When I saw her beautiful face bruised and battered, my gut instinct was that that son of a bitch sitting next to her had hit her. It wasn’t until she left and Caleb sat me down that I realized her injuries were a direct result of my actions. Fuck me—what had I done? How can I ever make this up to her? I don’t know how I’ll do it, but I need her to give me the chance . . . because if she does I’ll spend my whole life making it right. I swear I will.
I knew then the incident must have had something to do with me, and it did. Actually, she was hurt because of me—because for some reason even after I shut up, even after I killed the story, even after I gave everything except that one flash drive to Caleb, it wasn’t enough. I sit there for the longest time with my head in my hands until I’m able to move. Today is the day I get to the bottom of this—Bass needs to come clean.
***
I’m riding as fast as I can, weaving in and out of stopped cars to get to the courthouse. Entering the building, I empty my pockets and walk through the detectors. I announce myself at the reception desk and within five minutes Agent Bass is guiding me down that same fucking hall. She ushers me into the conference room and a fresh wave of panic overtakes me. Why would I get called in at the end of the trial? Is he going free?
“Ben, have a seat,” she says.
“What’s going on?” I stare at her.
She meets my glance head-on. “We couldn’t call you to testify because we couldn’t charge Hart with anything to do with the cartel. We just haven’t been able to link him to the heads of the operation. All the evidence we have is circumstantial and hearsay. He was tried strictly on aggravated assault and battery charges. The court reconvened yesterday and the verdict is in.”
I look at her in disbelief. “Are you fucking kidding me? A pony charge?”
“Ben, look, we’re not giving up. We just can’t find anything solid to link him to the cartel. All we have is the attack on Dahlia London, which isn’t enough. The District Attorney didn’t want to wait, he pushed the case through.”
My ears start to ring and I feel like I’m beginning to hyperventilate. Bass pulls a chair out and this time I sit. After a few minutes I look up at her. “Did Dahl have to testify?”
“No, there was a witness and that was enough.”
Thank, fuck. I’d have hated for her to have to go through that.
“Ben, we need more information. There has to be a connection. Someone had to have contacted Hart when he was first released. We need to figure out who it was.”
My jaw clenches. “You have all I had. Did you ask Jason about it?”
She forms a scowl. “Jason?”
“Jason Holt, Caleb’s brother. He’s a vice detective.”
“No, I haven’t. Should I?”
I shrug. “I’m not sure, but Caleb mentioned him when I brought up the flash drive. I thought maybe you were working together.”
“His name isn’t familiar. I’ll look into it. Ben, are you sure you didn’t keep a copy of anything?”
I slam my hand on the table and stand up. “Yeah, I’m fucking sure.”
We are face-to-face. Her gaze drifts to the folder on the table. “I just had to ask.”
Fury crashes through me. “Are we done?”
She nods. “Yes, but we need you to stay in this jurisdiction.” Her voice is softer this time.
“Right!” My pulse thuds as I turn and walk out the door and down the same fucking hallway for what I hope is the last time.
***