“And what did Luke tell you?” I ask, entering my office, shutting my door, and rounding my desk.
“He shared Mack’s history, including their profile before hiring him, as well as what he’s done for them since joining Walker.”
“And?” I ask, shoving my purse, which means my gun, in my drawer and setting my briefcase on the floor.
“I’ll grant Mack the immunity agreement, but I think he needs the federal agreement Walker is working on. And even then, Waters could have legal teams stir up fake charges left and right until he gets arrested and ends up dead. If we can prove this case without him, he should walk away. And we should let him.”
Unease rips through me. We should let him go. He should walk away. How convenient that is for Waters.
“I’ll have the signed agreement scanned to your email in the next hour or two,” he adds, and his phone beeps. “I need to take this.”
“Wait, Ed. What agreement did you come to with Josh?”
“Josh? No agreement. I’m not paying him and Walker. Gotta run.” He disconnects, and I’m suddenly extremely worried about Grace. And Adrian, because Ed is right. Waters will just keep coming at him.
My cellphone rings again and this time it’s Adrian. I answer with, “You heard all of that?”
“Yes. I did. What does a liar do after he dies?”
My lips quirk. “I don’t know. What does a liar do when he dies?”
“He lies still. Fuck Ed. I’m not walking away. I’m not hiding. And don’t let him fuck with your head and make you think that’s the right choice.”
"And yet, you know—”
“I know this ends with me, Pri. And it will end.”
“Is that supposed to comfort me?”
“Comfort isn’t what you need.”
“You are,” I dare. “Maybe you should walk away, Adrian.”
“I’ve already betrayed Waters. Because I choose not to testify, I do not get removed from his list of enemies. This is a battle to the end. It was always a battle to the end. Stay the course, baby. We got this.”
Baby, not sweetheart, almost as if our declaration of love transformed his endearments. There’s a new intimacy between us, even over the phone. “Yes,” I say softly. “We got this.”
“I’ll see you soon,” he promises and disconnects.
But as I set my phone down, I’m stuck on one point. Waters is in jail and still coming at us, most certainly at Adrian. He can get to us and we can’t get to him. I think back to Adrian, his words “I’ll handle Waters” and “this ends with me.”
How does he think he’s going to end this and why do I know I won’t like that answer?
Chapter Thirty-Three
PRI
After hanging up with Adrian, I finally have the opportunity to investigate the FBI agents that visited me earlier. With my earbuds in place and phone in my pocket, I hurry up front and check-in with Shari. “Did I hear there was an FBI agent here to see me?”
“Oh,” she says, brushing red hair behind her ear. “Yes. I do believe so, but they said they’d stop back by.”
“Did they leave a card?”
“No, and we get agents around here all the time. I didn’t think anything of it.” She crinkles her nose. “Should I have?”
“It’s not a big deal,” I say, “but right now, with such a big case going on, I’d appreciate names and cards from visitors.”
“Of course,” she assures me. “I’ll make sure. Sorry, Pri.”
“Like I said, no big deal. Thanks, Shari.” I quickly head back to my desk, sitting down and thrumming my fingers on the wooden surface, apparently still bothered by the unknown visitors.
Which is silly. As Shari stated, we have visitors, even agents, in here all the time. The timing is what bothers me, and not really even that. Pitt is missing. The FBI would have questions, but why not leave a card? Of course, Walker will have heard the conversations on the topic. They will have investigated. If there was a problem, they’d let me know. With that comforting thought, I set aside at least one worry, and dig into my work.
It’s two hours after my call with Ed when the immunity agreement hits my email, but it comes with a catch. It requires an original signature. In other words, it feels like a setup. Like someone wants to ensure I lead them to Adrian. Or perhaps if I provide an original signature, I’ll be exposed for aiding a fugitive, thus I’d be removed from the case. I was right. Ed is dirty. I’m angry and I decide yelling would be highly unprofessional. Since I can’t talk to Ed without yelling, I text him: Adrian Mack is not going to sign this agreement in person. Please amend.
He doesn’t reply. I decide yelling works for me. I call him and surprise, surprise, he doesn’t answer. I leave the same basic message on his machine.
Frustrated, I grab my purse and decide to take a quick break to touch up my make-up before dinner with my mother, which is rapidly approaching. Heading to the lobby, I wave at Shari as I exit. “Quick freshen up,” I say letting her know I’m going nowhere, since the elevators, like the bathroom, are also just off the lobby.
Once I’m inside the three-stall room, I step to the counter and unzip my purse, only to have my cellphone ring. Hoping it’s Ed, I snake it from my pocket to find Adrian calling. “Almost done here,” I say, answering.
“Not yet, unfortunately,” he says. “There are two men that may or may not be FBI agents on the way up to your floor. The same two men we caught on camera about the time Shari claims two FBI agents came looking for you.”
“They’re not agents?”
“Unconfirmed. They may well be agents, but that doesn’t mean they’re not dirty.”
“Because Pitt was an agent and he might have been dirty.”
“Considering he’s dead, I’d say someone close to him was dirty. We just don’t know, Pri. Out of an abundance of caution, I’d rather you avoid these assholes until we have credentials and background. Stay in your office. Lucifer will meet them in the lobby. I’m headed to the back stairwell in case you need to leave quickly.”
“Leave quickly? Oh God. That sounds bad.”
“We’re being cautious, that’s all. If Lucifer gets a bad vibe, he’ll send you to me to be safe. Just stay away from the situation until Lucifer gives the thumbs up.”
“Yeah, about that. I’m in the bathroom right now. I’m right by the elevators. Do I have time to get out of here?”
“If you go now,” he orders. “Right now.”
“Going now,” I say, shoving my phone back into my pocket.
With adrenaline pumping through me, I rush to the door, push my way out, and just as I would enter the lobby, Grace exits the elevator. She’s holding four trays of coffee. “Help.”
I hurry to grab a tray—because what can I do?—and I start for the door ahead of her. Cindy exits from the lobby right then and rushes toward us, blocking my path in the process. “There you are,” she says, grabbing a tray from Grace. “You crazy girl, Grace,” she scolds. “I told you I would go with you.”
“You were busy,” Grace replies from behind me.
Cindy is still in front of the door. Grace is now at my right.
“Pri.”
At the sharp tone in Lucifer’s voice, I intend to step around Cindy, but somehow Cindy precedes to literally spill the entire tray of coffee she’s holding. I jump back and drop my own tray. It’s a disaster. Cups slam to the ground and coffee splatters across the floor and all over my legs, thankfully missing my clothing. The elevator dings, two doors open and the two men, the “FBI Agents,” both in basic blue suits, step out of the car.
I turn to face them. “Sorry. We’ve made quite the mess of the hallway. Can we help you?”
“Oh my God, oh my God,” Cindy is chanting behind me. “How did this happen?”
“I’ll get towels,” Shari screams from the now open lobby doors. “Pri, don’t step backward. There’s a puddle.”
“Pri Miller?” O
ne of the men queries.
Thank you, Shari, for announcing my name, I think.
I could run for cover, I could. I know this and I would absolutely prefer Lucifer screen these men, but there are three innocent women fretting over coffee right here with me. I will not allow them to become targets. “I’m Pri,” I confirm. “A little occupied right now, but what can I do for you?”
That’s when I realize Adrian is still in my ear, “What the hell are you doing, Pri? I said to avoid those assholes, not talk to them.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
PRI
The two men—aka “assholes,” as Adrian calls them—step a little closer, too close for comfort. One is bald, forty-something, stocky. The other is taller, with dark, curly hair and hard features that include an incredibly straight nose. The tall one shuts the door. The shut door sets off alarms. I set my phone down.
“Agents Williams and Davis,” the stocky one announces. “I’m Williams. He’s Davis. We want to talk about Agent Pitt.”
Lucifer steps to my side, ensuring I have a clear path to the lobby. “I’m Lucifer Remington, with Walker Security. I’m handling Pri’s personal security. First and foremost, I’ll need to see your ID.”
Williams’ lips pucker, but he reaches into his jacket and flips open his badge over to display his ID. Lucifer shoots a photo of it, before eyeing the other agent expectantly. The process is repeated.
Lucifer sends the photos to someone that I assume to be Blake.
“Can we go inside and talk a minute, Ms. Miller?” Agent Williams asks, giving me a pointed look.
“No need,” I say, glancing over at Cindy and motioning her toward the office. She gives a nod and begins herding the other two women toward the door. Satisfied my staff are about to be out of the way, I return my attention to the agents. “Agent Pitt was working with me on a highly sensitive case, and as much as I want to help, that limits my conversational freedom, as you can imagine.”
“When an agent is murdered, it’s highly sensitive, as you can imagine,” Williams’s snips. “He was a personal friend, Ms. Miller.”
Adrian speaks in my ear, “He’s telling the truth. He and Pitt came up together in the agency. They were friends. If one was dirty, the other might have been as well.”
I’m still trying to process the implications of his words when Lucifer jumps back in. “Is this a personal or professional visit, Agent Williams?” Lucifer asks. “Because our team updated the FBI in lengthy detail last night when we realized Pitt was missing.”
“We’re aware of that,” Agent Davis states, “but Ms. Miller failed to offer a personal statement. We’d like to know exactly what happened last night.”
“Asked and answered,” Lucifer quips.
Williams stares at him, his eyes hard before he looks at me. “I’d like to hear it in your own words.”
“Leave me your card,” I say, “and I’ll arrange a time to sit down. I’m juggling the security of my staff and witnesses today.”
“Yes, about that,” Williams says, looking at me, “one of those witnesses is Adrian Mack. We’d like to talk to him as well.” He glances between us. “Can either of you make that happen?”
“Fuck no,” Adrian says in my ear. “I will not talk to that blowfish bastard.”
With a solid no from Adrian, I reply a bit more delicately than he did. “Considering the fact that Chicago has issued a completely unjustified warrant for his arrest,” I say, “I’m not even sure I’ll hear from him again. In other words, good luck reaching him and as I’m sure the powers that be wished, my case is now in jeopardy.”
“Unjustified?” Agent Williams asks. “How would you know that if you haven’t talked to him since the warrant was issued?”
“Don’t lie to a federal agent,” Adrian says. “Not even for me, baby.”
And I might have, I think. For him. Instead, I say, “I don’t remember saying I haven’t talked to him.”
“Then you have talked to him?” Agent Davis presses.
“Yes,” I say. “I have. And I fear every time he makes contact that it will be the last. And honestly at this point, if I were him, I probably wouldn’t testify.”
“Did Adrian kill Agent Pitt?” Agent Williams demands.
Adrian curses and I gasp. “What? No. He did not. He tried to save his life. Deleon killed Agent Pitt.”
“We don’t know if he’s dead,” Lucifer states. “Our team arrived and Deleon and Pitt were gone. And as I said, our team already covered this.”
“Was Pitt there to arrest Adrian Mack?” Agent Davis asks.
“Why in the world would he arrest him?” I ask. “He had no known warrants at the time and the two were friends.”
“Were they?” Agent Williams asks.
I hold up my hands. “Enough. I’m not on trial and neither is my witness. I’m done here.”
“Can you come to our office tomorrow morning?” Agent Davis asks, in a rather oddly abrupt shift of topic. “Or perhaps we can come here? We can bring donuts.”
“I’m not a cop,” I say. “I don’t live on donuts. And I’m waiting on a hearing with the defense and the judge that will likely happen in the morning. Give me your cards. I’ll be in contact.”
They hesitate and then Davis hands me his card. “Call me tomorrow or I’ll be back to talk and I won’t take no for answer.” He punches the elevator button.
Lucifer motions to the office when Agent Davis says, “Ms. Miller.”
“Yes?” I say.
“You do know that aiding and abetting is a crime, right?” He doesn’t give me time to reply. “Of course you do. You work for the DA. And Adrian Mack knows that as well. He was, at some point, a federal agent, though I’m not sure he was ever a good one.” The elevator opens and the two men step inside.
Lucifer’s jaw sets hard and he motions me forward again. I don’t say a word for fear of being overheard, but I’m fuming. What the hell was that? Lucifer opens the lobby door and I walk inside. Cindy and Grace immediately surround us. “What was that?” they ask as if they’re reading my mind. “What did they want? Did they find Agent Pitt?”
“Come to the stairwell,” Adrian says in my ear. “Now.”
I eye Lucifer. “I need to—”
“I know,” he says. “I’ll update them.” He glances at his watch. “You have a dinner to get ready for. Take the rear exit. I’ll have a car waiting for you.”
I don’t think he knows Adrian is in my ear, and yet he’s telling me to go to Adrian. He thinks those men were trouble and so do I. In other words, I’m just fine with going to Adrian right now except for one thing. He should not be in this building. What if this was all a setup and those men are trying to lure him out into the open?
Chapter Thirty-Five
ADRIAN
The stairwell door opens and I flatten on the wall behind the door, cautiously confirming it’s Pri entering and not someone else. The instant she’s in view, I grab her, pull her to me and settle her against the wall. “What part of avoid those assholes did you not understand?” I demand, catching her wrist and flipping off the communication device.
“I wasn’t leaving my staff as targets, Adrian,” she snaps, fiery as usual, but this is one war she will not win. “Would you really want me to do that?” she demands.
“Lucifer would have handled it.”
“I had him with me the entire time.” Her fingers curl around my T-shirt. “And what are you thinking? Why are you here? They were looking for you. You, Adrian, not me.” She shoves on my chest. “We have to go. They could be coming for you.”
“I’d know.”
“Would you?” she challenges. “Do you think the members of Walker Security are the only smart people alive? Waters didn’t survive this long because his people are dumb. I know you know that. I can’t even believe Blake let you come in this building. And should we be in this stairwell?”
“I’m waiting for Blake to tell
us we’re clear to leave.”
“Because we might not be?” she frets.
“We want Williams and Davis out of here for at least five minutes before we exit.”
“Oh,” she says. “Well then, back to what I was saying.” She pokes my chest. “Don’t be stupid for me, Adrian, or you will end up dead.”
There she goes again. Worrying about me while I worry about her. I didn’t want that for either of us. Not with my past. Not with my enemies. But it’s too late. It’s just too damn late to walk away from her. I don’t even want to try.
My hand slides under her hair and I drag her mouth to mine, trying to have her see the logic I cannot. “I’m not the guy you fall in love with, Pri.”
“Too late,” she says. “We’ve already covered this. I’m not even going to try to pretend I’m not there yet. I am. I love you, Adrian, so stop doing stupid shit that will get you killed. Do you hear me?”
I laugh despite myself. “You’re a bossy wench, you know that?”
“And?” she challenges.
“And this,” I say, and my mouth closes down on hers, my hand sliding over her spine, molding her to me.
She is soft and delicate in all the right ways, but tough as nails. And she tastes like honey, thick and sweet with a promise of a better future, one I never dared to hope for. One I didn’t even think I wanted. But I do now. I want her. I want that future with her.
Our lips part and my forehead rests against hers. “It’s time to take a break, Pri.”
She pulls back and gives an incredulous, “What? Are you seriously pushing me away right now, Adrian? Again? Because not only are you confusing me, I’m going to start thinking that’s what you really want.”
“Not from me or us, baby. We need to get out of town and lie low until we get a better grip on all the players. Give our team time to put control measures in place for the trial.”
“But my staff—”
“We’ll leave Lucifer here with a team,” I say. “We need to do this.”
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