“But won’t you be the one prosecutin’ me?” I was getting hysterical, but I couldn’t stop myself. Joe was leaving me.

Mason turned to watch Joe. “He’s coming back. He just needs to feel like he’s doin’ something.”

I didn’t want to be alone. I was more scared than I thought, but what scared me most was the thought that Joe had had enough of my shenanigans and wouldn’t come back.

Mason sat in the chair beside me and put his hand on my knee. “Do you remember when you were picked for the jury? You went through voir dire, right?”

I tried to settle down. Crying wouldn’t solve anything and it sure wouldn’t bring Joe back. “Judge McClary wasn’t very happy.”

Mason laughed. “That’s an understatement. I can’t prosecute you because I couldn’t be partial. Someone else would have to do it. But I promise you, you are not a suspect.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll find who did this.” His voice faded and his mouth stretched as if he was in pain.

There was more to his look than just worry about me. “You told me that you’re an assistant DA because you want to protect people. Did something bad happen to someone you care about? Is that why it’s important to you?”

He nodded, looking straight ahead.

“Who was it?”

A grim smile lifted one corner of his mouth. “My sister.”

“Was she okay?”

His face hardened. “No.”

“Did you find who did it?”

He turned to look at me, his eyes dark and brooding. “Yes.”

Mason sat with me until Joe returned several minutes later then he got up and walked away. I expected Joe to get angry that Mason had sat next to me again, but instead Joe sighed and pulled me into his arms.

“I love you, Rose.”

Nodding, I held back my tears.

The ambulance never showed up so Joe took me to the hospital himself. I spent an hour in the ER before going to the police station to give my statement. True to his word, Mason sat next to me during questioning, despite the fact it was well past midnight. Joe sat on the other side, not saying a word, but cringing when I gave the details of the attack.

The three of us stayed in the room when Detective Taylor left.

Mason put his hand on the table and looked at Joe. “Malcolm had an alibi.”

“Well, of course he did. He wasn’t going to do this himself.”

“Joe, Malcolm didn’t have anything to do with this and you know it.”

“How do you know that?” I asked, my fear rising at their seriousness.

“Because the intruder filled your tub with water and most likely intended for it to look like an accident.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“Malcolm would never send someone so sloppy. You have multiple contusions on your face and bruises on your arms and legs. Even if he had succeeded and staged your murder, the Henryetta Police wouldn’t have believed it was an accident.”

I wasn’t so sure about that. “So who was it?”

Mason swallowed then flexed his hand. “You might be onto something with your theory of Bruce Decker’s innocence.”

Joe slammed the table. “Don’t encourage her, Deveraux.”

“I respect her enough not to lie to her. Can you say the same thing?”

My heart skipped a beat. What did he mean by that?

Mason continued. “We don’t know who it is, but if the assault wasn’t tied to Malcolm, then we have to presume that you’ve upset someone else with your investigation. I’m going to ask the judge for a recess tomorrow morning so we can question you on what you know.”

More questioning? But Mason insinuated they would listen to my evidence for Bruce Decker’s innocence. Wasn’t that what I wanted?

“And then she’s done.” Joe said. “She’s out of this mess for good.”

Mason nodded. “Take her somewhere for tonight and bring her to the judge’s chambers at nine.”

Joe stood and took my hand. “Come on. You need some sleep.”

I doubted I’d ever sleep again. We got into Joe’s car and drove to a motel. If the clerk thought it odd that we were checking in at two in the morning, he never let on.

When Joe shut the door he locked both locks and looked around the room before setting his gun on the bedside table.

“Do you think you’ll need that?” I asked, pointing to the weapon.

“I will if I find the bastard who did this.”

Stepping toward him, I put my arms around his neck and pressed my body into his chest.

He buried his face on my shoulder. “If Mason Deveraux hadn’t shown up…”

“I know. But he did. How did you get to my house so fast?”

“Didn’t you listen to your message?”

“No, after I found out about the pins from Miss Eloise, accidently insulted the guest speaker, and then found out that Mike is leavin’ Violet, I got distracted.”

“So basically it was a normal night for you?”

I shrugged. “I guess.”

“My message was that I was comin’ tonight. I have something to work on in Magnolia tomorrow. Since it’s closer to Henryetta than Little Rock, I decided to come spend the night with you.”

I kissed him. “Lucky me.”

“Let’s get you undressed and tuck you into bed.”