“Don’t say anything until I get there,” Kass yelled as they dragged Cat away in handcuffs and pushed her into a police vehicle.

  Bliss and Cat were gone a few seconds later leaving the remaining two cops behind. They started going through everything in Cat’s car.

  “Oi, you can’t do that, that’s private property,” Kass told them before they got too far.

  “We have a warrant,” one of them replied.

  “Where? Let me see it.”

  He handed it over. It was legit. Kass could do nothing but stand by as they went through everything.

  “That’s my bag,” she protested when they popped the boot and reached for her duffel.

  It didn’t stop the cop. “Warrant covers everything in the car.”

  Kass watched as they pulled out a couple knives, a roll of duct tape, string, and several other items and tools she quickly and easily explained away as camping equipment. She blushed when they lifted out a pair of lacy panties.

  “Nice gun,” one remarked when he found her telescopic rifle.

  “That’s mine.” At his questioning look she added, “I like to hunt.”

  “That’s a pretty powerful rifle to be hunting with.”

  “The further away you are the less likely you are to spook the deer,” she replied with a forced sweet smile.

  He matched her smile and his was equally as fake but he put the gun back down. It might be an unusual and higher priced gun for the citizens of Little Rock but guns themselves were pretty common. The only thing in the car that was really that unusual for them to have was the gas mask. Kass cursed herself for thinking for a second that it had been a good idea to keep it.

  When the cop held it up she simply shrugged and replied, “I’m thinking of painting my apartment. They were on special.” Not entirely a lie and the cop let it slide.

  It wasn’t soon enough that they were packing up their stuff and driving off and then Kass was left standing alone on the side of the highway beside Cat’s car with stuff thrown about all through the boot.

  She packed up all the stuff the cops hadn’t bothered to put back and then she slid into the driver’s seat and sat for a moment. Cat would hate that someone else was driving her car but there wasn’t much to do about that. Kass needed to get down to the station. She just hoped that Cat had kept her mouth shut.

  She took a moment to familarise herself with where everything was and then she adjusted the seat and mirrors, knowing Cat would probably hate that too but that driving safely was more important and Cat would agree with that. She pulled the seat forward and then she started up the engine. Despite being more powerful than her own car, Cat’s engine was much quieter. It purred softly but it pulled away fast when Kass put her foot to the floor. She couldn’t help but enjoy the thrill of it a little. It was a nice car to drive.

  She returned to Cat’s garage first, figuring it was better to pick up her own car. Cat’s would be safer here. She dropped Cat’s keys off with Bongo at the front desk. He had his feet up and was reading some kind of automotive magazine when she entered. He didn’t bat much of an eye at her leaving the keys with him and she didn’t mention anything about Cat being arrested, only that she’d be back later.

  Then Kass took her own car down to the station. It wasn’t that far from her own office.

  She found the front desk. “Cathryn James was just brought in. Where is she? I’m her lawyer.”

  The clerk pointed her to an interrogation room down the hall.

  When Kass burst into the room she found Cat and a male cop standing face to face inches from the back wall and looking like they were moments from a fight. A second cop was sitting at the interrogation table doing nothing.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Kass asked the one standing. “Get away from my client unless you want an assault charge.”

  “She attacked me,” he protested as stepped back.

  Cat glared at him but didn’t make a move to pursue him at least.

  “She’s handcuffed,” Kass replied.

  “Who are you?” the other cop asked.

  “I’m her lawyer,” Kass told him. “And you shouldn’t even be speaking to her without one.”

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  “She never asked for one,” he replied, as he got up from the table slowly.

  “Yeah, well she has one now so get out.”

  The cops obeyed. Kass didn’t feel completely relaxed until they were gone. Then she took a seat at the table, hiding her shaking hands under it. It was strange, when she was in the middle of something she could do stuff without thinking about it. Just command a cop to leave the room or speak confidently in front a jury. In the moments she felt nothing but afterward there always some come down, regret, uncertainty, fear, sometimes a drive to do better next time, even if she hadn’t really done that badly the first time. Nothing was ever quite perfect though and it often felt like everything she did was just an act. It felt like the floor had fallen away beneath her but she fought to maintain her even composure.

  She nodded at Cat to take a seat as she tried to regain her bearings. She knew this stuff. The law was her domain.

  Cat rolled her eyes but reluctantly did as suggested.

  "Okay. Nolan Perninski? Explain."

  Cat shrugged. "There's nothing to explain."

  “Why do they think you killed him?”

  Cat shrugged again.

  Kass raised her eyebrows, a indication for Cat to elaborate.

  In a bored voice Cat replied, "You told me not to talk to anyone."

  "I didn't mean me."

  Cat’s gaze flicked to the glass mirror against one wall. A one way mirror.

  “They’re not allowed to listen or record this conversation. It’s privileged.”

  Cat gave her a doubtful look. “They’re always listening.”

  Kass didn’t bother trying to convince her otherwise. Truth was, Cat was probably right. They may not be able to use anything said in this conversation in court but that didn’t mean no one was listening. The rules were played with loosely in Little Rock. Instead she sighed, “Fine, if you won’t tell me anything then I’ll get it out of them. They have to give me everything they have, but it would be easier if I know what they might find later.”

  Cat’s hard gaze fixed on Kass’s. Her eyes narrowed. “You think I’m guilty just like them.”

  “Are you?”

  Cat didn’t reply

  For a moment they just stared at one another. Kass tried to read the truth in Cat’s green eyes but there was nothing. She was just a wall.

  Kass got to her feet. “I’ll see what I can do about getting you out on bail.”

  Cat’s defiant expression softened slightly and she nodded silently. As Kass made for the door Cat said, “And maybe you could see about getting them to let me use the bathroom?”

  Kass glanced back at her and nodded. Then she left. She found a young looking cop in the hall. His name tag read Jerry.

  “Hey, my client wants to use the bathroom. You guys have a protocol for that right?”

  “Uh, yeah, she’ll need an escort.”

  Kass gave him an expectant look.

  He shook his head.

  "Uh uh. No way. I ain't escorting her to the bathroom. And none of the others will want to either. She's violent. She'll probably try to slip her cuffs and escape. Just give her a bucket."

  Kass stared at him. “She has rights you know.”

  He laughed. “She is Cat James. Don’t you know? Her father terrorized half this town and she is just as bad as he was.”

  Kass frowned. She knew Bill James had been violent but she’d never heard much about him from other people in town. “What happened to him?”

  The cop shrugged. “I dunno. It was before my time but apparently he just disappeared one day. We’ve all heard the stories though. Wannabe aristocrat but he was no gentleman. He married the daughter of one but they shunned him and her.”

  “You heard what he did to his wife then?”

  Jerry shrugged. “Rumors. Nobody could ever prove it. From what I hear nobody would have risked trying.”

  “But you arrested Cat?”

  “That wasn’t my call. Some cops got a grudge against her.”

  “So it’s a setup?”

  “Oh no, not at all. From what I heard they got some pretty good evidence.”

  “Who’s in charge of her case?”

  “You should talk to Bliss.”

  He started to walk away.

  “Hey, what about an escort?”

  He shrugged.

  She narrowed her eyes. "Fine, I'll do it myself."

  "You'll get in trouble."

  Kass replied with a shrug of her own. It was a small transgression. Compared to all the other cowboyish stuff that went on around here, she doubted anyone would care, as long as Cat didn’t actually manage to escape.

  She returned to the interrogation room. Cat looked bored by she glanced up with interest when Kass entered.

  “Come on. I’ll escort you to the bathroom but if you try to run I’ll lose my job so please don’t okay.”

  Cat rolled her eyes but she complied and was quiet all the way there and back.

  Kass went to find Bliss next.

  She introduced herself. “I’m Cat James's lawyer. What do you have on her?”

  Bliss studied her. “Aren’t you also the woman who was there when she was arrested?”

  “I’m also her friend yes.”

  “Bit of a conflict of interest isn’t it?”

  Kass shrugged. “It’s a small town.” She avoided looking directly at the woman.

  Bliss was almost as tall as Cat and equally as intimidating, maybe even more so given Kass didn’t know her quite as well. But Bliss largely remained polite and formal.

  Bliss led her to a large interview room with a square table and several chairs all around it. In one corner were some beanbags and kids toys. Bliss threw a folder down on the centre of the main table.

  “Nolan Perninski, found dead in his living room by his wife and daughter. One gunshot wound to the head. The gun was found in his right hand.”

  “He was holding the gun?” Kass interrupted. “Then how do you know it wasn’t suicide?”

  “Because, Miss Nite, Nolan Perninski is left handed. If he was going to shoot himself, why would he use his other hand?”

  “Did you find any prints on the gun?”

  “Just his. We suspect the gun was wiped and then placed.”

  “Why do you think Cat did it?”

  “Because a few days earlier she broke into his office and attempted to attack him. She then waited outside until she was forced to move on. And we found her prints in his house.”

  “Where?”

  “On a door handle. Mr Perninski also looked like he had taken a beating prior to his being shot. It’s all in the documents.” Bliss tapped the folder.

  “No witnesses?” Kass asked as she picked the folder up off the desk.

  “One. There was another set of prints found at the crime scene, one not belonging to his family. Cops are on their way over to interview that witness now.”

  “How do you know that person’s not the one responsible?” Kass asked.

  “Because that person is a sixteen year old girl. Katrina James.”

  “Are you charging Cat?”

  “We plan to yes. Although a confession would be nice. I hear the prosecution is willing to make a deal. Her name and number are in with the rest of the files. But personally,”—Bliss gave a smile—“I hope she doesn't talk so we can put her away for good.”