Page 79 of Jep

“And this is?”

“Yeah. This is real. Are you willing to die for your beliefs? Are you willing to kill?”

It was an interesting question. Would she be willing to die for her faith? But she had to keep the focus on Jade.

“How long have you been back in the States?” Em said.

“Back to the statistics of my movements, huh? Did I cut a little too close to home? Don’t want to get too deep now, do we? Sorry. I’d hate to make you uncomfortable.”

“How long have you been back?”

“Not long.”

“Where were you staying?”

Jade smiled. “No comment.”

“More people could die.”

“More peoplewilldie.”

“When? Where?”

“Freedom comes at a price.”

“Freedom from what? Law? Goodness?”

“This is becoming tedious.”

“You can make it stop. All you have to do is tell me who you’re working for.”

Jade sighed dramatically. “No comment.”

“I told you it would be a waste of time,” Pearce said.

“Oh,” Jade said. “It speaks. I thought maybe you’d turned into a statue.”

“I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me,” Em said.

“Then don’t help me.”

Em slammed her hand on the table. She was running out of time. “You’re as selfish as you’ve always been. It’s always about you. You never cared about anyone but yourself.”

“Then I guess we’re done here.” Jade leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes.

“It doesn’t have to be like this,” Em mumbled but got up from her chair. “If you change your mind, I’ll be around.”

“Don’t hold your breath.”

Em quickly left the room before she could say anymore. Anger, fear, and frustration were boiling up in her gut. She needed to find Jep. He’d understand her pain.

“Family’s hard,” Pearce said from behind.

“I really thought I could get through to her.”

“I think it was like she said. She was surprised to see you there, that’s all. I’m sorry, Em. That couldn’t have been easy.”

“What are people saying?”

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