Behind us, the wind shifted. Jack glanced up. Gray was typing away at his phone.
And I knew, whatever Erin Voss had planned next, whatever war was still coming, we’d face it together.
Because for the first time since this nightmare began…
We weren’t scattered.
We were a team.
And I had Ava by my side.
Jack joined us a moment later, his voice low but steady. “We’ll take my SUV. Ava, you’ll ride with me and Gray. We’ve got a few hours before anyone catches wind of anything.”
Ava nodded, pulling back from my chest. Her expression was sharper now. Steeled.
“We’ll meet you there,” she said.
“I’ll grab what I need from my place and head straight there,” I said. “It’s off-grid. No neighbours, but it’s secure.”
Jack raised a brow. “We talking cabin-in-the-woods secure or bunker secure?”
“Cabin,” I said. “Old place my dad used to use for hunting. Remote enough, we won’t draw attention. There’s a fire road turnoff past milemarker sixty-two, take that, keep right at the fork. You’ll hit a clearing with a metal gate. It should be open.”
Jack nodded. “We’ll meet you there.”
He didn’t argue. Just turned, motioning for Gray to load up. Ava gave my hand one last squeeze before walking off toward them.
I watched her go.
Then I squared my shoulders and turned back toward the station.
It was time.
Inside, the air was thick, as if everyone was holding their breath, waiting to see how the day would unfold. I didn’t have to wait long. The county administrator was standing outside my office, flanked by two men from Internal Affairs, dressed in sharp suits and ready to make their move.
He didn’t ask me to go into my office.
“You know why we’re here,” he said.
I nodded. “I figured.”
“Given the recent events and the scrutiny on this precinct, we’re going to ask you to step down until the investigation is complete.”
“Am I being charged with anything?”
“No. But the optics...”
“Right,” I cut in. “The optics.”
The IA guy on the left stepped forward, arms crossed. “Are you running an independent operation outside the bounds of your official role, Chief?”
I let out a soft laugh. “You’re asking now?”
He stiffened.
I shook my head. “You didn’t show up when Erin Voss was burying reports, threatening witnesses, and turning this entire department into her personal chessboard. You didn’t blink when her power grabs put lives at risk. But now, now that someone pushed back, got the press involved...nowyou’re here? When I sent back-ups of my files, I had on her... that didn't seem to be a concern.”
They said nothing. Just shifted uncomfortably.
