be paying for something I actually did.”

The more she’d thought about it since court, the more she was positive she couldn’t have broken Andrew’s vase. The ugly thing always sat on a shelf right outside his kitchen, so she never even would have come near it as she ran out of his apartment. The only way she might have been responsible is if it had fallen when she’d slammed his apartment door as she’d left—but she wouldn’t have slammed the door. That would have been a loss of control that was completely out of character for Callie.

“Our time is almost up for today.” Dr. Hammond leaned forward. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do this, but I want you to go spend time with your father and stepmother.” When Callie opened her mouth to speak, he raised a hand to stop her. “I want you to voice, face-to-face, whatever your feelings have been about them. Even if in the end you haven’t settled things, at least you won’t be carrying your hurt inside where it’s obviously tearing you apart.”

This couldn’t be happening. “Can’t I just write letters to them, pour out my feelings, and then burn the letters or something?” She’d seen that on shows countless times and it always seemed to make the person feel better.

Not that she needed to feel better. She was just fine. Especially now that she was free of cheating Andrew and single again.

“I’m afraid not,” he said. “I’ve already made arrangements for you to continue your community service in Whittler’s Creek.”

“But—”

“Our time is up.” Dr. Hammond repeated as he stood. “We’ll continue therapy by phone while you’re away. You can email my receptionist with the best time for you once you know your community service hours.”

Callie stood up, her mind a foggy mess. “What about my job?” How would she explain needing time off? How long would it take? A few days? A week? Longer?

Breathe. In and out. Slower. In...out.

Dr. Hammond put a hand on her elbow to show her out. “I’m sure they’ll allow you to take a sabbatical once you explain.” He handed her another piece of paper. A formal letter on his personal stationery. “Use this if necessary.” He handed her another sheet of paper. “And here’s where you report for community service at 8:00 a.m. Monday.”

She glanced at the information. Office of the Chief of Police, Whittler’s Creek, Maryland. Great. What were the chances this small-town law enforcer was someone who didn’t know her or about her past?