“One can dream.”
“There’s another good side to this, though. If you’re getting nervous.”
“I’m all ears,” I said.
“This also throws off Jacob. If he’s got someone on the inside somewhere, and I’m almost certain he does, there’s the slightest chance he knows we’re trying to fish someone out. Figuring out who’s corrupt like this might pull Jacob himself from the shadows.”
“Anything I should be looking for?”
“That’s my job once I get in there. You stay focused on the bigger threats. Someone charging you. Someone not taking off their mask. Someone being absent. Those are the only thing. You leave the rest to me. Now that this bombing has occurred and been confirmed, it’s proof Jacob’s still after you. If we can cut off his pipelines to you, it’ll make him angry. This might not have been about money in the first place. Simply time to find other ways to get to you.”
“I know. And I’m glad we’re both on board with this plan because I’m not allowing any other innocent people to get caught in this crossfire. This is getting ridiculous, and I want it over with.”
“We’re getting close. I know we are.”
“I’m not going to lie down while people are killed around me because of my negligence.”
“It’s not your negligence. It’s mine. I’m taking the fall for all that. Not you,” she said.
“I don’t want people at my company hurt.”
“They won’t be.”
“I’m serious,” I said.
“I know you are. It’s why we’re going to wrap this up, pursue this to the ends of the earth. I’ll fire the whole damn team and do this myself if I have to.”
“That’s why I trust you. Because you would be willing to take all this onto your shoulders if it meant seeking justice,” I said.
Sam fell silent, and I repeated myself.
“I trust you, Sam. I need you to hear me when I tell you that.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“I know those agents don’t, but I do. I know who I hired. I vetted you well. I’ve gotten to know you. I’ve fallen in love with you. I trust you, Sam.”
“Y-you what?” she asked.
“We can talk about it later. Don’t get distracted, and don’t let up.”
“How the hell am I not supposed to be distracted now?”
“Would it help if I told you I was lying?”
“Were you?” she asked.
The silence on the phone was deafening. There was a desperation in her voice like she was looking for any sort of doubt in my declaration. A grin ticked my cheek as I turned away from the window, taking a look at the clock as I heaved a deep sigh.
Three minutes until the meeting.
Three minutes until we flushed this son of a bitch out.
“No,” I said. “I wasn’t. I love you, Sam.”
“Then let’s finish off this day with a win. Then we can move on and figure out our future together,” she said.
Wait. What?