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"What makes you think I won't run off and spill all this information now?" Jessica asked.
"My gut says I can trust you, but I also haven't given you anything that can hurt us. You know who I am, but I'm pretty sure the police figured out already it was probably me. The location and others on the team are safe. That's information you won't get until you make your decision and meet with the others for their approval."
"So this is just the first step in the job interview?"
"Unless you are a total bitch to them when you meet them, I have a good feeling you're in. They've trusted me to come talk to you, so that tells me they would welcome you if I feel you're worth an invite."
"Am I?"
"You are."
She nodded as she stood and walked over to the counter, leaning against it as she watched him. "I'm interested. I have no qualms about doing the cutting. Honestly, my fear is I might enjoy it too much. I could see myself becoming obsessed with it." She shrugged. "I'm just being honest."
"There's nothing wrong with honesty, or even a little obsession when it comes to this. I'm the same way. Hell, I just broke out of jail and should be laying low, but here I am jumping right back in. There is a high you get from taking the power from the men and women we hunt. We take that control from them and make them the prey. Right or wrong, it's impossible for that not to give you a rush. I think even the guys on the computers get a rush when they hand over the evidence to us. We all want to take them down. I won't lie, the look of fear in their eyes when I kneel in front of them with my knife is powerful. I love seeing them fear me the way the children have feared them." D took a sip of his coffee. "We're only human."
"Well, at least I know I'm not alone in my hatred of these pedofucks." She folded her arms over her chest. "My next question is, I have a day job. Can I limit my late nights to weekends or do an early sting?" Jessica asked.
"We can work around your schedule. It will be easier once we have a full team, and I can't promise there won't be nights, especially if it will take more than one of us, that I won't ask you to work late even if you have to be up early the next day. I do promise to do my best to make it that way. Honestly, this is a paid position and once we get going, it pays very handsomely. I would think you might reconsider your day job once the money starts coming in." He told her, aware that she'd make more in a month than her job as a secretary paid in a year. "This is life changing, but it's also possibly soul stealing. You can't unsee what we see, and you can't take back the things we do. It's stuff you'll have to live with."
"It can't be worse than what I already live with." Jessica stared at him.
Understanding the statement all too well, he nodded. "I'll give you time to think about everything and check back with you. I hope you'll understand why I can't give you a way to contact me until I have your answer."
"I don't need time. I'm in. If I can't make a difference in the laws, then I can make a difference this way. You just tell me where to be and when to be there," Jessica said.
"Let me talk to the other members and we'll do lunch or dinner. Whatever works for you. If they agree, we'll give you all our information and you can start training as soon as you're available," D told her.
"Do I have to quit pushing for the death penalty for pedofucks?" She raised a brow.
"Nope. I don't want you to change a thing. Don't do anything outside the normal. If we can help your cause in any way, let us know. I'm sure you know that I can't be out in the public eye much, but hopefully that will change in time."
"You should dye your hair or something," Jessica said.
D sighed. "Not an option." He stood and walked toward her. "Thanks for taking the time to talk with me. I'm excited to have you on the team."
"If the others agree."
"They will. I have no doubts." He offered his hand. "I'll be in touch soon."
"Need my number?"
He grinned. "Already have it."
"Of course you do." She rolled her eyes. "I'll walk you out."
As he left the house, he hid his excitement, but once in the car he smiled and threw his fist into the air in celebration. They had enough members for a working team. That meant they could start officially hunting as soon as they were trained. He couldn't wait.
