Page 72 of Sinister Secrets

My phone rings, the sound so unexpected in the silence of the barn that I flinch, the back of my head striking painfully against the wood behind me. It’s matched by a similar clunk as Sam kicks against his stall, telling me to keep it down.

Though I try to prod Stephano gently from my lap, he stubbornly refuses, bracing against me, forcing me to hold him pinned against my chest while I tip to the side and finagle the cell from my pocket. By the time I put an end to the incessant ringing and answer the call, my nerves are shot.

“Cassidy.”

“Director Lopez?”

“Yes. Listen, I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour—”

“I wasn’t sleeping.”

“—but there’s been a development. I’m going to need you to step back from the case. This time for real.”

“What?”

“I’m not saying that it’s necessarily going to be forever. We’ll readjust the Monday deadline that we spoke about. But I need you to cease your investigation immediately.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

He clears his throat. His voice sounds choked as he says, “I have reason to believe that charges are going to be filed against you.”

“Are you serious?”

“I’m afraid that I am.”

It’s not until Stephano climbs to his feet and abandons me with an irritated look that I realize how hard I’m shaking.

“Agent Knox? Are you still there?”

“Who? Is it Kingston?”

“I’m not sure yet.”

“Then how do you know?

“I’m old fishing buddies with the inspector general at the Department of Justice Office. He gave me a heads-up that a complaint was being made against one of my agents. I don’t have any details yet, but we need to get ahead of this. Give me a couple days and I should know more.”

“What am I supposed to do until then?”

“Relax. Catch up on your reading. To be honest, I don’t care as long as it’s not anything that might make this situation worse. I promise you, I’ll have your back on this, but I need you to do your part or my hands will be tied. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. We’ll talk Monday.”

Though the call ends, it’s far from quiet. Blood thunders through my ears, propelled by fury. Someone’s messing with my career. Sure, I was considering giving it up, but it’s my decision to make. The idea of having someone take the choice away from me makes me realize how badly I want to keep my job.

So I’m going to do something entirely out of character for me—I’m going to listen to my boss. I’m going to play it safe and do everything by the book. And when this is all over, no matter how the chips fall, I’m going to make whoever’s responsible for this pay.

CHAPTER 42

I shift my weight on the blanket, trying to get comfortable, but it’s impossible. Not with Stephano pressed firmly against my right side, Charlie against my left, and Ricki draped across my legs, not to mention the killer headache I’m nursing. Or perhaps I should be honest and say hangover. Again. It’s worse when it’s the second inside of a week, and this one is a doozy.

Yesterday is a blur. I hadn’t wanted to bother Jake, not with his deadline looming so near. I only had to get through one more day without him, so I’d done it the easiest way I knew of—in a haze. Not my best decision or my finest moment, but it’s done and I think maybe this time I finally learned my lesson.

The crunch of tires on the gravel drive makes my entire body tense. Though I hate to do it, I disturb my cuddle crew, careful to stay behind the trunk of the oak in the middle of the pasture that I’ve taken shelter under until I’m pressed against the rough bark. I lean to the side, watching until the vehicle comes into sight.

When Jake’s familiar black truck appears, I feel a million pounds lighter. After struggling to pass the hours of the day, I hadn’t realized it had gotten so late. Getting up, I jog across the grass, ignoring the sharp pain stabbing through my skull until I reach the fence. Decide climbing it is a better idea than trying to maneuver between the rails right now.