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“I’m single, I’m ex-military, and I’m capable of protecting myself. Use the resources for other people.” He motions me onward. “Go. Make it happen.”
I hesitate. I want to push him to accept protection, but I’ll take what I can get for now. I exit his office and in this moment, I feel relief and a sense of calm that defies the situation. And I know why. It means Rafael is involved. My reaction has to mean I trust him. Unless this crazy attraction I have to him has clouded my judgment? In which case, more than my career will die. I might go with it.Chapter ThirteenPRI
By the time I’m in my office, Blake has emailed me contracts, non-disclosures, and other documents. I’m ready to hand over the witnesses to Walker. And right on time, Adam arrives.
Adam turns out to be tall, very tall, like six-four or five, good looking, with dark wavy hair and blue eyes. We sit down at my two-person conference table and I’m struck by his calm energy.
“Why didn’t Rafael come with you?” I ask.
He levels me in a stare. “I think you know why.”
It’s a tricky reply. It could be about the kiss or Rafael’s identity. “I’d feel better if he were here.”
“I’m a good second choice. I was a Navy SEAL, on Team Six. My specialty is disguises. I’m good at being present and not seen.”
“But you’re so—well—”
He arches a brow. “Big?”
“Yes.”
He leans closer. “If I can hide, I can hide your witnesses. Everything happening right now is about protecting them and protecting you.”
“Everything?”
“Everything,” he repeats.
“I guess that’s a topic I can argue with Rafael.”
His expression doesn’t change, but I swear his lips hint at a curve. “You and Rafael do have plenty to discuss. I’m sure you can appreciate the position your relationship places on his duty.”
I could read his statement a few ways and he knows it. I leave it alone for now, and go over the case, focusing on the safety of our witnesses.
“As it should be. Who have you told about us?”
“Just the DA.”
“Good. We’ll handle the US Marshals at the highest level and discreetly. Our plan is to make it seem as if those witnesses are still in place,” he explains. “We’ll place our people in their positions. If Deleon comes for them, we’ll get him.”
“You know about Deleon?”
“We don’t take a case we don’t research first. We believe he’s the one killing your witnesses and we’re looking for him. If we get Deleon, I suspect he’ll sing to save himself.”
“If we get him,” I say, “nothing he can say will convince me to save him. I need Adrian Mack.”
“And I feel certain he’ll show up in time for your trial.”
“And why exactly do you feel certain of such a thing?”
“Because you called Walker Security.” He stands up. “Let us get to work before Deleon beats us to another witness.” I blink and he’s gone.
The way I blinked and Rafael was gone this morning.
I can only hope that means Adrian will soon appear.
For now, I return to my desk and get to work.
With Walker on board, my confidence in the case against Waters is restored. I dig into damage control for lost witnesses and try to find ways to save those portions of the prosecution. That turns into hours and hours with my team, pinning down our options. As the afternoon becomes the evening, Cindy and I end up at the coffee shop again. And yes, I secretly hope Rafael will show up, but he doesn’t, even after Cindy departs.
When finally I gather my work to head home, I decide it’s silly to take an Uber for three blocks. Then I decide it’s stupid not to because I stupidly didn’t talk to Adam about my own safety. I take the Uber. I tip well. I stand outside my door and hesitate. If my witnesses are protected, is killing me the fastest way to end the case, or at least delay it until next year? I unzip my purse and remove my gun before keying in my security code. It buzzes and I open the door, listening a moment to not much of anything before I flip on the light. Still nervous—I’ve clearly psyched myself out—I shut the door, lock it and then lean on the hard surface, listening to nothing again.
It’s moments like this, alone and scared, that I question my career choices, but the fear works two ways. It reminds me that every victim that I’ve ever defended most likely felt fear. It reminds me that I defended some of the people that caused that fear and I owe a debt to society in the aftermath.
Inhaling, I force myself to get this over with, to clear the way to a glass of wine and calmness by finishing my search of the house. I walk to the living room and I see a shadow in the darkness and I feel another person in the room. I flip on the light only to gasp. Rafael is sitting on the oversized chair facing me.
