Jake’s mouth twists. “Maybe you’ll have better luck than I did.”
“If he won’t answer me, I’ll call my mother,” Hedy says. “He won’t ignore her.”
Jake pulls up another file. “There’s more.”
Parker squints at the screen. “Boone Hitchens. Who’s that?”
“The detective who arrested Brantley Whitaker,” Anders says. “And ruined Rami’s gala.”
Odd’s stomach tightens. “He’s also the camp counselor Hopper sponsored. Joni’s had eyes on him for years.”
“Correct,” Jake says. “And he’s now connected to two things Whitaker cares about: his son’s case and one of our Wildlings.”
The room shifts. Whitaker has always watched the Wildlings. It’s always set off the dads’ hackles, but they never in a million years thought he’d harm them.
“How did Hitchens land the Whitaker case?” Hedy asks. “Isn’t he still green?”
“He wasn’t placed there by Joni,” Jake says, pulling up the photo: Boone in an ill-fitting suit, badge visible, cuffing Brantley Whitaker. “That was the new police chief, and Joni’s furious. High-profile arrests make him harder to protect. Harder to move.”
Something a police chief on Whitaker’s payroll would know.Fuck.
DB watches Odd’s jaw set.
“And after the fountain incident,” Jake adds, “Hopper invited Boone to his studio.”
“Why?” Hedy asks.
“He’s apparently been lonely in that big fucking warehouse. And because Boone protected Maverick from a predator.”
“A dead predator,” DB says, a statement of fact.
Jake hesitates. “I also think Maverick is going to make a play for Boone.”
Mav’s crush on his old counselor has always been a source of amusement. Sweet and harmless.
“There’s your danger,” Hedy says. “Maybe Hopper can keep an eye on Boone and Maverick. See what he knows.”
DB exhales. “Are we sure we want Hopper involved?”
“Any more than he already is?” Jake asks. “It’s not ideal. But Maverick has such a sweet, trusting relationship with Hopper. And he’s the only Wildling Whitaker hasn’t focused on—because he’s not in the business.”
Odd’s fingers lace with DB’s. “What happens if Whitaker figures out Maverick’s attachment? Or remembers that Hopper is more than just an existential threat?”
Jake spreads a hand. “I don’t have answers. I’m just flagging threats. Whitaker had people on Boone once. I can’t confirm if that’s still active, but now that Ryder and I can access his files, we can work on figuring out his next moves.”
“Look, I don’t want to be the bitch in this situation,” Parker says, leaning back. “But I was right about what a shit show it would be if we involved some Wildlings while keeping others in the dark.”
No one dares contradict her on that.
Hedy rises. “You were right.” Then, quieter, “If we’re assessing Boone’s viability, having Hopper nearby isn’t the worst idea.”
Odd arches a brow. “We are not calling Hopper’s involvement agoodidea.”
“No,” Hedy agrees. “But if Maverick is orbiting Boone, and Boone is orbiting Hopper, while Whitaker is circling the Wildlings like a fucking raptor…” She looks to Jake. “Do you really think you’ll be able to breach his system enough to know if he calls a hit on one of our kids?”
Hearing Hedy say the threat out loud puts DB’s teeth on edge. Everyone seems to have forgotten how to breathe.
“Ryder and I aren’t working on anything else until we can make it happen.”
