Teddy coughed, and blood splattered onto Anya’s blouse. He pawed at her hand, unable to speak, and she finally understood what he wanted. She opened her hand to him, and he placed a key in her palm. Then he was gone.
“Anya?”
Anya jumped at Kate’s touch. “I-I’m okay. I think. Ruby shot her brother. I shot her. You should check on her. Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“Doc?” Max knelt beside Anya. “I think you might be in shock. Why don’t you give me the gun, yeah?”
“Hmm?” Anya stopped staring at Teddy and glanced down at the gun she was still holding. “Oh. Right.” She carefully handedthe weapon and the key to Max. “Whatever this goes to, I think it’ll tell us where all the missing girls are.”
“Okay. Let’s get you up.” Max stood and offered his hand for assistance, smiling when Anya took it.
“He…protected me. I don’t know how to feel about that. He murdered young girls and people I care about, then protected me.” She shook her head and turned to Max. “She confessed.”
“Yeah, she did.” Tears formed in Max’s eyes. “You did it. You got Jaime the closure she needed.”
“Maybe she can sit in on the interrogation if she promises not to jump across the table and strangle the life out of her,” Anya grinned.
Max looked away briefly. “Doc, there won’t be any interrogation. Ruby’s dead. You’re one hell of a shot.”
Anya’s smile faded as she tried to comprehend what Max had just said to her. “What?”
Kate shook her head almost imperceptibly. She reached around Anya and unclasped the necklace from around Anya’s neck. Motioning for one of her agents, she handed them the necklace, then dismissed them.
“Where did you get the gun?” She asked quietly.
Anya had seen that look before. Kate wasn’t happy. Yeah, she messed up by hiding the fact she had a gun, but… “From my safe at home. It’s registered.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about it?” Kate held up her hand, cutting off any answer Anya might have given her. “Not here. From here on out, I knew about the gun and authorized it for your protection, understood?” She looked to both Anya and Max for confirmation.
“What happens to me now? Do you have to arrest me?”
Kate shook her head. “The video footage clearly shows Ruby going for her gun first. You had no choice but to use deadly force to defend yourself.” She glanced over at the body. “I’m going tobe buried in paperwork, but it’s worth it to have these fuckers off the planet.” She looked back at Anya. “Why don’t you go to the hospital and see Jaime? I’m sure she’ll be happy to know it’s all over.” Kate paused. “For what it’s worth, you didn’t have to hide anything from me. I would have understood the need.”
Anya watched her past walk away.
“She’s right, you know. Jaime will be happy to know it’s all over.” Max draped his arm over Anya’s shoulders. “Don’t keep her waiting, Doc.”
“Are you coming?”
“Nah, I think I’ll stick around and help Kate.”
Anya leaned into Max’s comforting embrace. “Youare willingly helping the fucking feds?” She felt his body shake with laughter.
“Don’t go announcing that to everyone.” He dangled the key in front of her. “There are a lot of young women out there who need peace. If this can get us started on where to find them, I’m all in. Besides, I don’t have much else to do these days.”
Anya snaked an arm around Max’s waist and squeezed. “You’re a good man, Max.” She patted him on the chest with her other hand and pushed away before they both got too emotional. “Are you sure you don’t want to be there when I tell Jaime?”
“I don’t need to be there, Doc. Just knowing it’s over is enough for me.” Max looked like he wanted to say something else but shook his head and turned away. After taking two steps, he turned back. “Thank you. I don’t know what else to say to you or how to repay you for giving my partner…my best friend her life back. Hell, for risking your life to do it. But thank you.”
“Don’t make me cry before I go see her, Detective!” Anya slapped him playfully on the arm. “I’m happy I could help.” She let out a watery laugh. “How lame was that?”
Max pinched his forefinger and thumb close together.
“Yeah. You know I’m in love with her, right? So not doing this wasn’t an option. Jaime needed closure and peace, just like those young women do.” She beckoned him closer. “But if you want to do something as a thank you, find any videos Teddy had of me, especially of me and Jaime, and destroy them.”
“Oh geez.” Max squeezed his eyes shut. “On it! I’ll be doing it like this,” he said with his eyes still shut. “But I’m on it!”
Chapter Thirty-Five
