"She has a gambling addiction. She sold her boss out for money, and now she's worried that decision might cost her life."
"It might have if we hadn't gotten there before Cal."
"She's lucky you tracked her down tonight."
"I never should have let her leave the hospital."
"I find regrets to be a waste of energy, Kara. You do what you do with the information you have. Second-guessing won't make you feel better or change anything."
"You're very pragmatic, Max."
"I've been down the same road more times than I can count."
He understood the challenges of her job, probably because they were like those he'd faced in the CIA, although she suspected they were very different, too. Her phone rang. Tyler was on the line.
"Do you ever just go home and go to bed?" he asked dryly. "I thought that was the plan earlier."
"I started looking into Whitney and found ties between her and Forge Fitness. I couldn't wait until tomorrow to talk to her. And it was a good thing I didn't."
"Your instincts were on the money," Tyler agreed. "Damon is sending two agents from his team to take turns watching over her tonight. They should be there shortly."
"Okay, good. I'll wait here until they come."
"Are you on your own, or is Malone with you?"
"He's here, too. By the way, Max told me that Dominic is not tied to Wexler Properties, but he has worked with James Cooper on several of his buildings."
"That's interesting."
"Maybe. I'm not sure it matters." She gave him a brief recap of what Whitney had told her and suggested they focus on Costa in the morning.
"I'll see you at the office," he said. "Try not to get into any more trouble tonight."
"I'll try." She walked over to the bathroom door and gave a knock. "Whitney, is everything all right?"
A moment later, the door opened, and Whitney came out, her eyes and nose red and swollen. "Am I really going to be safe here?" she asked.
"Yes, you will be." She'd no sooner said the words when she got a text that the agents were on their way up. A moment later, there was a knock at the door.
Whitney jumped and moved back toward the bathroom door.
"It's your protection. Don't worry." She walked over to the door, checked the peephole first, and saw their badges before she opened the door to a male and female agent, who introduced themselves as Agents Capwell and Young.
After introductions were made and assurances were given to Whitney, she and Max left the apartment with Agent Young, who had put a chair next to Whitney's door. The other agent would remain inside for the first shift, and then they would switch.
They made their way downstairs and into Max's vehicle. He quickly pulled away from the curb, arriving at her building a short time later. It was after midnight now, and the street was quiet. She thought he would keep the engine running and drop her off, but he insisted on parking and coming inside to check her apartment.
"I can take care of myself," she told him as they walked up to her door.
"I know. But two pairs of eyes are better than one," he said as he scanned the street.
She unlocked the door to her building and then made her way into the hall and unlocked her apartment door. She could take care of herself, but it was rather nice to have him by her side as she flipped on the lights. Her apartment was so small it took only a few minutes to search, and everything was exactly as she'd left it.
"It's all good," she said
"Yeah," he muttered, his words not matching the frown on his face.
"You can go now."
