Resisting Ryann(60)

Every part of that night flashes through my mind, from Warren standing over my couch, to lying next to Andrew, both of us waiting for death to take us. “I remember all of it, up until I got shot. Next thing I know, I’m in here. Where’d you go after I dropped you off that day?” I can’t help but wonder if that’s how they found us, if she’d tipped them off.

She sighs. “I told your father I wasn’t feeling well … faked the stomach flu. Then I contacted my boss and told him what had happened as soon as I got home.”

“And …”

“And we were able to track down the person who sent the text,” she replies, raising her brows. “It turns out one of the DEA agents working with the FBI was under internal investigation. There were suspicions that he’d gone rogue. He was also the only other person who could have had access to the codes. Once I told my boss everything, it confirmed his suspicions.”

“Did you find out why he put the hit on me?”

“He’d been leaking information to both Sergio Valdez and your father. Valdez put the hit on you.”

I think about that for a minute. “Why? Why didn’t he just do it himself?”

“He wanted you dead, but he didn’t want to own up to it.” She shrugs. “Continuing a long term business relationship with your father was more important.”

Letting out a short laugh, I say, “Glenn wouldn’t have cared.” I shift in the bed to keep my leg from cramping up.

“Maybe not, but I guess we’ll never know.” She leans back, and we’re silent for a moment.

“How’d Glenn find out about Andrew?” I ask.

“Through the same DEA agent. His name is Devon Hardesty. The guy got around.”

“They’d tapped into his phone—found out he was warning Glenn about the set

up. Then they intervened.”

“A little late, don’t you think?”

She nods. “You’re very lucky, by the way. You were the only two to make it out alive.”

“Luck has nothing to do with it,” I say, tipping my head. “How’d they find us out there?” I groan, lightly rubbing my shoulder, feeling pain as my meds wear off. “Sorry. Go ahead.”

“You all right?”

“Yeah, just a little stiff.” I gesture for her to continue.

“Warren tipped off the feds.”

Now that surprises me. “Warren?”

She’s nodding again. “He was an undercover FBI agent.”

“Did you know?” I never would have guessed, until maybe that last night I was with him. He seemed different in the way he acted toward me.

“Not until two days ago.” She licks her lips. “It’s a safety thing. People go rogue all the time. Sadly, it’s pretty common,” she adds.

“He’d told me, ‘Shit is about to go down’ that night … like a warning. He knew we were walking into a gun show,” I say, pressing my lips together tightly. “That explains a lot. After I’d been hit a few times, I could still hear the gunfire. I didn’t know if I had lost all feeling in my body, or if they had another target,” I add, shaking my head. “It’s too bad he didn’t make it.” This makes me think about Andrew again. “Andrew passed away earlier,” I say solemnly.

“I heard.” She eyes me curiously. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware that the two of you knew each other before this.”

“Like you said, safety reasons.” Scrubbing my face with my hands, I’m reminded again. “Can you tell me why the hospital staff was told not to let me use a phone? Am I a criminal?”

“No,” she replies quickly. “That’s not what it is.” Leaning forward to speak quietly, she says, “They have to clear you for two murders, Luke. It’s proper procedure. After that, you can go back to your normal routine, and pretend like this never happened. This case isn’t over yet, especially for you. It’s going to take more time.” She leans back.

I feel like breaking something. “How much time are we talking about? And how’d you know I killed Glenn?”

Her brows pinch together. “You confessed when they picked you up. You don’t remember?”

“Look …” I stare at her pointedly, sitting up. “There are people I need to talk to. When are they planning to lift this restriction?”

“I told you. When you’re cleared,” she says like it’s obvious. “And when they’re positive there are no other hits on you.”

“Glenn’s dead. Valdez is in prison. I don’t understand.”