Chapter 7 (Patreon)

I debated how to play this. Smooth or freaked out? What would draw the least suspicion?

When she finally spoke up, I went in a completely different direction.

"Long time no see, Mr. Hale."

"What are you doing here?" I said, sitting up quickly and looking from Anna to Padelecki. "I don't remember calling for a GDA lawyer."

I let some of the fear I was feeling seep into my voice.

Padelecki folded his arms, a cruel smile playing on his mustached lips.

"Over my head, kid. You should've talked to me when you had the chance."

Anna smoothly turned to the detective.

"Can you give us the room?"

Padelecki looked like he’d been slapped. Reluctantly, he gave a gruff nod and stomped out of the room.

Anna settled into the chair across from me and set her handbag on the table.

"Buying my silence wasn't enough?" I asked. "What does the government want from me this time? My firstborn son?"

"The GDA didn't send me," Anna said, her tone slightly clipped. "I'm here on my own."

"What?" I blinked. "Why?"

"Because your case stuck with me, Danny," she said, her expression softening a touch. "I deal with hundreds of... settlements every year—sometimes over a thousand—but very few people your age make the choice that you did. They don't even think to say no."

The implanted memories came back.

Anna had been sitting in my living room when she'd offered the government standard package: placement with a family that fostered children displaced by superhuman trauma, and a full ride to a GDA-affiliated college in any major of my choice.

She'd even talked about how I could come work for the GDA after graduation, so I could help keep the planet safe and take down bad people.

"Does that bullshit actually work?" Old Danny had asked before promptly telling her to shove it, making it clear that he wanted nothing to do with the government.

In retrospect, Anna had given into Danny’s rather crude counterproposal pretty easily. Then again, he’d helped the government wash their hands of him completely. All it had taken was fifty grand and helping him with emancipation. They’d clearly gotten the better end of the deal.

Knowing what I did about Purgatory Therapist, I didn’t know what to make of my history with Anna. It was clear that my deal was arranged by divine providence or sanction or whatever, but the side effects were very real, and in this case, ambiguous.

I didn’t, for one second, think that Anna was here to help me out of the goodness of her heart. The government wasn’t in the charity business.

"So, coming here to help me is your atonement?" I asked.

Anna frowned.

"I came because you did a good thing, and you don't deserve to get your life ruined because of it. I only learned you'd called a lawyer after I got here, though I can't say I'm surprised."

She shook her head.

"I chose to represent you anyway because I figured you needed the extra three thousand dollars or so in legal fees you’d likely spend on your lawyer. Although, if you prefer to wait for your presentation, I can always leave.”

She was obviously trying to manipulate me, but turning her away didn’t seem like the smart play either. That will just mean they’ll try to invade my life through other means.

And as intimidating as Anna seemed, she was just one woman. And that meant she was manageable...at least somewhat.

"No," I said slowly. "Stay. I'd appreciate the help."

The legal advice was just a bonus.

Anna got to work immediately. First, she called my attorney and informed him she'd be representing me for this case, saving him the trip.

Then she showed me why she was a Level 9 lawyer.

She vanished for a minute and returned with Padelecki, who mumbled out an official apology before unshackling me.

Turns out, he was eyeing me for an unsolved assault that had happened a few weeks ago. I was apparently a dead ringer for their suspect. It didn't help that I'd been covered in blood and was unnaturally calm when I came in.

Anna, allegedly, dismantled their case in seconds, reminding them that I'd already been cleared of the crimes they suspected me of and pointing out that they'd need separate warrants if they wanted to detain or prosecute me for the suspected assault.

Since they'd tried holding me in such a roundabout way, she threatened to sue them if they didn't drop everything and let me walk out immediately.

Anna led me out of the precinct under the curious stares of the station, and I breathed a little easier, glad the situation didn’t spiral out of control.

She offered me a ride home, but I turned her down and walked her over to her expensive Sedan.

"I still gotta pick up my car and do some grocery shopping, believe it or not."

"And it can't wait until tomorrow?" she asked, raising a brow.

"I could also use the air."

"I hope you don’t let what happened tonight stop you."

"Stop me from what?"

"Doing the right thing?” she said, her tone even and serious.

I chuckled. “Jesus, you sound like one of those Omni-Man morality sermons they make kids in detention watch.”

A small smile tugged at her lips.

"Might be cheesy, but it's true."

"Just to be clear, you want me to put my life on the line the next time I see a gang member assault somebody?"

"Most people don’t go as far as Lee did,” she said. “He should’ve backed off when he heard your passionate speech.”

“But he didn’t, and what if the next guy is just like Lee?”

“Then step in if you really think you have no other choice,” she said.

I looked at her like she was crazy. “Shouldn’t you be telling me to do the exact opposite, counselor? You do realize that the police frown on vigilantism. I could lose my freedom if I keep this up.”

“Not with me as your lawyer.”

“You’ll have to forgive me if I’m not in a rush to get my ass handed to me. Again.”

She chuckled.

“That’s understandable.”

Before I could leave, she pulled out a business card from her suit pocket and handed it over. It was white except for a name and a phone number.

"Call me the next time you get yourself in trouble. And drop by the emergency room."

My heart stopped, and I turned to her.

"The emergency room? Why?"

"The paramedics might've missed something, because the way Padelecki and the witnesses told it, it's a miracle you're standing at all."

I caught her staring as she opened the door of her sedan.

"Something on my face?" I asked innocently.

"No," she said, lingering at the door for a beat. "Take care of yourself, Danny."

The lights came on, and I watched her slowly pull out of the parking lot. Shortly after, I boarded a taxi that carried me back to the Walmart.

Yup. Anna was here to spy on me, despite what she claimed. It was so obvious that she might as well have tattooed it on her forehead. Maybe that was her own way of telling me that I was being watched. She was so terrible at her job that nothing else made sense.

Either way, I was firmly on the GDA’s radar now. And I needed to decide what kind of relationship I wanted with them before it was decided for me.