Page 40 of Laura's Truth
“Based on what you’ve said, Ross and his team must be in danger too,” she said.
“They’re definitely under surveillance,” he agreed. “Hackett can’t risk any loose ends as he makes what I think will be his farewell deal. Surely they can take care of themselves?”
“Of course, but I’d like to warn them all the same.” There had to be a way to warn Ross without compounding the problem. “Mr. Ketterly has a car, identification, and credit cards.”
“Obviously,” Drew’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “So?”
“Email and a cell phone too, I’m betting.”
“When necessary.”
“I think we’ve hit necessary.”
“I’m not burning through another alias so you can warn Carpenter. If we get Hackett, Carpenter will be fine.”
“I’m wanted for double homicide, Drew. A traitor knows you’re alive and connected to a man he wants dead. Ross Carpenter assembled one of the best investigative teams in the area. We need that kind of help.”
“No. Better to go back to Charleston and reel in Hackett. Put an end to this once and for all.”
“You said that you couldn’t take him down and get him into the justice system on your own after I interfered. I’m not going to stand by and watch you kill him.”
“You have to consider that option.” He pushed his hands through his hair. “The world would be a better place.”
She couldn’t disagree, but she’d rather see Hackett’s assets seized along with his freedom. It wouldn’t make up for Drew’s sacrifice or the lives lost, but she wanted him to live with the burden of humiliation and failure for the rest of his life.
“He won’t stop, Laura,” he said, his voice heavy. “He won’t stop until anyone who can ruin him is dead. We have to keep it as an option if everything else fails.”
“Carpenter isn’t inept. The police aren’t inept. Murder isn’t as common in Charleston as it is in other cities.”
“Hackett’s framed you. Trust me, it’s one of his best skills. Every law enforcement agency will be looking for you. Carpenter might feel obligated to turn you in.”
She felt the goose bumps slide down her neck, over her arms. “One fact doesn’t have any bearing on the other. Besides, I’m not guilty. The facts will come out. We need to focus on capturing Hackett.”
“Really?” He went over to the suitcase he’d pulled from the car and unzipped a pocket. Lifting out a laptop, he brought it over and started it up.
She bit back her questions, knowing it would only add fuel to the fire in his eyes. He wanted blood—Hackett’s blood—and with every passing minute, she was finding fewer reasons to stop him.
His pain and fury were understandable. She sympathized with his ‘cause’, but killing Hackett wouldn’t bring back the years Drew had lost. It might not even be enough to restore his reputation. “Is Hackett worth a life sentence?”
“Compared to the alternatives, American prisons are a cake walk.”
Her squeamish reaction shamed her. Of course he would know the difference, probably firsthand. “Is that a yes?”
He didn’t reply, wouldn’t even look at her.
“Well that doesn’t work for me.” She pushed to her feet, ignoring the dull ache in her ankle, and headed out to the balcony for fresh air.
“Why do you care?” His question, so quiet after the outburst, stopped her cold. “Is it just about correcting a report?”
Not just, she thought, turning her face into the breeze. Drew had been a victim, even though he’d physically survived that explosion. Sure, it would be nice to get the story straight, but not for the men who’d died. Regardless of what they accomplished here, she knew those families wouldn’t be notified. There was no need to put them through that.
With every new detail, it became more important for her to see this through for Drew. Whether he realized it or not, he was idealistic, at least from her point of view. She searched for the right words, the ones that would get through his hard-earned, jaded attitude. “It’s about clearing your name. You’re innocent.”
His bark of laughter scraped at her waning control. “My innocence is long gone. Same goes for you, I think, especially while Hackett’s in charge of our public relations.”
She heard him move back inside, but she wasn’t ready to follow him. There didn’t seem to be a good choice, and she couldn’t decide which bad choice to make. Laura heard the television come on and after a few snippets, Drew settled on a station. She heard a reporter’s voice doing a breaking news lead-in about the murders near Charleston and she went back in, sinking onto the cushion beside him as they watched their mess go public on the wide screen.
“A friend of one of the victims has been speaking with police…”