A moment later, an image arrived by text. I stared as my pulse started to kick. "What the hell?"
From the small screen, a CPR training mannequin stared back at me. The thing was blonde, female, and far too realistic for my liking.
It looked a lot like Tessa.
On the phone, Maddox said, "You're not laughing."
No shit."Yeah, because it's not funny."
Maddox sighed. "You poor bastard."
"Yeah? Send me one of you, and maybe I'll crack a smile."
This made him chuckle. "Relax, it's just a prototype. Carver probably keeps it on his couch – or hell, his bed for all I know."
The thought might've been funny, except I wasn't a fan of the ideas this conjured up. "Meaning?"
"I'm just saying, the guy has a type."
This wasn't news, but I still wasn't happy to hear it. I was even less happy to see a lifeless Tessa staring from my screen. With a hard scoff, I closed the image.
Maddox asked, "So you didn't know?"
"Hell no."
"Do you thinkshedid?"
She.Meaning Tessa. I didn't stop to think. "No way."
"Because…?"
"Because she would've mentioned it."
"Huh." Again, he paused. "You'd think so, wouldn't you?"
Something in his tone hit me wrong. "Just what are you getting at?"
"That photo was in the Thatcher-Hale files, and Tessa Sinclair was the lead. So shehadto know."
I didn't bother asking how he'd gotten the files. It didn't even surprise me. But yeah, Iwassurprised that Tessa hadn't mentioned the mannequin.
And I couldn’t stop wondering which came first – the doll looking like Tessa, or Tessa looking like the doll.
Either way, I didn't like it. Knowing Tessa, she wouldn't either.
I was still stuck on the timing when Maddox said, "I just figured you should know."
Bullshit.Whatever he was getting at, he and I weren't seeing it the same.
I trusted her. Plus, the logical part of me could see why Tessa hadn't mentioned it. Hell, if some weird-ass doll looked like me, I wouldn't be so chatty about it either.
When I made no reply, Maddox said, "And I've got that video."
"What video?"
"The one of her meltdown. You said you hadn't seen it. Do you want to?"
A few days ago, I might've jumped at the chance.Not now.
