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I consider his question, when Lucifer says, “I think we need to look at everyone on Pri’s team for this case. Anyone close to her that might be linked to Waters in some way. I’ll get with Blake and see what electronic fingerprints we can find, but I need to know who she’s the closest to. That feels like the highest risk.”
“We need to do the same with Ed.”
“I’m not buying the Ed theory,” Adam says. “Why let two witness drop if he plans to help Waters walk?”
Which leads me to no place good. “Why is Waters asking for Pri and not Ed?” I ask.
“Isn’t it standard procedure to have the lead ADA take these meetings?” Adam counters. “She’s the defense attorney’s contact.”
“Waters is a power player,” I say. “He goes for the top of the totem pole.”
“Well then, let me state the obvious,” Savage says, “Waters asked for Pri instead because he knows you’re here, Adrian, and that you’re doing naughty things with Pri.”
Lucifer eyes me and says. “Gamble on the devil in the mix, man. Go with the worst-case scenario.”
Adam simply gives me a small nod of agreement.
“Fuck,” I whisper, and then glance around the room. “Lucifer’s right. We have to assume the worst and that means Waters knows I’m here.”
“So that means what, Captain Jack?” Savage asks.
“I’m not Jack Sparrow, Savage,” I snap.
“Then where’s the rum?” Savage says, but he’s not looking at Lucifer. He’s looking at me.
“About to be up your ass,” Lucifer mumbles.
But I’ve been around Savage for two years. I know his word games. I get what he’s saying when most of the rest of the world would not. “He means where’s the payoff for Waters.”
“And the answer is?” Adam says.
“I earned his trust and betrayed him. The rum, or rather his prize, is me. He wants to make me pay.”
“And he’s now focused on Pri,” Adam supplies.
“It would appear that way,” I agree. “And I’m suddenly glad I didn’t kill him.”
Savage frowns. “I don’t follow. I find killing someone like Waters a good deed.”
“He needs to be alive.” I say, “for me to make him wish he were dead.”Chapter Twenty-SixPRI
Ed is behind his desk and on the phone, his hair thick and scattered with just enough gray to be called distinguished. A man who wears a suit like he was born to wear it, a regular JFK type, good looking and powerful—three things that could work in his favor and aid his efforts to do good in this world. Too often life has taught me that those traits corrupt a man.
The minute his eyes find me, he scowls and ends the call. “Oh hell, what now?”
I shut the door and forget that he’s my boss—or rather, right now, I just don’t care. “Why are you running your mouth about extra security? I know Adam told you this stays between us.”
He waves me off. “Pitt’s FBI and close to this case and I’ve known Josh for his entire career.”
“And if they justify the same of two other people you don’t know and trust, and they’re the wrong people, then what? Any chance Walker has to catch the assassin could be lost if Deleon gets a heads up. And then he might be so desperate he just comes after us.”
“You’re overreacting, Pri, which surprises me considering the number of extremely seedy criminals you helped stay out of jail.”
I ignore the jab that changes nothing. “Call Adam and tell him what you did. Then tell me if I’m overreacting.”
His jaw sets hard. “You’re out of line.”
“Out of line?” I demand, crossing to stand in front of his desk. “Do you want to die, Ed? Because I don’t.”
“Do you want off the case?”
“If that’s a threat, we both know me stepping back from this case this late in the game hurts you and your campaign more than it hurts me.”
“You’re pushing me,” he bites out, his energy crisp as an autumn day about to surprise you with a blizzard. “Is that really what you want to do?” he asks.
“What I want is for Waters to go to jail for the rest of his life, while we live ours. He’s brutal. If he gets off, he still might come after us. Losing is not an option. Please call Adam, or I can, if you like.”
“Call him,” he says, passing the ball in what is clearly a power play.
I don’t push back. I don’t care who calls Adam. I just care that we call. I pull my phone from my pocket and dial Adam on speakerphone. “Pri,” he greets and I can tell he’s on speaker, likely with Adrian, as he asks, “Is everything okay?”
“I’m with Ed. He told Agent Pitt and Josh Martin, an ex-detective here with the DA’s office, who is now in private security, that we hired private security.”
