Page 121 of Tear Me Apart

“I’m sorry this has been so difficult on you, Juliet. Is there any news on the investigation?”

“No. I should probably reach out.”

“I’ll do it. I’m not recused.”

“Yeah, that was a stupid thing for me to do. I should have fought to stay involved, at least with the DNA.”

“You can’t, and you know it. But I’m sure if you wanted to call, they’d talk to you.”

“Thanks, Zack. You’re a good guy. You’re handling this better than the rest of us.”

He sighs loudly. “It’s not that I’m handling it better, Juliet. I’ve just had longer to come to terms with it.”

71

THE WRIGHTS’ HOUSE

Juliet hangs up with Zack feeling marginally better, but still edgy. Her next call is to Woody, whose voice mail comes on almost immediately. Ducking her calls? Maybe.

She speed dials Bai next. He answers, breathless.

“Shit is hitting the fan, chica. Where are you right now?”

“In my car, heading to my sister’s house to grab my bags. I’m being evicted. Why?”

“I need you on a computer. On secure connection. As quickly as you can. And I’m serious when I say secure.”

“Okay. I’m pulling in the driveway now. I’ll use Lauren’s computer. Why, what did you find?”

“You don’t have your laptop?”

“It’s back at the hospital. I sort of stormed out. What the heck, man?”

“I need your eyes on something. I know you’re recused, but...”

“Give me five and I’ll call you back.”

“Juliet...”

“What?”

“Just...make sure the line is secure, okay? Really secure. I have to send you a case file.”

“Jesus, Bai. What’s going on?”

“Juliet, please.”

“Give me five. I’ll call you right back.”

She lets herself in the front door and goes straight to the office. Lauren’s pass code is Mindy’s birthday—of course it is. Lauren isn’t worried about people stealing things off her computer.

Juliet logs in and downloads a private VPN service. It won’t make things completely secure, but it will help. Then she downloads a secure email server called Virtru, which will encrypt any messages sent between her and Bai, and creates a throwaway email that she can self-destruct when they are finished. It isn’t perfect, but it’s the best she can do on a moment’s notice, and she will be able to erase all traces of herself on the computer after she is through.

She dials Bai, puts him on the speaker.

“Okay, I’m in and secure. Here’s the email address.” She listens while he types it in, then hears the whoosh of the mail server sending the message.

It pops up on her screen moments later.