Page 77 of Bitter Truth
“Is it?” he asks, stroking my head.
I know what he’s asking—not just about the events of this day, but everything that led us here. I debate briefly before saying, “I think things should be quiet for at least the next week.”
He chuckles. “Then we should go out to dinner tonight, get some champagne.”
I shake my head no.
“Then what do you want to do to celebrate?”
I lean back until I can see him.
“Have a picnic,” I say, knowing that this time when I fall asleep in his arms in front of the wall of glass, I’ll wake up in them, too.
The grin he gives me makes everything we just went through worth it. His eyes flick toward the main road, where the sound of sirens in the distance grows louder as they approach.
“Maybe we should have a quick pre-game celebration now. Once they get here, I doubt we’ll be going anywhere for a while.”
I try giving him a look of disapproval, but I can’t keep my lips from spreading into a smile. He’s not wrong. And for me, he’ll always be Mr. Right.
CHAPTER 41
The room is uncomfortably cold. Every part of me aches. And now that my adrenaline has worn off, I’m having trouble keeping my eyes open. I slide off the uncomfortable metal chair and onto Jake’s lap, ignoring the raised eyebrows given to me by the two detectives across from us.
I don’t care what they think as I nestle against his chest, absorbing his warmth. Relishing the feeling of being cradled in his embrace. Let them stare. We came way too close to never being able to do this again. Besides, in another ten minutes, his arms might be the only thing keeping me upright.
The woman shifts her weight. “We spoke with your director. She’s confirmed all the background information you’ve given us. Everything up until you came to the Keys.” She shoots her partner a look, then says, “That’s when things get a bit… murky.”
I remain silent as I return her gaze.
Clearing her throat, she continues. “For starters,we’d like to know what brought you here to the Keys in the first place.”
“Did Director Jacobson tell you about the sniper who took a shot at me?”
“She did.”
“He was paid from an account traced to one of your local banks. The inmate who killed Tony Bianchi was as well.”
The detectives exchange a long look. “May I ask which law enforcement agency is conducting that investigation?”
Shrugging, I say, “As far as I’m aware, none of them.”
She frowns, eyes narrowing. Crosses her arms over her chest as she leans back in her seat while her partner takes over the questioning.
“So none of this information was obtained through official channels?”
“It was not.”
His tone is disapproving as he says, “That seems to be a common thread with you, Agent Knox.”
“How so?”
“Why didn’t you call the local authorities and inform them of what was going on?”
“I was busy.” When his expression makes it clear he isn’t satisfied with that answer, I sigh heavily and add, “And also, no offense, but I don’t trust any of you.”
The woman chokes on the sip of coffee she just took, turning her head as she coughs the liquid back up. “Excuse me?”
“Garrett implied that he had cops on his payroll. Feds, too.”
