As I leave his office, tension coiling in my shoulders, my phone buzzes again.
Alice: Want to grab dinner tonight? I’ll buy.
I look at the message, thinking about state investigators and expensive lawyers and Tracy Campbell’s campaign to ruin me. She has no idea what's coming, and I have to tell her. I think about Alice's smile when she decided not to sign that statement. Her determination to see justice done, even when it was hard.
Me: I’d love to. But we need to talk about some things.
Alice: Everything okay?
Me: I’ll explain when I see you.
As I drive toward Alice's house, I make a decision. Chief's wrong.
This isn't the beginning of Tracy Campbell's war. This is her last desperate move. And she just made a critical mistake.
She underestimated how far I'm willing to go to protect someone.
Let them bring their lawyers and their investigators. Let Tracy call everyone in town. I did my job, and I did it right.
And I'm not backing down.
Chapter 30
Alice
Icantellsomething’swrongthe moment Sawyer walks into my house. The evening air follows him in, still warm from the day. His shoulders are tense, and he has that look he gets when he’s trying to figure out how to tell me bad news. I'm not a fan of that look.
“That bad?” I ask, closing the door behind him.
He sits heavily on my couch. “Lance’s family filed their complaint.”
My stomach drops. My hands twist together in my lap. I adjust my glasses nervously. “Already?”
“With expensive lawyers. They're claiming I coerced you, used excessive force, falsified evidence—the whole nine yards.” He runs a hand through his hair. “State police are getting involved.”
I sit down next to him. The couch cushion sinks under my weight. “What does that mean?”
“They’ll interview both of us, review all the evidence, go through everything with a fine-tooth comb.”
The thought of having to relive everything with investigators makes my chest tight. I press my hand against my sternum. “When?”
“Chief said probably next week.”
“Sawyer, I’m sorry. I should have just signed that stupid paper.”
“No.” His voice is firm. “You made the right choice.”
“Did I? You’re under investigation, and Lance still gets to play the victim.”
“Hey.” He waits until I meet his eyes. “Your mother is desperate. She’s throwing everything she has at this because she knows she’s losing. Lance’s family wouldn’t be hiring expensive lawyers if they thought he was innocent.”
“But what if the investigation—”
“What if it proves everything I said was true? What if they find out Lance really was stalking you, really did break into your house, really did assault you?”
I want to believe him, but the fear is still there. “What if they don’t?”
“Alice, you can’t let them bully you into silence. That’s exactly what they’re counting on.”
