Page 37 of First Surrender

He grabs the hot drink from me and sniffs it. “What is this?”

“Caramel macchiato. $6.00”

His eyes bulge. “For a cup of coffee? It’s not even the one that I asked for.” I only shrug.

“This is ridiculous. I knew I’d regret coming here.” He digs out his wallet anyway, shoving his card into the machine that I’m offering out the window to him.

“Why did you come here? Just to get a glimpse at the butt you’ll never get to touch again?”

He scoffs but otherwise ignores me, getting to the tip screen on the card machine.

“Both guys who asked me out today left me the biggest tips, just so you know. In case you’re worried about me comparingtips.”

“What is wrong with you?” He looks at me incredulously and it makes me laugh with triumph. It’s not always easy to rile him up, but I do notice that he hit 20%.

“I came here because there has been an update in Declan’s case and the prosecutor wants to meet with us. I told him I would let you know and that neither of us would miss the appointment. This time.”

I ignore his remark about missing the appointment because my mind is already coming up with all of the reasons there might be an update. “Is it good or bad?” My heart is suddenly beating out of my chest.

“I don’t know. Either way, we’ll figure it out.”

Six hours later, we’re seated across from each other at a long wooden table in the prosecutor’s office. Neither of us speaks, staring at each other blankly.

“Do you guys need time to process this or..?” Prosecutor Fulton asks from the head of the table.

He just got done telling us that the Lawson PD Detective who was the lead investigator on Declan’s arrest, had just beenarrested himself for planting evidence on a different case two years ago. All of his cases are being looked at.

“Declan’s case will be dismissed then?” Jackson asks, never taking his eyes off of me. It’s as if he’s waiting for me to explode. He’s assessing my internal temperature increase by the second.

“There is a strong possibility. Yes. Nothing is set in stone as of now, but we’ll meet with the judge next week. You should be prepared for that scenario,” he directs to me, but I ignore him.

Declan is going to get out. He’s getting away with murdering my mother. Dec’s mom. He is going to be released because some mother fucker screwed up. This can’t be happening.

I push up from my seat and nearly trip over my feet exiting the room, throwing the door wide with a crash. “Nat!” Jackson calls after me but I keep walking.

When his footsteps get heavier, catching up to me, I break into a run. I can’t do this.

I smash the elevator buttons, desperately. Please, open. Please.

As soon as the door slides open a crack I jump in, hitting the close door button, but it’s no use. Jackson stops the doors from closing with a meaty palm and steps inside with me.

“Go away.”

“No.”

“Why? Go discuss this with the prosecutor. You know, one of your fellow bigwigs that hold all the power and whatnot. I’m just one of the ants you people get to stomp all over.”

“I told you we’d figure it out.”

“There is no we! I am going to take care of Dec like I always have. You are going to go back to shooting people or whatever the hell you do all day.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Life isn’t fair! Obviously!” The doors open to the lobby and I sweep past him. “Time and time again, I learn that all cops areassholes. They don’t know how to do their job and they screw everyone over. Including you!” I scream.

Luckily it’s after hours and the building is closed. There aren’t any witnesses to this.

“Don’t lump me in with all cops. Some are bad, yes. Some shouldn’t have a badge, agreed. I can’t control the actions of all of them. I can only stop the corruption in this department. Lawson PD does not correlate with me. I can’t control what happens there but I can try to fix this.”

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