To her prejudices about herself?
At one time she had been wild and impetuous and selfish.
Was that what was happening now?
Why else would she so strongly cling to the idea that Tony was innocent? Why would she have made love to him? Kissed him? Brought him here in the first place? Was she blind to the realities of who he really was?
But even as she asked the question, her faith in Tony’s innocence didn’t waver. Because she had kissed him. Tasted who he was now, not just in the past. And he was still sweet. Still good. Still—
Her cell phone rang. When she saw the caller was Neil, she hesitated. He’d called her six times in the past few days, leaving her voice mails every time. The last one he’d left had sounded serious.
With a sigh, she answered.
“Hi, Neil.”
Ten minutes later Linda walked swiftly back to the cabin. Neil’s words still rang in her ear.
A reporter has linked you and Tony Cooper. He’s been asking questions. And implying that you had something to do with Tony being granted bail. He’s also questioning the fact that you disappeared soon after he was released. Damn, I’m sorry, Linda. This isn’t good. Not for your judicial campaign and not for...
He’d lapsed into silence, but Linda had known what he was about to say.
It’s not good for my career as a D.A., either. I might very well lose my job over this, Neil, isn’t that right?
Hell, I’m sorry, Linda. But don’t worry. I’m on your side and so is Norm. We’ll get our comments to the press. Assure them that you only took some time off because of what happened, not because you’re with Tony.
She’d swallowed hard. Hesitated. Then said, But I am with him.
What?
I mean, I have been with him. Someone tried to hurt me again and he helped me. But he got hurt and...
Dear God, listen to yourself. Someone tried to hurt you and he just happened to be there to help you. Again. Don’t you think that’s a little convenient, Linda?
It wasn’t like that, she’d protested.
No? So he wasn’t hanging around where he shouldn’t have been? At your house maybe?
He had been at her house. Even before she’d gone to his place at Tortuga Boulevard. But no, he’d been blocks away. He hadn’t even wanted to go into the house with her. She’d practically forced him to.
Hadn’t she?
She rubbed her forehead. Of course she hadn’t forced him.
She couldn’t force Tony to do anything.
Just like she hadn’t been able to force him to stop taking the painkillers when they were together.
Linda, he’s playing you. Playing on your feelings for him. Trying to convince you he’s a good guy so you’ll believe he’s innocent.
But I wasn’t sure of his guilt before...
And he obviously decided to capitalize on that.
It made sense. Everything Neil had said made sense. But it wasn’t what her instincts told her.
Listen to your instincts, the fax had instructed her.
But she still didn’t know who had sent that fax.
It would have to have been someone who knew both her and Tony. Knew about their previous relationship. But who would—
It hit her then. Mattie.
It could have been Mattie who’d sent her the fax.
Mattie who was in WITSEC and couldn’t risk coming out of it because of her daughter, Jordan, but who’d heard of Tony’s arrest and wanted to get a message to Linda.
That made sense, too.
And thinking that Mattie had sent that fax, that she still believed in Tony from afar, was a much more palatable option than believing what Neil was saying.
Neil, I heard Justine saying Tony had set up an appointment with someone who sells something called Rapture. Do you know anything about it?
Damn it, Linda, that’s the last thing you should be worried about. Where are you? Tell me and I’ll—
Neil. Please. Just answer the question.
Rapture is a new street drug. A dangerous one. It’s similar to the bath-salt drugs, but it’s a hybrid, with an added component that makes the highs more intense, and the withdrawals even worse. It’s hard to come by, which is definitely a good thing. It’s been linked to mental deterioration in those who use it long enough.
Mental deterioration?
It drives people crazy. Makes them delusional. Makes them dangerous.”
“In other words there’d be a reason why someone might want to get to this supplier to stop him from selling these drugs? Someone who was working undercover, maybe?
Neil snorted. And what? You think the person doing that is Tony Cooper?
I don’t know, Neil. But it’s a possibility.