“Guess I shouldn’t be surprised you’re here.” No other introductions. No other explanations. “Let’s step outside.” No request. A firm demand, one that I would have to follow.
Once on the porch, I folded my arms across my chest, waiting. It didn’t take long for Luke to jump right in.
“He’s not a criminal.” He kept his stance, shoulders back, eyes watching not only me but everything around me.
“I figured as much. So why is he here, of all places?”
“It’s the best option we have right now. At least until we close the case.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“A lot.” Luke grimaced, shoulders relaxing and telling me more than any words ever would. “He’s lucky he’s alive. No one, and I mean that, has ever escaped, let alone been willing to talk to an officer. But Emery has been extremely forthcoming so far.”
“His family?” May as well ask if I was going to go looking for them.
“Think he’s dead. And it has to stay that way until the case is closed. And even then…”
“Are you telling me that Emery will have a price on his head for the rest of his life?” God, I hoped that wasn’t the case.
“This goes so much further than just a man or two. There’s an entire network.” Luke paused, looking at the door. He lowered his voice a notch. “Emery isn’t like other targets we’ve come across before. He knows things only people deep in the network would know.”
So why was he telling me? It wasn’t like I was going to be doing anything to help solve this case.
I’d been there, done that. I’d made myself a promise to never go undercover again.
The last time nearly killed me.
Emery
With my arms wrapped around my legs, trying to keep from shaking, I watched with wide eyes as Ryker and the police officer from the hospital came back inside. Gale sat on the other end of the couch—for moral support, she said.
My breakfast was threatening to make a reappearance. I willed it not to with everything in me.
“Hey, kiddo,” Luke greeted, wisely keeping his distance. Ryker, on the other hand, took a stand by the TV, his eyes taking in everything that was going on. Not able to keep my eyes on anything, I let them stare at the ground. There, at least, I wouldn’t have to look at the men.
“I hear you aren’t settling in too well.”
Was I supposed to? There wasn’t much point. I would be gone in a matter of weeks, never to be seen by these people again.
“We’ll work on it,” Gale said gently. “We have plenty of time.”
I nodded, knowing that was what I was expected to do.
“It’s been a bit over a week,” the officer went on after a moment. “A few questions have come up as we’ve looked over the case. Will you be up to answering a few of them for me?”
I nodded, mentally preparing myself.
“I can go if you want.” Ryker motioned towards the door.
I shook my head. It didn’t matter if he was here or not. I was used to no privacy, so what point did it make to have three people hear my answers?
“How many others has Steven brought in, that you know of?”
Others? The officer must have seen the confusion on my face as he explained a bit more. “Like you, Emery. Forced to stay in Steven’s place without a way to freely leave if you wanted to.”
It took me a moment to answer. “He never brought them in.” Not when he had me.
“What do you mean by that?” he asked when I didn’t elaborate.
