“What exactly are you suggesting?” I asked icily.
“Those fuckers are transporting prostitutes. They’re bringing women across state lines for the purpose of sex. And I have a feeling that once we open the door and dig a little deeper, we’ll learn that it’s even more insidious than that. White slavery. Drugs. All sorts of shit. They’re in deep, Angie. And the longer you stay tied to them, the deeper you sink, too.”
I felt light-headed, and realized that I’d been shaking my head almost from the moment he’d started talking. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you need to know,” he said. “And because you’re going to help me.”
“No.” I stood up. “You’re wrong. There is no way Evan is tied up in something like that, and I am not going to help you harass him.”
“Sit down,” he said sharply.
I sat.
“I have a few witnesses who are willing to talk, but I need more.”
Witnesses. The word seemed to pulse red in the air. This couldn’t be true, so how could he have witnesses?
I realized he’d continued talking. “What?” I blinked at him. “Back up. What?”
“I said I need you, too. You’re going to wear a wire.”
“The hell I am.”
“You’re going to talk with your boyfriend,” he continued, as if I hadn’t said a word. “You’re going to get him to admit to you what he’s doing—and then you’ll see that I’m right.”
“You’re not,” I said. I would never believe that Jahn’s knights were into that kind of shit.
Kevin kept talking as if I hadn’t said a word. “And the reason that I know you’re going to do this is because it all ties back to you. You’re dating him, right? That has you mixed up in this mess, too. Not a good place to be, Angie. And it’s definitely not a good place for your father to be,” he added, the words sending a chill up my spine. “Not when he’s making a bid for the vice presidency. The press gets hold of something like this, and it won’t be pretty.”
“You unimaginable bastard.”
“I’m not the bastard. Evan is. Him and his friends.” He stood up. “I’ll be back tomorrow. I want your answer then. And, Angie,” he said, “it had better be yes.”
I stayed in the chair as he let himself out, and I was still there hours later when Evan arrived. I didn’t even hear Peterson let him in. I didn’t even realize he was in the condo until he sat on the edge of the coffee table in front of me.
I’d drawn a blanket around me, but even beneath the flannel, I was cold and numb.
“Are you sick?” Evan asked, leaning in to press a warm hand against my forehead.
I shook my head. “They want me to wear a wire,” I said, and I watched his shoulders droop with understanding.
“Kevin,” he said. “That goddamn little prick.”
“He says you’re into prostitution. That you’re violating the Mann Act. That I have to watch you—to spy on you. And he says that if I don’t, my father’s going to get dragged into this.”
He slid off the table to kneel in front of me, his expression gentle. “Baby,” he said. “We can fix this.”
I shook my head, then met his eyes. “This could destroy my dad.”
He looked at my warily. “What are you doing, Lina?”
“What I have to,” I said. “What I can.”
“Tell me.”
“I’m going to California, just like I planned. And I’m going to call Kevin on the way and tell him you dumped me and that I’m moving to Washington just like I planned. And that means that putting a wire on me wouldn’t do him any good. He’ll leave my father alone, and if you and the guys can get Destiny cleaned up fast enough, then I bet he’ll leave you alone, too.”
“Lina, shit.” He ran his hands through his hair, and his eyes looked wild and desperate. I kind of envied him that. I only felt numb.