Page 76 of Night Watch
“Just wait until you have a child.” Sierra grinned at him. “Then let’s see who’ll be wrapped up in baby talk.”
She slipped out of the SUV before Erik could get out a rebuttal and marched back to the protected scene.
Drake finally got them on the road, and Erik tapped the dashboard to connect to his phone and send a group text to the people who were looking into the Responsible Official list to light a fire under them.
He’d tried to sound confident with Sierra and Kennedy before, but he hadn’t a clue if they would ever get this important list that could point to the person who was trying to hurt Kennedy.
19
As Kennedy stepped ahead of Erik into the Nighthawk office late that afternoon, she wished she were still at the river working the scene with Sierra. Not that Kennedy didn’t trust Sierra. She did, but there was nothing like having your own eyes on a crime scene to be sure nothing was missed.
Kennedy entered the main area to find Malone waiting for them, Stella sitting behind her desk. Malone marched toward them in spiky heeled patent leather sandals that had to have cost a pretty penny, as did her power suit.
“Hi, Malone.” Kennedy smiled at the attorney.
Malone trained her gaze on Kennedy, but her smile was tight, and Kennedy was tempted to reach for a strand of hair. She curled her fingers instead.
“Mind if we step inside the other room,” Malone asked, but headed through the doorway without waiting.
A ball of dread formed in Kennedy’s stomach as she followed Malone into the other room. Once the three of them were inside, she closed the door.
“Please tell me you stopped by to give me a copy of the Responsible Officials list,” Erik said.
“Well hello to you too.” Malone rolled her eyes.
Erik took a breath and let it out. “We’re desperate for that list. I’d hoped your contacts came through for you.”
“I didn’t even know you had contacts with the feds,” Kennedy said.
Malone gave a sharp nod. “Former federal prosecutor.”
“Oh, wow.” Kennedy was duly impressed. “Why the change, if I might ask?”
Malone tilted her head, her striking blue eyes narrowing, but she didn’t speak.
“It’s okay,” Kennedy said. “I was being nosy.”
“No, it’s not that. I don’t talk about it often, so I was just figuring out what to tell you.” She started to cross her arms then let them fall to her sides.
“You know attorneys.” Erik grinned. “They always have to watch what they say.”
Malone flicked a hand at him. “It’s not that. I left because of the stress. You see all kinds of things as a federal prosecutor. I mean, all kinds of things. Many that are hard to handle. Especially when you can’t do anything about them.”
“That’s the way it was in law enforcement too,” Erik said, his tone somber now.
Malone smiled at him and took a breath. “One of the things I couldn’t do anything about and couldn’t get over was seeing battered women or suffering children. I had a particularly bad case, and it forced me into a change. I decided to devote myself to helping others. With Reed’s support, I opened my own practice. My main focus is helping marginalized people, but I have to take on additional clients to pay the bills.” She stuck out a foot. “And keep myself in shoes.”
She laughed, and despite her polished appearance that had thrown Kennedy at first, it was clear Malone was down to earth and a good person to know.
“We’re getting off track here.” Erik’s tone was gentle, which Kennedy appreciated when she could see the frustration in his eyes.
“Okay, okay. I get it.” Malone reached into her jacket pocket, took out a flash drive, and handed it to Erik. “The list. I wanted to drop it off in person so we didn’t leave any electronic trails. Don’t want to get my source in trouble.”
Erik cupped the drive and pumped his hand in the air. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Kennedy smiled at his reaction and enjoyed his celebration with him. You’d think he’d won the lottery, not just received a list of people. He was fully invested in this case. Despite how Kennedy had wronged him, he’d overcome the rejection to do his very best to help her.
What a man.
