Page 103 of All the Missing Pieces

Those blue eyes twinkled, and while I was happy as hell to see Ridley find a little more of her fire, I didn’t want to even guess what she was about to suggest.

“I happen to know that anonymous tips are made to law enforcement at every level, even the FBI. And those tips are admissible in court as long as law enforcement doesn’t know for a fact they were obtained illegally.”

I stared at the woman next to me. “I’m a little scared of you. You know that?”

She just grinned wider, as if I’d told her she was the most beautiful woman in the world. “Thank you.”

“It wasn’t a compliment,” I muttered.

“Actually, it was,” Ridley shot back, taking the phone back and typing out a text. Moments later she received adingback. She bit her bottom lip as she chatted back and forth with whoever it was. “He’s on it.”

“And how the hell do you know thiscontact?”

Ridley shrugged. “He came forward with some files that helped me break another case two years ago. He helps how he can now.”

“Have you ever met him?”

She shook her head. “I don’t even know where he lives.”

“Goddamn it. He could be the unsub.” I pushed to my feet, wondering how the hell I was going to get the location on a hacker.

“Law Man, breathe.” Ridley stood, crossing to me and placing a hand on my chest.

“I don’t want to breathe,” I gritted out. “You could’ve been talking with the monster like he’s your BFF.”

Her lips twitched.

“It’s not fucking funny.”

“He’s a consultant with the FBI.”

I stilled. “He what?”

“Consults with the FBI. I verified it with them. But I don’t like making that public knowledge. For his protection.”

“I’m. Not. The. Public,” I growled.

Ridley winced. “Sorry. I know. I’m just used to not telling people, so I didn’t think.”

I let out a long breath. “Okay. But I’m running him by my own contact who used to be with the Bureau. Anson will know if he’s legit.”

Ridley’s phone rang with the theme song ofJaws. She scowled as she hitaccept. “I’m dealing with it, Baker. Just give me a second.”

I could hear him go off on a tear on the other end of the line, but Ridley didn’t cower.

“No, I’m not going to LA. And no, I don’t need your security detail. I’ve got my guy on it, and I’m staying somewhere safe.”

I couldn’t hear the muffled words on the other end of the line, but Ridley’s scowl deepened.

“If you say another word about Colt, I will use that emergency clause in my contract and drop your ass midseason; don’t think I won’t.” She paused as Baker kept talking, her shoulders relaxing. Then they stiffened right back up again.“You’re still here?” Another pause. “Fine. I can meet you in an hour. The Whiskey Barrel.”

My whole body tensed as Ridley hitendon the call. “Tell me you didn’t just say you’d meet that asshole.”

Ridley lifted her blue gaze to meet mine. “If we want to figure out if he left those comments, I need to ask him to his face. Baker is a lot of things, but a good liar isn’t one of them. If he’s bullshitting, I’ll know.”

But doing so would mean leaving Ridley exposed. And we already knew there was at least one person who wasn’t afraid to hurt her to get what he wanted. What if there were more?

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