“And they’re responsible for the deaths of how many?”
Anya shook her head. “Our five for sure, but we don’t know how many young women they preyed on over the years yet. We’re hoping the videos Teddy directed us to will reveal that information.”
“I’m glad Max is there, helping out where it’s needed. I know I talked shit earlier, but the families of these victims need closure and peace. Max played a crucial role in solving this case. He deserves to see it through to the end and not be dicked around by Brass because of me.”
“You were an integral part of this, too, Jaime,” Anya reminded her. “Neither Max nor I were forced to do anything we didn’t agree to. Don’t carry a burden that isn’t yours to bear.” Anya hoped Jaime would remember that later.
“Hmm.” Jaime lifted her head and gazed back at Anya. “Okay, so there’s something I don’t get.” Yeah, she was skipping past the whole ‘not your burden’ thing. Anya would have toforgive her for that because Jaime didn’t believe it. Still, it was easier to move on than argue about it. “You had them dead to rights, yeah? At least you had Ruby with the DNA on the shell casings. Surely you had enough circumstantial evidence to get a warrant for Son… Teddy’s place. And, yeah, I know you were worried about the video of us, but I feel like I’m missing something.” Jaime paused, flicking through the notes in her mind to check she hadn’t missed anything. “That video wasn’t worth your life. You said you needed a confession, but why? Did you not think the evidence was strong enough to get a conviction?”
This was it. Everything Anya had done today, she had done for this very moment. So, why was her stomach in knots? Why was she more fearful now than in those moments when she was staring down the barrel of a gun? “I…needed the confession for a different cold case. One that we had only just learned was connected. Without a confession, I was afraid the DA wouldn’t bring charges for this case.”
Jaime frowned. Was it just her imagination, or had Anya’s face paled? And why did she look so nervous?She’s probably just exhausted after the day she’s had.Jaime should have listened to her inner voice; she should have stopped interrogating Anya as though she was a suspect and not her lover who’d just been through hell, but she couldn’t. “Another case? Something the feds brought you? What the hell could be so important?” Whether Kate had apologized to Anya or not, if she’d risked Anya’s life to close a case, then Jaime was going to have serious issues with her.
“Taylor.”
Jaime paused, frowning back at Anya. “I’m sorry, what?”
“The cold case. It was Taylor’s.”
Jaime’s brow knitted deeper with confusion. Her mind was racing with so many thoughts that she struggled to focus on justone. “Are you saying that you knew who Taylor’s killer was the last time you were here…a-and you didn’t tell me?”
“Yes.” There was no point in lying and making things worse. Anya could already tell that Jaime was upset. She had expected this reaction from Jaime, yet she still chose to proceed without informing her about the gun or Ruby’s connection to Taylor.
“Does Max know?”
“Jaime…”
“Does Max know?” Jaime asked again, her voice harsh with the pain of betrayal.
“Yes. We didn’t keep it from you to hurt you, Jaime.”
“No?” Jaime scoffed. “You and I arebarelya we. When did you and Max become a we, huh? When did you start making decisions together that affect my fucking life? I’ve been looking for the bastard that killed Taylor for three years, and you…you just decided to take that closure away from me?”
“No! I did what I did tobringyou closure!” Anya stopped and took a breath. She kept telling herself that Jaime was upset and lashing out when she’d said, ‘barely a we,’ but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. “When Kate told us that the ballistics from your shooting and Taylor’s shooting were a match, Max and I were caught off guard. He was on administrative leave, and I…I had one option. To revisit my past, solve this case, and provide you with closure. But we had no way of proving Ruby was the one who killed Taylor without a confession, Jaime. If it had turned out to be a ghost gun and it wasn’t in her possession three years ago…” Anya closed her eyes briefly and lowered her head. “I didn’t want you to face that disappointment.”
Jaime’s mind was reeling. What were the odds that she would be shot with the same gun that had killed Taylor? This whole situation was fucked up, and Jaime couldn’t begin to wrap her head around it all. Did shereallyfeel betrayed, or was she angry that Anya had accomplished in a day what Jaime couldn’tdo in three years? She was supposed to have been the one to avenge Taylor. Once again, Jaime had failed.
“I need some time to think.” Jaime lay her head back and stared up at the ceiling. “Alone.”
Anya bit the inside of her cheek, hoping to keep her tears at bay. “Okay.” She stood and risked kissing Jaime on the forehead, then headed for the door. “Get plenty of rest.”
As Jaime turned her head to the side and watched Anya walk away, she thought about the blood on Anya’s shirt and how it came to be. Anya had put her life on the line for her. For Taylor. God, she’d killed Taylor’s murderer. And here Jaime was, kicking Anya out of her room. “Anya?”
With her hand on the handle of the door, Anya turned to face Jaime. “Yes?”
“Why would you risk your life for a confession on a case for someone I used to love?”
“Which answer do you want, Jaime?”
Jaime swallowed. “I just…I want the raw truth.”
“Because I’m in love with you, and I don’t like seeing you punish yourself for something you had no control over. I also believe both you and Taylor deserve peace.”
A tear rolled down Jaime’s cheek as she held out a hand, hoping she hadn’t royally fucked things up with Anya. When Anya didn’t hesitate to come back to her, Jaime could have fainted with relief for the second time that night. “I’m sorry,” Jaime sniffled. “I didn’t handle that very well.”
“I think you handled it as expected. I told you it was a lot.” Anya pushed a lock of Jaime’s hair from her forehead. “I did struggle with this, Jaime. I knew how important finding Taylor’s killer was to you.”
Jaime reached up and took Anya’s hand. “Despite my little tantrum, you did the right thing. Nothing good would have come from you telling me. If I’d been there and it wasn’t Ruby, thatwould have broken me a little more. Or if I’d been there and heard her confess, I would have killed her, and it wouldn’t have been self-defense.” Jaime kissed Anya’s palm. “Because of you, I don’t have to worry about having conjugal visits while I wasted away in prison.”
