realized that this would be a high profile case. Proving the Killer Kindergarten Teacher innocent would make for good publicity.
Jason gripped her upper arm in a firm grip and started to move her down the steps, through the mass of reporters. “Ms. Simmons has no comment,” he said several times as they made their way.
She hung her head, hiding her face behind her long hair as Jason made a path for them through the crowd. Of course it was too late to matter—they’d already had plenty of time to take pictures of her as she came out of the courthouse and had been struck dumb. Her picture would be on the front page of the daily newspaper.
KILLER KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
The words went around and around in her mind. Her kids, her wonderful kindergarteners. What would this do to them when they saw that their teacher was accused of murder? They were young, but they would realize something bad had happened. No matter what the outcome was, there would always be the doubt in some people’s minds…her reputation would forever be tarnished.
And what about her friends? What would they think of her?
Jason and a deputy escorted Hollie to the waiting deputy’s car and opened the back door. She ducked down and slid onto the seat before the deputy shut the door firmly behind her.
She leaned forward on the seat, her wrists cuffed behind her, and the tears came, hot, like every one of them was burning a trail down her bruised face. The drive to the sheriff’s department headquarters wasn’t far and some of the reporters beat them there. Hollie was led up another set of stairs and into the headquarters, her head down, her hair hiding the tears rolling down her cheeks.
* * * * *
“Hollie Simmons.”
The female voice calling Hollie’s name caused her to jerk her head up. She was sitting in the corner again, her eyes puffy from crying silent tears. She hadn’t been able to stop since she’d left the courthouse. She slowly got to her feet and wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands.
“Bail’s been posted for you.” The jailor opened the cell door. “You’re free to go for now.”
Stunned, Hollie stared at the woman. She couldn’t imagine who would have paid enough to post bail. “Who posted it?”
“No idea.” The woman jerked her head, indicating Hollie needed to exit the cell. “Just be glad someone did.”
Hollie couldn’t help looking back at the women in the cell. Gert and Mary were staring at her. Amanda was sitting on the floor rocking back and forth and muttering beneath her breath.
Gert smirked. “See you later, Teacher.”
Hollie bit her lower lip and turned away. She hoped with all her heart that she wouldn’t be seeing any of the women again.
She was taken to retrieve her belongings, which included the purse she had taken with her the night she was taken in for questioning, her driver’s license, wallet, earrings, and cell phone. Her hands trembled as she placed everything in her purse. She was given her coat and the scarf she’d worn when she came in for questioning. She shrugged into the coat and wrapped the scarf around her neck. The whole time she felt dazed, as if this weren’t real and she was still locked up and was hallucinating.
As she pushed open the door and walked out into the overcast day, she braced herself for more reporters then blew out a breath of relief. Thank God there were none. Likely they didn’t know bail had been posted and had no reason to be there right now. They’d gotten their photos anyway when she’d left the courthouse.
At the foot of the stairs she saw John, his hands shoved into the pockets of the suede western jacket he was wearing.
Instead of his uniform, he wore plain clothes, including a black T-shirt pulled taut over his muscular chest that showed through the opening of his jacket. Wrangler jeans were snug against his thighs, and he had worn brown leather boots on his feet. A Stetson shaded his eyes and she couldn’t read his expression.
Her body
Jason gripped her upper arm in a firm grip and started to move her down the steps, through the mass of reporters. “Ms. Simmons has no comment,” he said several times as they made their way.
She hung her head, hiding her face behind her long hair as Jason made a path for them through the crowd. Of course it was too late to matter—they’d already had plenty of time to take pictures of her as she came out of the courthouse and had been struck dumb. Her picture would be on the front page of the daily newspaper.
KILLER KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
The words went around and around in her mind. Her kids, her wonderful kindergarteners. What would this do to them when they saw that their teacher was accused of murder? They were young, but they would realize something bad had happened. No matter what the outcome was, there would always be the doubt in some people’s minds…her reputation would forever be tarnished.
And what about her friends? What would they think of her?
Jason and a deputy escorted Hollie to the waiting deputy’s car and opened the back door. She ducked down and slid onto the seat before the deputy shut the door firmly behind her.
She leaned forward on the seat, her wrists cuffed behind her, and the tears came, hot, like every one of them was burning a trail down her bruised face. The drive to the sheriff’s department headquarters wasn’t far and some of the reporters beat them there. Hollie was led up another set of stairs and into the headquarters, her head down, her hair hiding the tears rolling down her cheeks.
* * * * *
“Hollie Simmons.”
The female voice calling Hollie’s name caused her to jerk her head up. She was sitting in the corner again, her eyes puffy from crying silent tears. She hadn’t been able to stop since she’d left the courthouse. She slowly got to her feet and wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands.
“Bail’s been posted for you.” The jailor opened the cell door. “You’re free to go for now.”
Stunned, Hollie stared at the woman. She couldn’t imagine who would have paid enough to post bail. “Who posted it?”
“No idea.” The woman jerked her head, indicating Hollie needed to exit the cell. “Just be glad someone did.”
Hollie couldn’t help looking back at the women in the cell. Gert and Mary were staring at her. Amanda was sitting on the floor rocking back and forth and muttering beneath her breath.
Gert smirked. “See you later, Teacher.”
Hollie bit her lower lip and turned away. She hoped with all her heart that she wouldn’t be seeing any of the women again.
She was taken to retrieve her belongings, which included the purse she had taken with her the night she was taken in for questioning, her driver’s license, wallet, earrings, and cell phone. Her hands trembled as she placed everything in her purse. She was given her coat and the scarf she’d worn when she came in for questioning. She shrugged into the coat and wrapped the scarf around her neck. The whole time she felt dazed, as if this weren’t real and she was still locked up and was hallucinating.
As she pushed open the door and walked out into the overcast day, she braced herself for more reporters then blew out a breath of relief. Thank God there were none. Likely they didn’t know bail had been posted and had no reason to be there right now. They’d gotten their photos anyway when she’d left the courthouse.
At the foot of the stairs she saw John, his hands shoved into the pockets of the suede western jacket he was wearing.
Instead of his uniform, he wore plain clothes, including a black T-shirt pulled taut over his muscular chest that showed through the opening of his jacket. Wrangler jeans were snug against his thighs, and he had worn brown leather boots on his feet. A Stetson shaded his eyes and she couldn’t read his expression.
Her body
Similar Books
