Free All Through the Night (Liar's Web) by Sandra Calhoune Page B

blocked.” She shrugged. “And no matter how I try, I can't get the image of Ronnie being shot out of my head. I can't get past that one moment.”
    Cherry patted her on the shoulder. “It's all part of the trauma. Go easy on yourself. What you witnessed was violent and disturbing. The human mind isn't really trained to absorb that kind of shock.”
    All of a sudden the door burst open to reveal a very pregnant Star being trailed by a frazzled-looking Case. Star moved through the doorway like a whirlwind, her copper-colored hair swirling around her as she stormed into the room.
    “ What the hell?” Trueblood asked as Star swept passed him and threw herself at her best friend.
    “ Darcel, are you all right? I would've tracked you down yesterday, but certai n   people went to great lengths to make sure I didn't know anything about the shooting.” She shot Case a murderous glare. “Some people seem to think pregnant women can't handle bad news.”
    Stealthily, Cherry got up from the sofa and quietly removed herself from the room, taking her art materials with her. Darcel hugged Star back with all her might as a feeling of immense relief flooded through her. She needed Star right now. After spending so many hours with only an Alpha male as her companion, she needed a healthy dose of estrogen. She desperately needed a sense of normalcy after the events of the last two days. What was more normal than her happily married, obscenely pregnant best friend?
    Star slitted her eyes and looked back and forth between her husband and the sheriff. “Some people seem to think I can't keep a secret.”
    “ I thought I told you to stay away?” Trueblood demanded as he turned toward Case. “We don't want to draw any attention to the fact that Darcel is here and cooperating with the police investigation.”
    “ You try stopping a nine-month pregnant woman from doing something,” Case said through gritted teeth. “I dare you.”
    “ You are so whipped,” Trueblood mocked in a low voice.
    Star swiveled her head around. “I heard that.” She wagged her finger at him. “Don't let me get started on you, Jake Trueblood. You know darn well she's my best friend.”
    “ You guys really shouldn't be here. She's in police custody!” Trueblood said bluntly.
    Star began to sniffle loudly, right before she burst into tears. “I just wanted to see her and make sure she was all right. She could have been killed in that shootout.”
    “ I'm fine, Star.” Darcel hurried to comfort her friend. At this moment she didn't think she could love her best friend any more than she already did. It was so like Star to come rushing to her side for support. That had been her nature ever since they'd become BFFs in kindergarten. Whether it was taking her side in a playground fight or helping her sew her prom dress, Star had always been on team Darcel. Even as an adult, it was still nice to know your best friend would come racing to your side when trouble came calling.
    Case looked at Trueblood with dangerous-looking eyes. “You made my wife cry.”
    Darcel wanted to laugh at the look of panic that broke out on Trueblood's face at Case's accusation. He no longer resembled the big, bad-ass sheriff. He furrowed his brow and shifted his weight from one foot to another before rooting around on his desk for a Kleenex, which he handed to Star.
    “ I'm sorry if I made you cry,” he apologized awkwardly as Star swatted her eyes and nose with the tissue.
    Star waved a hand at him. “It's not you. Pregnancy hormones are a bitch and a half. One minute I'm ready to kick someone's ass, and the next thing you know I'm crying over An Affair To Remember .   I'm so ready to have this baby.”
    “ I can't wait to meet this little darlin’,” Darcel gushed as she reached out and patted Star's stomach. “If he or she is anything like the two of you, it's going to be some kind of amazing.” Just as her hand touched Star's belly, she felt a forceful movement from