When He's Dirty, стр. 38
“Savage scared the shit out of him, which isn’t hard for Savage. Deleon won’t win if he comes at Ed when Savage is around.”
“Is he openly protecting him?”
“No,” he says. “We want to maintain a covert operation to surprise Deleon.”
“I assume Ed doesn’t know about the Waters meeting?”
“No. I didn’t talk to Savage until after you left the coffee shop.”
“I’m hoping that talk with Savage really did scare him, and therefore he’ll be in the right state of mind to discuss the Waters meeting.”
“You think he’ll want to make a deal?”
“I think a three for one right before an election will sound appealing.”
“Waters won’t make a deal. Not unless it’s something insane that gets him right back on the street and that would make the DA look stupid.”
“I don’t think Ed would make a deal that got Waters back on the street on his watch, but ten years from now, maybe. That’s my fear. A sentence of twenty years with good behavior might allow that the happen.”
“Waters won’t agree to ten years. He’ll kill Ed off first, which means I’ll have to convince Ed not to be stupid before he’s dead.”
“I don’t want to know what that means, do I?”
“It’s better than dead. Feel comforted.”
“And on that note, a very slight change of topic. If Waters has Deleon coming for Ed, then at least the witnesses should be safe, right?”
“They’re safe because they’re with us and not in the safe houses, but Deleon isn’t likely to be working alone.”
“In other words,” I say, “you just burst that bubble.”
“They’re with us, sweetheart. They’re safe.”
It’s not the first time he’s called me sweetheart, but this time it does funny things to my belly. I’m confused by Adrian after that bathroom encounter and that’s not a good thing when I seem to be falling hard for him. “And you’re all about the truth?”
“I haven’t lied to you, aide from the name thing, and I won’t.”
“In other words, when you say you’re dirty, you’re dirty?”
“I did things I’m not proud of, Pri. You know that.”
“Are you going to tell me what those things were?” I dare.
“Only the things that help you put Waters away.”
That’s an honest answer and I read between the lines. He doesn’t want to tell me anything but will for the greater good, and that really is where his head rests. He could easily push for a deal for Waters to save himself the hell of his confessions, but he’s not. I mean yes, he’ll be granted his immunity deal, but even with that in place, the world will know his sins. The burden is great. His bravery greater.
“I’m speaking to you personally right now, Adrian,” I say, “not as a prosecutor, but as a woman. One day, when this is over if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.”
“I won’t. You need to know I won’t.”
“And you need to know that I’m okay with that, too.”
He’s silent a moment and then he says, “You are not what I expected.”
“You keep saying that.”
“And you keep proving me right.”
“And that’s still a good thing?”
“It is. And so are you. I’ll see you sooner than you expect.”
I open my mouth to ask what that means, but he disconnects.
Chapter Twenty-Five
PRI
Once I’m at the office, I unload my bag at my desk and head to the breakroom for coffee. I’ve just finishing doctoring a steaming cup my way when I hear, “Anything I need to know, boss?”
At the sound of Cindy’s voice, I turn to find her joining me, looking pretty and petite in a pink dress. I’m not sure what the universe is telling me with her choice of attire, but I’m pretty sure it’s laughing at me.
“What you need to know,” I reply, avoiding the topic of Waters, “is that coffee makes the world go round and,” I sip from my cup before adding, “never put tequila in it before going to talk to the DA, even when tempted.”
She lowers her voice conspiratorially. “Is there tequila in your coffee?”
“No,” I laugh. “I wouldn’t be standing.”
“Oh true. I’ve seen you drink.”
“Barely.”
“Exactly the point. What’s happening? Why are you meeting with Ed again?”
“I’m shocked you don’t already know since the defense likes to spread gossip like it’s butter on hot bread.”
“Okay, you’re killing me here.” She shoves her hands to her hips. “What don’t I know?”
“Waters wants to meet. He’s offering up three for one.”
“Holy wow. Who? Which three?”
“He won’t say until he trusts me, which supposedly he can decide just by meeting me.”
“He asked for you, not Ed?”
“He did,” I say, and it hits me how interesting that is. Why wouldn’t a power-hungry monster like Waters ask for Ed? “But it doesn’t matter who he wants to talk to,” I add. “We aren’t making a deal.”
“You sure Ed’s going to agree with this? It’s three for one.”
“Yes,” I say, though I’m not, but I’ll fight him on a deal. If I don’t, Adrian will and I’m not sure what that means or why it doesn’t bother me.
“Yes? I mean, Pri, maybe this can work out. Get him and three other bad guys off the street for a decade or more. It could work.”
“It won’t work.”
“Why?”
“Aside from ten years being nothing for a monster like Waters,” I say, “there are things at play here you don’t know.”
“What things? I’m supposed to be learning. Teach me, please.”
Any other time, I would, which is why she isn’t going to stop pushing. It’s not in her nature and I’ve invited her to use that nature. “I’ll explain when I can.”
“When you can?” she presses.
“Accept the answer, Cindy.”
Now her lips press together. “Can I go with you to see Waters?”
“No. He’s dangerous. He eats pretty little girls in pink dresses like mints.”
“I’m tough and unafraid. You know