His jaw clenched, then released. “One hell of a coincidence, which my boss was thrilled about. I was the only one for the job. My cover was easy to make because almost all of it was true. People remember me.”

I flushed, because I’d remembered him from all those years ago. I’d believed his cover.

“So as part your cover you came back and got a job with John Marshall to gain access to Macon through him.”

A bird flew over, cried out, then swooped into the woods.

“Yes.”

My mind worked through all the possibilities of what Macon could have done to bring him into the FBIs radar. “What is it you think he did?”

They wouldn’t have been investigating my father for a year if they didn’t consider him a suspect of a crime. And to send Jed undercover—

“The FBI is federal. We only handle certain kinds of cases. Terrorism.”

My mouth fell open. “Terrorism? You think—”

He held up a hand. “No. We also specialize in white collar crimes and public corruption. Macon was good at being bad, North. The CEO of a billion-dollar company was talented at keeping his hands clean.”

I knew that. I figured he’d stop at nothing to close a deal, even using me, but I’d never known him to do things illegal. Unethical, definitely.

“He’s dead. Your case is closed. Why are you still here?”

I swallowed, not sure if I wanted the answer. Was he leaving? Did I want him to? I hated him, or so I thought. I didn’t know what real was any longer.

“Because the case shifted. To the new CEO.”

13

NORTH

I hopped to my feet and he grabbed me before I could storm off. His arm banded my waist and he pulled me back against him. I wished I still had on my heels so I could jam one into the top of his foot.

“Let me go!” I struggled, but he wasn’t going to let me go.

“You didn’t do it,” he said, his voice a snarl in my ear.

“I don’t even know what it is.”

“You didn’t do it,” he repeated.

I stared at the logs that built the house, the screen door. “I heard you the first time. You’d have arrested me if you had evidence that I did… whatever. Which means, I want to know what information you’re fucking me for.”

He let go of me as if I’d burned him.

I stalked across the deck, crossed my arms over my chest.