The heavy gate of the port beneath Queens Central Booking rolled down finally.
Jake killed the cruiser's engine, while Ava twisted around in the front passenger seat, resting her forearm across the partition.
Ryder sat slumped against the seat, his wrists throbbing from the pain he felt. The grin he had carried for years was completely wiped from his face, replaced by a dark silence.
Ava didn't reach for the door handle right away. She leaned closer to the wire partition, her eyes locking on Ryder with cold focus.
"This is where it gets real, Ryder," Ava whispered, tapping the pocket where her digital voice recorder sat. "Once those booking deputies take custody of you, your lawyer can scream all he wants, but the grand jury warrant means you don't see the street today. You're crossing the bridge to Rikers on the evening bus."
Ryder looked up, his jaw set tight, his eyes burning with silent hostility, he wanted nothing more in the world than punching her in the face right now.
