Deadly Setup. Annslee Urban

my intention to upset your mother or anyone else, however—”

      “Then get out.” Gentry’s voice snapped like a too-taut elastic band as he gestured sharply with one long-fingered hand toward the door.

      His counterpart, Eli, took a step, plunking curled fists on his hips. “Miss Becker, you need to leave. Let me walk you out.”

      “That’s not necessary,” Paige said, clutching her purse closer to her side. She spun on her heel and headed for the door. Heart thumping, she was shaking inside. Perplexed. This was crazy. She swallowed around tears clogging her throat. Both she and Gentry wanted the same thing—for Madison’s killer to be brought to justice. She couldn’t just walk away.

      Frustration peaking and acting purely on adrenaline, she stopped short, wheeled around and turned her gaze back on Gentry.

      The intensity in his expression as he glared back at her made it difficult for her to even breathe; still, she went on. “Gentry, if justice is what you’re seeking, please listen to what I have to say.” Paige tried to keep her voice from shaking. “I know there’s a mountain of alleged evidence stacked against Trey, but he never would have hurt Madison. I really believe her murderer is still out there. If you’ll just give me three minutes, I’ll explain.”

      The scowl on Gentry’s face never wavered. Just that same contorted expression and narrow-eyed stare, like she was out of her mind. “You’ve overstayed your welcome, Paige.”

      The sound of sirens pierced the air. Her heart stopped, then burst into a savage beat when she glanced behind her and out the window at the flashing red, blue and white lights of the deputy cruiser parked right outside.

      Just when she thought things couldn’t get worse.

      * * *

      “What do you mean, Paige has been arrested?” Seth shot out of his chair, dropping his half-eaten sandwich on his desk.

      “Deputy Hobbs brought her in about an hour ago,” Ted said, dogging Seth’s steps as he stalked out of his office and down the hallway that would take him outside the building.

      “And what’s she been charged with?”

      “Misdemeanor trespassing.”

      Seth stopped short, one hand on the exit doors, and looked at Ted. “Trespassing? Where was she?”

      “Cramer’s Antiques.”

      He should have known.

      Seth pushed through the exit and headed across the street to the jail.

      Clouds had gathered overhead, and a light icy drizzle was falling. Seth took an inhale of cold, moist air, which did nothing to diffuse the heat building inside him as he wondered what kind of trouble Paige would get herself into next.

      Inside the county jail, he took the elevator down one level to the basement, then entered a long, dark corridor that led to the magistrate’s office. Pushing through a second set of double wooden doors, he entered the courtroom. He allowed his gaze to cruise the front three rows of seats, about half-filled with suspects waiting for their preliminary hearing before the magistrate. Paige was right there among them.

      As Seth took a seat in the back row, Paige was called to a podium to have her charges read—criminal trespassing in the second degree.

      Deputy Ed Hobbs stood to the side and explained to the judge how Paige had unlawfully remained on the Cramer’s Antique and Gift Mart’s property after the owner, Gentry Cramer, made several reasonable requests for her to leave.