Switched by Anne O'Connell Page B

isn't easy for
you Laura. Did you know we've been looking for you for a long time now?"
Brocco asked Kali.
         She bit her lip and looked down at
her hand. "I should have guessed."
         "Several years back we
investigated another car bomb, like with Agares," he motioned to Brad. "There
was a witness in a shop along that street, an old guy, working late. He said he
saw someone fitting Victor's description and said he saw a woman with him. The
description matched you back when your hair color was dark blonde, but then you
disappeared and we couldn't find you. To be honest, we were waiting for someone
to report you missing. Thought you were dead.”
         Kali looked at Brad, "Who's
Agares?"
         "The private detective I
hired," Brad said. There was no way to proudly say that. Not only because
he'd done it behind Kali's back, but also because, for a stupid petty need to
know more, Brad had unknowingly sent the poor man to his death. He cringed when
he realized Eric didn’t even know his friend was dead yet.
         "Victor killed him, too?"
Her jaw dropped a little. She shook her head. "I'm not surprised."
         "Ms. Stanton, you didn't
really answer my question," Brocco said.
         She frowned at him. "You
didn't ask a question. You just described the night I saw Victor slit a guy's
throat, shove him into a car, and bomb it. There's a reason I ran off, Agent
Brocco. Not only was I being sexually abused by the man, but he was, is, a
complete psychopath. Not to mention I stole some of his money." 
         It didn’t go unnoticed to Brad that
Brocco had already known about the money she stole from her ex, but the agent
didn’t mention to her that he already knew. Evidently their inside guy had
given the agents a lot of information and probably knew most of what Kali was
telling them anyway. They just needed to hear it from her.
         Brocco's eyes widened a little.
"You saw him slit the man's throat?"
         "It was kind of hard to miss.
He did it right behind the car." She was still frowning. "Am I going
to get busted for stealing Victor's money?"
         The agent shook his head. "I
imagine you had good reason."
         "I did.  I needed cash to
start a new life. A new life doesn't come cheap," she said with a hint of
malice in her voice.
         Brocco seemed lost in thought.
"We always wondered how that guy was killed. Would you be willing to
testify as a witness in that case?"
         She shrugged. "If I do does
Victor send his gang of idiots after me? Do I have to spend the rest of my life
fearing for my life?"
         "There's always witness
protection," Brocco said.
         With a visible gulp, Kali crossed
her arms over her chest. “I’d have to think about it.”
         Brad cocked his head to one side.
"Amy, could you get Kali some water?"
         Amy got up and went into the
kitchen.
         He leaned over the table to Brocco.
"What if she gives testimony on tape and camera and a written affidavit
and then, like you mentioned earlier, we fake her death, too? She can change
her name again and disappear again right here. It might be easier than witness
protection, especially since she doesn't have family. Victor doesn't know who I
am. He’ll think her boyfriend is Alexi Amelin."
         The agent nodded. "That might
be enough."
         “But I have to admit I’m not
comfortable with the whole Alexi angle. You know, it’s a small world…” he
hadn’t even finished his sentence when Salazar wandered back into the room.
          He didn’t bother politely
interrupting, he just did. “Jackson said if we got a signed affidavit that he
agreed to put himself in harm’s way, he could go in armed. He does have a
current valid concealed carry permit.”
         Brad forced himself to appear
unaffected by how much they knew. They’d really done some serious research into
him. He nodded, “Good. Now back to Alexi…”
         “Alexi is