Page 172 of Bound By Fire
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Ridge
Reed stands, looking at the small clock on the wall and then back at me.
“That’s it. We’re done.”
“What?” I straighten.
“I gave you five minutes almost half an hour ago, Ridge. I’ve been more than patient. I have Head Councilor Vector breathing down my neck and a vote that has already been signed off. I cannot keep stalling on this.”
“Councilor, please.”
“It’s done.” She picks up her file. “It’s over. I’m calling the team in now, and we’re going to bring Dr. Keller into custody. I’m sorry. I gave you every chance.”
I open my mouth to argue, and my phone vibrates in my pocket.
I yank it out so fast I almost drop it. It’s Flint, and he’s sent a message. There’s an attachment. I tap to open it, and the picture loads on the screen.
The floor falls out from under me.
No.
Nooooooo, that can’t be right.
A second message comes in underneath the first.
Rachael Da Silver verified this 100%. This is the female who took the phone at the park. I’m sorry, Ridge.
I read it again, trying to make sense of it all.
It doesn’t work.
Surely not.
“Ridge.” Reed has come around the table. “What is it? What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I look up at her. It takes me a beat to find my voice.
“I have proof,” I say. “Solid proof that Magma was framed. Shit!” I mutter. “It’s unexpected.”
She goes very still.
“Wait a minute. This should be concerning Robyn Keller, not Magma. Why are you bringing Magma up?”
“Hear me out.”
“I told you to stay away from Magma.” Her voice has gone very low. “I gave you a direct order. Why did you go behind my back?”
“You must know that I was never going to stay out of it.” I look her dead in the eye. “Magma is my friend, and I betrayed him. I’m not going to add to that betrayal by sitting on my hands and pretending I don’t have the skills or the resources to help him. I won’t apologize for it. I worked his case because the two cases are linked, so I think that qualifies me. I have evidence. Do you want it or not?”
She studies me for a long moment. “I don’t like it, Ridge. I don’t like it one bit, but what you say holds some merit, so I’m going to hear you out.”
“Thank you.”
I open my laptop on the conference table. She comes around to my side, and I pull up the file Flint sent across earlier in the day.
“Last Wednesday, Magma was at Vasanti’s Hardware on his lunch break. This is the footage of the incident.”
