Page 127 of Devil's Dilemma

She turns in my arms and looks at the Vegas prez. “Can you thank her for coming to tell me her side of the story? We were both duped, weren’t we?”

“I’ll thank her. Oh, and Ro. One other thing you should know. Skull’s undercover again.”

“Where?” I clip out.

But Red simply shrugs. That we don’t know and may never discover.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Melissa

Pyro had been concerned after I again gave into my sorrow when speaking to Clare, but it had been that touching action she’d taken that had gotten to me. That she, faced with her own hurt, had addressed mine as well, just showed her humanity. Once I’d processed her words, I’d realised there were two women in this, both hurt, and for the same reason. It just added to my determination to get justice.

I walk into the offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with my head held high, and my attorney, my father, beside me.

“Thank you for coming to see us Ms Martins. Mr Martins, you’re here in your capacity as your daughter’s attorney?”

“I am,” Dad replies. “Though on this occasion she’s foremost my client.”

“I’m Agent Forsyth, and my colleague is Agent Booth. This is an exploratory meeting to enable us to get a better understanding of your complaint. We will record it…”

“I’d like a copy of the tape.”

“Of course, Mr Martins.”

Forsyth looks down at a copy of the paperwork my father had sent him. I know it by heart, having read and re-read it, to make sure I don’t trip myself up.

“You made some serious allegations against Agent Jordan. Ms Martins, would you like to tell us what the basis of these allegations are?”

My father sits forward. “The basis of our complaint is that a federal agent failed to protect a civilian from harm. That in order to obtain information, he dragged an innocent person into what he considered at the time, to be the underworld of crime. As a result of ensuing events Ms Martins is suffering PTSD.”

Agent Forsyth looks slightly bored as he turns back to me. “I know the bones of the facts are contained in the report, but to make the situation clearer, Ms Martins, if you would, can you take us through how you met Agent Jordan, and how he allegedly drew you into this life of crime?”

I take a breath and look at my father, he gives me a nod and a quick smile of encouragement.

“I was out for a drink with friends from work. Skull, that’s the name Agent Jordan was using,” I pause, but there’s no acknowledgement at all, “well, uninvited he came and joined our group at the table. I didn’t think he was interested in me at the time, but my friends thought he was, and invited him to a party on the Sunday. I hadn’t expected he’d turn up.”

“You knew the man who became known to you as Skull was a biker at that point.”

“Yes, he was wearing his cut.”

“And that was exciting? A walk on the wild side? What did you do to encourage him?”

I bristle. “I did nothing to encourage him. Quite the opposite in fact. I tried to put him off, but he was insistent. The fact he was a biker initially made me cautious. His approach struck me as strange.”

“Why strange?”

Now I shrug. “I’m older. I thought he was only about twenty, then he told me he was twenty-five. But still it seemed odd. I’m hardly what you’d think of as a biker chick.”

“Nevertheless, you entered into a relationship with him. Did the biker lifestyle appeal to you?” Booth interjects.

“Not at all,” I tell him, truthfully. “That was part of what put me off. You hear so many things about biker clubs. Men passing women around, stuff like that. Leaving aside their reputation for illegal activities. No, a biker for a boyfriend was the last thing I wanted.”

“And you told him that?”

“I probably didn’t use the exact words, but yes, that was the impression I gave him.”

“I’ll ask again,” says Booth. “Why did you agree to become his,” he consults his notes, “old lady.”

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