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“Years,” he replied “At least, according tointo it”

“How is he getting aith it?” I asked, shaking ht “Wait What about our house?”

“What about it?”

“Did he pay for it withyou know”

“No idea,” Gage said “And no idea how long he’s been dirty All I know is the word’s out—Brandon Graham is for sale”

“But he’s a crusader,” I said, still not quite believing his like yours He really believes in this stuff A whole bunch of bikers went to jail—he won And what about that serial-killer guy? He’s a hero, at least that’s how they see him in Seattle”

“I said he was dishonest, not stupid,” he said “Ato throw the big cases It’s the littler ones Going soft on a DUI, pleading people out with time served and probation If he was obvious about it, they’d have caught hi closer He can’t afford a loose end like you”

I leaned into hiainst his chest All of a sudden the pieces fell together, and I felt like amy business to notice

“I’

“No, you just don’t think like a criminal”

I sighed, then looked back up at him “And you do?”

Gage held aze steadily

“Re sick to ain, given the chance Others I’m ashamed of But I’ve never put an innocent man in prison because he wouldn’t pay me off”

I sed, feeling sick to my stomach

“Brandon’s done that? I o, but to set someone up?”

“Yeah, seriously,” Gage said sadly “It’s happened to men I know, and it happens ets—we scare juries Your ex has used that in the past, at least according to h-profile club cases helped put him on the map I didn’t ether for me”

“How long have you known?”

“Not long,” he said, wrapping his arood Warm Safe

“I don’t think I’ I could just close o to a different college Marry soht he could get even worse? I ?”

Gage gave a soft laugh

“Does it matter?” he asked “You’ll be free of him soon If your lawyer can’t pull it off for you, ours will He’s a fucking shark”

I shivered and he pulled me closer

His phone gave a chi

“You better check that,” I said, trying to pull away “It’s late—usually people don’t get in touch this late unless it’s an eency”