“I know,” Sterling said. "Bea did that with Juniper, but she had no idea. You knew. Why didn't you turn him in? Back then, you could've gotten help. It might’ve been easier.”
“After Bogotá, I tried to back away, but Koda had proof. I didn't know it was Koda back then, but I told my superior to go fuck himself. He told me I could enjoy Leavenworth.” Doyle shook his head. “Then he said, do one more thing. Redeem myself, and I could walk away. I knew it was a lie, but I did it anyway. Then I got high on the idea of being seen, because you know me, I wanted to be a team leader. But I got passed over every time.”
“Still doesn't explain why you set me up this time,” Sterling said. "Outside of Koda wanting my brain."
"No real good reason." Doyle set down his water. "All lies, but Rutgers said he was thinking about opening up a second office. That I was his guy. Land you, and I'd get it. Deep down, I knew it would never happen. Koda never forgave me for what happened in Bogotá."
“And why did you change your mind? Why did you text Dawson."
“Because I wasn't going to be the reason another Marlow or Driscoll died,” Doyle said. “I knew I was done,” Doyle said. “IfI helped Koda, he'd end up putting a bullet in my brain. If not then, another day. If I helped you, at least I had a chance at real redemption, even if it means prison.”
“Jesus Christ," Sterling said. "I actually believe you."
“Yeah.” Doyle shifted and winced again. “I’m telling the truth for once in my life.” Doyle lifted his good hand off the blanket. It shook a little before he steadied it. “I'm sorry. For a lot of things. For everything. I mean that. I know it sounds hollow.”
Sterling took Doyle’s hand.
“I don't say this to be mean,” Sterling said. "But I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive you."
“I know.”
“But Juniper walked out of that warehouse because you made a different choice, and I will always be grateful for that.”
Sterling let go and stepped back. "And I’ll make sure that's known where it matters."
"I appreciate that."
Sterling turned and headed out into the hallway. The noise hit him first. Phones. Shoes on tile. Low voices. Someone saying Koda’s attorney had arrived. Someone else saying Bea had asked for counsel. Dawson stood near the nurses’ station with his arms folded. Chloe stood next to him, and next to her was her husband, Hayes.
Sterling didn’t stop moving. He’d had enough of suits, statements, and coffee.
All he wanted to do was to get to Juniper. He loved her, and whatever came next, that part was simple.
Chapter Twenty-Three
One week later…
Juniper sat on Sterling's back patio with a glass of white wine, staring out at the bay as the water lapped against the shoreline.
She'd been in D.C. for the last two days and just returned to Calusa Cove less than an hour ago. Two days of rooms with bad chairs, men who wrote her answers down and then asked the same questions a different way to see if the answers changed.
They never did.
She'd signed her name at the bottom of every page. Her real one. Only, now, it looked borrowed, and she wanted to go back to Juniper.
Sterling stepped outside carrying a tumbler of scotch. "You've been out here a while. Are you hungry? I can make a cheese board or fire up the grill."
"I'm fine." She shifted on the lounge chair, taking a sip of her wine. It was crisp, and cold, and tasted like spring. "Have you ever seen a gator on your lawn?"
"Once or twice." He sat down next to her. "They'll wander down here to sun themselves, but the water's too salty for them."
A fishing boat floated by. "I saw five of them on my ride from the airport."
"Is there a reason we're talking about gators?"
"We can talk about how Manny called me twice yesterday," she said. "Once about the spare CO2 and once to tell me Tara's now having lunch with the health inspector."
"Are we discussing how Juniper's doesn't run as well without you, or the fact that Tara bounced back quickly after finding out Doyle was a bit of a dick?"
