Rick tilted his head. “Judy and I are dating, not married.”

“I’m aware of that. A simple signature changes that, however.” Joe tapped the paper in front of him with a ready pen. “If a judge understands there will never be testimony from your wife against you, he can’t deny bail. Only your wife can ask for a restraining order and the court won’t keep you away from each other.”

The information was trickling into Rick’s brain slowly. “What about the murder?”

“The police will question you on your whereabouts at the time of the murder and scramble to deny you have an alibi. A lack of an alibi isn’t evidence that you committed the crime, or probable cause to hold you. They’re going to have to work a whole lot harder to pin this on you without Judy’s testimony. I’m not saying they won’t try, but it won’t be easy.”

“I didn’t attack Judy, and I didn’t murder any woman.”

“Clearing your name will be a lot easier out of here than in.”

Rick took a step toward the table, glanced at the paper in front of Joe.

Certificate of Marriage.

Joe twisted it around to let him look at it.

His name was there next to Judy’s. When his vision focused on Judy’s signature, some of the anger inside him simply blew away.

“This was Judy’s idea.”

Rick glanced up from the paper. “Really?”

Joe smoothed down the hair on his chin and lifted one corner of his mouth. It was the only smile he’d seen on the man since they’d met. “Brilliant, really. I’d encourage her to study law if she hadn’t just gotten her degree.”

Rick sat and stared at the certificate, traced his finger over her signature.

“Kimberly, my colleague representing Judy, asked that I give you a message.”

His pixie was willing to marry him just to keep him out of jail. He wasn’t sure anyone ever displayed that kind of trust in him. “What message is that?”

“Judy asked that I mention Karen and Mike, and said you could work out concerns later. She said you’d understand.”

He smiled. His smart, resourceful girl . . . “All I have to do is sign here and we’re married?”

“Legally.”

“She doesn’t even have to be here?”

“Sad, but no. Lawyers have solicited signatures for legal marriages for hundreds of years. You sign this and you’re married with all the laws that protect you with that union.”

“And Judy . . .”

“She’s half married already. Just needs you to seal the deal.”

To think, less than a month ago he was happily pestering her to go out with him, and here he was adding his signature to a piece of paper making Judy his wife.

He traced his name after he added his signature. Too easy . . .

“Can you get a message to Neil?”

“Of course.”

“Tell him to keep my wife safe.”

“Dad is going to be pissed.”

Judy stared at her brother and laughed. “What else is new? He can be pissed all he wants, it isn’t going to change anything.”

“But marriage?” Karen asked.

It was an intervention, only they were too late. Judy had the copy of the marriage certificate and Rick’s signature was on it.

“This question from you, Karen?”

Karen glanced at Zach. “She has me there.”

“Exactly.”

Zach wasn’t as easy. “There had to be another way.”

“Maybe there was, but this was the easiest and fastest. Rick will be out tomorrow, and not worrying about him going back to jail will afford us time to find the real criminal.”

“Since when are you part of the police department?” Zach asked.

“The police aren’t looking for anyone, they think they have him. And I’m damn tired of having a chaperone every minute of every day.” It was Sunday, and she’d been under a self-imposed house arrest with either Russell, Dennis, or Neil close by every hour since Rick had been taken away. “I can’t live like this.”

“How is it you’re going to find this guy?”

Judy stared at her brother. “I’m not. He’s going to find me.”

“The hell!”

“Oh, don’t go there. I’m not going to try to attract him. I’m not stupid. I just know he’ll be back. Last night I remembered his last words before he knocked me out. ‘Next time’ . . . he said ‘next time.’ Only next time I won’t be so alone or unprepared for him.”

Zach rested a hand over hers. “Judy . . . you’re a girl from a small town who plans on drawing for a living. You’re not some superwoman who can take out anyone.”

She patted Zach’s hand. “I’m married to a Marine, Zach. And he can take out anyone.”

His pixie wore red. The low-cut dress was skintight and stopped just above her knees. Rick managed a peek at the black hose she wore with two thin ropes up the back of each leg. To add to the allure, she topped her head with a hat that matched the dress. Damn he’d missed her. Her smile lit the room when their gazes met and held.

Judy sat among Neil, Gwen, Zach, Karen, and Meg. Every one of them dressed like royalty . . . well, except Neil, he just filled up his seat with bulk and attitude. He probably felt naked without his guns. Lord knew Rick did.

Since this was an arraignment and not a trial, Rick was forced to wear the blue jumpsuit every incarcerated man wore while inside.

Some media personnel had a presence in the back row of the courtroom. But they kept to themselves and wrote notes.

Everyone stood when the judge walked into the courtroom.

Rick was asked to stay standing and Joe stood along with him.

“How do you plead?” the judge asked as if it were a simple exercise.

“Not guilty.”

The DA stood and started to ask the judge to consider holding him without bail when Joe stopped the prosecution. “Can we approach the bench, Your Honor?”

Rick turned and winked at Judy, who offered a little wave.

The attorneys stood at the bench, talking in heated tones.

“Married?” the DA said loud enough for everyone in the courtroom to hear.

There was more not so hushed talking, but catching every other word didn’t do the argument justice.

Several seats in front of Judy and her entourage sat Detectives Raskin and Perozo. The confusion on their faces was priceless. Idiots.

The attorneys walked away from the bench, the DA tossing his papers on the desk while Joe wore a grin.