“Don’t you worry about it, Zoe. I’ll take care of the feds. I don’t doubt you have information that would be useful to them. Even with Ivanov dead.”
“I hope you’re right,” she breathed. “I don’t want to be away from you now that I’ve found you.”
They crept out of the tub and wrapped themselves in bathrobes. In his bedroom, Rollo turned down the bed, and Zoe climbed inside with damp hair and warm, naked flesh. They laid together in the cool sheets with the heat of the afternoon sun outside. He held her in his arms as they drifted off to sleep.
Later that evening, they woke again and he fixed her a hearty dinner before they sat together in the living room and watched a movie on TV. After the film, they went back to bed and woke early and refreshed the next morning.
Zoe seemed more nervous than he’d ever seen her as she dressed in the dirty clothes she’d worn the day before. He drove her to her dorm to change a little while later. He sat parked in his squad car in the parking lot of the institute and got updates from his guys while she dressed. She was back in a few minutes, sexy but comfortable in jeans and a designer t-shirt.
“Are you ready?” he asked as she slid into the passenger seat of his squad car.
“No, but I trust that you will be able to help me with whatever happens.”
He appreciated her confidence in him. After their love making and rest, she was coming back around. The feelings of trust and respect cycled between them, and it did his heart good to be on the same page with her again.
They got to the police station, and the unmarked FBI SUV was parked out front. Rollo took a deep breath and let it out, not allowing himself to get nervous about this. He’d been planning for this inevitability for days. Zoe was going to be okay.
The walked into the station and the agents from the day before asked to see them both in private. He led the agents into his office. He sat behind his desk and everyone else sat on the other side.
“Bringing down Ivanov has been a boon for our department. We’ve been able to recover further evidence from the crash. But as you may know, Ivanov was not the head of his arm of the Russian mafia. What can you tell us about Boris Ivanov, Ms. Bright?”
“Dima’s father?” Zoe asked.
“Before you start asking her questions, we should discuss what context she’ll be giving her testimony under.”
“What are you suggesting, Commander Morris?” Agent Black asked.
“I suggest you give Zoe criminal immunity from her involvement with Ivanov in exchange for her testimony,” Rollo said.
Zoe squirmed in her seat, sweat visible on her tanned forehead.
“We can see what we can do,” Agent Wick said.
“I’d be happy to answer your questions,” Zoe said.
“Once we have the bargain in writing,” Rollo said.
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Agent Black said, pulling his phone out of his suit jacket pocket. “I’ll get the director of our department on the line to write that up now. But it will be contingent on the quality of her information.”
Zoe shot Rollo a nervous look. He gritted his teeth, praying Zoe knew something important about Boris Ivanov. A few moments later, the agents were handing Rollo and Zoe both copies of the agreement faxed over from the FBI. In exchange for evidence in the Boris Ivanov case, Zoe would be immune to all criminal charges in relation to her involvement with the gang.
The agents asked her if she understood the agreement and she shook her head, biting her lip.
“I just hope I know something that will help you. I’ve only met Boris once, and he was worse than his son.”
“We’d like to take this to another interview room where Ms. Bright won’t be distracted by her mate. You two are mates correct? Our sources were quite clear about that.”
“Yes, we are. I will show you to a private room. Right this way,” Rollo said, feeling tension wash over him.
He opened the doors for the agents and Zoe. She gave him a worried look as she stepped through the door. He patted her back, trying to be strong for her.
“It’s going to be fine,” he said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
Two hours later, the agents and Zoe emerged from the room with a signed agreement to give her immunity. The agents were bursting at the seams with contained energy. One of them almost cracked a smile.
“Thank you for your cooperation, Commander Morris,” Agent Wick said, shaking his hand.
“You got what you needed?” Rollo asked, curious as to what Zoe had told them.
“Yes, and more. We may have more questions for her, but Zoe is free to go. No charges will be filed against her for her involvement with Ivanov.”
As the agents walked out of the station and got into their SUV, Rollo put his arms around Zoe’s shoulders, feeling like he’d just closed the biggest case of his life.
17