Amanda Stevens - Criminal Behaviour

She shoved back a lock of damp hair. “Assuming I believe you, what makes you think I’d ever want any of this dumped on my doorstep?”

“Besides the fact that your mother was murdered? You’re a police detective. You must be interested in justice.”

She said nothing for the longest time, just stood there staring back at him as he searched her face. Her eyes were so much bluer than he remembered. Softer, too, and liquid. They reminded him of a Monet painting he’d seen in the National Gallery.

But right now, those eyes were narrowed in suspicion. “My mother’s case is closed. As far as I’m concerned, justice was served twenty-five years ago when your father was committed to the fourth floor.”

“Maybe. Or maybe an innocent man was framed for something he didn’t do.”

“James Merrick is not an innocent man.” She opened her car door. “I’ve heard enough. I’m not getting sucked back into your delusions. Listening to you almost cost me everything ten years ago.”

“If the evidence wasn’t compelling, I wouldn’t be here.”

“Then investigate all you want, but leave me out of it.”

“Addie.”

She whirled. “Damn it, can’t you take a hint? Leave me alone!”

Her tone took him aback. He put up a hand. “Okay. I get it. I’m sorry I bothered you.”

She let out a long sigh. “Don’t give me that look. Do you think I enjoy acting like a first-class bitch?”

“I would never call you that.”

“You didn’t have to. I can hear myself. I don’t enjoy saying these things to you, Ethan. I’m not an angry person, and I don’t like carrying a grudge. But you did lie to me. And worse, you got me to lie. That was on me. As a grown woman, I should have known better. I never should have accessed sealed files without authorization, let alone allowed you to leak information to the press. I shouldn’t have done a lot of things I did when I was with you, but that all happened a long time ago. I’m over it. What I can’t get past, though, is how you made me doubt myself. How you made me lose faith that I had what it took to be a good cop. I’ve worked really hard to get my confidence back.”

No wonder she was so defensive of her detective’s shield. “I’m sorry I lied to you. And I’m sorry about how everything went down.”

“I know. That I believe, but it doesn’t change anything.”

“If you’d just hear me out—”

“I can’t.”

“Five minutes. That’s all I’m asking.”

She closed her eyes. “Why are you doing this to me?”

“Because you’re the only other person in the world I trust with this information. If anything were to happen to me, I know you’d do the right thing.”

Her eyes widened. “What do you mean, if anything were to happen to you?”

He shrugged. “We live in a dangerous world.”

Her gaze flicked back to the Charger. “Who are those guys?”

“I don’t know.”

“They’re watching you because of this new information?”

“That would be my guess.”

She chewed her bottom lip as she stared down the road at the car. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but fine. Tell me what you’ve found.”

He followed her gaze to the Charger. “I’d rather discuss it somewhere more private. Can I buy you that drink?”

“No,” she said bluntly. “When I leave here, I’m going straight home to wash the cobwebs out of my hair.”

“Later then. We can meet anywhere you like.”

She drew another breath. “I know I’ll live to regret this, but I sometimes go for walks on the Battery in the evenings. I’ll be there at seven, and I’ll wait exactly five minutes. If you don’t show, we’ll let this drop and you won’t ever bother me again.”

“Agreed,” he said. “But I’ll be there.”

Nothing short of the apocalypse—or the federal agents inside that black Dodge Charger—could keep him away.

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