24. Maverick
MAVERICK
JUST PRETEND
The drive to Minneapolis is tense. There’s a lot unsaid between Clara and me, but I need time to process. I don’t want to lose my shit on her—she doesn’t deserve that.
This isn’t her fault. It’s his.
He has no idea what he’s done by bringing Heather into this. And to what end? To frighten Clara? To make her think she’ll end up like Heather—alone, broken, dead? He’s already fucking tried.
I glance in the rearview, watching Clara stare out the window.
She chose to sit in the backseat with Juno.
I don’t know if it’s because he comforts her, or if she’s distancing herself from me.
Maybe both. I wouldn’t blame her—not after the way I ordered her to pack her things and get in the car. I’ve barely spoken to her since.
We left Rochester as soon as the forensics team collected everything they needed, including the envelope and the photo. I sent a copy of the security footage to Arlo, hoping he’ll be able to retrieve something useful. But given how careful this guy has been, it’s unlikely.
How the fuck did he even get that picture? It’s from Heather’s police file—from her fatal accident the night she was on her way to see me. If he has access to accident reports, that means he’s either inside the department or has ties to someone who is. It makes me wonder what else he has access to.
Sighing, I refocus on the road. I’m taking Clara to my house in Minneapolis—it’s the safest place for her now, and I refuse to leave her side. My team will hold down the fort in Rochester. The commute isn’t unreasonable if I’m needed on the ground.
A call comes through the speakers, and I quickly transfer it to my Bluetooth earpiece. “Talk to me, Arlo.”
“I don’t have anything from the security feed yet. It’s clear he’s wearing extra layers, likely to bulk up his figure and obscure his identity. But I looked into the milk processing plant. It was recently purchased by a corporation for renovations.”
“How recent?”
“Within the last two years. Around the time the City of Rochester opened bids for the existing warehouses in the district. But the company that purchased the plant is ASE Anvils Corp. No other businesses in its profile. And when I dug deeper, I found that ASE is a shell corporation. I’ll keep digging to find the owner. ”
“Thanks, Arlo. Appreciate it.”
“It’s what I do. And hey—before you go, Jesse’s here.”
Before I have the chance to respond, Jesse’s voice infiltrates the line. “Boss man. The office space was relatively clean, but the unsub missed a few spots.”
“Tell me you found something good.”
“I’ll do you one better. There were strands of light brown hair between the bed frame and the mattress. The analysis is still running, but I’d bet money it’ll match the DNA profile from Clara’s forensic exam.”
“Call me as soon as the analysis is complete. We need to release his sketch to the public.”
“That reminds me,” Jesse says. “Cruz wants to do another press conference. Said we might be able to lure him out. And you two think alike because he said he wants to release the forensic sketch, too…”
“What else did he say?” I can hear the hesitation in Jesse’s voice.
“He wants to say there was a witness at Silver Lake Park… and he wants to release Clara’s name.”
Shit.
I’ve been fighting to keep her name out of the media, giving her as much privacy as possible to heal without reporters swarming her. It was only a matter of time, but damn it. I didn’t want it to come to this.
“I’ll talk to her and call you back.”
“You got it, boss man.”
The moment the call ends, Clara’s eyes meet mine in the rearview. “Talk to me about what?”
“We can talk about it later, sunshine.”
“No, we can’t.”
Her dark brown eyes narrow, sharp and unyielding. If death could be dealt with a glance, I’d be a dead man .
I grind my teeth and dip my chin. No matter how much I want to shelter her from this, I can’t. Clearing my throat, I give her what she wants.
“Cruz wants to hold another press conference. He wants to release the forensic sketch, tell the public there was a witness at Silver Lake Park… and he wants to release your name.”
Clara is silent for so long, I almost regret saying anything. But when she finally speaks, I realize I’ve underestimated her.
“Good. He should do it.”
“Are you sure? This will unleash a media shitstorm.”
“We should’ve released my name before now.
I’m done hiding, Maverick. Besides, where are they going to find me?
I doubt reporters are going to camp out on your lawn.
Hell, they won’t even know I’m there. I haven’t worked at The Pour House since that night, and I haven’t been back to my apartment. I can handle it.”
“I know you can. I just want to make sure you’re prepared. You’ll be all over the news.”
“Tell him to do it.”
I hold her gaze for a beat before nodding. “Okay. I’ll tell him.”
Back in the hospital, I told Clara she was a fighter. I meant it. But somewhere along the line, my own fear—of failing her, of losing her—made me forget that. She’s shown me she won’t back down.
And this bastard has no idea what’s coming for him.