Seeing an inevitability to this, Declan put on a pot of coffee. He didn't know who Seth was, but he assumed the man had something to do with law enforcement. Honestly, he didn't see what all the fuss was about. He was accused of raping five young women. Hell, he planned to be first in line when they found the real rapist and he was a pacifist. Every time he thought about what had been done to those girls...

"Seth's going to be here in twenty minutes. He's on duty right now, so this will be official."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

He noted she didn't look all that comfortable.

"Who is Seth?"

"My brother-in-law."

"And..." he prompted.

"A constable with the Mission City detachment of the RCMP."

Great. Just great. "Do you know what happened the last time the police were here? They went through every inch of this place. Chloe told me it took her hours to put everything to rights and even then, when I came home, I could see the mess they had created."

"Who's Chloe?"

He squinted. "She's a co-worker. She's the one who drove my car home from the university and she's the one who cleaned up. Until you secured me bail, I was in jail, so I had no way to get my affairs in order. I hated to impose on Chloe, but my car would still be in the impound lot, the food in the fridge would have spoiled and my bills wouldn't have been paid. Damn inconvenient, being in jail. I don't know what I would have done if not for Chloe."

"It was nice of her," Chantale said. "Look, before Seth gets here there are a few things I need to tell you. The first is something I should have told you from the beginning, although in fairness to me, I didn't see the problem until after I became your lawyer."

Declan was one hundred percent sure he did not want to hear what she had to say. Yet still, he found himself saying, "what problem?"

Chantale looked so desperately uncomfortable he felt the urge to reassure her it couldn't possibly be as bad as she thought.

"I used to be in a sexual relationship with Corporal Colton Pritchard."

Or maybe it could.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you properly. Because I just heard you say you're involved with the lead persecutor in my case."

She winced at his tone, as well as his choice of word, but he didn't give a damn. "I said I used to be in a relationship with him. It's been over for several weeks."

"Oh, well, that makes it okay." Damn, could he never catch a break?

"Look, there's two ways of looking at this."

"Please, enlighten me." He didn't even try to hide the sarcasm.

She took a breath and met his gaze with moxie, which he had to admire.

"You can believe my objectivity is compromised and my allegiances will rest with Colton." A slight smile curled her lips. "Or you can realize he was the one who dumped me and I would really like some revenge. Not at all costs," she rushed to explain, "just some good old fashioned payback."

Declan took a moment. "He dumped you?" He found that hard to believe. This woman was whip-smart, attractive, and sexier than anyone he'd met in recent memory.

For just a moment, he saw the flash of hurt. Then her chin jutted out. "His loss."

"Just so," Declan murmured in agreement. "Still, this has to be sticking in his craw."

Her eyes flashed. "He came at me, but it's nothing I can't handle."

Her words hit him in the gut. "Look, Chantale, as much as I appreciate the help, I don't want you to be put at risk. If he came at you-"

She waved him off. "I'm not afraid of Colton. I'm more concerned about his certitude about your guilt. Autumn Dixon specifically said you weren't her attacker and he ignored her."

Declan winced in memory. "I thought he was going to hurt her. She was all banged up and he looked like he was going to physically push her out of the way. If the other corporal hadn't been there, I'm not sure what would have happened."

"Colton wouldn't have hurt Autumn, of that I'm sure. If I had to guess, he was just stunned she was in class so soon after her attack."

"How do you know...you spoke to her."

Chantale nodded in confirmation. "I saw her. That's why I came here. I was, literally, in the neighbourhood."

"She's at Healing Horses?"

Again, Chantale nodded.

"How is she?" Declan held his breath.

A very long moment passed. "As well as can be expected, given what she's gone through."

Now he let out that breath. He wasn't sure he wanted to hear this, but he had to know. So he sat quietly as Chantale recounted the entire conversation. What really got him was the physical description of the rape. He'd suspected some of the details as Colton had tried to taunt him with them, but he hadn't risen to the bait and he'd tried to put the images out of his mind. The problem was that he'd always had a vivid imagination. He could see Autumn being tied to a bed, raped, sodomized, tortured by beatings...

"Excuse me."

He didn't wait to be excused. Instead, he groped blindly for the bathroom and lost his lunch. Why him, he asked. What had he done to deserve being a party to this depravity? No wonder people were threatening to kill him.

He was rinsing out his mouth when he heard the doorbell. Chantale would answer it, he knew. She was good at making herself at home in what had once been his private enclave. He was, by nature, a private man. For everyone to know who he was...it was disconcerting. He could handle lecturing in front of fifty students, but he could not abide by having his name splashed across the front page of the papers.

He heard voices and knew he would have to make an appearance sooner or later. Might as well be sooner. So he washed his hands and splashed some cold water on his face. Schooling himself, he stepped out and headed towards the kitchen.

Chantale, and the man he assumed to be Seth, were looking carefully at the letter. Seth was wearing gloves although Chantale had removed hers. They looked up when he stepped into the room. The Constable, in uniform, pulled himself to his full height. An inch or two shorter than himself and about ten years younger, Declan judged. He also suspected the man to have about twenty extra pounds - all muscle. Hazel eyes met his and he knew he was undergoing a similar scrutiny.

"Seth, this is Declan. Declan, this is Constable Seth Jacobs."

"I would shake your hand, but..." Seth held up his hands to indicate the gloves.

Declan wasn't sure he wanted to shake a cop's hand in any case.

"Did either of you touch this?"

Both Chantale and Declan shook their heads.

"When was the last time the mail was collected?"

He had to think about that one. "I think Chloe said she got it the day before I was released. That was, what, four days ago?" Time had no meaning to him. One day simply bled into the next. He ate, he slept, he read. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd shaved. Why bother? There was no one around.

Except Chantale.

"Yes, four days ago," she confirmed. "Which only makes sense because why would someone threaten Declan if he was still in jail?" She paused. "Oh, and tell Seth about the phone calls."

Seth's eyes narrowed. "Phone calls?"

Declan shrugged. "About a dozen or more. All hours, same voice, same message. 'You're dead'."

"Do you have call display?"

"Yes, but they were blocked calls. I tried letting them go to voicemail but the person would just keep calling until I answered. If it weren't for her," he pointed to Chantale, "I would have simply disconnected the phone."

"Well, with your permission, we'll pull your phone logs. Maybe we'll get lucky."

Declan scrutinized the man. "Do you really believe that?"

"Honestly? I would put my money on a disposable cellphone, but not everyone watches police procedural shows. Maybe they think blocking the call is enough."

"Or maybe they were counting on you not going to the police," Chantale said pointedly.

All he could do was shrug. "I didn't think the police would care."

Now Seth's eyes narrowed. "Death threats are a criminal offence, no matter who they're uttered against. Since you haven't been proven guilty in court, you have the right to the same protection as everyone else. Even if you were guilty, we would still be investigating this."

Declan wanted to believe him, but he knew police were generally overworked and uninterested in criminals unless it involved catching them.

"Do you have a security system?"

He was brought up short by the question. "The house came with a system, but I never activated it. I don't have anything worth stealing except for a few first editions. Even my television is more than five years old. I usually keep my laptop with me, which reminds me, is there any chance I can get it back?"

Now it was Chantale who shook her head. "It will have been taken apart by the technicians looking for evidence. We'll get you a new one."

"Oh we will, will we?" Declan wasn't sure he liked the sarcasm in Seth's tone, even if it mirrored his own thoughts. Damn if the woman wasn't pushy.

So he waved off the whole topic and met Seth's eyes. "Do you really think I'm in danger?"

"I'm not a profiler, but we're going to have to look into this. A corporal will be assigned to your case and they'll be in touch."

He was about to speak when Chantale held up her hand. "It won't be Dorrie and Colton, so don't concern yourself with that."

How had she known his objection? Because he would rather go up against some unknown adversary than admit those two cops into his home.

"What if I say that I don't want this? That I don't want police intervention?"

Seth grinned. "Oh, the moment Chantale called me it became a police matter."

Declan looked at Chantale who merely shrugged. "This is serious, Declan. You may not see it as such, but I do."

Seth suddenly sobered and turned to Chantale. "You know if they can't get to Declan, they might come after you?"

Now, Declan straightened. "I told you this was a bad idea. I don't want you as my lawyer if you're in danger."

Chantale suddenly pressed her hands together. "I'm fine," she started, but Seth was reaching for her hands and yanking them apart.

"When were you threatened?"

Heart in his throat, Declan waited for the answer.

Trying to yank her hands from Seth's, Chantale sputtered. "I didn't say anything-"

"Damn it, Chantale, don't you dare lie to me."

Both Declan and Chantale were startled by the vehemence in Seth's voice, but the shock had barely registered before he barrelled on.

"You think I can't see what you're hiding? Do you expect me to just go on my way and pretend I didn't see the truth that is in your eyes?"

"I-"

"And can you imagine if something did happen to you? Do you know what that would do to Jocelyne? She's pregnant and it would kill her to have something happen to you."

That seemed to discombobulate her. Or at least it got her to be quiet which was always an adventure in and of itself.

"What do we do?"

Seth and Chantale, who had been silently staring each other down now turned to him.

"Nothing," she said.

"Move in with us," he said.

And then they were staring each other down again. Declan glanced over to see that the coffee had finished brewing. "How about coffee?"

Neither of them broke their stare.

"I'm an adult," Chantale sputtered. "I am not moving into that cabin with the two of you. There's security in my building-"

Seth snickered. "Your building doesn't have a doorman, Chantale. I've already told you how unsafe the place is. You might have been unwilling to listen then, but you're going to listen now."

Now she looked at him pleadingly. "The cabin is tiny, Seth, and the guy would follow me to your place. That would put Jocelyne in danger-"

"The guy will follow you...you've been followed?"

Even Declan could hear the menace in Seth's voice. The man was barely holding on to control.

"I'm not sure," Chantale said. "A couple of times I thought I was being followed, but then the car would turn off." Seth only glared and Declan watched as Chantale sat on the stool. "I'm pretty sure I was followed on my way out to Healing Horses today."

"God damn, Chantale, you didn't say anything to me."

Now it was Chantale and Seth turning to Declan at his outburst.

"You're fired. I'll call those reporters and tell them I've fired you."

"I will not be bullied," she said, although there was less conviction than before. "I'm a defence attorney and it's my job to do things which some people find objectionable. If not Declan, then it will be someone else."

Seth sighed. "The damage may already be done. I'll follow you home so you can pack a bag and then I'll follow you to my place. We have Mac and Charley which should at least be some deterrent."

Chantale snickered. "A seven pound yappy terrier and a seventy pound husky who turns to mush? Be real, Seth, I can't live in your loft indefinitely."

Declan cleared his throat. "I can just imagine how the next statement is going to sound, but is there any chance Colton is the one threatening you? You did say he came after you."

Chantale shot out of her seat. "Colton would never."

"You're out of line," Seth said quickly, but then Declan's full statement sank in. He turned to his sister-in-law. "Colton came after you?"

"More metaphorically than literally, but yes, we had it out in the garage at the courthouse. He said some things which bordered on threats, but they weren't. He was angry about," she waved her hand in Declan's general direction. "He said some things meant to hurt me and they did." A ghost of a smile passed her lips. "I might have also slapped him, but I'll never admit it."

Declan couldn't help himself, he took a moment to enjoy the image of petite Chantale slapping the much taller and more imposing Colton. Then the picture was gone. "Do you think you might have provoked him?"

Chantale shook her head. "Colton's not into subterfuge. He came after me as soon as he heard me taking the case. You might not know him, Declan, and I might not know him as well as I thought, but I can say with one hundred percent certainty Colton would never threaten a woman. Any woman."

"I have to agree with Chantale, although I don't like hearing about Colton being disrespectful."

Declan watched as Chantale lay a hand on the cop's arm. "He's your best friend, Seth, and I never would have said anything-"

Now, he had to speak. "You," he pointed to Seth, "are best friends with Colton Pritchard? This all sounds incestuous."

Seth looked affronted and Chantale merely looked upwards, as if to the heavens.

One very long moment passed. It was Seth who finally spoke. "So I'll follow you to your-"

"No."

Even Declan could see Chantale wasn't going to be moved on this one. "I have a potential solution."

Seth and Chantale both looked at him, one with interest and one with annoyance.

"She can move in here."

A proverbial person could have heard a proverbial pin drop.

Seth's look was thunderous. "If you think I'm going to let my sister-in-law move in with a rapist-"

"I'm not-"

"He's not-"

"I don't give a damn whether he's guilty or not, Chantale, there's no way you're moving in here."

Chantale, however, seemed to have different ideas. "I like the idea."

Declan could honestly say he was surprised. He hadn't thought the idea would even be contemplated. "I have a security system which I'll activate on Monday. This place can be like a fortress and, aside from the fact I'm not a rapist, touching Chantale would be about the stupidest thing to do. If she's here, then she's under my protection. I can watch out for her."

"We can watch out for each other," Chantale said and now Declan understood her ready acceptance of the idea. The crazy woman thought she could protect him. And, despite everything, he believed he could protect her.

Seth apparently knew his sister-in-law well enough to recognize her innate stubbornness which made Declan wonder if Jocelyne was the same as her sister. He whirled on Declan and pulled himself to his full height. "I swear if you touch her, there is no where you'll be able to hide." It was an implied threat, but not an overt one.

"I know this may not mean much, but you have my word that she'll be protected while she's here. I only want her to be safe."

Something must have registered because Seth relaxed, if only fractionally. He turned to Chantale. "How did you receive your threats?"

"A couple of emails and phone calls on my office line."

"I'll need to arrange for you to bring your laptop down to the detachment so one of our techs can get a look at it."

"No need. It was on my open email account, not my work one. I would also suspect if you pull my phone logs, you'll find the same phone number as the one calling Declan." She offered up a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, Seth, but you're not getting a hold of my phone records or my emails. I'll forward the threatening messages to you, but client confidentiality trumps any perceived threat."

"God save me from lawyers and doctors," Seth muttered, but Declan could see a gleam of pride. "So we're agreed that we're going back to your place?"

Chantale nodded. "It might take me a while to pack-"

"I'm waiting, so don't even think about arguing. I just need to radio into dispatch and let them know what's going on." He gave Declan the once over. "Your word?"

Declan simply nodded.

"Seth, I think you're being a little silly," Chantale said, eyeing her brother-in-law. He was insisting she wait in the hallway while he went through her apartment. Still, handing over her keys was easier than arguing, so she did just that. Leaning back against the wall, she let her head drop back. She was a little tired of the alpha male routine. First Colton, then Seth, and now Declan. Did no one think her capable of-

"Keep back," Seth hissed as he pulled out his gun. Chantale flattened herself against the wall and held her breath. Every time an officer pulled their weapon they had to make a report, so she knew Seth wasn't just being overly cautious. She heard him whispering her address into his radio and requesting back-up.

"Go meet them at the front door," he ordered. Then he went into her apartment.

As much as Chantale wanted to look, she was only too happy to oblige. She sprinted down the corridor, flew down the stairs, and headed for the front door. She didn't have long to wait as a car came screeching to a halt before her building. Still, her heart sank when she realized who the responding officers were.

Dorrie was closer, but Colton was hard on her heels.

"Seth's upstairs. He thinks there might be someone in the apartment."

In some unspoken communication, Colton headed for her condo while Dorrie led her back towards their car.

"What did Seth say?"

Chantale tried to calm herself, but her heart was still galloping like a wild horse on a beach. "I'm not sure what happened. He insisted he go in first. The next thing I know, he's pulling his weapon, calling for back-up, and ordering me to leave." Now, things began to sink in. She tried to break free of Dorrie's grip. "My stuff-"

"Is not important," the corporal said quietly. "Whatever's up there can be replaced."

Chantale shook her head. "There were client files, my laptop..."

"Did you have anything from the Byrne file?"

Again, Chantale shook her head. "I only got it from Remy yesterday and I left the box in the office. I was planning to go over there after I saw Declan, but then I found the threatening letter." Her mind clicked. "Dorrie, I have to get to him. He might go after him."

"Calm down, Chantale, take a deep breath. Who might go after who?"

"The man who's been following me might go after Declan."

Dorrie held up a finger. She ducked into the car and reached for her radio. Then she requested a marked vehicle do a drive-by of Declan's place. Chantale felt relief. It was marginal, but it was there. Suddenly, she felt the adrenaline leech out of her body. Then the world began to spin.

Dorrie was there to catch her and ease her down so she was sitting in the passenger seat of the car.

"Put your head between your knees, Chantale."

Even if Dorrie's hand hadn't been placed on her back and forcing her forward, Chantale would have complied. It had been a long time since she'd fainted, but she still remembered what it felt like. Breathe in and out, she told herself. Focus on the breaths and not what was going on in her head, she reminded herself. The dizziness would pass.

"Is she okay?"

Chantale heard the voice and knew it to be male, but she couldn't tell if it was Seth or Colton. Wow, she thought, she must be really dizzy because the two men sounded nothing alike. Seth had a nice baritone while Colton was a definite bass.

"Should we call an ambulance?" That was Seth.

"Give her a minute." And that was Colton.

"She'll be fine." Dorrie's contribution.

Slowly, so as not to upset her recently-achieved balance, she raised her head. "I'm just a little dizzy." She pressed a hand to her stomach. "And nauseous."

"Are you pregnant?"

Nope, the equilibrium was gone and Dorrie was pressing her head back between her knees. She heard Colton angrily respond to Seth's question and some accusations were hurled back and forth.

Suddenly, Dorrie was down on her haunches, looking up at her. "Do you need an ambulance?"

"No, I just need some orange juice or a candy bar. There's one in my purse." Which was god knew where at this point. Within moments, however, a fast-acting sugar pill was being pressed into her hand. Not willing to look a gift horse in the mouth, Chantale popped it in her mouth and chewed as quickly as she could. Still, the dizziness was persisting.

Then she felt a sharp poke in her finger and she looked down, realizing Dorrie was running a quick blood glucose test.

"It's really low, Chantale. I would feel better if we just ran you down to the hospital."

"Please, Dorrie, no hospitals. I just forgot to eat lunch." Finally, she felt strong enough to look up at the two men. "I'm not pregnant, I'm just hypoglycaemic."

"You never told me," Colton said accusingly.

"Or me," Seth piped up.

"Because most of the time it's not an issue," Chantale said. "As long as I eat at regular intervals, it's no big deal."

"Yeah," Seth said sarcastically, "no big deal. Does Jocelyne know about this?"

Now Chantale rolled her eyes. "Who do you think diagnosed it?" She turned to Dorrie. "You carry a testing kit in your car?"

Dorrie shrugged. "I'm a diabetic, so I have to keep it with me. Let's take another level." Chantale didn't really want to be poked again, but she knew it would be so much worse if they dragged her to the hospital, so she held out her finger. After a moment, Dorrie smiled. "Much better."

Chantale felt like she'd just earned a gold star.

"I would like to stand up."

No one looked particularly pleased, but when she tried to rise, Colton was at her elbow to guide her. She really wanted to argue, but she still wasn't completely steady on her feet. Annoyed with herself, but beyond caring, she looked over at Seth.

"How bad is it?"

For the first time in her memory, Seth paled. "Let's just say they did a pretty good job. We've secured the scene called out a forensics unit."

None of which sounded good to her.

"What did they do?"

She waited, but still Seth didn't answer. Finally, it was Colton who spoke. "It looks like it was pig's blood. It's everywhere, Chantale. The carpets, the bed, the bathroom and kitchen."

"What about my papers?"

Again, it was Colton who answered. "Your home office was destroyed, sweetheart. So was your wardrobe. They emptied the closets and the dressers."

Thousands of dollars of designer suits and shoes. All her casual clothes. Everything she owned was in there and it was all gone. She supposed this was how someone felt when they came home and found their home had been destroyed by fire. She was insured against vandalism. Or at least she was pretty sure that she was.

Still, she felt a wave of fatigue wash over her and tears sting her eyes.

Dorrie stepped forward. "You'll need to find somewhere else to stay while the team does their work and then while your place is cleaned. I know a great company that specializes in crime scene clean-ups. By the time they're finished, it will be like it never happened."

"But it did happen," Chantale said. "And I want to see it."

"Never going to happen Chantale and you know it," Seth said. "Now, will you agree to come back to my place?"

"She can stay with me," Colton countered.

Right, maybe when Hell froze over.

"How about a compromise?" Dorrie offered a reassuring smile. "I've got a spare room."

Chantale shook her head so vehemently she nearly lost her balance again. "I'm following through with our original plan. I'm going to Declan's."

And all hell erupted.

Xx<-'