Page 32 of Proof

“The sugar’s already in the mug,” Cass continued. “Two teaspoons,” he added. He didn’t look at me. He didn’t appear wary that I was standing behind him and had access to a hot coffee pot that could double as a weapon.

He also didn’t seem concerned about the wide-open door on the far side of the room.

“What is this?” I asked as I gave Cass a wide berth and moved so I could see him from the front. He was wearing jeans and a black T-shirt. His feet were bare.

They were sexy.

Who the hell thought feet were sexy, and how could someone even have sexy feet?

Easy answer.

Apparently,Ithought they were sexy, and Cass’s genes had made sure every part ofhisbody screamed sex on a stick.

A stack of files sat in the middle of the table. There was a banker’s box on the floor with more files.

“What is this?” I repeated. “Where are we?”

“You’re a cop, JJ. Figure it out.”

“God, Cass, you are such a fucking?—”

“Get your coffee before you get started on… whatever,” Cass said with a little wave of his hand.

I found myself heading for the coffee pot before I even realized I shouldn’t be following any of his orders. The need for caffeine won out. I went to the coffee and filled my mug, which did indeed have what looked like two sugars—I froze as a startling realization hit me. “How do you know how I take my coffee, Cass?” I asked as I continued to stare at the mug.

“Fill the cup and come sit,” Cass said. He sounded tired. Again, my body began following the order without thinking. It took me a painfully long time to go to the table. I glanced at the open door again.

“It’s open because I’m claustrophobic,” Cass stated without looking at me. “You’re free to go if you want, but I’m not going to follow you this time, JJ.”

“Where are my things?” I asked even as I dismissed the door and slowly sat down in the chair across from Cass. “My gun, my phone?”

I believed Cass when he said he wouldn’t follow me. I’d already put enough pieces together to know I was in a wooded area in a higher elevation, which meant I was likely in the mountains far outside the city. It was late spring but that didn’tmean it was warm wherever the hell we were, and judging by the light outside, the sun was going down. That meant cooler temperatures. There probably wouldn’t be any people in the immediate vicinity either, so sure, I could leave, but I’d be wandering in the woods at night without proper clothing. Chances were that I’d be dead in a matter of days if some wild animal didn’t get me first. Whatever was happening was clearly a setup.

“They’re safe,” Cass responded.

I shook my head because the word games were driving me crazy. “Fuck, Cass, just tell me what’s happening! Where are we and why did you bring me here? Where’s Sully? And how the fuck do you know how I take my coffee? We’ve never had coffee together,” I snapped.

Cass flinched for the briefest of moments. He had yet to look at me. When he did lift his eyes, I could honestly say I didn’t recognize them. During the few encounters we’d had in the past couple of weeks, I’d seen a variety of emotions when he’d looked at me, but this time it was different.

He looked so… worn out.

Beaten.

Broken.

I glanced over my shoulder at the open door behind me. He was claustrophobic. Since when? The answer struck me quick and hard.

Prison.

Being in a prison cell for long periods of time would do that.

“This,” Cass said as he motioned to the files in front of him, “is a case we are going to work together.”

“What?” I asked in disbelief. “What case?”

“Our case,” he responded. “All these files represent every piece of evidence the cops had against me when I was put on trial plus some stuff that was never disclosed. You and I are goingto stay in this cabin and go through every shred of it. You get to play copandlawyer, JJ. You get to find the proof in these files that I did what you and everyone in this city, this country, believe I did.”

“I don’t need to look through the evidence because?—”

---