Page 5 of The Outpost (Jamison Valley 4)
“We’ll find a way to keep you safe.” The confidence in her tone settled some of my nerves.
“I’m in deep on this one.” Saying the words made the reality of the situation even heavier. “You know as well as I do that the mafia doesn’t just let their enemies go free. I should have done more to protect my own identity. I was so caught up in the story and keeping my source hidden, I didn’t do enough for myself.”
“What about your source?” Jess asked. “Did you tell him that Anton figured out who you were? He could be at risk.”
“No one but me knows who he is, not even the FBI. He only came to me in exchange for the promise never to reveal his name. That way he can never be asked to testify and expose himself to retaliation from the Federovs.”
I had spent weeks convincing Roger Anderson to be my source. He had been terrified that the Federovs would learn he’d been the whistleblower, but finally, he’d agreed. Roger was a good man with a young family and I’d take Anton’s hits all over again if that meant keeping his identity a secret. No one, not even the people in this kitchen, would ever learn he’d helped me collect evidence.
“All right, I’m done,” Maisy said. “Rest your ankle. Keep your ribs wrapped tight until they start to feel better. Take it easy on your face. Use this ointment every day and it should help with the scarring.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m going to collect Coby and go home. The less I know the better.”
I couldn’t fault her for wanting to escape this fucked-up situation. I’d do the same in her position. She disappeared further into Silas’s loft for a moment and came back down with a sleeping toddler in her arms.
“Do you need any help?” Beau asked her.
“I’ve got him. Good night. And good luck, Sabrina.”
I nodded and watched as she carried her little boy outside into the night. The minute the door closed behind Maisy, Jess started in
with more questions.
“You’re sure you got enough evidence for a conviction to stick?”
“I’d be shocked if it didn’t.” Anton had been a bit too trusting of his pretend girlfriend. “I was able to get into his safe and his computer. I found the gun shipment schedules and evidence that his family had approved them all. The FBI should have taken down an illegal handgun shipment,” I glanced at the clock on the oven, “six hours ago. With my intel, Anton should currently be sitting in a jail cell.”
“You trust the federal agent you contacted?”
More than any police officer I’d ever met. Henry Dalton was as honest as they came. “I’ve worked with him for years. He’s a good guy and an even better cop. He’s solid.”
“If he’s such a good cop, why’d he let a reporter do an investigation meant for the FBI?” Jess asked.
“You kept it a secret, didn’t you?” Felicity guessed right away.
“No one knew what I was doing.” No one.
“Reckless,” Jess huffed. “Just like coming here. You should have gone to your FBI guy instead.”
He was right, but it didn’t make it easier to hear. “Probably, but I panicked and my first thought was to run. I’m not all that confident in protective custody and really don’t want to enter witness protection.”
Jess shook his head. “The Federovs aren’t going to stay in jail for long. They’ll be after you if they aren’t already.”
“I know but as soon as my story breaks tomorrow, they’ll be hounded by the press. They won’t be able to go anywhere without an audience.”
“That still doesn’t make it safe for you to go back to Seattle,” Felicity said.
“And you can’t show your face in Prescott,” Silas added. “The first place they’ll look for you is with family and friends.”
If the Federovs wanted to track me down, this would be one of their first stops. My family all lived in Florida and we had a distant relationship. I was a work-a-holic and didn’t have many friends other than Felicity. It wouldn’t take Anton’s men long to realize I was no longer in Seattle and start their woman-hunt.
“You need to be off the grid,” Beau rumbled.
Off the grid? I was in Montana. How much more off the grid did it get?
“That’s what I’m thinking,” Jess said. “You got any ideas?”
