The Witness

to the Volkovs’ network—e-mail, e-files, even text messaging. When I have something that seems worthwhile, I leak the data anonymously to the FBI agent I studied and cleared to my specifications. I don’t know how much longer it’ll be safe to use her as contact. If Volkov’s people connect her, they may eliminate her. I think, logically, they’d try to use her to find the source of the leaks before they eliminate her. But that may be worse. They could torture her, and she couldn’t tell them because she doesn’t know. I’d be safe, but she wouldn’t. Neither will you, if you involve yourself.”
    “You’d have made a good cop, cyber or otherwise, to my way of thinking. But I am a cop. You’re just a cop’s rich girlfriend.”
    “Don’t joke. If they connect you to me, in any way, they’ll kill you. But not just you. They’ll kill your family. Your mother, your father, your sisters, their children. Everyone you care about.”
    “I’ll take care of my family, Abigail. I guess we’ll stick with Abigail for now.” He stroked a hand over her hair. “I’ll have to get used to Liz when this is finished.”
    “It’s never going to be finished.”
    “You’re wrong. I want you to promise me something.” To keep their eyes level, he shifted his hand to cup her chin. “I want your word on this. You won’t run out on me. You won’t run figuring you’re doing what’s best for me and mine.”
    “I don’t want to make a promise I might break.”
    “Your word. I’m going to trust your word, and you’re going to trust mine. You promise me that, and I’ll promise you I won’t do anythingwithout your full knowledge and approval. That’s no easy promise for me to make, but I’ll make it.”
    “You won’t do anything unless I agree?”
    “That’s my promise. Now I want yours. You won’t run.”
    “What if they find me, the way Ilya did in New York?”
    “If you have to run, you run to me.”
    “You’re like John. They killed John.”
    “Because he didn’t know what was coming. Now, if you look me in the eyes and tell me you’re seriously worried the Russian Mafia’s going to infiltrate the Bickford Police Department, we’ll pack up Bert and whatever else we need and head out tonight. Name the place.”
    “I don’t think that.”
    “Good. Then promise me.”
    “You won’t do anything without telling me. I won’t run without telling you.”
    “I guess that’s close enough. You’ve had enough for tonight. We’re going to get some sleep. I’m going to think about all this. I may have more questions, but they can wait. And after I’ve thought on it awhile, we’ll talk about what we’ll do. That’s ‘we.’ You’re not alone anymore. You’re not going to be alone anymore.”
    He urged her into bed, pulling her close after he turned off the light. “There. That feels right. Maybe I do have one question for tonight.”
    “All right.”
    “Did you hack into our system at the station?”
    She sighed, and in the dark didn’t see him smile at the sound. “I felt it was important to know details about local law enforcement. The security on your network isn’t very good.”
    “Maybe I should talk to the selectmen about hiring you to fix that.”
    “I’m very expensive. But under the circumstances I could offer you a large discount on my usual fee.” She sighed again. “I’d secure your personal computer for free.”
    “Jesus.” He had to laugh. “You’re in my personal e-mail and all that?”
    “I’m sorry. You kept coming here and asking questions. You’d looked up information on me. Well, the information I generated, but it was disturbing.”
    “I guess it was.”
    “You should be careful, calling the current mayor a fuckwit, even in correspondence with your good friend. You can’t be sure who might see your personal e-mail.”
    “He is a fuckwit, but I’ll keep that in mind.” He turned his head, kissed the top of her head. “I love you.”
    She pressed her face to the side of his throat. “It sounds lovely in bed, in the dark, when everything’s quiet.”
    “Because it’s true. And it’ll be true in the morning.”
    She closed her eyes, held the words to her as he held her. And hoped, in the morning, he’d give them to her again.

 
    Let justice be done,
    though the heavens fall.
    L ORD M ANSFIELD

23
     
    R OLAND B ABBETT CHECKED INTO THE I NN OF THE O ZARKS ON a spring afternoon that simmered hot and close as August. In his room with its