C chuckles. “They always try. It’s like they’ve never watched video on you. Don’t they know the longer they leave you alone to stew, the less they get? Flynn said one time you said ‘I don’t remember’ ninety-three times in an interview and that was the longest sentence you used. That’s your real side hustle, giving cops high blood pressure.”
Zoe returns, blowing on a cup of hot coffee. She looks so sweet doing it that I think about the group of them. The way Anvil Stroviak’s upset someone wasn’t nice enough to his wife, the way Connor McCann hugged Zoe when she was crying, and the way Trick brought me a chair. For a bunch of hardened criminals they are awfully affectionate at times. It makes me think about my own behavior. Am I ever that sweet to Trick? He certainly knows I care about him and am attracted to him, but other than messaging him when we were estranged… what do I do to show him?
“The FBI detail on you is gone. There’s one NY field office agent who’s in town as a guest of Coynston PD to look into the death of suspended agent Milt Schager.”
“Yeah, my super’s been hit up twice by Coins PD asking for surveillance video. They know there are no cameras, so I’m guessing they’re using it as an excuse to get in his office and ask him other questions.”
Neither Connor nor Trick looks worried, which is reassuring. It would be horrible if Milt’s status as an agent protected him from being considered an attempted murderer who got shot in self-defense.
C stretches and looks back at me. “So Laurelyn, I need to ask you some things. Everyone all right with that?” C flicks his gaze to Trick who nods.
It feels good to be included. My accepting Connor’s invitation to use his tub seems to have been a good decision.
“Sure. Of course,” I say.
“You understand that FBI agents are not your friends anymore, right? If they ever were.”
Licking my lips, I nod. “I do understand.”
“Sounds like they were polite when they last talked to you, though? When they interviewed you about Schager?”
“Yes, they were professional. Unlike the time before, this last time they didn’t grill me for hours in a freezing room and ignore my requests to use a bathroom.”
“I’m not surprised they treated you better the second time. They’d just heard there’d been a botched sting where you ended up in a suspect’s apartment. Just remember their friendly act is an act. Every time they talk to you from now on, they will try to get as many details on Trick and the rest of us as they can.”
“I understand. Just so you both know I didn’t talk about Scott or any of you with them. They did try to bring him up several times, but I just repeated my original statement and said I didn’t have anything else to say.”
“Good. Talbot said during the time he was there, you did well. How about before he got there? The feds can apply a lot of pressure. It’s easy to get tripped up.”
“I don’t think I gave them the information they were after. I wasn’t cooperative. They took me to two hospitals, trying to force me to get a rape exam. I said no. They pushed and pushed. It was horrible.” My voice trails off, and I swallow.
Upon hearing this, C’s mouth forms an angry line.
“I’d rather not talk about it. But I definitely wasn’t trying to help them.”
“You didn’t get the test?” C asks.
I shake my head. I don’t look at Trick. I can’t yet. My own emotions are about all I can handle when I think about that day.
“Most people would’ve crumbled. I’m impressed. How about taking a lawyer with you if they want to talk to you again about anything?”
“Yes. I actually wished I could talk to a lawyer before I spoke to them about Milt. I was afraid to go in there alone.”
Trick squeezes my shoulder. “How am I just hearing this?”
“We weren’t talking. And you were already paying for something really expensive,” I whisper. “The last thing I wanted to do was ask for help with the FBI after I made the mistake of trusting Milt to begin with.”
Trick’s voice is strained. “If you’re scared about anything, you have to come to me. Or what good am I to you?”
Looking up, I see the pain clouding his features, and it breaks something inside me. Tears well in my eyes, and I stand.
“Getting shot was easier than hearing this,” he murmurs.
“I should’ve talked to you. I wanted to… it just felt like I would’ve been taking advantage of you.”
He exhales and wraps his arms around me, resting his head against mine. His voice is as soft as mine was, so it feels almost like we’re all alone. “I told you last night the things you have to do for me. Well, I’ve got non-negotiable things to do for you, too. Let me do my job, Laurelyn.”
“I will. I understand now.”
