Chapter 28Steve is awake, coughing and staring around at the empty room. The TV is off when I enter, passing Officer Ben Keller sitting outside the door. We do not say anything to each other. I am still livid with him about betraying me to my team.
“I told you I don’t need protection,” Steve says as I close the door and take a seat next to him.
“It wasn’t my plan.”
“What do you mean?”
“It comes at the request of the police chief.”
“You’ve spoken to the cops about me even though I’ve asked you to keep this quiet?”
“I can’t work the case by myself, Steve.”
“Why not?”
“It’s personal. I’m too close to it—” I roll my eyes.”—I am told.”
“Is that what your boss said?”
I nod.
“What happened to your face?” he asks.
“I fell.”
“Where? How did it happen?”
I do not want to upset him by re
