Page 50 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

“Maddie, I’m not trying to pick a fight here.” Brandon said.

“Then what are you doing?” She asked.

“I need you to back off. I need you to give me everything you have on that girl, everything you have on Marcus and focus on whatever the hell other cases you have.”

“I’m not just walking away.” Maddie stated.

“For fucks sake.” Brandon snapped. “You are so god damn stubborn.”

“Fuck off. You think this is about my pride?” She retorted.

“Isn’t it?” He said.

“No Brandon. Surprisingly enough I don’t give a shit who actually works the case, what I care about is that these girls are actually found. That they get help.”

“And yet we agreed when you and Max set up that department that the one thing you wouldn’t work was this kind of case.”

“Why because they don’t give you lot enough kudos? Is that it? That nobody cares about girls like that? Trafficked girls? Sex workers?” She shouted and Brandon shook his head.

“That’s not what I meant Maddie.” He said calmly.

“Then what the fuck did you mean?” She snarled.

“Look, I know you’re invested. And I know why but you have to walk away from this.”

“Are you fucking serious?” She snapped. “How dare you? How dare you insinuate that because…”

“Maddie, seriously.” Brandon shouted over her and she stopped, suddenly realising that she was about to really flip out and it wasn’t even him she was angry at, not really.

She got up, half limping and turned her back on him as she ran her hands through her hair and mentally tried to get it together.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout, it’s just…” She turned around and he was smirking.

“What’s with the look Brandon?” She asked and he laughed.

“Maddie Cooper, actually apologising?” He joked and she laughed too.

“Look, I get that this case is linked.” Maddie said. “But I don’t want to just hand it over, wash my hands of it because you won’t work it from the angle I will. All you’re looking at is the Omega Project.”

“Maddie, I’m not going to ignore evidence if it’s there.” He stated.

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, if we find evidence of what Marcus is doing then of course we will hand it over to the police.” He said.

“But the Police won’t do anything. They’ve had enough evidence for years.” Maddie snapped.

“What do you want me to do then Maddie? Huh?” You want me to let you carry on running this case? Despite where it links too, despite the fact that nobody in your team has clearance for it except you?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t know what the answer is but I can’t just wash my hands of it.” She replied.

“You don’t have any choice. It’s my decision.” Brandon stated and she scowled.

“So what about Dani then? What happens to her?” Maddie asked.

“We’ll interrogate her, see what she knows…”

“And then?” Maddie asked.

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