Page 82 of Bound By Fire
It can’t be.
“No.” I shake my head once. “Not Magma. Whatever they’ve got on him, it’s wrong, or it’s been planted, or?—”
“I know what you’re going to say.” Reed lifts a hand. “I know what he is to you. I would not be telling you this if I weren’t sure. The evidence is there, Ridge. It’s circumstantial right now,but it’s consistent. We’re still building the case. We don’t have enough to move on him yet, which is why I’m telling you what I’m about to tell you.”
I wait.
“Stay away from him. Don’t go to him. Don’t warn him. Don’t interfere in any way. I’m trusting you with this information because I know what kind of male you are. I’m trusting you to remain professional. To not give anything away, and to keep digging on Dr. Keller.”
Fuck!
What the hell am I going to do?
I nod once.
“I mean it, Ridge. Your career will be over if you breathe so much as a word.”
“He isn’t guilty. There is no way. I don’t believe it.”
“If that’s the case, we’ll find evidence to support that theory. For what it’s worth, I don’t believe it either, but we need to keep working the case.”
“I won’t say anything.” I have to clear my throat before I get the next part out. “You can trust me. I’ll do what it takes. He doesn’t hear a thing from me. He doesn’t see anything off in my behavior. I’ll keep on Dr. Keller. But you have to promise me that you will make sure that whoever is investigating him does a proper job. That they uncover everything. That they look for signs that evidence was planted. This is all too convenient, if you ask me. There is no way the Mainland has this many of our key players in their pocket. I don’t believe it.”
“Neither do I.”
She studies my face. Whatever she finds there must be enough, because she gives me a small, tight nod.
“Thank you.” She rests a hand briefly on my forearm and then takes it away. “I’ll get information to you as soon asanything new comes in. For now, sit tight. Carry on as if this conversation didn’t happen.”
“Understood.”
“I’m sorry, Ridge.”
“Please don’t apologize, Councilor. I am certain that he will be found innocent in due course.”
“I hope you are right. It’s imperative that we remain impartial, if possible. Otherwise, we can’t be effective in our roles.”
I know that this is a warning where Robyn is concerned. Magma, too, I guess.
“For sure.”
“Good luck. Keep me updated.”
“I will.”
The male outside opens the door. I step out, and the SUV pulls away within seconds, the other two falling in behind it. They’re gone before I’ve made it back to my own vehicle.
I stand there in the dark for a moment, my hand on the door handle.
Magma has been more of a mentor than my own father, who died when I was very young. He was there for me the night my mother died. My jaw tightens when I think about how he showed up at my place with a six-pack of beer and just sat with me until the sun came up.
There has to be something else. Some other explanation.
I get into my car. Pull the door shut. Start the engine.
My gut is churning the whole way home.
I smell a whole bunch of rats. I don’t buy it. Not for a second.
