Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 128260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It’s a man’s life we’re talking about. My friend’s life—a man who not only didn’t kill a woman but who has saved hundreds. And who, if set free, will save hundreds—perhaps thousands—more.”
I sighed, closing my eyes briefly. I could only imagine what Josh Garner was going through. God, his case looked like such a slam dunk. And he had been framed by someone so evil that he not only sold human beings but also didn’t blink an eye at murdering an innocent young woman and then ruining a man’s life. I felt scared and sickened at the mere thought of his “business.” “I know. Okay, what else? Tell me everything.”
“It’s just a waiting game right now. A fucking frustrating as hell waiting game.”
I chewed at my lip for a minute, my mind sifting through possibilities. “I can get a continuance to give you more time,” I offered.
His brows rose. “That’d help. I’d never ask you if I didn’t know for a fact—”
“I know. It wouldn’t be questioned. DAs ask for continuances on cases all the time.”
“It wouldn’t affect your career? Your reputation?”
I shook my head. “No. Not if I asked for it within reason.”
He nodded.
I breathed deeply and sat back again, trying to solve this puzzle in my head, using all the evidence that I knew I had against an innocent man. Shit! Shit! Shit! “Can’t you go to the police regarding this Bakos person?” I asked. “I mean, surely they’d be able to collect some evidence…somewhere or question him, or something.”
“No. First of all, if we went to the police with our story and told them what we’d been doing, all of us could face arrest and then Josh would really be fucked. Also, police are restricted by search warrants and other red tape. We have all the expensive technology the police don’t have, and we’re still having a hard time tracking him. Even if we got his location and gave it to the police, by the time they got in there, Bakos would be cleared out and so would all the evidence. We need to get to him first. We can’t work under the restraints of law enforcement if we want to be successful.”
I gave a nod, going over what he’d said. I knew how the legal system worked, better than most people, and unfortunately, he was right. Vigilante groups, even ones doing good work, couldn’t be encouraged by the police.
“I’ve gone over it a thousand times,” Carson said. “There’s no solution yet.”
I sighed. “How do we simply…wait, though? How are you not pacing the floor right now?”
“Because if I do that, I’ll go crazy. I have to have faith that with all of us working together, we’ll figure this out. I can’t consider the alternative. Until there’s a reason not to be optimistic, optimism is what I’m choosing.”
I huffed out a breath, my shoulders sagging, still doubtful about whether I could follow his lead or not in that regard. I was a worrier. When my brain got hold of a problem, it liked to work it to death. Sometimes that was helpful. And sometimes it drove me crazy.
“Go take a shower, buttercup, and then we’re going to run to the grocery store. I only bought some necessities yesterday.”
I sighed but stood up, intending on doing as he said. When I was halfway out of the room, I turned around and walked back to Carson. I sat down next to him again and when he turned his face to mine, I whispered, “All those years ago, I knew, I knew who you were. I felt it, your goodness, here,” I tapped my heart. “Thank you for proving me right.”
_________
Carson
I sat on the couch and listened to the shower come on. I couldn’t help the smile that tipped my lips and the happiness that emanated from within. My buttercup was fucking amazing. Had I really ever doubted that? No. That was the reason I wanted her back so fiercely it had been like an ache in my bones. But I hadn’t known just how strong she was.
Grace had seemed shocked by my story, but she had been on board before I even finished telling it. And she was proud of me. I saw that pride shining in her eyes and it fucking undid me. I had changed my life for me, but she had been the catalyst, and I would never deny that. And so the fact that she was proud of me, well, that meant everything.
I brought the dishes into the kitchen, put them in the dishwasher, then stoked the fire a little bit and sat back down on the couch. By the time Grace came out of the bathroom fully dressed, her hair falling loose, I was feeling relaxed and so damn happy. There were no secrets between us now. We were a team, she was with me, and despite the current predicament, I felt a deep serenity settle inside.