Chapter 69

Jake could dothis all day—he hated it—but he would do it. Had to do it.

He considered Claire family, but the moment he caught her in a lie, something shifted. This was him giving her the chance to shift it back.

He was hoping like hell she'd just admit the truth so they could go back to the way they were meant to be—him, Dana, and Claire—on the right side of justice.

Jake wasn't sure what was going on with Claire, but he knew they needed to work together before this case tore them apart.

He hated being suspicious of her, especially after chastising Dana for the same thing. Granted he had proof Claire was keeping things from them, whereas Dana had just been buying into Dvita's propaganda. But that did little to assuage the sting of betrayal he felt staring into Claire's unblinking blue eyes.

The fact remained; she was hiding something. And it was Jake's duty to get to the bottom of it. "Tell me where you really went."

She didn't answer.

"Really, you're gonna plead the fifth?" He pulled out his phone. "You know, I can just see for myself." It was true, but Jake hoped the threat would be enough.

As expected, Claire cracked, her icy exterior faltering the moment Jake pulled out his phone. "Did you tap my phone? That's illegal."

"It's my phone," Jake replied. "You just borrowed it."

Claire pulled her phone from her pocket, staring at it like it might bite her.

"Let's try this again. Where did you go and why?"

"I thought you already knew everything," she shot back defiantly.

Jake closed the distance between them. Towering over Claire he went into interrogation mode and didn't hold back. "What I know is that you snuck out after I told you not to, you lied about using the window, you went to a coffee shop in midtown to meet Betty. Then you walked a few blocks over, where you met, I'm going to guess, Max. Which means you know where he's hiding. How'd I do?"

Claire was trembling, back pressed against the wall as she stared up at him. "What is this, the Federal Bureau of Intimidation? You don't even have a badge. What right do you have to interrogate me?"

"You know what? You're right. Why don't I call Metro? They can send a whole team of badges over?—"

"Wait! I-I know it looks bad but it's not what you think."

"And what do I think?"

"Max has nothing to do with these murders."

"That's not for you to decide."

"You don't understand. He's harmless, but no one's going to believe that. Max is nonverbal. I know sign language so I'm able to communicate with him. I'm all he has."

"You've already told me his sob story, but that doesn't give him a free pass. If he's done nothing wrong, he has nothing to fear."

"You don't get it," she shot back.

"Maybe not, but what I do know is the penalty for harboring a fugitive, and obstruction of justice, both of which you're in violation of."

"Jake, I can't turn him in. He has no one else. And I-I'm in love with him."

Jake paused, momentarily empathizing with Claire. Love was a powerful motivator. He didn't want to be a hypocrite. He was guilty of bending the law a time or two for Dana. But ultimately, he had no choice here. Pushing Claire to give Max up was the best move for all of them.

"If you don't turn him in, he truly will have no one else, because I'll have no choice but to hand over this evidence," he said, holding up his cell phone. "Tell me where he is, and I'll personally escort him into custody and make sure he gets a good lawyer."

Tears began to stream down Claire's cheeks as she shook her head back and forth inconsolably. "No. No, I won't do it."

"Claire, this isn't a negotiation. This is an opportunity. Help yourself, help Max, help me. I don't want to tell Dana you lied."