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“Is that why you chose to study law? To escape your small town?” I’m curious about her studies.

She shakes her head. “I pursued it because I believe in justice. Ironic, considering that’s the reason I screwed up my life, but I still believe in it.”

I nod and she seems to study me. “What?” I ask.

“Maybe I can’t be a lawyer, since I can’t graduate, but I’ve studied and worked my ass off and I know things. I can help with what you’re doing with Jenny, maybe even investigate it more thoroughly, professionally. If you’ll let me. I don’t want to force it if you don’t feel comfortable with it.”

I stay silent for a while, surprised and moved by her offer. It would be less painful to share this aspect of my life with her, but I don’t know if I want to drag her into this mess.

“Thank you. I’ll think about it,” is the only promise I can give her, but it’s honest and I think she appreciates that more than anything else.

She nods and turns back to the ocean and the breakfast she is nibbling on while deep in thought.

“How do you know about this place?” she asks.

“One time, I needed a break from my father, and I didn’t know where to go. I was so desperate that I just walked down the trail without knowing what was here.” I chuckle at the memory.

“Do you get along with him?” She studies me with an intensity I’m not used to.

I watch the waves slapping lazily on the shore and think about what to tell her. “For the most part, yes. Sometimes he pushes to the point of breaking, but if you know how to handle him, he’s someone you want in your corner.” Because otherwise you’re dead, but I prefer not to tell her this.

“He seems…intense,” she mumbles.

I scoff. “Understatement of the century. But you stood up to him. He probably admires you for that. He doesn’t like weak people. He always pushes them to grow a backbone.”

“Was he like that with you? Pushing you to be the best?”

“Does it show?” I smirk at her, she laughs, and I know she gets it.

“Shouldn’t you be working right now, instead of slacking off here with your trophy wife?” She winks, teasing me, and I cand stop a laugh from bubbling up in my chest.

“From time to time, I need to relax too, especially after I met Jenny. Our encounters can be…draining, sometimes.” I glance at her, gauging her reaction.

She smiles reassuringly and nods. There’s something peaceful in the way she understands my needs; we’re way more similar than we care to admit.

***

I drop Silver off at home and ask Dave to drive me to the old warehouse where I meet the agent. I don’t know his real name; he asked me to call him “Cop” and the irony is not missed on me. He likes to meet in secret, but I think it’s more about protecting my privacy, considering the public reach I have, than needing to hide our meeting.

When he called me on our way home, my nerves started to get the best of me. He’s never called me, I seek him out. And the fact that it took him only twenty-four hours to get back to me about the favor I asked can mean only two things: there’s nothing to worry about, or there’s a lot to be afraid of. I’m terrified it’s the latter.

“Tell me you have good news,” I say as soon as he reaches the car.

His face is unreadable, as usual, but his words make my stomach clench. “I have good news and bad news.”

It’s such a cliché I want to scream. The good news almost never compensates for the bad.

“Are you going to tell me or not?” I press impatiently, and he gives me a sideways smile.

“The good news is that the mob is not looking for her.”

Relief expands my chest and I can almost breathe easily. This is really good. I thought they might be on some kind of manhunt. Mobilizing the entire city’s crime organization just to take care of her, or worse, join forces with local criminals, would be a nightmare come to life.

“When she testified, she took out the head of the organization. Since then, there’s been an internal civil war to take control. They’re too focused on fighting each other to pay attention to her. To be honest, she did them a favor by opening up the playing field for other potential leaders to step up,” he explains, and concern rises in my chest.

“But?” If this is the good news, I don’t know what the bad could be.

“He has some connections outside prison. A few loyal people that still look up to him. The guys I was able to track down, the ones who followed her case, could account for everyone but two who disappeared. They started keeping an eye on all of his loyal cronies when she ended up in the newspapers, but lost track of two about a month back.” He hands me an envelope with a couple of mug shots inside.