I knew Wes and I were on to something.

At this point, it was all speculation. We had no concrete evidence to back up our theory.

Maybe Stone could help shed some light on the topic. I headed out in pursuit of meeting my client in a room that was beginning to feel like a second home.

Staring at Maxwell, I watched him drive.

I wanted to give Kendra the freedom I knew she needed. It was important for us to keep up our public appearances, but that didn’t stop me from thinking that maybe I should have sent Maxwell with her just to be sure she was safe.

Casting my gaze down to my lap, I flipped my phone over in my hand. I dialed Kendra’s number and lifted it to my ear, listening to it ring until finally clicking over to voicemail. “Hey, it’s me. Just wanted to know your plans. Call me back when you get this.”

I turned to the window with unsettled thoughts.

My fingers drummed on my thigh, my toes dancing in my shoe.

I flicked my wrist and checked the time.

I needed to get my hands on that flash drive. Something about it told me it contained information we could use to help solve our case. The fact that Kendra said nothing about it ate my insides raw.

Gnawing on the inside of my cheek, I could feel that things weren’t right between us.

Kendra was retreating, giving up on me, when we were so close to the end. The fighter I’d fallen for was gone. Crumbled beneath the lies and manipulation that made us all exhausted. But we couldn’t give up. Couldn’t bleed out and let Madam win.

When Maxwell pulled to the curb, a steady stream of uniformed officers revolved through the front doors. It was the same routine every time—through security and escorted through the halls of County. I did it without giving it much thought.

“Thank you,” I said to the badge.

I peeked through the small window in the heavy metal door and saw Stone with his back facing me. Taking a deep breath, I nodded and the door unlocked.

“Hope you came prepared,” Stone said without turning around.

Edging around the table, I took a seat and said, “We need to get you ready for your preliminary hearing.”

His face was void of any kind of emotion.

“This is how it will go. We’ll meet before the judge to hear if he believes there is enough evidence collected by the state to bring your case before a jury.” I pushed my paperwork to the side and leaned back. “Stick to the script I left you with the other day and we’ll pray for divine intervention to occur.”

Stone’s crow’s feet deepened. “Have you given my offer from last time any thought?”

Dropping my hand to the table, I squeezed the pen I was holding inside my palm. “You’re right. I don’t give a shit about your hearing.” My tone was mild sarcasm mixed with mostly frustration.

An uncaring laugh passed over his lips.

“Is that what you would prefer to discuss?” I raised both eyebrows.

His eyes were locked with mine. He neither nodded, nor shook his head.

“Fine. Then, let’s talk about it.” My body tipped forward in my chair. “And let’s begin by having you tell me who you instructed to kill Tonya.”

His lips pursed as the point of his chin sharpened. “You must have an idea or you wouldn’t be asking.”

“I have my own theory of who you might be in communication with.”

He gave me an arched look. “And who would that be?”

Squinting my eyes, I debated whether or not I should reveal my cards. I didn’t have anything that wasn’t already well known. “Was it Angelina Davis or Sylvia Neil?” My eyes glimmered with curiosity.

His body language gave no indication of the truth. Tilting his head to the side, he asked, “Tell me, Black, why would you think that?”

Without saying Angel’s name, I told Stone about my theory of Oscar disguising the truth in Tonya’s murder investigation. I hoped that it would make him trust me enough to reveal more of what he knew. I finished by telling him that I was convinced Oscar was also involved in planting evidence at a suspect’s home, wondering if he was experiencing any doubts of his own when it came to evidence gathered in his case.

The corners of his lips curled. “And why would a state official commit crimes like that?”

“You must have an idea, otherwise you wouldn’t be asking.”

He laughed. “Yes, but I want to hear what you’re thinking.”

Deciding whether or not I should play along, we sat in silence for a minute before I said, “Madam has Oscar on her side.”

He threaded his fingers together and leaned back with a satisfied smile crossing over his light brown complexion.

“Let’s shift gears,” I suggested. “Now that we’re narrowing down the power of influence in Tonya’s case, how about we discuss Mario Jimenez.”

“I didn’t have anything to do with that,” Stone stated.

“No, I didn’t think you did,” I said, already convinced by Sylvia that Oscar had done it as a favor to Madam. “But any ideas who might want him killed?”

He brought his sharp elbows to the table and leaned his chest over them. Keeping his gaze down, he shook his head while he chose his next words carefully. Then he looked up at me from beneath a sunken brow. “Tell me, Black. Which do you like better, dancing or fucking?”

“Fucking.”

He smirked. “Then let’s quit dancing and get on with it.”

I gave him a questioning look.

“I’m going to talk straight with you, and you’re going to talk straight with me.”

I nodded once, feeling my brow furrow.

“There is only one person pulling the strings on all these puppets. And you’re on the wrong side.”

“Depends who you ask.”

“I’m not asking anybody.” His eyes darkened. “I’m telling you.”

I swallowed hard.

“If you have any interest at all in stopping Madam’s pursuit into the drug trade, then you’ll listen to what I’m telling you.”

My lips pressed tightly together as I grimaced. “I’m listening, but you never did say whether it was Sylvia or Angel you have working for you on the outside.”

“It doesn’t matter. But, if I were you, I would listen to what Sylvia has been telling you.”

A weight lifted off my chest as I leaned back, holding my gaze on Stone.

“Madam used her, just like she’s using you.”

A knowing glimmer in his eye had my blood running cold. The way he was looking at me made me believe that he knew Madam had asked me to purposely get him convicted. If that was the case, it would explain why he was so calm when facing a potential stiff sentence.

“It appears Sylvia’s the smart one who recognized it first.”

I stared at him, thinking this couldn’t be. Sylvia couldn’t be working for him. Except the more he talked, the more convinced I was that maybe Wes and I had it all wrong.

“Sylvia has worked with Madam on many things,” I stated.

“But not anymore.” There was a knowing twinkle in his eye. “The tide has shifted and you’re still stuck in the undertow.”

“You don’t know anything about me.”

“No?” He raised both his brows. “I know that you’re madly in love with that girl Madam allowed you to have.” He flashed a toothy grin. “It’s blinded you, Counselor. Kept you from seeing what it was she’s been having you do. Three people are dead.” His voice grew darker. “Three deaths you could have prevented instead of having your popsicle get sucked.”

Anger coursed through my veins. “You’re fucked. We might as well just skip the hearing and go straight to trial.” I jabbed my finger into his files.

He tossed his head back and laughed.

“Who do you think Madam will dispose of next? You? Your girlfriend?” His eyes sparkled like embers in a fire. “From what I’ve heard, she’s already put a time limit on your relationship.”

Collecting my papers, I gathered them in my hands and stuffed them into my shoulder bag as I stood. “This was a waste of my time.” I strode to the exit, shaking my head.

“Put an end to it, Counselor,” Stone barked over his shoulder.

Slowly, I turned to see what else he could tell me.

“Expose Oscar and tell the story of Madam to the world.” He held my eye as if to drill home the sincerity of the words he was making sure I heard. “The prostitution, extortion, and possession with intent to distribute. It’s all there, brushed under her rug, hiding beneath her silly sun hats.” Stone didn’t need to tell me his reasons for wanting me to do it. I already knew. “Together, we can be so much greater than what you are with her.”

Narrowing my gaze, I muttered, “Life behind bars has dulled your senses. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I stepped forward. “And be careful what you say to me. I’m your last hope of being freed.”

Anger pulsed in his neck. When I reached for the door handle, he warned, “You’ll change your mind when your sweet Bella gets taken away. And don’t tell me that I didn’t warn you this was coming. Your days are numbered. You might as well enjoy them while they last.”