Jessie, ignoring the rush of adrenaline that made her extremities tingle, put the car in park and rolled down the window.

You almost got shot, she said.

Im sorry, he said, breathing heavily. I wanted to make sure to catch you.

What is this? she asked, a little short of breath herself.

I wasnt going to tell you about this, but then I asked myself why I was holding onto it and I realized it was cowardice.

Youre not making sense, Mr. Estrada, she said, turning the car off.

His brow furrowed as if he was debating if he really wanted to go through with this. But he clearly knew, as she did, that it was too late to go back now.

Theres another reason I think Jasper Otis might be capable of killing someone, he said quietly. I know what else hes capable of.

He pressed the thumb drive into her hand.

Whats on the drive? she asked. A flutter of excitement rose in her chest.

An interview.

Care to expand on that? she asked.

I cant, he said, other than to say its extremely sensitive. I cant answer any questions about it. And I need you to swear that you wont reveal where you got it. If you say it was me, Ill deny it.

Jessie looked at Estrada, who seemed to almost be a different person from the man shed talked to in the house. He was nervous, even a little scared.

Why? she asked.

Youll understand when you hear it, he said. Just be careful where you listen. And be careful who you share it with.

Mr. Estrada, I cant make any promises

Just listen, he insisted. Then youll understand.

He turned and walked quickly back into the cottage, never looking back. Jessie sat in the driveway, slightly stunned. After a few seconds, she turned the car back on and backed out, unsure what to do next. She had planned to go to the law firm but that suddenly seemed less pressing.

She considered going back to the station to play the interview there. But something about the intensity of Estradas warning made her reluctant.

Great. I havent even listened to the thing yet and its making me paranoid.

Unable to wait any longer, she pulled into the parking garage of a nearby shopping plaza and followed the turns down to the lowest level. She parked, got out, and removed her laptop from her trunk. The garage radiated a heavy silence, muffling her footsteps. She looked around but didnt see a soul. On this level, there were only a couple of other vehicles, both unoccupied.

She got back in the car, locked the doors, turned on the laptop, and put in her headphones. She paused for a moment before inserting the thumb drive, wondering if it actually included a virus intended to delete her files.