Exposing Ethan (Cassidy Kincaid Mystery Book 4)

Agent Santiago removed the lid of his coffee to add a packet of creamer. He stirred it, then locked eyes with Cassidy. “We think it’s possible, based on what we know about his activities, that he may be looking for prospects to launder money,” he said. “He seems to trust you, so we’d like to let that play out.”
Cassidy realized she was sitting on her hands, and slowly slid them out, but with nothing for them to do, her anxiety spiked. “What does that mean, exactly?”
“You’ll call him and arrange for a meeting,” Special Agent Harris said. “We’ll be right here to walk you through it,” she added. Although if this was supposed to calm her, it didn’t.
“Then when you meet, you’ll wear a wire,” Special Agent Santiago said.
Next to her, she heard Bruce’s soft groan of protest, and risked a glance at him, but his face was a mask of restraint, his eyes barely meeting hers.
“All we have to do is get him engaged in some kind of illegal activity,” Special Agent Harris said. “Once we have that, we can try to flip him.”
“What if he won’t?” Cassidy asked. “He’ll know I set him up.” She pictured Bo’s round face tightening with rage. He was big enough to be able to grab her, to hurt her.
“We will do our part to prevent that from happening.”
Cassidy tried to draft off of Special Agent Harris’s confidence. “I don’t have to, though,” she said. “Right?”
“No, Cassidy, you don’t have to do anything,” Bruce said.
A long silence passed in which Cassidy’s stomach did a slow, nauseating roll.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Special Agent Santiago nod. But Special Agent Harris was a picture of stillness, of focus. It reminded Cassidy of a dog fixating on a threat the moment before attacking.
“We’ll make sure you’re completely protected,” Special Agent Santiago continued, undeterred. “We’ll be nearby, ready to move if necessary. We have several locations to propose for the meeting, all of them secure.”
Cassidy clenched the edge of her seat, her pulse tapping painfully into her temples.
“By agreeing to become a cooperating witness, we have authorization to do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
“What the hell does that mean?” she asked. She was beginning to feel trapped, and she didn’t like it one bit.
“From additional security all the way to placing you in witness protection.”
Cassidy’s already tight throat clamped shut. “You’re kidding, right?” she managed. “I’m about to begin my career at the University of Washington. I have graduate students to mentor, lectures to give, a life.” A life I’ve worked very hard for.
“We understand,” Special Agent Harris said.
Cassidy stared at her in disbelief. “Sorry, but no,” she finally said. “I will not give up my life, my career, for this.”
“We doubt very much that it will get to that level,” Special Agent Harris said. “I just want you to know that we have every tool available to keep you safe.”
Cassidy tried to imagine starting her life somewhere new, completely detached from her work, her plans, her friends.
From Quinn.
Knives of fear jabbed at her from all sides. They really want this, she thought. What am I going to do?
“What if we prioritize Pete’s murder?” Special Agent Harris said.
Cassidy’s thumping heart dropped down, down, down, all the way into the center of the earth. “What?” she said, her voice a whisper.
“I can assign Bruce a team,” Special Agent Harris said. “We already have some promising leads.”
She was vaguely aware of Bruce’s conflicted expression, of the soft sound he made from the back of his throat.
“Dear God,” Cassidy breathed, feeling the walls close in on her. Could they really do this to her? “Are you saying that unless I cooperate, you won’t prioritize it?”
But Special Agent Harris didn’t reply, and the tension between them sparked like a lit fuse.
“We’re not saying that at all,” Special Agent Santiago said from the side.
Cassidy tried to make sense of this, but she needed space, air…
“We have a preliminary report from an accident in Sacramento, and another in Portland. They have similar qualities to Pete’s and Lars’.”
“So, you believe me? That they’re related?”
“It’s definitely something we’re investigating.”
“But only if I cooperate,” Cassidy said, her fingers clamping so hard on the chair they ached.
The room filled with a silence so loud it felt pressurized, like her ears might pop.
One little meeting to bring Pete justice. She closed her eyes, trying to connect to the inner part of her mind that might give her the answer. But everything felt dark and hollow.
“What about Quinn, will he have to be at the meeting?” she asked as her mind circled back to the practical—her usual default.
“Yes,” Special Agent Harris said, her tone decisive.
Cassidy pushed back from her chair. “No!” she said, glaring, her voice shaking. “No way.”
Special Agent Harris seemed completely unflustered by her sudden outburst. “You both will be completely safe.”
“How can you possibly promise me that?” Cassidy cried, knowing she sounded hysterical but unable to control the pitch of her voice. “I can’t put Quinn in jeopardy like that! It’s one thing for me, I don’t live here. You’re lying to me if you think you can protect him forever.”
She wondered if they were about to offer Quinn witness protection, too, and gasped in anguish. No, she thought, I can’t let them do this to us. I can’t live a life separated from Quinn. I can’t live with myself knowing I caused him to lose everything.
“Turning Bo would be a huge pivot for us,” Special Agent Harris said firmly. “We can bring them all down. Then you and Quinn will be safe forever.”
Cassidy leaned back against the wall to support her shaky legs. “What if he refuses?”
“We’ve already asked him,” Special Agent Harris said, her nostrils flaring.
Cassidy crumpled against the wall. “What? When?”
“Last night,” Special Agent Santiago said.
Special Agent Harris steepled her fingers. “He’s agreed.”

Eleven
Cassidy fled to the door leading to the back of the building and speed-dialed Quinn.
“Why would you agree to do