“Don’t I?”
The question hung in the air like a challenge.
Victoria felt the crowd’s attention shifting.
“Security. Remove her now, or I’m calling the police myself.”
“Wait.”
A new voice cut through the tension.
Detective Ray Coleman approached from the parking area, his wedding invitation visible in his breast pocket.
His eyes locked on Angela with instant recognition.
His face went completely white.
“Jesus Christ,” he breathed. “Angela, what are you doing here?”
Victoria spun around.
“You know this woman?”
Ray looked between Angela and the hostile crowd surrounding her.
His police training kicked in, reading the situation instantly.
“Yeah,” he said slowly. “I know her.”
The crowd leaned forward eagerly.
“Well, who is she?”
Ray’s mouth opened, then closed.
He looked at Angela, who gave the slightest shake of her head.
“She’s…”
He swallowed hard.
“She’s someone you don’t want to mess with.”
But Victoria wasn’t finished with her victory lap yet.
“Someone I don’t want to mess with?”
Victoria’s laugh was shrill.
“Ray, darling, you’re being dramatic. She’s just some woman who wandered onto our property.”
Ray Coleman stared at Angela with something approaching awe.
“Ma’am, I had no idea you’d be here today.”
“Hello, Detective Coleman.”
Angela’s voice carried quiet warmth.
“Congratulations on your promotion.”
“Thank you. You’re…”
He caught himself.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
The crowd noticed his deference immediately.
Ray Coleman was six feet of solid muscle and a decorated police detective.
He didn’t defer to just anyone.
“Ray, what’s wrong with you?” Victoria demanded. “Why are you acting so strange?”
Ray removed his hat respectfully.
“Mrs. Bradford, perhaps we could discuss this privately.”
“Discuss what? There’s nothing to discuss. This woman is trespassing on our family property.”
“Your property?”
Ray’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“Of course it’s our property. The Bradford family has lived here for twenty years.”
Ray looked at Angela again.
Her expression remained perfectly neutral.
“Ray.”
Victoria snapped her fingers like she was summoning a dog.
“Stop staring at her and do your job. Arrest her for trespassing.”
“I can’t do that.”
“What do you mean you can’t? You’re a police officer.”
“Mrs. Bradford, trust me on this. You don’t want me to arrest her.”
The crowd murmured in confusion.
Margaret whispered urgently to Harrison.
“Why won’t he arrest her?”
Victoria’s voice rose to near hysteria.
“Ray Coleman, I’ve known you since you were in diapers. Your mother and I went to school together. Now arrest this woman, or I’m calling your supervisor.”
Ray’s face hardened.
“Go ahead and call him. See what he says.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means some people are above your pay grade, Victoria.”
The insult hit like a physical blow.