“I never have the stomach for murder,” I say.
“Maybe that’s why Waters thinks you’ll make a deal. You’ve made plenty in the past for guys like him.”
“Don’t push me, Agent Pitt.”
I try to step around him and he moves with me, blocking my path again. “Are you going to make the deal?”
My heart is now thundering in my chest. “Move out of my way,” I order, my voice low, tight, controlled when my pulse is not.
The intercom on my desk buzzes and Ed’s voice bellows. “I understand you have something to tell me, Ms. Miller. Why are you not in my office telling me now?”
I walk to the desk and punch the button to reply with “Because Agent Pitt is discussing the case with me. I’m on my way.”
“Make it now,” he snaps and the line goes dead.
“The defense is manipulating you,” Pitt accuses.
I step back in front of him. “Why don’t you do something besides trying and failing to intimidate me and help, Agent Pitt? Adrian Mack changes everything. Tell him it’s time for a one-on-one talk. Now.” I step around him and this time he doesn’t stop me. I open the door and exit to the hallway, leaving one hot-headed male opinion, and on my way for another.
I start down the hallway and Cindy steps into pace with me. “Tell me you’re not making a deal.”
I glance over at her and grimace. “My God, did the defense do a press release on the offer?”
“Might as well have,” she says, “it’s buzzing everywhere. What are you going to do?”
“Send Waters to jail for the rest of his life.” We halt at the alcove that houses Ed’s office, and I peek inside relieved that his prickly secretary Lynn is missing. “Wish me luck.”
She squeezes my arm and doesn’t let go. “People are dying.”
“And they’ll keep dying for years to come as long as Waters has the resources and opportunity to kill them.” I pull out of her reach and enter Ed’s office.
I find him standing with his back to me at his window. “Ed?”
He rotates and motions to the door, his expression taut, his tie red, of course, which tells me a story I already know about Ed. He’s a man who needs power and presently fears losing it. He’s an asshole, impatient and demanding. He’s also a man of courage to even take us down this path with Waters. He cares about justice. He motions to the door. “Shut it.”
I do as he orders and he says, “Tell me you have Adrian Mack because if we lose Waters and don’t take the trade, I’m fucked.”
I walk to a visitor’s chair and capture the back with my hands. “Waters is manipulating you. The trial is not going to end until after the election and he knows it. Stay the course.”
He scrubs his jaw and settles his hands under his jacket on his waist. “And if our witnesses keep falling and Waters pulls the trade?”
A memory of Rafael holding my hand and telling me to call Walker Security plays in my mind and lends confidence to my next statement. “First of all,” I say, “my gut is that Adrian Mack will show up, but not until right before the trial. Maybe even after it starts.” He opens his mouth to, no doubt, tell me that’s not good enough and I hold up a hand. “We need to hire private security to protect the witnesses.”
“Give me a break, Miller. They’re as corruptible as the next guy.”
“I recommend we make an educated gamble on Walker Security,” I say. “I talked with them. I’ve checked references, including one from the Secretary of State today and yes, that’s the Secretary of State, among others.” I set the file in my hand on his desk. “They won’t be cheap, but this is about putting Waters behind bars and keeping you, the man behind his demise, in office. As a bonus, I feel like hiring them will make Mack more comfortable coming forward.”
“How much?”
“I don’t have the numbers yet,” say, “but how much are justice and your career worth?”
“Your career is on the line here, too. We’re riding the same boat. A hole sinks us both. You get that right?”
“Yes. I get it. Hire Walker Security. They’re based out of New York, but they have a team in the city for another case and can start now.”
“How did you find them?”
“Are you really going to micromanage me right now, Ed? The Secretary of State recommended them. I know it’s not the President but—”
He holds up a hand. “Fine. Hire them. I’ll call the US Marshals’ office and make it official.”
“Don’t call them until I talk to Walker this afternoon. I don’t want to risk one of those leaks that sinks us.”
“All right.”
“And I think you need them to protect you, too, Ed. If Waters gets desperate, there’s no telling what he’ll do.”