Cover Your Eyes by Mary Burton Page B

learned ignoring trouble did not make it go away. As much as she wanted to forget, she couldn’t.
    Sighing, she boxed up the old longing and zeroed her focus on the mission. If she didn’t stand up for people like Jeb and Luke, who would?
    Yesterday’s correspondence, which she’d not had time to read, topped today’s to-do list. She’d opened the third bill when the front bell rang.
    Annoyed by the interruption she crossed to the door. Through the glass strip on the side she saw a deliveryman holding a clipboard. She unlocked the door and greeted the man who had often delivered briefs and reports. “Morning,” she said.
    He offered a wan smile as he held out his clipboard for her. “Got a delivery. I need your signature.”
    She took the clipboard and pen, quickly scrawled her name as she’d done a thousand times before, wondering if the medical documents she’d subpoenaed in a workman’s comp case had finally arrived. “So what’s it today?”
    He held up a small box. “Can’t say. Doesn’t look legal.”
    “Do you know who sent it?”
    “It’s not on my delivery slip. I can find out if you like.”
    Suspicion ran deep in her bones. “I’d appreciate that.”
    “I’ll have the dispatcher forward the order.”
    “Thanks.” She studied the shoe box wrapped in several layers of tape.
    “Saw you on TV last night,” the deliveryman said.
    She offered a grin. “So how did it look?”
    “That lady clocked you good.” He studied her face searching for the bruise.
    “Yes, she did.” She held up the box. “Thanks for this.”
    “Sure.” He hesitated. “You really think that guy didn’t do it?”
    “There’re too many unanswered questions that deserve to be answered.”
    “He’s been in for thirty years. He’s an old man. Kind of a waste at this point.”
    She reminded herself to smile. “All the more reason to give him back what little life he has if he’s innocent.”
    “My boss says people like you are gonna flood the streets with criminals given the chance.”
    “That’s not the plan.”
    “He called you choice words.”
    “I doubt he’ll be the last. Thanks.” Without waiting, she slipped back behind the door and moved to her desk. She settled the package in the center, staring at it. The unconventional packaging worried her especially after last night’s telecast. Clearly not everyone wanted the Jeb Jones case reopened. From her desk drawer she pulled out a letter opener.
    As she pressed the tip to the tape, the front door opened to Colleen. Today she wore a bright sapphire silk top, a dark skirt, and black tights and a large reflective chunky necklace that brightened her green eyes. Colleen had a knack for looking the part of a lawyer while still bumping against the conservative edge of their profession.
    “Morning,” she said. “What a show on the eleven o’clock news.”
    Rachel worked her jaw, wincing. “Like I always say, negative attention is better than no attention.”
    Colleen laughed. “It wasn’t that bad. You showed the viewing audience that you keep your cool under fire. Most wouldn’t have been as gracious after getting decked.” She studied Rachel’s face. “Was there a bruise?”
    “Oh, yeah. It’s a real beauty. But I’ll survive.” She nodded to the box. “This just came.”
    Colleen’s gaze dropped to the package and her smile faded. “Doesn’t look official.”
    “No. It doesn’t.”
    “What do you think it is?”
    Rachel opened her pocketknife. “I’ll slice into it and see.”
    Colleen shrugged off her coat and hung it on a metal coatrack by the front door. “Does it make a sound when you shake it?”
    Rachel picked up the package and shook. “No. And it’s not super heavy. No rattling or hissing sounds.”
    Colleen straightened as if suddenly poised to run. “I hate snakes. Hate them.”
    Rachel grinned. “I think we’re safe.”
    Colleen shook her head. “I don’t have a great feeling about this.”
    “I don’t either