Riley studied Rostons face without replying. She was again struck by the younger agents sincerity.
Riley could feel a grim smile forming at the corners of her mouth. Apparently something dark lurked inside Roston, as it did in herself.
Roston said, Agent Paige, when I first started working on the Hatcher case, you gave me access to all the computer files you had relating to him. Except for one titled THOUGHTS. It was listed in the summary, but I couldnt find it. You told me youd deleted it. You said it was just rough notes and redundant stuff.
Roston leaned back in her chair, seeming to relax a little.
But Riley was anything but relaxed. Shed rashly deleted the file called THOUGHTS, which actually contained vital information about Hatchers financial connections connections that allowed him to remain at large and wield considerable power.
Roston said, Im pretty sure youve still got that file.
Riley suppressed a shudder of alarm. The fact was, she had kept the file on a thumb drive. Shed often thought about simply erasing it, but somehow she couldnt bring herself to do so. Hatchers spell over her had been strong. And just maybe shed thought she might need to use that information someday herself.
Instead of erasing it, shed been carrying it around in a state of indecision.
It was in Rileys purse right now.
Im pretty sure that file is important, Roston said. In fact, it might contain information that I need to put Hatcher away once and for all. And we both want that to happen. Im sure of it.
Riley gulped.
I mustnt say anything, she thought.
But didnt everything Roston said make perfect sense?
That thumb drive might well be the key to freeing Riley from Shane Hatchers clutches.
Rostons expression softened more.
Agent Paige, Im going to make you a solemn promise. If you give me that information, nobody will ever know that you ever withheld it. I wont tell a soul. Never.
Riley felt her resistance collapse.
Her every instinct assured her of Rostons sincerity.
She silently reached into her purse, took out the thumb drive, and handed it to the younger agent. Rostons eyes widened slightly, but she didnt say a word. She just nodded and put the drive in her pocket.
Riley felt a desperate need to break the silence.
Do you wish to discuss anything else, Agent Roston?
The younger agent chuckled a little.
Please, call me Jenn. All my friends do.
Riley squinted uncertainly as Roston got up from her chair.
Mind you, I wont presume to call you anything except Agent Paige. Not until you feel comfortable otherwise. But please. Do call me Jenn. I positively insist.
Roston left the room, leaving Riley sitting there in astonished silence.
*Riley settled down to catch up with paperwork in her office. Whenever she wasnt working on a case, it seemed as though tons of bureaucratic tedium awaited her and didnt let up until she went out into the field again.
It was always unpleasant. But today she had an especially hard time focusing on what she was doing. She grew more and more worried that shed just made a terribly foolish mistake.
Why on earth had she just handed that file over to Jennifer Roston or Jenn, as she now insisted Riley call her?
It was nothing less than a confession of obstruction on Rileys part.
Why had she given it to this particular agent when shed never shown it to anyone else? How could an ambitious young agent do anything other than report Rileys transgression to her superiors maybe even to Carl Walder himself?
Any minute now, Riley might find herself under arrest.
Why hadnt she just erased the file?
Or she could have gotten rid of it, as she had done with the gold chain Hatcher had given her. The chain had been a symbol of her bond with Hatcher. It had also contained a code for contacting him.
Riley had thrown it away in a frantic effort to free herself of him.
But for some reason, she hadnt been able to bring herself to do the same with the thumb drive.
Why?
The financial information it contained was surely enough to at least limit Hatchers movements and activities.
It might just be enough to stop him for good.
It was a riddle, as were so many aspects of her relationship with Hatcher.
While Riley was sorting papers on her desk, her cell phone rang. It was a text message from an unknown number. Rileys gasped when she saw what it said.
Did you think this would stop me? Everything is already moved. You cant say you werent warned.
Riley found it hard to breathe.
Shane Hatcher, she thought.
CHAPTER THREE
Riley stared at the text message, panic rising inside her.
It wasnt hard to guess what had happened. Jenn Roston had opened the file as soon as she and Riley had parted. Jenn had found out what was in it and had already gotten right to work trying to shut down Hatchers operation.
But in his message, Hatcher himself defiantly announced that Jenn hadnt succeeded.
Everything is already moved.
Shane Hatcher was still at large, and he was angry. With his financial resources intact he might be more dangerous than ever.
Ive got to answer him, she thought. Ive got to reason with him.
But how? What could she possibly say that wouldnt infuriate him more?
Then it occurred to her that Hatcher might not fully understand what was happening.
How could he know that it was Roston sabotaging his network, not Riley? Maybe she could make him understand at least that much.
Her hands shook as she typed in a reply.
Let me explain.
But when she tried to send the text, it was marked undeliverable.
Riley groaned with despair.
Exactly the same thing had happened the last time shed tried to communicate with Hatcher. Hed sent her a cryptic message, then cut her off. She used to be able to communicate with Hatcher by video chat, text, and even phone calls. But those days were over.
Right now, she had no way at all of reaching him.
But he could still reach her.
The second sentence of his new message was especially chilling.
You cant say you werent warned.
Riley flashed back to what he had written the last time she had communicated with him.
You will live to regret it. Your family might not.
Riley gasped and said aloud
My family!
She fumbled with her cell phone as she punched in her home number. She heard it ring, then keep on ringing. Then the outgoing message came on, her own voice.
It was all Riley could do to keep from screaming.
Why wasnt anyone answering? The schools were on spring break. Her kids were supposed to be home. And where was Rileys live-in housekeeper, Gabriela?
Just before the outgoing message ended, she heard the voice of Jilly, the thirteen-year-old that Riley was in the process of trying to adopt. Jilly sounded breathless.
Hey, sorry, Mom. Gabriela went to the grocery store. April and Liam and I were out in the backyard kicking a soccer ball around. Were expecting Gabriela to get back any minute.
Riley realized shed been holding her breath. She made a conscious effort to start breathing again.
Is everything all right? she asked.
Sure, Jilly said with a shrug in her voice. Why wouldnt it be?