Page 68 of Hidden Ascent

“Can you at least tell me how everyone knows what I am so I can work on not doing it anymore?”

“That’s impossible,” Carl said. “There are so many small details. You should accept yourself the way you are. And maybe take Jay’s advice next time and stay in the car.”

“Well, I’m here now, and I want you to know that I’m not going to charge you with anything.”

Carl snorted and looked at Jay. “That’s a relief. I was worried there for a second.”

“I’m glad you two find this amusing.”

“That’s because it is,” Carl said. “You guys and your badges. You think you only see a world with two sides. But none of us do. Not really. There is no right or wrong.”

“You think you’re enlightened by removing the rules? They’re there for a reason. To protect the innocent.”

“A romantic notion.”

“It’s the way it is.”

“Oh yeah? What about murder?”

“What about it?”

“You would say that murder is wrong.”

“It is.”

“What about self-defense? What about when the government does it to punish someone who’s broken the law?”

“There are exceptions, yes.”

“The gray area. I use this bar to launder money.”

“You shouldn’t tell me that.”

“Why? You said you weren’t going to charge me with anything. I do what I do to get my daughter through college so she can be free of the life I’ve led.”

“There are other ways. Legal ways.”

“Are there? Are you going to pay her college fees?”

“She could get a scholarship, a job, a payment plan.”

“She got a scholarship. She’s also got a job.” He leaned forward. “My daughter works very hard and still struggles to cover her costs. My business means she’ll graduate debt free. Not many can say that.”

“That doesn’t make it right.”

“No? What about what you’re doing here right now? Jay told me what happened.”

“So you already knew I was DEA?”

“Not specifically. But how far are you willing to go to find the truth? Will you break the rules?”

“Some rules can be bent, some can’t.”

“And who decides that?”

“It depends on the situation.”

“Of course it does. And who gets to decide what’s okay and what is not? You?”

---