Page 12 of Ruthless Intent

My jaw drops.

What the hell?

I have no idea what I’m supposed to do. He’s never said that before. I’ve never even thought it.

Should I say it back? Should I say thank you? Okay? What should I say?

He slams the door before I can make a decision, and I’m left there, with my mouth hanging open, staring at him through the window.

He thumps the roof, and steps back onto the sidewalk, his grin crooked, as he motions for me to drive away.

I collect my jaw from off the floor, put the car into drive, and pull out of the parking space. He waves as I drive past, and I return it, feeling all kinds of awkward.

Why would he say that right now? Could he have picked a worse moment?

Maybe that was the point. To give me something to focus on other than where I’m going. He doesn’t really mean it. It was just to shock me.

I spend the next hour trying to convince myself that’s the truth, because if it’s not, and he does mean it … then I have a serious decision to make when I go back.

CHAPTER SIX

ZAIN

“Sign here.” Peter taps the bottom of the millionth sheet of paper he’s waved at me.

I blow out a breath. “What’s this one for?”

“To start the process of making the government pay for your wrongful incarceration. You’re looking at a nice payout. They don’t usually argue much, and it goes through relatively quickly.”

I quirk an eyebrow and sign on the dotted line. “I don't need the money, though. Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“Your money is safe and sound. Haven’t you checked the banking app? But that’s not really the point though, is it?”

“What is the point?”

“We can’t take the money from the detective who made all the wrong calls during the investigation. We could take him to court, and win. But he doesn’t have the money to pay so it’s a pointless exercise. And, obviously we can’t go after the jury or the witnesses who spoke against you.” He raises one eyebrow. “At least not the other witnesses who took the stand anyway. But we also don’t want to just let it go. Filing for compensation is an announcement that you’re not going to just accept they got it wrong and forgive them for it.”

One corner of my mouth tips up. “Oh I have no intention of forgiving anyone.”

“And we’re no longer talking about government recompense, so it’s something I don’t want to know.” He doesn’t miss a beat.

“Don’t we have client/attorney confidentiality?” I lean back on the seat, and stretch my legs out in front of me.

“Not the point.” He gathers up the papers and puts them into a manila folder. “I’ll get these filed this afternoon. Do you need anything else?”

I tip my head back and stare up at the ceiling. “I’m going to drive back to Whitstone in the morning.”

“I thought we agreed that you’d wait for a few days.”

“You suggested it. I thought about it. I don’t want to stay here. I want to go home.”

“As your attorney?—”

“You advise against it. I know.” I straighten and look at him. “But being stuck in this room with your security detail outside…” I shrug. “It’s no different from being in a cell. I need to get out of here. I’m not free until I can go where I want without having to ask for permission or justify my reasons.” My voice is calm, pleasant even. But my gut is churning, my muscles are so tight I’m certain they’re going to snap.

He doesn’t reply immediately, just stares at me. When I don’t say anything, he nods.

“I’ll arrange for a driver to pick you up in the morning then.”

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