“Yes, in a way. I convinced the asshole to drop the charges on the condition that she paid restitution. It burned her to do it, but she did destroy the Corvette, and it could have been a felony conviction. But she was still a minor, and I went to bat for her with the judge. Even though the rapist dropped the charges, the judge wanted a bench warrant. Ended up with probation, no ding on her record, erased at age eighteen. And the bastard still got part of what was coming to him—a year in prison. Should have got more, but I had to manipulate him into taking a plea.”

Matt was perplexed, and it must have showed. “Kara said a friend of hers was raped and Kara trashed the guy’s car.”

“Yeah—that’s the truth, but sort of the simple version. Kara didn’t have an easy childhood. Rather...unorthodox, let’s say, until she moved in with her grandmother when she was fifteen. But even though her parents were less than law-abiding, Kara always had this steel spine to protect the underdog. She just wanted to do it herself. Her friend was date-raped, and Kara knew who did it. She’s lucky she broke his car instead of his neck, which I wouldn’t have been able to get her out of. It was a classic he said, she said—and the victim’s part was vague because she didn’t remember anything—but I convinced the asshole that I had a witness, and Kara played probably her first undercover role. Or maybe not, considering what her parents had her do when she was a kid.”

Matt had a million questions, but remained silent.

“We essentially gaslighted him, he caved, made up a lie about not knowing the girl was drugged, agreed to a plea deal. I made him serve the full year, too.

“If I had a daughter, I’d want her to be like Kara,” Brian continued, “but with a healthy dose of fear. I worry about her. She got her GED and enrolled in the police academy in LA, though I was trying to get her to go to college. Maybe she needed to get away—the Spokane Valley isn’t very big, and Kara has always felt uncomfortable with people knowing her business. She visits now and again, and we talk from time to time. I had a conference down in LA a couple years ago and met her boss. Good man, keeps her alive.”

“I’ll admit I was surprised that she’s an undercover cop.”

“Worries me, doesn’t surprise me. Not in the least. I don’t think Kara likes herself—or at least, she doesn’t really know herself. She’s much more comfortable playing parts. If only she could see what I see—or what you see.”

“Excuse me?”

“I see a solid cop who wants to change the world taking out one scumbag at a time. You see that—and more. You must have gotten under her skin, because I haven’t seen her so prickly in...well, ever. That takes some doing. Nothing breaks through Kara’s Teflon exterior.”