Alexandra
I make my way into the ladies’ room, where I splash cold water onto my face. Don’t let Miller get to you, Alex.
I knew my past would come back to haunt me here, but I didn’t think it would be from a cop.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I can see the bags under my eyes. Yeah, I haven’t been sleeping well. Nightmares and all. It happens when I get stressed. Steven Minor haunts me, and it’s always the same ending. But sometimes I die a different way. Last night, it was a knife.
We were back in the courtroom, when the jury announces him not guilty. When I turn to congratulate him, he pulls a knife and slits my throat.
Each time I have the nightmare, I wake up not being able to breathe. When I told Nic about it, she suggested I see a therapist. I’ve thought about it, but I’m just not ready.
Trying to put what haunts me out of my mind, I think about Beefcake. I wonder if Colton is still going to show up at my place. He must be confused by what Miller has done, and probably what he said about me as well.
Shit.
What am I going to do? I’ve got the cops who don’t like me—Miller, at least. He’s trying to charge an innocent man. I’m his freaking alibi and I’m in charge of his case.
Thank God the day is almost done. Before I leave, though, I need to see Tim.
When I open the ladies’ room door, Miller and Anderson are standing in the hall, waiting. I suppose I need to get this over with.
Miller’s not even looking at me. He appears to be the lookout. Anderson is the one to speak. “Look, Alex, I don’t know why you’d let that fucker go. We have an eyewitness who says Murphy shot Officer Knight. Don’t you understand that? One of our own was shot and killed by that lowlife biker, and you let him walk. You do understand that you work for the prosecutor now, right, sweetheart?”
It’s my moment to draw my line in the sand. “Don’t you ever question my decision to charge or not charge someone, Anderson. I’ve put my heart and soul in my legal career. You brought me an eyewitness who appears to be the town drunk. Without any corroborating evidence, I can’t charge Mr. Murphy with anything.”
Miller laughs and shakes his head. He still doesn’t look at me, but he mutters under his breath something about a dumb bitch.
“Just say whatever’s on your mind, Miller. I’m pretty sure I know how you feel about me.”
Miller gets close, real close. It’s enough to make me take a step back, and Anderson shoots him a warning look.
“I’m starting to think you like to let murderers go free. I mean, that’s what happened up in New York, right? You aren’t wanted here, Russell. I’m not sure why Tim hired you, unless it’s because you’ve got a nice rack.”
The way he leers at me gives me chills. There’s something in his eyes that isn’t right. Evil, almost. Yeah, I’m keeping my eye on this one.
Having worked in a male-dominated field my entire career, I know I need to set boundaries or I won’t be taken seriously. These two obviously have it out for me already.
“If I were you, I’d take a step back. I’m here to do my fucking job, and if you two misogynistic assholes keep this shit up, we’ll never be able to charge and convict anyone. Now, my decision not to charge Mr. Murphy stands at this point. If you don’t like it, take it up with Tim.”
I purposely bump shoulders with Miller as I walk back up to my office. Unfortunately, I need to keep these two close, so they don’t go after Colton.
Colton. He’ll be at my place in two hours, and I’m not sure how our meeting will go. Maybe I’m a little crazy having him come to my place, but he’s already seen me naked, so…
Opening the door to my office, I hear Tim call my name. Shit, here we go.
“Hey Tim.” Play it cool, I tell myself.
“I want you to know you did the right thing downstairs. I’m sorry that Miller brought up what happened to you in New York. I’ve talked to the Captain, and he’s going to have a talk with Miller.”
“Thanks for your concern,” I tell him, “but I’d rather handle this myself. I don’t want to be known as a difficult employee. I need to work with the detectives. Knowing this is a small town, I’d rather not make a big deal out of it.”
I can tell Tim is conflicted. He wants me to succeed because he put his neck on the line by hiring me. I appreciate it, but I don’t want to draw more attention.
“All right, Alex. I’ll tell the Captain not to say anything, but if this shit keeps up, I’ll take care of it myself.”
I smile at his loyalty. “It’s a deal, Tim.”
He gives me a nod and heads downstairs, to speak with the Captain, I assume.
I spend the next hour busying myself, going over Colton’s file again.
Officer Knight had arrested Colton’s father on petty crimes. It was all minor shit that dealt with the Falcons MC. He was charged with criminal mischief for damaging a rival club member’s bike. It was a felony, but he pled down to a misdemeanor.
His father was also charged in a RICO operation but the charges never stuck. Neither of these are reasons why Colton should want to kill a cop.
Tonight, I’ll ask Colton if there are any other reasons why Miller and Anderson would have it out for him.