Page 19 of Winter’s Heart (Three of Hearts #1)

“They’re also trying to stop you from testifying at this judicial hearing,” Runar said.

“I believe you’re considered one of the world’s most renowned scientists; a specialist in your field.

And after your colleague, Dr. Tammy Pittman, you would be the next most probable person in line to convey the truth to the court.

A jury would listen to your testimony and be likely to believe you.

” Jacob could see comprehension dawning in Nikki’s eyes.

“Without you or Dr. Pittman to call on, it might take the prosecution team months to find a replacement to interpret your data. They’d probably have to ask for an extension to the trial.

It might even cause the judge to call a mistrial.

Even if they get a new hearing date, it could be years down the track before they reconvene.

The fish company would be buying valuable time by getting rid of you.

Could go for a lengthy period unchallenged, making millions more dollars. ”

“Oh, I see,” Nikki said quietly. The vitality left her face as she sagged into the chair.

Jacob’s heart went out to her. She’d been through so much already.

She honestly thought she was no longer a target.

Until now, she’d remained so strong, but few normal people could deal with this kind of sustained level of fear.

Not when the blows kept coming with no reprieve.

He leaned forward in his chair to catch her eye, laying a hand on her knee, ignoring the deputy commissioner’s sharp look.

“You’ll be fine,” he soothed. “I promise I won’t let anyone hurt you.

” When he’d first met her, he’d refused to make this kind of pledge; Tristan’s death too fresh in his mind.

But their enforced duration spent together had forged an unlikely bond, a bond that he couldn’t ignore, and this time he was unable to keep the words from leaving his mouth.

Faan . Now he was going to have to prove to himself and to the deputy commissioner that he could do it right. Because he was a man of his word.

Nikki stared at him for many long seconds, her blue eyes never wavering from his face. “Good,” she finally said. “Because I’m determined to stay alive.” She got to her feet. “I’m determined to testify at this court case. I’m going to bring these bastards down.”

The stubborn, headstrong Nikki was back. And he was extremely glad to see her. Jacob stood, turning to face his superior.

“That’s good to hear,” Runar said, also standing.

He rounded his desk and opened the door to his office.

“I give you my personal assurance, Dr. Winter, that we will get you safely on a flight to your home country. And I look forward to watching the outcome of this court case with great interest.” This time it was Runar who initiated a handshake, and if Jacob wasn’t mistaken, the deputy commissioner almost smiled as Nikki took his hand and shook it warmly.

“Thank you, sir.”

“No problem,” Runar said with an air of what could only be called joie de vivre.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Winter.” He held the door and ushered her through it.

“I just need a private word with the inspector; I hope that’s okay?

” the deputy commissioner added as Nikki turned to exit the room.

When she gave a surprised nod, he continued, “If you wouldn’t mind waiting in the hallway, he won’t be long. ”

Jacob froze. Uh oh. He must’ve imagined that hint of a smile, because the second the door closed again, Runar’s customary glare was back in place.

“I’m sure you know I’m not happy with this turn of events.

The investigation into your misconduct is still ongoing.

The loss of your witness was…a terrible miscalculation on your part, to say the least.” Runar removed his glasses and polished a smudge off one lens before he put them on so he could study Jacob.

“I know.” Jacob wanted to say more. He wanted to plead his case to the deputy commissioner.

To tell him that Tristan had been the one to put himself in danger by disobeying an order to stay inside their hotel room in Malmo.

The man had been whining that he needed a cigarette for hours on the drive down, but Jacob and M?rten had refused, saying it was too dangerous to stop, let alone to stand out in the open for any length of time.

So, after they’d checked in to their room, M?rten had gone outside to do a quick survey of the perimeter of the hotel, and Jacob had been distracted by a phone call from the chief wanting to make sure they had arrived safely, Tristan had secretly let himself out of the room, then stood on the balcony to take his smoke.

He couldn’t have made a clearer target for a sniper if he’d tried.

So technically it was Jacob’s fault; M?rten had been outside at the time and Jacob should’ve been watching Tristan.

If anyone was going to lose his job, it would be him.

“Well, I hope you do better with this one,” the deputy commissioner replied testily. “I only put you on this case because I was desperate and you were the closest unit.”

“I know,” Jacob echoed, keeping a tight rein on his temper.

The police deputy commissioner would not give him the chance to explain.

Jacob understood he wasn’t the man’s favorite person, and he also knew the only reason the deputy commissioner hadn’t taken the opportunity to sack him already was because Runar respected M?rten.

Jacob liked to joke that M?rten was the teacher’s pet, but Jacob didn’t blame the deputy commissioner for his preference, because M?rten was a great cop and a decent guy all rolled into one.

Needing to change the subject, Jacob asked instead, “Will Dr. Winter be safe once she reaches American shores?”

Shooting him an aggrieved look, Runar ran a hand over his short hair and turned to sit heavily in his chair.

It was the first time Jacob had seen any hint of uncertainty in the man since he’d entered the room, and his internal radar went on immediate alert.

“I don’t know. But it will be out of our hands.

The FBI is taking this one over. They seemed incredibly keen to send a military transport to pick her up, and I believe they’ll send two of their best agents to meet her plane when it lands. So…” Runar shrugged.

There was something the deputy commissioner wasn’t telling him.

Did he think the hitmen would follow her back to her home country?

But even if they did, surely the FBI could handle it, couldn’t they?

The fact that they were chartering a military aircraft to come get her meant they were taking her safety seriously. So why did something feel off?

“I want to be on that plane,” Jacob demanded.

“No, it’s out of our jurisdiction. You can stay with her tonight, but once she’s on that flight, she’s no longer our problem.” Jacob knew that look. The deputy commissioner had decided, and there was no way Jacob was going to change it.

But Jacob had an ace up his sleeve that he wasn’t sure the deputy commissioner knew about.

He held dual citizenship with both America and Sweden because he’d been born in the US.

He could legally enter the United States if he wanted to.

So it wasn’t out of his jurisdiction, as long as he went as a civilian.

But if he did that, disobeyed orders and turned rogue, then he knew he’d most likely never work as a police officer in Sweden again.

He didn’t know if he was prepared to make that sacrifice for a woman he barely knew.

He needed more time to think. More time to assess this situation.

“Take her to the safe house on Kr?ftgaten. Two officers are there already, waiting for you. Get some sleep, Jacob, you look like you could use some.” With that, the deputy commissioner bent his head to check his phone, dismissing Jacob.

“Yes, sir.” Jacob left the room, shoulders straight and legs stiff.

When Jacob turned into the hallway, he was surprised to find it empty.

Where was Nikki? She was supposed to be waiting for him right outside.

Then he heard voices echoing from a few doors down, and he followed the sound.

It led him to the staff lunchroom, and when he stalked through the doorway, he found Nikki seated at a table with one of the rookie cops, her hands wrapped around a mug of coffee.

The pair were chatting, and both looked in his direction as he entered the room.

“Good evening, sir.” The young female trainee stood at attention. “Sorry, sir, I found Dr. Winter in the hallway and thought she might be more comfortable down here.”

“Yes, thank you, Aurora,” Jacob replied.

The girl was whip-smart, not afraid of any challenge, and she would make a great cop one day.

But she was also a big pain in the ass. He wanted to growl that she could stop with the sir , but knew it wouldn’t achieve anything.

Both he and M?rten had tried on numerous occasions to get her to call them by their first names, but she insisted on using sir or inspector.

Aurora had only joined the force three months ago and was still in training; was yet to be awarded an official partner.

But she’d loosely attached herself to him and M?rten, begging to go out on patrol with them, or a accompany them on a case.

Most of the time they refused, but that didn’t seem to daunt her never-ending positivity.

He hated to admit it, but she’d done him a favor. Rather than leave Nikki loitering alone in the hallway, she’d taken her somewhere safe and out of the way. He should’ve thought about sending her to the lunchroom himself.

Aurora must be rostered onto the night shift, which would’ve started at eight p.m., but the girl looked as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as if it was ten o’clock in the morning.

“You can sit down,” he growled, indicating she should retake her seat. Sometimes her eager enthusiasm reminded him just how old and jaded he had become.

“Aurora just made me a cup of coffee,” Nikki said brightly. “Would you like one too?”

“No thanks, we’d better get going,” he replied, even though the aroma of freshly brewed coffee did smell enticing. “Thanks again, Aurora,” he said, already turning on his heel.

“Sure thing, sir,” she said, getting to her feet once more. “If there’s anything else I can do to help, just let me know.”

“Not tonight,” he said, finding it hard to keep the weariness out of his tone now. The events of the last twenty-four hours were taking their toll.

“Thank you. It was nice to meet you, Aurora.” Nikki placed her mug on the table, giving it a rueful glance as she left the room.

“You all good?” he asked once they were alone in the corridor, scrutinizing her features for signs of fatigue or fear.

Of which he found both. She answered him with a weary nod, but he could tell there was something she wasn’t saying.

She indicated they should keep walking, and he wasn’t about to argue; this wasn’t the place to talk.

They both needed some rest, and he needed to get away from here to somewhere he could think.

Jacob had promised to see the chief before he left, but that was now the last thing he wanted after Staff’s dressing down.

The chief would understand, and if he didn’t, then Jacob had no energy to argue; he’d sort it out with his superior later.

He’d parked Petar’s Volvo in the secure underground carpark of the police headquarters, and so he led her toward the stairwell.

“Why are you up on misconduct charges?” Nikki blurted halfway down the stairs.

Jacob stopped and grasped the handrail as he whipped around to face her. “What? How do you know—”

“I was listening at the door,” she replied without an ounce of remorse.

“You were what?” He could barely believe his ears. She had the audacity to listen in on a private conversation in the middle of a police department. He wasn’t sure if he was proud of her or affronted.

“Well, I was until Aurora came along and found me. But I caught enough,” she said. So now Jacob had another reason to thank Aurora. She must’ve noticed Nikki hovering too close to the door and took her out of temptation’s way.

“You heard me.” She put her hands on her hips, widening her already big, blue eyes at him. “What did you do wrong? I think I deserve to know.”

Jacob ground his back teeth together. He’d been hoping to keep that piece of information quiet, at least until he had a verdict.

But she had a point. If she was going to trust him to protect her, she needed to know whether he was capable of doing the job properly.

Trouble was, he wasn’t sure if he still was.