Page 84 of Compelled Obedience

“I aim to please. Plus, your threat stuck with me,” he said, half laughing. “You got the file.”

“I did. How’d you manage to secure it? That couldn’t have been easy.” I’d heard enough stories over the years, Tristen fuming about how little support one law agency offered another, especially when they were determined to get the collar. Whatever happened to fighting the bad guy?

“I had to call in a favor. You owe me this time, buddy. And I plan on collecting.”

Yeah, I guess I did. “I’ll keep that in mind. Whatever you want.”

“A locked-in membership for one thing. Maybe you can toss in a beautiful woman like you found. Or maybe I’ll lure the gorgeous Kerri away from your clutches.”

“Touch her and die,” I snarled.

He laughed. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Look, there’s a lot more than what I found. Most of it is classified. Something curious though. The guy you said was killed inside the warehouse that Kerri saw? There’s no record of it being an undercover agent. None. Do you remember what she said to you?”

I tried to think about it. “Something the detective told her.”

“I don’t know how Randolph would know for certain. He’s never been DEA. He’s Las Vegas police, now a sergeant. However, he took a leave of absence.”

Not just a vacation. Interesting.

“Given the way she reacted to his recent phone call and the bad taste left in her mouth, I’ll guess he strongarmed her then. She was young and not protected by an attorney,” I told him.

“I get it. If the guy she witnessed had been undercover, the DEA would have made a bigger stink out of the murder. Trust me. Plus, I’d know about it.”

Huh. I hated cops who wanted their fifteen minutes of fame so badly they’d do anything to make that happen. “Anything on a set of fingerprints?”

When he laughed, I tensed. “A partial and it adds to the mystery but helps with the accuracy.”

“So, what did you find that’s accurate?”

“You’re not going to like it.”

“I already don’t anything about this. It smells of deception.”

“Then you would be right.”

“Go on.”

“First,” Tristen said then groaned. “Did you look at the other file?”

“Should I?”

“Yeah, but you need to be sitting down.”

CHAPTER 21

Kerri

The water was hot, the steam invigorating, but nothing was soothing my aching muscles or the anger and fear licking at the ugly memories that had resurfaced in full force.

I closed my eyes, slamming my palm against the tile wall, trying to contain the gut-wrenching sobs. It was next to impossible. I was grateful I was on the other side of the apartment and away from Casey’s room. He had a way of hearing even the tiniest sound, his crazy level of concentration and pin-pricking hearing unlike anything a single doctor had experienced. It was one of so many of his incredible talents all jumbled up in a brain that had been shaken.

I was convinced of it.

I had no proof, none. But I’d wanted him tested for shaken baby syndrome from the moment I’d laid eyes on him. I’d caught the motherfucker doing it. Then he’d done it again on purpose to keep me quiet.

And to keep me afraid.

The thought was more haunting tonight than it had been for years. I was no fool, knowing why my mind was reawakening a past I’d fought so hard to close off. Because it was coming back to drive a stake into my heart.

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