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Hank eyeballed Catchings derisively. It was easy for this guy, with his $500 haircut and his fancy suit, to preach moderation. He hadn’t been wronged.
Besides, while Catchings had served him well as a lawyer, he didn’t know what he was talking about. Yes, Jessie Hunt was adored by the public. But there was a silent army of cops, public officials, and powerful players in city business whose lives she’d destroyed with her self-righteous campaign of justice for so-called victims.
They were quiet right now, but not because they were beaten. Rather, it was because they were biding their time, waiting for the right moment to strike back. And Hank Costabile was a soldier in that army. He was the head of the snake.
“Any other advice, Counselor?” he asked acidly.
“No,” Catchings replied, wisely not pushing the issue. “Can I offer you a ride somewhere?”
“No,” Hank said, “I’ve got a buddy coming to pick me up soon. And here’s your sweatshirt back.”
“Are you sure?” Catchings asked. “It’s getting dark and it’s already in the mid-forties. You’re not dressed for the weather.”
“I’ll be fine,” Hank muttered.
He didn’t mention that the fire in his gut was keeping him nice and toasty.
“All right,” Catchings said, extending his hand. “You have my card. Let me know if you need anything, and best of luck to you.”
Hank shook it but didn’t reply. Catchings walked down the steps without looking back.
Hank watched him go. The man had done good work, and it was clear that he meant well, even if he had gotten soft once he left the force. But if he really thought that former LAPD sergeant Hank Costabile, once respected and feared, now likely unable to ever work in law enforcement again, was going to let this go, he was an idiot.
Jessie Hunt had ruined his life. It was time for some payback.
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
Jessie couldn’t help but sneak a little smile.
“What?” Hannah demanded, catching her sister’s grin even as she darted from the stove to the oven. “Why do you keep looking at me like that?”
“I’m sorry,” Jessie answered. “I’m just happy to have you back home. Sue me.”
“I live an hour away,” Hannah reminded her as she turned down the heat for the pan with the caramelizing mushrooms and onions. “It’s no big deal.”
“I know,” Jessie conceded as she sat at the breakfast table, watching her sister work, “but other than a single visit for Parents’ Day and that one time last month when you came home to do three loads of laundry, I haven’t seen you since you started school. Can’t a big sister be happy to see her little sister’s adorable face in person?”
“You’re embarrassing yourself,” Hannah said, trying and failing to fight off a smile of her own. “When is Ryan going to be back so I’m not the sole focus of attention?”
“He was just wrapping up the paperwork on the case we closed this afternoon,” Jessie told her. “He should be back any minute. But if you think he’s going to be any less over-affectionate when he gets here, you are sadly mistaken.”
“I’m seriously turning around and going back to school to spend Thanksgiving in the dorm,” Hannah threatened.
Jessie shook her head knowingly.
“I have it on good authority that your dorm is closed during the holiday,” she countered. “So enough with the empty threats. Tell me how things are going.”
Hannah added a bit more white wine to the pan and stirred it up before answering.
“They’re good,” she said. “Grades are solid. Most folks are nice. And I may be getting a new roommate after we get back from break.”
“Oh, why is that?” Jessie asked.
"Her roommate is leaving school, so she'll be solo," Hannah explained. "But we're friends, so I might switch rooms if they let me. My current roommate really snores so it could work out for everyone."
“That sounds good,” Jessie said. “Any news on the social front?”
“I just told you I made a friend,” Hannah replied, being intentionally obtuse.
