Cassie (The Mitchell/Healy Family #7)(25)

Of course I feared the worst. Rocky was a bad man; I knew it even before I was informed by the agent. Now I had more reason to want to get out of dodge. “Look, all I know is our place was a mess when we moved in and Rocky made a big deal about having it cleaned up first.”

“Cleaned up? Was it a crime scene?”

“I have no idea,” I said honestly. “Listen, this is all a little too much in one day, agent. If you’ve looked into me the way you say you’d know I don’t have a criminal record. I may or may not be involved with someone with one, but you’re barking up the wrong tree if you think I can help you. I’ve told you what I know, and I’m not sure what else I can offer.”

We pulled up out back of the casino and he put the vehicle into park. “I’m hoping you’ll overhear something crucial to our investigation. It’s all I can ask. So far you’re the closest I’ve been able to get inside. Keep your eyes and ears open. I’d hate for someone like you to end up like the last tenants.”

“If anyone’s going to get me killed it’s you.”

“I hate to break it to you, but you’re already on the road to killing yourself. You’re putting those drugs into your body. There’s no telling when you’ll get a bad batch and take your last breath. I often ask myself why people do them. What’s so great about the high that keeps you coming back for more? It leaves you unhealthy and broke. It causes strain in relationships. It makes you a zombie, walking around not giving a shit about anything.”

“You don’t know anything about me. I’m not an addict.”

I swear he almost smiled when I said it. “That’s what they all say. You have an opportunity here to rethink what you’ve been doing with your life. Don’t be a statistic. Clean yourself up and start over. Give yourself a second to realize what you’ve gotten yourself into before it’s too late.”

I appreciated him for wanting to be a government official assigned to such a messed up city, but he wasn’t my friend and I refused to allow him to tell me what I was doing wrong. “I can handle my own life. If you’ll excuse me I need to get going.”

He grabbed my arm before I was able to climb out of the vehicle. “Cassie, I will be in touch. This isn’t over. If you cross me, I’ll make sure you’re charged.”

“Yeah, I get it.”

“Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. I’m not asking you to get involved. Just tell me if you hear anything. Stay out of trouble. Oh, and lastly, get off the drugs. I’ll be watching you, don’t forget it.”





Chapter 12


Cassie


Nervous couldn’t begin to explain how I felt when I called Brant to come and pick me up from work. When I saw his vehicle pull up I worried he’d see right through me. Instead the smile on his face remained, as if he had no clue where I’d been and what I’d promised to someone else. “I can’t wait until you see what I made for dinner. I know you’re probably tired, but if you could stay up with me tonight I’d love it.”

“I’ll do whatever you ask, Brant. You know that.”

“Good. After a talk with Rocky earlier I think things are about to happen for us. He says everything is set, and within the next couple of weeks we’ll be making the switch.”

“What does he do with the old ones?”

“I don’t know. I never asked. He’s so sensitive about people prying. I just do what he says to stay on his good side.”

“If I were him I’d burn them. Wouldn’t one lost device be enough evidence to convict him if it were ever discovered?” I realized I was asking questions that may seem too inquisitive, but as Brant’s girlfriend I had every right to appear worried. Whether I was asking for myself or Agent Campbell, I still needed an answer. I wanted to know how involved we’d become.

“I’m sure he has a way of wiping the information clean before they’re destroyed. You never know what kind of devices the authorities have nowadays. I saw on a show they could recover erased hard drives. No one is safe anymore. If you want to live the lifestyle of a criminal you need to be one step ahead of the authorities at all times. It’s a good thing I got in with Rocky. All the security shit is his deal. My job is simple.”

I pretended to be amused and content. “I’m glad of that. It still makes me nervous. I wish we could walk away, Brant. Living here hasn’t been great for me. I’m tired of struggling. I need to get clean and be focused again, or else I’m afraid we’re never going to get out of here. I miss my family, and I know I agreed to let them go, but it’s not fair. Why should I have to choose? They know we’re together and they can’t stop us.”

We pulled up at the house and I noticed a car parked in the driveway. “Is someone else here? I thought you said we had the house to ourselves?”

“Come on. You’ll see.”

After the day I’d had, I wasn’t in the mood for surprises. All I wanted to do was take a long shower and figure out how to kick my habit before I lost control and landed in jail. I had a feeling the agent was going to keep his word. He’d be watching me.

If I slipped up for a second it could cost me my freedom.

When I walked inside and saw a familiar face I wanted to cry. My sister Cammie wrapped her arms around me and held for a few seconds. “It’s good to see you, sis.”