“What’s the word?” I answer.
“Apparently you’re sleeping with the witness, and I didn’t know.”
“Old news,” I say. “The judge approved me remaining on the case.”
“And if I don’t?”
“We both know you need me. I’m standing out front taking bullets first.” I change the subject. “What’s the word on Chicago, Ed?”
Luckily, he moves on with me. “I can’t get anyone to call me back,” he grumbles irritably.
“Really, Ed?” I ask incredulously. “No one will call you back?”
“Pri, I know you don’t trust me and frankly, I don’t trust anyone either. Except for Walker,” he surprises me and adds, “I’ve been with them for hours. Luke Walker specifically. Apparently, it’s him, Royce, and Blake that run the operation.”
“And what did Luke tell you?” I ask, entering my office, shutting my door, and rounding my desk.
“He shared Mack’s history, including their profile before hiring him, as well as what he’s done for them since joining Walker.”
“And?” I ask, shoving my purse, which means my gun, in my drawer and setting my briefcase on the floor.
“I’ll grant Mack the immunity agreement, but I think he needs the federal agreement Walker is working on. And even then, Waters could have legal teams stir up fake charges left and right until he gets arrested and ends up dead. If we can prove this case without him, he should walk away. And we should let him.”
Unease rips through me. We should let him go. He should walk away. How convenient that is for Waters.
“I’ll have the signed agreement scanned to your email in the next hour or two,” he adds, and his phone beeps. “I need to take this.”
“Wait, Ed. What agreement did you come to with Josh?”
“Josh? No agreement. I’m not paying him and Walker. Gotta run.” He disconnects, and I’m suddenly extremely worried about Grace. And Adrian, because Ed is right. Waters will just keep coming at him.
My cellphone rings again and this time it’s Adrian. I answer with, “You heard all of that?”
“Yes. I did. What does a liar do after he dies?”
My lips quirk. “I don’t know. What does a liar do when he dies?”
“He lies still. Fuck Ed. I’m not walking away. I’m not hiding. And don’t let him fuck with your head and make you think that’s the right choice.”
"And yet, you know—”
“I know this ends with me, Pri. And it will end.”
“Is that supposed to comfort me?”
“Comfort isn’t what you need.”
“You are,” I dare. “Maybe you should walk away, Adrian.”
“I’ve already betrayed Waters. Because I choose not to testify, I do not get removed from his list of enemies. This is a battle to the end. It was always a battle to the end. Stay the course, baby. We got this.”
Baby, not sweetheart, almost as if our declaration of love transformed his endearments. There’s a new intimacy between us, even over the phone. “Yes,” I say softly. “We got this.”
“I’ll see you soon,” he promises and disconnects.
But as I set my phone down, I’m stuck on one point. Waters is in jail and still coming at us, most certainly at Adrian. He can get to us and we can’t get to him. I think back to Adrian, his words “I’ll handle Waters” and “this ends with me.”
How does he think he’s going to end this and why do I know I won’t like that answer?Chapter Thirty-ThreePRI
After hanging up with Adrian, I finally have the opportunity to investigate the FBI agents that visited me earlier. With my earbuds in place and phone in my pocket, I hurry up front and check-in with Shari. “Did I hear there was an FBI agent here to see me?”
“Oh,” she says, brushing red hair behind her ear. “Yes. I do believe so, but they said they’d stop back by.”
“Did they leave a card?”
“No, and we get agents around here all the time. I didn’t think anything of it.” She crinkles her nose. “Should I have?”
“It’s not a big deal,” I say, “but right now, with such a big case going on, I’d appreciate names and cards from visitors.”
“Of course,” she assures me. “I’ll make sure. Sorry, Pri.”
“Like I said, no big deal. Thanks, Shari.” I quickly head back to my desk, sitting down and thrumming my fingers on the wooden surface, apparently still bothered by the unknown visitors.
Which is silly. As Shari stated, we have visitors, even agents, in here all the time. The timing is what bothers me, and not really even that. Pitt is missing. The FBI would have questions, but why not leave a card? Of course, Walker will have heard the conversations on the topic. They will have investigated. If there was a problem, they’d let me know. With that comforting thought, I set aside at least one worry, and dig into my work.
It’s two hours after my call with Ed when the immunity agreement hits my email, but it comes with a catch. It requires an original signature. In other words, it feels like a setup. Like someone wants to ensure I lead them to Adrian. Or perhaps if I provide an original signature, I’ll be exposed for aiding a fugitive, thus I’d be removed from the case. I was right. Ed is dirty. I’m angry and I decide yelling would be highly unprofessional. Since I can’t talk to Ed without yelling, I text him: Adrian Mack is not going to sign this agreement in person. Please amend.