Cassie (The Mitchell/Healy Family #7)(23)

“I don’t want to contact anyone. It’s my choice, right?”

He slid the form over, placing a pen on top. “Sign your name.”

More hot tears fell down my cheeks. This was really happening. There wasn’t any getting out of this. If convicted, which I knew I would be, I’d have a criminal record for the rest of my life.

I signed my name while sobbing, never looking up at the agent until I was finished.

He took the pen first, and then pulled the paper back in front of him. “Now, before I put this in the system I have a question for you.”

“Okay. I’m listening, sir.”

“I’d like to make this charge go away permanently. You seem like you’re in a bad way, and I think I can help you.”

“I don’t need help,” I stammered.

“I think you do. You have two options here. You can help me, or I can take you to a cell where you’ll stay until you can either make bail, which could still require more time. It’s your choice. I can give you a couple minutes to make a decision.” He stood and headed for the door. Right before he was able to open it, I called him back.

“Wait.” I sighed, imagining my fate and my future if I continued on the path I was on. “What do I have to do?”

He sat back down and passed the folder toward me. “Open it.”

I don’t know what I expected to see. I wasn’t high enough to be hallucinating, so I knew it was real. The photographs before me were shocking. I looked up at the agent, hoping for an explanation as to why he had pictures of me and Brant. “What is this?”

“Are you aware of the illegal actions going on at the place you’re residing?”

“No.” I had to lie. According to Brant, Rocky was a bad man. I couldn’t cross him. It was possible he had the ability to have me killed. I had no idea how bad of a person he was, or what he was willing to do to save face.

“I think you’re lying, Ms. Healy. I think you know exactly what’s going on, and I’m pretty certain your boyfriend was hired to help with the next drop.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“What does your boyfriend do for a living?”

I shrugged. “He hasn’t found a job yet.”

He flipped through a few photos, coming to one where Brant was taking a device off of an ATM machine. “Are you denying your involvement with this man?”

He knew I wasn’t telling the truth. I was in hot water, and I didn’t know how to get out. “No. I didn’t know about this.”

He pointed to a person sitting at a slot machine in the distance. “This is you. I know that, because I have surveillance from that particular night. I also suspect you lifted a wallet while you were there. It seems this man,” he pointed to the gruffly man I’d stolen from. “Reported his wallet stolen to security. It was later located in the bathroom waste. I have video of you, not only taking the wallet, but also going in and out of the restroom. Now, this can go two ways, Ms. Healy. You can cooperate with me and make my job a whole lot easier, or you can sit here and withhold information. I can have you locked up for not only drug possession, but also theft, and proceed with the investigation accordingly without your assistance. If you choose to help me, this official report will go into the trash. If you proceed to withhold information this will get filed by this evening.”

I closed my eyes, trying to manage my trembling body. This was too much to take in. He wanted me to become an informant, and in doing so I’d be incriminating Brant. How was I to choose my freedom over the man I loved? Had he led me down this path I couldn’t escape from? Was he as bad as my parents had said? Clearly he’d been helping Rocky since the first night we arrived. Whether it was a test or not was still to be determined. I wondered how many other lies were out there, and because of it, what was I willing to do to uncover them. I needed answers. I deserved them, after giving up my life to be with him. Maybe I needed to hit rock bottom before I could find salvation. Maybe this was my way out of this hellish life I’d been living.

“What would you like to know?”





Chapter 11


Cassie


I’m not really sure how long we sat there going over details of Rocky’s operation. The little I knew about it wasn’t going to be very helpful, and I was fully aware if anyone found out I’d ratted my life could be over.

In the time I sat with the agent, we went over every single day since the moment we’d arrived in Vegas. He wrote everything down, while also recording the conversation.

I wanted to ask about Brant, but knew I’d be pushing it, especially since he was giving me the opportunity to avoid being charged. I had to do this, because I couldn’t live with myself if my parents ever found out the way I’d been living my life.

As far as Brant’s involvement, I had to hope I could convince him to stop and run away with me, otherwise he’d be going down with the ship, because telling him I was informing the task force of their business wasn’t an option. He’d be irate, and in turn would lash out, sending alarm to Rocky.

The agent, who said his name was Logan Campbell, made me sign a bunch of papers. If I screwed up, I’d be charged with interfering in an investigation. Alongside of the crimes I’d already committed I’d be doing jail time.