Page 26 of Hidden Trial

“I’m fixing our problem.”

“Fixing one problem by creating another. You’re putting your sister’s life in danger for the sake of a job.”

“A job? We’re trying to save a lot of people’s lives. If we’re successful, do you know how many guns and drugs we’ll get off the street?”

“Yes. I’m the one who did most of the research, remember?”

“This next meeting we have with Antonio is easy, and you know it. It’s a formality. She can pull it off. I know it.”

It wasn’t that the idea was a terrible one, but he had worked with Maddy and trusted her. Charlotte was an unknown quantity. She said she could pull it off, but he had no way to know if she would panic under the pressure and give them all away. Then he’d be responsible for all of their deaths. “I don’t know.”

“But you’re coming around?”

“You’re putting me in a very difficult position.”

“So youarecoming around.”

“I won’t commit to anything.”

“But you’ll try?”

“She’s got a lot to learn before we face Antonio. She’s got to pull off your image, and I need to know she’s got the stamina to handle the stress.”

“She will.”

“She’ll have to do her research.”

“Why?”

“Because I won’t have her going into the meeting blind. I want her to be up to speed. If she can’t handle any part of the short time I have to train her, then the deal’s off.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah. She’ll show you. She’s amazing. You’ll see.”

“She’s amazing? Five minutes ago, you didn’t want me to know you had a sister, and now she’s amazing?”

“It was more than five minutes ago.”

“Ten minutes.” Will sighed. “Are you sure you want to move forward with this?”

“Positive.”

“I won’t make any promises. One wrong step, and I’m calling the whole thing off.”

“Good. Now, go find Charlotte and let her know she’s hired. You can begin tonight. You have no time to waste.”

Will slapped his hands on his legs and stood. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

“She won’t like the heels. We both hate heels. I wish I could see the first time she walks in them.”

“She better get used to them fast.”

“She will. She’ll do great. I know it.”

Will shook his head as he headed toward the door.

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