Allison Brennan - Cutting Edge

He had always admired Anya’s passion and that she’d acted on her passions-something Leif had always wanted to do, but was too fearful. Freedom was more important to him than action. He talked a good game, but he’d never put his freedom on the line in a substantial way.

And he didn’t want Anya to lose it.

“Anya …” How could he tell her? If not him, someone else would. She would know what happened.

“Leif-you’re scaring me.”

“Someone died.”

She stared at him, not registering what he’d said. Then she shook her head, her big eyes glistening. “I don’t understand.”

“A reporter called me. Jonah Payne was found dead in his office.” Anya began to tremble and Leif took her in his arms, reputation be damned. “Shh,” he murmured.

Her pain was palpable as she sobbed on his shoulder. It had been an accident! Anya could no more intentionally kill anyone than could Mother Teresa-her life would never be the same. Leif couldn’t say I told you so , though he had in the past. After the security guard was injured during the arson at Sac State, Leif had told Anya that she meant the world to him, and her life was too precious to risk death or imprisonment. And Anya had agreed. She knew the stakes, was willing to risk both, but in the end she said their love mattered more to her. And that together, after she graduated, they would find more powerful, long-lasting ways to change public opinion. Between his words and her face, they could do it, Leif knew. But now …

“What happened?” she cried.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “Payne could have been asleep in his office, or maybe he tried to put out the fire. They may never know.”

She pulled away. “Someone might see us.”

“I don’t care.”

“You’re too important for me to jeopardize your career,” she said.

That she’d said it made Leif realize how selfish he’d been these past two years. Making Anya keep their relationship a secret.

“I love you, Anya.”

Her lip trembled. “I killed someone.”

“Not intentionally.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Stop thinking that way. It was an accident. I can’t lose you, Anya. I can’t bear the thought of you being in a cage. Please, honey, you must protect yourself.”

“I have to go.”

“No-”

“I have class this afternoon.”

“Anya, please-”

She tried to pull away, but Leif held her wrist. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll protect you.”

“There’s nothing to protect.” That was true, to a degree. He hadn’t known about the arsons until after the second fire, and he didn’t know details. He didn’t know for a fact who else was involved-though he had his suspicions. Anya had never told him anything, he couldn’t be called to testify. He knew but he had no evidence, no confessions.

“I killed someone,” she repeated, whispering it this time.

Leif put it out of his mind. As far as he was concerned, Anya had never said it.

“Promise me,” he said to her, “that you’ll protect yourself. Do not talk to the police without an attorney. Say nothing. They will use your words against you. They’ll try and make you feel guilty and I know your heart: it is kind and good. Someone has to protect your rights.”

She nodded, eyes wet with tears. I love you, too , she mouthed, then ran off.

Leif removed his glasses and squeezed his burning eyes. An overwhelming sense of despair and foreboding enveloped him until he felt suffocated. Life as he knew it, as he loved it, was ending. And there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Duke listened to Jim Butcher as he accepted that his life’s work was gone, and his best friend was dead. Jim didn’t know what to do. Duke struggled to reassure him by saying, “I’m not walking away from this.”

They sat in an office across the two lane highway from Butcher-Payne. A friend of Jim’s had let him have a space for the duration of the police investigation. It was both good and bad that the office had a window with a view of the partially destroyed Butcher-Payne office building. Right now there were two sheriff’s cars, the arson investigator truck, and three large California Fish and Game vehicles parked in the lot.

Jim stared at him. “The FBI didn’t do jack shit on the other arsons, and now my partner is dead.”

Duke stiffened. While he understood Jim’s frustration, he also knew that the FBI had vigorously worked the case. That’s what they did. And Nora English was one of the very best-Duke had seen her work firsthand on half a dozen assignments where their paths had crossed.

“I know the agent in charge of this investigation, and she’s not going to let up.”

“Fantastic!” Jim said sarcastically. “How many people are going to die because of these lunatics? They’re fucking insane.”

Duke changed the subject. “I swung by Russ’s apartment. He wasn’t there. No sign of him. His neighbor hasn’t seen him since Saturday, but that’s not saying much. She admitted she doesn’t know him well. Did Russ mention to you that he might be going out of town?”

“No,” Jim frowned. “Is something wrong?”

“I don’t know.” He sent a quick email on his iPhone to his partner, J. T. Caruso.

Run a full search on all financials, recent travel, etc for Russell Larkin, IT Director, Butcher-Payne. Address 1010 Rocklin Rd #16, Rocklin .

“Russ wouldn’t be involved in anything that might hurt Jonah,” Jim said. “What do you think is going on?”

“I don’t know,” Duke repeated, hating not having the answers. “Russ is the only one besides me who knows all the security codes and understands the system well enough to manipulate it.”

“You’re missing something. That just can’t be,” Jim said, though without conviction. Jonah was dead, all their research destroyed, anything was possible.

“I’ll find him,” Duke said.

“Melanie Duncan called me and said the FBI has already been out to talk to her. Is it true the research ducks were released into the wild?”

Duke hadn’t spoken to Nora since sending her a copy of the security logs when she asked for them an hour ago.

“I haven’t heard any information about that. If the FBI said they were, it’s likely true.”

“This is fucked.” Jim ran a hand through his thin hair, leaving it sticking up in places. “I don’t know what to do. I’m a damn media consultant and I don’t have any idea what to do!”

Duke said, “Do what you do best, and by that I mean gather the facts. Before you go public with anything though, you should first talk to the FBI.”

Jim said, “Agent Pete Antonovich told me to meet him here ten minutes ago, I gave him this address.”

“He’ll be here.”

“Duke, I’ll pay anything to find these people.”

“I’m not charging.”

Duke saw an unmarked sedan pull into the lot. The car had “fed” written all over it. “I think Antonovich and English are here,” he said.

He watched Nora slide out of the driver’s seat. Pete Antonovich said something to her, then started toward the building where Duke was sitting with Jim. Nora went to talk with Fish and Game.

Duke looked at his long-time friend. “If you want me to stay while you talk to Agent Antonovich, I will. Otherwise, I want to see what I can get out of Agent English.”

“Go. I’m fine. I have nothing to hide. I didn’t kill Jonah, or want him dead.” His voice cracked. “He was practically my brother. Losing him is devastating for Butcher-Payne, but for me, personally, it’s …” He threw up his hands. “I’ve lost my best friend. The business means nothing to me without Jonah.”