Page 26 of Only the Hunter

“You’re the only one I’ve told,” I say. “And you have to admit it’s odd.”

“Maybe. But odd doesn’t mean connected.” She adjusts the strap on her shoulder. “And your brakes—you’re still thinking that’s related too, right?” Another exhale. “You need a ride?”

I wave my phone. “I’ll get one.”

“Come with me.”

“You’ve got plans.”

“I do. But you’re on the way. I’ll drop you off.”

She takes off and stops three steps away.

“Come on,” she calls. “We can talk in the car.”

I follow her to the parking garage, two steps behind her because she’s tall and I can’t keep up with her in my heels. The two-inch block heels work for the office, but they still slow me down.

When we reach her red BMW, the lights blink twice signaling she’s unlocked it, and we climb in.

“Thanks for giving me a ride.”

She’s silent until we’re out of the garage.

“Are you mad at me?” I ask, breaking the silence.

“Girl, no.” She flicks a signal and presses hard on her accelerator, swooshing past a car seemingly looking for parking. “I’m just worried about you. Even if you’re right—and I am not saying you are—you get that only someone with rank could pull that shit. You’ve been told to drop it. This is your career. You’ve worked your ass off. And I know you did because I know what I did to get here. And you’re what? Going to disregard Rebecca? A US attorney? She told you to drop it. There was no hedging. What do you think you’re doing?” With a dismissive shake of her head, she stares ahead, tapping her fingers on the wheel to the time of a song on the radio.

I sit back, letting my anger swell. What I’m doing is the right thing. I promised a witness safety. Nothing about this is normal. Everything about the case is fucked.

And for whatever reason, Shonda seems angry.

“Why are you mad at me?”

“Mad?” Shonda asks, all attitude. “Hell no, girl. I’m not mad. I told you, I’m worried. I need your feet on the ground. You get your ass kicked out and I’ve got to spend my days with Mikey Mike and the duds.”

I grin, because Michael Harridan is not my favorite either. But I didn’t choose a career in law to expand my friendship circle. With that thought, I dig a finger into my throbbing temple and stare at the floor mat, tapping my foot, wanting Shonda to drive faster.

Whatever’s going on with Shonda will pass. I won’t say anything else to her and she’ll believe I dropped it.

What I can’t drop is the scanning. Someone is systematically pulling evidence—witness records gone, case files thinned. If they’re working through the system, they’re not done. Which means I need to be faster.

A rule follower, I kept all electronic files on our server. Nothing on a private computer or server. The paper copies? Allowable.

When I scanned files this past weekend? Yeah, not allowed. But I had this feeling… thank god I did. The problem is I didn’t finish.

I need to get home and complete it tonight. Contact numbers. Street addresses. The details on Lina I haven’t committed to memory yet. Once it’s gone from the server, it’s gone.

“What’re you thinking?” Shonda pulls me back to the car.

“You don’t need to worry.” Her posture shifts, mouth open slightly, and I hold up a hand to stop her. “I hear you. I won’t do anything to get fired.”

“Good.”

She pulls up in front of my place. She couldn’t park even if she wanted because there’s no available street parking, so I hop out quickly.

“Wait, where are you off to?”

“Book club,” she answers with a wide smile. “If it’s good, I’m gonna make you join next month.”