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“I really, really don’t appreciate you ignoring my calls,” I say.
“I don’t report to you, Miller. I was on duty, working a case.”
“Do you intend to actually prosecute someone in that case, unlike this one?”
He’s back to grimacing. “Is this really how you want to start the day?”
I press my hands to my desk. “Witnesses are dead, which only adds to Waters’ body count. People are dead. I’m doing this to give them the justice they deserve. I need Adrian Mack.”
“You think I don’t know people are dead, Pri?” he snaps. “I worked with Adrian for two years, trying to take Waters down. I saw what Waters is capable of. And I’m brutally aware of the body count Waters created, directly and indirectly, which tallies to dozens. As for Adrian, he wanted your file.”
“My file? What does that even mean?”
“As you pointed out, witnesses are dead. He’s a target. For all he knows, you’re dirty or incompetent or both. He doesn’t trust easily. Why do you think he’s hiding out on his own?”
“Since the US Marshall’s, aided by the FBI, can’t seem to keep my witnesses alive, I’d say because he’s smart.”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.”
I run a hand under my hair, across my neck. “I’m sorry. I know you risk your life all the time. I know you’re trying.”
His hands settle under his jacket on his hips. “Adrian won’t let us down, but he’s going to check you out thoroughly before he comes forward.”
“Why doesn’t he just meet with me and judge me in person?”
“Give him time.”
“I have no time,” I argue.
“He might not even show up until right before the trial and you have to trust him to know what’s right.”
“Trust him? I’m not trusting anyone I’ve never even met.”
“He knows Waters like no one else. He’ll do what the has to do to protect himself and the prosecution. He’s going to stay alive and we need him to stay alive.”
“The DA wants to know I have a solid case.”
“You do,” he argues. “Even without Adrian, you do. No jury is letting that man go. We have solid evidence. We have other witnesses.” He leans forward on the desk. “We’re all tense. We’re all targets. Fuck, I’m looking over my shoulder, too. I’m sure you are as well.”
“I doubt I’m a target,” I say. “I know only what is in the file.”
“What better way to end a trial than to kill the lead attorney?”
“I’m not the only attorney on the case,” I argue.
“Who else would want to take lead if you were dead?” He doesn’t give me time to reply. “I can get you protection.”
“As in someone following me around?”
“Yes.”
The sickness of all I have discovered over Waters colors my reply. “No, and I’m not trying to be stupid. Waters has a habit of turning good cops bad. I’ll trust myself over anyone else right now.”
“You sure?” he asks, and the very fact that he doesn’t deny my statement, validates my reply.
“Do you know something I should know?”
He pushes off the desk. “You know what I know. That’s why I’m a witness.”
“How did you leave it with Adrian?”
“I told him to hurry the fuck up and make a decision.” He heads for the door and glances back at me. “If you change your mind on security—”
“I won’t.”
He nods and exits the office, leaving me with the realization that my top witness is investigating me. Unfortunately, he might not like what he finds.
“Miller.”
I jolt and I look up to find Ed Melbourn, the DA standing in my doorway, a moment before he steps inside my office and shuts the door. He’s fifty-something, fit, a big man, with thick salt-and-pepper hair, broad shoulders, and a broader presence.
“Where are we on the Waters case?”
“Exactly where anyone would be after two key witnesses were murdered,” I answer, always direct and honest, which has served me well with Ed. I think. It’s hard to know where you stand with Ed. “The team is rattled, but we’re pushing forward, reframing our case. We can still win this.”
“What about that FBI agent that was undercover with Waters?”
“He’s not keen on coming forward, at least not now. Pitt seems to think he might be a last-minute addition.”
“Last minute is not a good plan. What’s his problem?”
“Two dead witnesses. He doesn’t want to be dead right along with them. He doesn’t trust law enforcement to protect him, and frankly, sir, I understand.”
“What I understand is that we need Waters to go down.”
“We still have a solid case,” I argue.
“Until another witness ends up dead? Or has sudden memory loss? For all we know, they’ll get on the stand and have that memory loss there. Your daddy’s a beast. He does whatever it takes to win. Be your daddy, Miller.” He opens the door and intends to exit.
