Page 52 of The One for Forever

“I should’ve been there,” Rex mutters.

“I keep telling him it wasn’t his fault, but he doesn’t want to listen.”

“Hard of hearing in his old age?” Angela smirks at him. “Rex is one of the good ones. He and Bennett Security took care of me when I needed help. He told me you’re someone special, so I have no problem returning the favor.”

“Thank you.” I can’t keep my eyes off Rex, and he’s got his head tilted, watching me intensely. Angela glances between us, a small smile forming on her beautiful face.

I have a feeling the detective is picking up on some clues. Or maybe I’m just that obvious.

“I’m planning to personally supervise the investigation into the harassment campaign against you,” she says. “I’ll clear it with Chief Holt first, and if needed, I’ll do it on my own personal time. I don’t want any accusations of preferential treatment. But given the media frenzy around the Printz case, Holt might agree we need to keep a tight rein on this one.”

“We’ve got Sylvie Trousseau on it as well,” Rex says. “She can share whatever her team digs up. Have you spoken to the suspect in last night’s attack?”

“I did this morning. The guy confessed to everything. Between the video he posted on social media live-streaming the incident, and the cameras in the DA building, we had him dead to rights anyway. But he swears up and down that he was working alone. He claims nobody put him up to it. And that Amber had nothing to do with it.”

I huff. “Of course. Same as the others.” Like the guy with the perfume bottle at the gala and the one who threw the milkshake. But the asshole last night went so much further.

What will someone try next? Will they escalate even more as the trial nears?

“I’m guessing you haven’t checked social media this morning?” Angela asks. “There was another development. Courtesy of Amber Printz’s Insta account.”

“No. I haven’t seen anything about it.”

Rex says he hasn’t seen it either. Angela brings her phone over to the bed. It’s hard for me to look at it because focusing makes my headache worse, but I get the gist.

It’s a video of Amber. She’s sitting tucked into a comfy chair, hair back in a ponytail, face washed clean of makeup. “I just heard what happened at the West Oaks District Attorney’s Office last night, one of their lawyers being confronted by an overzealous protester, and I just want to say I don’t condone it. Violence is never the answer. Even in the face of injustice.”

Angela switches off her screen. “As you can see, Amber’s once again fanning the flames while pretending to play innocent. It’s no wonder there are reporters outside the hospital.”

“What?”

Rex steps closer to me and rests his hand on my shoulder. “I’m aware of the situation with the reporters. You don’t need to worry about it. I won’t let them anywhere near you.”

“We did learn how the suspect got inside your building,” Angela says. “He works for the cleaning company, and he got hold of a keycard that way. No doubt he’ll be fired, and we intend to recommend his case to the DA for prosecution on every possible charge.”

“I guess I’m glad to hear that,” I say. Even though it doesn’t take away my concussion or the damage to my peace of mind. “But who knows when the next crazed Amber fan comes after me or Lana or one of our colleagues.”

Rex crosses his arms. “Exactly why we have to keep you protected. The next threat could come from anywhere.”

“What about transferring Quinn to a safe house?” Angela asks. “I know Max Bennett has several. It’s not fun to be coopedup, but you should probably step up your security until this dies down.”

Rex nods. “That’s my thought as well. If Quinn is willing.”

I shrug. “Whatever you think.”

His eyebrow arches. “Not going to overrule my advice this time?”

“Not when your advice is reasonable instead of annoying.”

I’m not so sure about this safe house idea, actually, if it’ll keep me away from the office. No matter what, that trial is coming up, and I have to be ready.

But would I object to cozying up in an isolated location with Rex to guard me, day and night?

No, I would not.

Maybe I should be more frightened than I am. So far, Amber has never told anyone outright to harass our trial team. Not that we can prove. But she implies plenty in her posts. With her social media campaigning, Amber can create chaos while never being implicated directly herself. It’s so frustrating. She killed her husband, and she’s trying to use the media to get away with it. Celebrities have done it before, I suppose, but it’s no less disheartening.

Meanwhile, that secret witness who contacted me is nowhere to be found. I need that irrefutable evidence against Amber Printz even more. Yet on the very day we found leads to the witness’s identity, I’m attacked.

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