Page 48 of Fearless
“Then they’re playing both sides,” I say. “If that’s the case, we need to take them out of the equation.”
Roger’s laptop chimes with an incoming video call from Ethan, and the feed is mirrored on the wall-mounted television screen. Ethan’s face is red with fury as he says, “I just got off the phone with Whitman. We’re officially off this case. If we pursue our investigation, he will come after Shining Knight and shut us down.”
“No way!” Jessie yells. “Why would he do that?”
Ethan puts a fist to his mouth and puffs up his cheek. He takes a calming breath before he says, “The intel we provided Simms and Monroe nearly got them killed. On top of that, the boat crew from the resort got away, and five of The Demon Kings are dead and the other half escaped. I won’t repeat the words that Whitman used when he chewed me out, but tonight’s operation was a disaster.”
“Not every mission goes according to plan,” I say. “Whitman should know this with his many years of experience.”
Roger inclines his head. “What aren’t you telling us, Ethan? What’s the real reason behind Whitman’s decision?”
Ethan looks away for a moment, then directly at the camera. “Whitman believes that we are working with Finnegan; more specifically, that you and Harper are working with Finnegan.”
Jessie scoffs. “That’s preposterous! Roger would nevercompromise his integrity! Neither would Harper!”
I begin choking. “Up until a week ago, you all would have said the same thing about my dad.”
Roger’s face and shoulders fall as he admits, “Look at it from Whitman’s perspective. Zurkowski asked me to meet alone in the middle of nowhere and didn’t personally attack me. Yeah, I barely survived that encounter, but Zurkowski and Ackerman helped Elijah and Jessie rescue me. I miraculously found the schematics for a nuclear bomb under the floorboard in the cabana. Turning it over could be viewed as either a willingness to share information or a way to make me appear innocent. Factor in the last-minute change in plans tonight and my request that Simms and Monroe take lead on the operation, I can’t fault Whitman for believing I’m involved. I would, too, if I were in his shoes.”
Ethan’s body tenses up as he prepares to deliver another blow. “Harper, two agents will be by to pick you up first thing in the morning. You’re required to hand over your badge and gun upon their arrival. Whitman wants you in for questioning and will be detaining you until this is all sorted out. As of right now, you are currently suspended until your name can be cleared.”
“That gives us time to get out of here,” I reply.
“I wish it were that simple,” Ethan says. “If you run, it will only make you look guilty and make matters worse.”
Roger growls loudly. “I’m not letting them take my wife! I’ll take Harper somewhere safe until this blows over. I know you, Ethan. You aren’t going to walk away from this. I understand where Whitman is coming from, but he needs our help whether he realizes it or not. Let’s figure this out and end this for him.Then, all of us can walk away winners.”
I steel myself for what I’m about to do, knowing it’s the right thing in the end. It isn’t going to make Roger happy. I cup Roger’s tightened jaw and place a kiss on his lips. “I need to go with the agents when they arrive in the morning, Roger. I’m not going to let Ethan, Ben, and the rest of you throw away what you’ve built to protect my career. There’s zero proof that I’m involved other than trying to find out the truth. I’ll just have to trust that God has a reason for pulling me from this investigation.”
Roger pulls me into an embrace and rests his chin on top of my head. He asks Ethan one last question. “Are you really going to let this go so easily, Ethan?”
I turn my head so that my cheek is flush with Roger’s chest, waiting for Ethan’s answer. Ethan smirks and his eyes twinkle with an impish glint. “Do you trust me, Roger?”
“With my life,” Roger responds.
“Good. Once the agents pick up Harper, I want you, Jessie, and Elijah to drive up to Marathon and meet up with Carter and Jaxon. They need your help finding Eloise since Patrick lost her after she entered a gym. We’re running out of leads, and she’s our best bet.”
Roger’s forehead wrinkles as his eyebrows raise. “Why weren’t we updated?”
Jessie clears her throat, cheeks flushing in embarrassment. “We were, but it was while you were resting. Since there was nothing we could do about it, it fell to the bottom of my priority list. Simms and Monroe were at the top of it, botched operation and all.”
Roger lets it go. “We’ll be there, Ethan.”
Jessie and Elijah use the pull-out mattress hidden inside the sofa, while Roger and I are forced to sleep in the same bed. With danger lurking around every corner, we all agree that safety in numbers is the key to a good night’s sleep.
I cuddle up in the crook of Roger’s arm as he holds me, but there isn’t any kissing or pillow talk this time around. However, there is the sound of Roger snoring as soon as his head hits the pillow. Despite my exhaustion, I don’t fall asleep as quickly.
I hold out my left hand and admire the fake gemstone adorning my finger. It’s not the stone itself but what it represents that has me smiling. When Roger came to my defense, he didn’t refer to me as Harper or Agent Finnegan. He called me his wife! His wife! I can hardly believe it, and I wonder if he even realized that he’d said it.
I spend the next few minutes contemplating whether or not I should broach the subject of staying married when this is all over, but my eyes drift shut, and I’m off to the land of Nod before I can come up with an answer.
I’m woken up by soft lips against my forehead. “Time to wake up, Angel,” Roger says.
“I don’t wanna go to school,” I groan, but eventually flip the covers off my body and sit up. I wipe away the grogginess and wish I could do the same to the puffy bags underneath my eyes.
Roger pulls me to my feet and wraps his arms around me. “I don’t want you to go either. Let’s stay here and play hooky.”
“As tempting as that is, duty calls. It’s time to do some adulting,” I tease.
