Brad was there, her former partner. Of course he was, the noble, tragic hero. Driven by duty and honor, uncorruptible.
And Samantha Archer, her former boss. Sitting there looking like an ice princess, her long hair wound tightly up behind her head, as tight as her ass. If Brad had her position, this deal would never have been made, because Brad would have killed her. At a minimum he would have pounded the walls of the DOJ until they listened. But Sam, like so many women in high positions, didn’t like to rock the boat. It wasn’t that they were worse than their male counterparts, it was that they didn’t want to be seen as a bitch or a ball-breaker. The deal hadn’t been easy, but in the end, Nicole knew that Sam would give in just to get the name of the other traitor in the DEA.
Like Nicole would ever tell them.
Nicole’s attorney, two AUSAs, the bailiff, the court reporter, and the judge.
Wholly unnecessary because she’d already signed the deal. She’d played her part perfectly. She knew they’d never give her witness protection, but they had agreed to give her a fake identity and transfer her to a federal prison in New England. She’d made them jump through hoops, telling them how terrified she was she’d be killed, that she already had a price on her head.
She was such a good actress. Because she certainly wouldn’t be around to fulfill her end of the bargain.
She sat at the table and waited while the AUSA read out all the charges and stipulations. What she’d agreed to do, what they would do, yada yada yada. Boring.
And then came the fun part.
“Will the defendant please rise.”
She stood.
“Do you understand the charges that have been brought before this court?”
“Yes, your honor.”
“And you have agreed to waive your trial by jury and enter a guilty plea?”
“Yes, your honor.”
“I need you to affirm that you are guilty of all charges as set forth in the document.”
“I am guilty, your honor.”
The violence was only beginning. And when Nicole was done, Brad would suffer. He might be the only one she would decide to let live. Because when everyone else he cared about and worked with was dead, he’d know it was because he couldn’t stop her.
A thrill ran through her spine. She almost smiled.
“In exchange for your plea and cooperation with the AUSA, you accept being transferred to an undisclosed federal penitentiary under an undisclosed name, where you will serve twenty years with no opportunity for parole?”
“I do.”
“Would you like to say anything to the court?”
“May I say something to my former boss?”
“Yes,” the judge said.
Nicole turned slowly, her chains rattling. She looked at Brad and Sam, her face as impassive as she could make it. “I’m sorry,” she said as contritely as she could muster. “I wish things had been different.” Different, absolutely. She wished that Brad Donnelly had actually died when he was supposed to.
“I am ashamed,” she said, “and humbled that this court and the US Attorney have allowed me to help in any way I can, as penance for the atrocities I’ve committed. I only hope that you can one day forgive me.”
She stared at Brad. He didn’t react. She winked, then turned to face the judge, her head down.
“The court will stipulate to the agreement between these two parties. Ms. Rollins, you’ll be transported next week to this court to answer questions that the AUSA has prepared regarding the known criminal named Tobias, his alleged sister known as Elise Hansen, all their associates, the explosion at the evidence locker, and reveal the identity of other compromised agents and employees of which you are aware. On Friday, you’ll be transported to federal prison, where you will serve out the remainder of your sentence.”
“Thank you, your honor.”
She glanced back over her shoulder. Brad wasn’t there.
Nicole almost smiled. He wouldn’t be able to stop the storm that was coming. The violence would rain down on him and everyone he cared about. And she’d let him live through it all, because he would suffer more knowing he couldn’t stop her.
She could hardly wait for next week.
Brad Donnelly thought it was over, that this was the end for her. She wished she could see his face when he learned the truth.
Today was only the beginning.
Don’t miss Allison Brennan’s national bestselling Max Revere series
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MAXIMUM EXPOSURE
Dear Reader:
Characters usually come to writers as either fully formed individuals or works in progress. Maxine Revere came to me almost fully formed.