As the three walked into the Lexington Marshal's office, Art and David Vasquez came out to meet them, shaking hands with Dr. Lidet and apologizing with typical Vasquez humor about the misunderstanding.
Lidet, gracefully, didn't deck the good lawyer.
Art welcomed her into the conference room and said they'd be with her momentarily. Vasquez seized the opportunity. "Dr. Lidet, about Colin Stark-" Tim and Raylan heard him begin before Art began," Stark's dead. Supposedly hanged himself with a bed sheet after lights out."
"Supposedly?" Raylan asked.
"Well, all his sheets were still on his bed so it's a little weird. Like someone got interrupted."
Tim face-palmed. "We looking at a bent guard or inmate with a bent guard?"
"Dunno yet. We're pushing, so's AUSA. And you can damn sure bet her family's calling in favors, too, so we can expect something soon," Art said grimly. "Until then, we've got everyone in the corruption case under protective custody, but it does raise questions about your girl in there."
Art and Raylan exchanged glances, Raylan shaking his head, trying to indicate that he'd talk about Tim and Clare later. Tim didn't miss the gesture, but ignored it in favor of getting into the conference room.

"Dr. Lidet and I were discussing not involving the family business. Would anyone else like to contribute?" Vasquez said dryly as Art and company entered.
They were both leaned back, Clare's arms were crossed and Vasquez was non-glaring at her. Tim smirked at the arrangement.
"Brian and Graham Sullivan are supposed to be here shortly to discuss it. I think it'll hold till then," Art said, sitting at the head of the table, Tim and Raylan following suit. "Dr. Lidet, I'm not entirely comfortable with staking you as bait?"
"As a civilian or as a potential lawsuit from my mother's family?"
"Either."
"Well, Chief, I'm not entirely comfortable being under Marshal's Service protection for an undefinable period of time, so we're both unhappy."
Art tilted his head. She wasn't quite a pistol, but she'd be plenty of trouble. What was worse, was that she wasn't wrong. He couldn't keep his people there. She didn't qualify for witness protection, while her family could certainly afford private protection, she still couldn't practice medicine with the threat against her. Tim had argued similar points for years, pain in the ass. And that was before Stark was given the bed sheet exit. Without tracing the hit, she was in a real shitty limbo, Art sympathized. "If you're sure, we'll put you in a safe house and keep deputies on you as you do everything. Including the family business, if you're willing."
She did swallow at that, Art noted approvingly, she didn't want to put her family at risk. "Fine. If my uncles are willing, we can have the corporate security team in touch with you today."
"Okay. Rachel will be available this evening and Raylan will shadow you and bring you to the safe house today." Art caught Tim's blank look and spared a thought that the boy missed out on a career in poker, "Tim, if you could meet the Sullivans and escort them up here. They should be here by now."
Tim continued his non-expression as he left. Clare diligently didn't look until he was gone, but Art caught her expression and cursed internally. Well, at least this one wasn't going to sleep with Raylan. "According to what I heard of your agreement for protective custody, we will arrange for controlled situations where you will seem vulnerable. But you will have to agree to our safety concerns."
She nodded once, "Within reason. Please continue, Chief."
"Your reason or mine, Doctor?"
She smiled. "I don't want to die, don't worry. But anything terribly obvious, such as traveling with a cowboy hat day after day -no offense- may qualify."
Vasquez and Art exchanged glances before Raylan cut in, "Tim and I can alternate day shifts, doc. It's not a problem."
Art didn't realize he was glaring until Vasquez gave him a puzzled look, wiping his face of expression he continued, "Regardless of headwear, you will not leave your Marshal detail?"
"Agreed."
Too easy. "You will respect their concerns and react accordingly?"
"Agreed."
Way too easy. Art looked over. Vasquez wasn't buying it either. Raylan was apparently very focused on the file in front of him. Uh huh.
Tim walked in with Brian and Graham Sullivan then. They sat next to their niece without much greeting, Brian squeezed her hand and Graham, her shoulder, before they stared down Vasquez and Art. Tim leaned against the doorframe.
"Clare's brothers have signed powers of attorney putting their votes in Clare's name again," Graham Sullivan, a fifty something with already silvered hair in expensive pinstripes, started. "I trust that will not be a problem."
Vasquez shook his head. "No, no problem. Dr. Lidet is off scot-free for escaping federal custody. But we do want your full cooperation with regards to any attempt on Dr. Lidet. Regardless of where it may occur, Mr. Sullivan."
"We would not let our current distrust of the government affect the safety of our family, Counselor, any more than you would let any disdain for our business affect the fulfillment of your duties to justice and the Constitution," Brian Sullivan answered, dividing his attention.
Art recognized the move, didn't quite understand it, but filed it away and paused to study his new protectee. She seemed annoyed by her uncles' stunt, not quite shaking her head at them, but her jaw was clenched, dark eyes steely. She'd squeezed her uncle's hand back when Brian had taken hers but she didn't look at him and he didn't look at her.
She cut in before he could during the standoff, "Gentlemen, if we could focus on security for the main office it would certainly speed this up. If I'm to resume my seat as tiebreaker, I'll need to be brought up to date on everything. Including the elephant ya'll and the AUSA are exchanging soulful looks over," she drawled, breaking up the suited testosterone.
"Perhaps Dr. Lidet and her family could discuss that while we get some coffee, Mr. Vasquez," Art said, rubbing more of his hair away and rising.
Vasquez rose with a nod, muttering outside the conference room, "I thought you said the coffee was bad, Chief."
Art nodded as Tim and Raylan joined them in the middle of the bullpen. "It is. What's going on between AUSA and the Sullivan family?"
Vasquez sighed, "In the past year or so, they've had eyes on them. Them and Morley. Questions about collusion, business practices. Paper crimes, but expensive."
"Morley's a competitor. And Sullivan's not publicly traded, so what's going on?" Tim asked, knowing way more than he wished about the running of the Sullivan family business.
"It's SEC crap. But they're prepared to rattle political sabers to keep us out of it, so we're curious. Your girl's return is a possible way in."
Raylan rubbed his face, "So, when she said tiebreaker-?"
"Dr. Lidet was signed over power of attorney for all her brothers' stake in the company, when she came up to Lexington. Gives her control over a fair portion of it," Art explained.
"Her mother's third. All Clare ever did was act as a tiebreaker between her uncles," Tim finished, "If they've been into something shady since she's been a fugitive, they aren't gonna want her back in there..."
Art and Raylan nodded, not needing the thought finished. "We'll look into what we can of their transactions and associations, but we've kept an eye on them looking for Lidet," Art told Vasquez.
"I'll see what I can do with the Bureau sources who leaked the contract, see if they know more," Vasquez offered.
"They still want us take point on this?" Art verified grimly.
"Anything to keep Raylan from Detroit mobsters."

"What the hell?" was all Clare asked when the feds left the room.
"Now, Clare-" Brian started.
"What. The. Hell."
Graham smirked, "Well, between the economy and a fugitive with a thirty percent interest, we're not quite living the dream right now, kiddo. Morley's got us against the wall and is setting up to offer mergers and buyouts as the carrot."
"Setting up? It can't be that bad."
"A little bird has mentioned his lawyers are boning up on hostile takeover law," Brian said grimly, "It'd kill Dad if he knew. We've been holding the fort but-" he looked at his brother.
"You two can barely stand each other," Clare finished grimly, cursing her own brothers for passing the buck on Mom's family business. She couldn't really hold it against them though. The whole reason behind accepting the Sullivan's med school deal was that Clare was already acting tiebreaker since she'd come in to her part of the company at 21. Being in Lexington would just make it official so her brothers had signed their voting rights to her and she'd kept her nose in it until she'd run. It was why she understood them not coming up with her bail money then and it was why she understood their bickering with the AUSA now. They were busy trying to avoid corporate annihilation, explaining their actions to a bunch of suits with a government stipend was an unnecessary headache.
"Does Morley have a little bird? Is that why we're closing ranks?"
"We don't know, but having you cleared has boosted confidence with our vendors, so, thank you," Graham smiled. "Guess you can't see your grandparents and get your bike?"
"Not today, at least," she smiled back, "We'll handle this. It'll be okay."
Brian sighed, "On a brighter note. We've spoken to UK, you can complete your residency after the Marshals give an all-clear on the threat and you take a couple of re-qualifying exams. The dean didn't think they'd be a problem for you."
"They won't be. Thank you."
"Are you going to stay in Kentucky after your residency? Or have you thought that far ahead?" Graham asked as Art knocked and came in.
"I haven't thought," she said honestly, studiously not looking at Tim. She still had at least a year left of her residency anyway.
"Izzie would love you to stay," Brian said, referencing his teenage daughter.
"Tell her we're shopping when this is over. Tell her I promise shoes and junk food," Clare had only so many girl relatives, and she cherished the now fifteen Isobel highly among them.
Brian laughed, "Like she needs more shoes."
Art cleared his throat, "Mr. Vasquez had another appointment to get to, he sends his regards."

Neither Sullivan appeared to buy that last bit.

Art continued, "We'll be keeping Dr. Lidet at our facility and shadowing her daily activities, such as they are at this point."

Brian cut in, "When can the rest of the family see her? I assume it will be some monitored affair, like she's still a criminal. But when can Clare see everyone else?"

Clare had squeezed his hand during his speech, trying to cut him off softly she said, "It's not that simple, Brian, everyone around me is in danger. You want Izzie or Gramps to be caught in the crossfire? Please."

Graham nodded at Art, "I see your points, and certainly she sees them, but these are valid questions. She's our family and she's been vindicated. She has rights."

"And I'd imagine she'd like to be the one to invoke them," Tim mentioned from his post at the door. Raylan grew very interested in his files again as Art shot him a look, before saying, "Dr. Lidet will be free to see whomever she wishes shortly enough. If that's all, Tim, take point on security at the office. Dr. Lidet, I need to you to sign a few more forms before Raylan takes you to the safe house." He stood up, "Pleasure to finally meet you Dr. Lidet. Mr. Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan." Art made for his office with meaningful looks at Tim and Raylan, who followed him grimly.

In Art's office, Tim and Raylan both took their respective places in anticipation for a dressing down sneak peek. The real shit-storm would be without an audience in the conference room.

"Tell me you didn't sleep with a protectee, Tim."

"I didn't sleep with either a fugitive or a protectee, Art," Tim answered honestly.

Art looked at Raylan, "I don't know why I let you associate with the kids. You're a horrible influence."

"I didn't leave them alone for very long, Art. And I was never far away."

"Yeah, I find the hat a bit of a cockblock," Tim offered.

Art took a deep breath. "I can't leave you alone with her. And you know the case best, Tim. So, how do I explain not posting you with her? Without mentioning that she's got cow eyes for you and you've been chasing her for three years, of course."

"I'll be looking into the source of the contract. I know the players best. It's reasonable for me to be out looking for the threat."

"Offense as the best defense?"
"Tim can handle her protection on days when she's out," Raylan cut in. "We'll both investigate. And she's agreed to be bait—"

"Which I'm sure her boyfriend is pleased about," Art said sarcastically, then continued to Tim, "I'm supposed to put you in charge of her then? You're my sniper, for Chrissakes!"

"Are you questioning my detachment?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Art sighed, "I'm anticipating flack I may receive later." He rubbed his face. "All right, get to work," he waved them out then called to Tim at the door, "Hey, I do like her."

"Me too."

"You ever gonna tell me what really happened in those woods?"

"Later."