Chapter 107 Witness Protection Offer
CAITLYN'S POV
Detective Rourke was sitting across from me and Jason in our living room. He had called that morning and said he needed to talk to us about something important. I had been nervous all day wondering what it was, wondering if something had gone wrong with the case, and if Collin's people were coming after me.
"So what is this about?" Jason asked. He was holding my hand, could probably feel how tense I was.
"I wanted to talk to you about your safety Caitlyn," Rourke said. "Now that we are moving forward with prosecuting Hayes's organization there is a concern about retaliation."
"Retaliation?" I said. "You mean someone might try to hurt me?"
"It is a possibility," Rourke said. "We have arrested most of Hayes's people but there are still some out there. People who might want revenge. People who might want to stop you from testifying."
"But you said the organization was falling apart," Jason said. "You said there was no one left to come after her."
"The organization is falling apart," Rourke said. "But that does not mean there is no danger. Desperate people do desperate things and some of Hayes's people are very desperate right now."
I felt my chest getting tight. My breathing is getting faster. This was what I had been afraid of. What I had been having nightmares about. That someone would come for me. That someone would finish what Collin started.
"Hey," Jason said. He squeezed my hand. "Breathe, just breathe."
I tried to do the breathing exercises Linda had taught me. In for four counts, hold for four counts, out for four counts. It helped a little but not much.
"What are you saying Detective?" Jason asked. "Are you saying we need more security? Because I can get my crew to watch the house. We can set up patrols."
"That is one option," Rourke said. "But there is another option I want you to consider. Witness protection."
"Witness protection?" I said. "Like a new identity?"
"Yes," Rourke said. "We would relocate you to a new city. Give you a new name. New social security number, new everything. You would be completely untraceable."
"For how long?" I asked.
"Permanently," Rourke said. "Once you enter witness protection you cannot come back. You cannot contact anyone from your old life. You start completely over."
"No," Jason said immediately. "No way. She is not doing that."
"Jason," Rourke said. "I know this is hard to hear but Caitlyn's safety has to be the priority. If there is even a small chance someone might hurt her we need to consider all options."
"There are other options," Jason said. "Like I said we can increase security. I can protect her."
"You cannot protect her twenty-four-seven," Rourke said. "And even if you could what kind of life is that? Always looking over your shoulder? Always afraid?"
"It is better than losing her," Jason said. His voice was getting louder. Getting angrier. "It is better than her disappearing and never seeing her again."
"Jason," I said quietly. "Let him finish."
Jason looked at me. I could see the fear in his eyes. The same fear I was feeling, the fear of losing each other.
"Witness protection would keep you safe Caitlyn," Rourke said. "You and the baby. You could live a normal life. No fear. No threats. Just peace."
"But no Jason," I said. "No life with him. No family."
"I know," Rourke said. "And I am not saying this is an easy choice. But it is a choice you need to consider. Your life is at risk. The baby's life is at risk."
"What about me?" Jason asked. "Could I go into witness protection with her?"
"Technically yes," Rourke said. "But you would have to cut all ties with your crew. Your business. Your life here. Everything."
"I would do it," Jason said. "If it means staying with Caitlyn I would do it."
"Jason no," I said. "You cannot give up everything. Your crew is your family. This is your home."
"You are my family now," Jason said. "You and the baby. Everything else is just stuff."
"But what about Tommy?" I asked. "What about the guys? They risked their lives for us. You cannot just abandon them."
"They would understand," Jason said. "They would want you to be safe."
Rourke was watching us. Letting us talk it through. He looked sad. Like he knew how hard this was.
"How much time do we have to decide?" I asked.
"A few days," Rourke said. "But not long. We are moving forward with the prosecutions. Once the trials start the danger increases."
"Because I will be testifying," I said. "Because I will be the one putting them in prison."
"Yes," Rourke said. "You are our star witness. Without your testimony, the cases are weaker. Hayes's people know that. They know if they can get to you they can hurt our case."
"So I am a target," I said. "For as long as these trials are going on I am a target."
"Yes," Rourke said. "I am sorry but yes."
I looked at Jason. He was staring at me with so much love and fear and desperation. He would do anything to keep me safe. Would give up everything. Would go into witness protection and leave his whole life behind.
But could I ask him to do that? Could I let him sacrifice everything for me?
"Can you give us some time to talk about this?" I asked Rourke. "Just me and Jason?"
"Of course," Rourke said. He stood up. "Take all the time you need. But remember the offer is on the table. Anytime you want to take it just call me."
"Okay," I said. "Thank you."
Rourke left and it was just Jason and me. We sat there in silence for a long time. Neither of us knew what to say.
"I cannot lose you," Jason finally said. "I just got you back. I cannot lose you again."
"You are not going to lose me," I said.
"But if you go into witness protection I will," Jason said. "Even if I go with you we will be losing everything. Everyone. Our whole lives."
"I know," I said.
"So what do we do?" Jason asked. "How do we choose between safety and our lives here?"
"I do not know," I said. "I really do not know."
The baby kicked and I put my hand on my stomach. The baby was the most important thing. The baby's safety had to come first. But was witness protection really the only way to keep the baby safe?
"What do you want to do?" Jason asked. "Really. Forget about me for a second. What do you want?"
"I want to stay here," I said. "I want to build a life with you. I want our baby to grow up knowing their family. Knowing Tommy and the crew. I want normal."
"But you are scared," Jason said.
"I am terrified," I said. "But I am tired of being scared. I am tired of Collin controlling my life even though he is dead. I do not
want to run. I do not want to hide."
"Then we do not run," Jason said. "We stay. We fight. We protect each other."