AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Finley swiped at a damned tear that escaped despite her best efforts to hold it back. His face ... his eyes ... the sound of his voice ... it all seeped into her. Made her weak. God, she had missed him so.
“Six months before we met, I managed a feat no other agent before me had been able to do. I found my way into Carson Dempsey’s dark world. Not the world the public knows about but the one he operates behind that facade.”
Finley held her breath. So he had worked for the authorities. Agent, he’d said. The trembling that had started in her fingers spread through her limbs. She fought to steady herself.
He looked away from the camera for a moment. “When it became clear you were going to be successful in taking his son to trial, Dempsey asked me to get close to you. He wanted me to watch you, to keep him informed of your every step.” Derrick cleared his throat. “It wasn’t a hardship by any means.” He smiled sadly. “The trouble is, I didn’t do a very good job of pretending.” He stared directly into the camera, his eyes bright. “I fell in love with you, Finley, and this made me vulnerable. Not your fault.” He shook his head. “I’m not telling you this to make you feel guilty. You got that? None of this is your fault.”
A fat plop fell against her hand, and she realized the tears were pouring down her cheeks. She didn’t care. She reached out, touched the screen, bit back a sob.
“I’ve been copying data for months now. Every time I think I’m done, the powers that be want more. I guess they just need to be sure it’s enough to take this son of a bitch down.” He shrugged. “Anyway, I’ve learned how to get beyond the security system and how long to stay before the anomaly is spotted. I don’t think it will be long now. I have to admit I’m getting a little nervous at this point.” He looked away a moment. “I wanted to make this video for you just in case something happened.” He smiled and her heart lurched. “I’m sorry about all this, Finley. I had hoped when my assignment was done that we could have a real honeymoon and maybe start a family.”
A sob escaped her lips. She pressed a hand to her mouth and rocked back and forth in her chair for what could have been. For the man she had been right to love and trust.
“If something unexpected happens to me and you find this thumb drive, you should turn it over to Scott Langford, DEA. He’ll know what to do. I’ve been keeping this copy hidden because ...” He exhaled a big breath. “I’m kinda worried that the agent I’ve been working with, Wayne Bates, is up to something. I hope I’m wrong, but this is my insurance. So you be sure to give it to Langford, not Bates.” He recited the agent’s email address, then managed another sad smile. “I love you, Finley, and just know that I wouldn’t have missed loving you for anything. I’m only sorry that my timing sucked.”
He looked away again, silence filling the video, then said, “Whatever happens, you deserve to be happy. Forget about me, and be the amazingly wonderful and happy woman I fell in love with.”
For a moment he stared into the camera, saying nothing.
Then ... “Bye, baby. I love you.”
The video ended.
For a long while Finley couldn’t move ... couldn’t even breathe. Derrick hadn’t lied to her to hurt her. He hadn’t set out to betray her. He had loved her. She swiped at more of those confounded tears. Acouple of deep breaths were required before she could pull herself together enough to act.
“Think, Finley,” she ordered her soggy brain. She needed that email address. She ran the video back and listened to the Langford guy’s email address again. She entered it into the notepad on her phone. Then she prepared to forward the files via Winthrop’s internet server. Finley doubted there was a more secure one anywhere in the city. The combined files were too large to send in a single email, so she pieced them out, sending numerous emails to Langford, to Matt’s work email, and to Jack. Whatever happened, at least those three would have the evidence Derrick had collected.
She still had questions, but for now, the answers she had were enough. Derrick hadn’t been trying to betray her. He had loved her.
Finley dug through her bag until she found a single, probably used tissue. She dabbed at her nose and eyes. Before closing the laptop, she closed the file and removed the thumb drive. She stood, steadied herself, and tucked the thumb drive into her pocket. Deep breath. Then another. Finley exited the borrowed office.
Winthrop waited at the elevator. She didn’t ask any questions, just pressed the call button as Finley approached with her red, puffy eyes. They rode down to the main lobby in silence, then exited the building.
On the sidewalk, Finley hesitated. “Thank you.” She felt the need to say more, but somehow the words wouldn’t come.
Winthrop gave her a nod. “It was my pleasure.”
Finley took a breath, told herself to go, but somehow her feet just wouldn’t get going. “You know,” she said, needing a subject change to pull herself together and still curious about all those loose ends this woman claimed she’d tied up, “I can’t help wondering where those two will end up.”
Winthrop laughed softly. “I can tell you that Liz is following the money. I suspect they’ll both be found where the money lands.”
Finley gave an eyebrow flash. “They say it’s the root of all evil.”
Even split two ways, 7.8 million was a hell of a lot of money.
“You know, Finley,” Winthrop said, “there are two things in life we cannot do. Once we’ve flown the coop, we can never really go back. Home and the people there are never the same as what we recall. Not to mention, all one’s old secrets remain buried there.”
Very true. “What’s the other thing?” Finley asked.
“We can never bite the hand that feeds us and walk away without consequences. I remind the women who work with me of this often.”
Well said. “Good night.” Finley turned to go but hesitated again, couldn’t help herself. “I looked for past cases like this one—with and without murder involved. I didn’t find anything.” She studied Winthrop for a time. “Jack and I are fairly convinced this isn’t the first time your group has taken down someone like Grady.”
Winthrop smiled. “Often lessons can be taught and learned without legal action. Certainly, without physical harm. Murder would never be the proper ending. A simple presentation of what will happen if one decides to make the same mistake again is far more comfortable for all involved. It works every time. In fact, we believe what we do makes our little corner of the world a better place. This most recent disaster notwithstanding.”
“You should watch that going forward,” Finley suggested.
“Good advice,” Winthrop allowed. “Good night, Finley.”
