Promise Made (The Callahan Series) by Mitzi Pool Bridges

to rethink your strategy.”
    “Why would I need to? Rita was been beaten for years, the record will prove it.” She narrowed her eyes. “Has the evidence disproved her statement?”
    “Not at all. In fact, it probably confirms it.”
    Kate sat back, crossed her arms. “Then why would I change the plea?”
    “Because she’s guilty of premeditated murder.”
    Kate let her arms drop to the table. “You’re not serious?”
    “You didn’t see the look in her eyes when I got to their trailer, Kate. It was one of triumph and relief.”
    “You read her wrong.”
    “There’s a hundred-thousand-dollar life insurance policy. Rita is the beneficiary. As sure as I’m sitting here, she’s guilty.”
    Could be bad news. But maybe not. “Wrong again. Maybe she doesn’t even know about the policy. Besides an insurance policy doesn’t automatically mean murder.”
    Amy delivered their orders. “Anything else?”
    They were too busy glaring at each other to answer.
    “Good,” Amy said. “Enjoy your meal.”
    Kate shoved the plate aside, leaned across the table. “Rita is a classic case of domestic violence carried to the extreme. Yes, she probably should have left him years ago, but according to every statistic I’ve ever read, most women don’t. They take the abuse day after day, month after month, year after year, until something snaps. Rita snapped when Tobias threatened her with a baseball bat. If I can’t convince a jury she was justified, I should turn in my license.”
    ****
    Dugan picked up his burger, took a bite, but didn’t taste it. Sitting across from Kate, her eyes flashing blue lightning, her face set in a determined scowl he remembered too well, was almost too much to take right now. “Think about it, Kate. Rita got tired of the beatings. Instead of calling the law she carried out her own brand of justice. We still don’t have all the evidence. There could be more later.”
    “I’ll want proof.”
    “You know you can still defend her even though she’s guilty.”
    “Rita is innocent,” Kate said, her teeth clenched.
    He held up a hand. “Truce. Nothing I say will change your mind, so let’s just finish our meal.”
    “I’ve lost my appetite,” she said as she dug in her purse. She took out some bills, put them on the table, and stood. “See you in court.”
    She stopped long enough to grab a paper napkin and wrap the roll in it. He forced back a chuckle.
    Dugan, along with more than a dozen of Molly’s patrons, stared as Kate swept out of the diner.
    He endured their pitying looks as long as he could before he pushed his own meal aside, paid and left.
    Dusty Potter followed him out. “Always did say you were better off without her.”
    Ignoring him, Dugan stalked back to his office.
    The two of them had just given the town more to gossip about. There was no doubt in his mind the lines were being drawn even tighter.
    He wondered how many were left who hoped the two of them would get back together?
    Very damn few after this reality show.
    He walked into his office. Sybil Wells looked at him with an I-told-you-so smile. Jeez! It didn’t take more than two minutes for the gossip mill to roll.
    Slamming his office door, he glared at Piper who waited patiently for his usual treat.
    Dugan held out his empty hands.
    He took a deep breath, sat down at his desk. At least the trial should prove interesting. He’d get to see Kate in action. Another facet of her life he knew nothing about.

Chapter Nine
    Kate checked on Gram, then sank into the chair behind her desk. Dugan was wrong about Rita. But everything else about him was right and familiar. His penetrating emerald eyes, his scent, the way he wore his Stetson. He was a handsome man and she wondered why he’d never married. But then, neither had she. Though she’d been informed, gleefully it seemed, he was engaged, she never saw him with Mary Jo.
    Kate and Dugan were in a holding pattern.
    Why?
    Why did he disturb her so if she gave him up