Page 71 of Power Switch

I nod. “There are some things keeping me tied to Jessica for the moment,” I clarify. “I have to tread carefully because—”

“Because of me,” Randi cuts in. “If he goes back on some promises, ones he made to help us defeat the bill in the Senate, then he's sunk and I am too. I don't have a lot of support in this town, and right now I need all I can get, which means partnering with people and using others as leverage.”

Silence fills the SUV, the whirling of the tires zooming down the highway the only background noise as we wait for Sam to process everything we've known for months.

He sighs. Disappointment seems to waft off him, and I can't say I blame him. If I thought I had a chance with Randi, had hopes of her being mine, and then those were dashed, plus finding out it would've never happened to begin with? Fuck yeah, I'd be disappointed too.

“I can't say I'm surprised,” he says.

“I'm sorry.” Randi's shoulders round further.

“What's all this about?” I interject in an attempt to pull her out of whatever self-deprecating thoughts are running through her head. “Why are you bringing this up?”

“What happened in that room?” Tank's deep voice resounds through the cab.

Randi takes a deep breath and leans back against the headrest, slowly letting the breath out through pursed lips. Her fingers tighten around mine.

“I'm fucked.”

Well, that's one way to stop my heart.

* * *

By the time we get back at One Observatory Circle, unload, and have her safe inside, my rage is just below erupting. Randi heads upstairs for a quick shower and to get caught up on emails, leaving T, Sam, and me standing speechless in the foyer.

“It goes against everything I believe in to just give this up when I’m so close to taking that fucker down,” Sam seethes. Stretching, he laces his fingers behind his head. “Plus, I don't like her doing this on her own.”

“She won't be,” I snap. Closing my eyes, I massage the bridge of my nose while taking three deep breaths. “But for her safety and Taeler's, we need you to step back. Give off the impression that you're dropping the case. We'll… we'll figure out how to get the information without Birmingham or Whit knowing.” I shoot a quick look at Tank.

Sam also looks at Tank, then me. “What am I missing?”

“She has some friends,” Tank admits reluctantly. “Friends who can help us get the information and who won't leak the fact that we're still looking into his illegal dealings.”

“Then why didn't she go to these ‘friends’ in the first place?” Sam's eyes narrow. Smart man. He knows something’s up.

“She mentioned it before to you. It’s not the most legal of avenues and might not hold up in court.” I sigh. Fuck, I'm tired. My focus goes to the stairs, following the path Randi took minutes ago. “But it might be enough for that not to matter.”

“Of course it’ll matter,” Sam counters. “If we take the evidence to the House, it has to—”

“What if we don't?” I muse. Thoughts swirl, pieces fitting into place. “What if we gather enough to intimidate him?”

Sam's brows rise up his forehead.

Fuck, I have to give it to the guy. At least he's not like the rest of the men in this town, all Botoxed out. “He told Randi it's too late to go back, that things are set in motion. What if it's worse than what we're thinking? We already know he's pulling several Middle East countries into this as a front to what he's causing. Maybe that's what he was referencing, or maybe it’s worse.”

Sam nods absentmindedly as he focuses on the floor, his fingers swiping across the dark stubble on his chin. “It would have to be completely heinous for him to step down without a true impeachment.”

“Knowing that fucker and Whit, I'm sure it is.”

“We already have proof he put a hit on Randi,” Tank adds.

“This way we don't have to worry about getting enough votes in the House and Senate for the impeachment,” Sam says, seeming lost in his own thoughts.

“Exactly. It could be the only way to make it work.”

“What about Whit, then?” Tank asks. “He made it sound like he's still hurting her somehow, and I'm willing to bet it has something to do with those headaches she's been getting since the initial poisoning.”

“Agreed,” I say, beginning to pace the small area. My fingers tremble with excess energy.

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