It’s a building collapse. An older house. The police believe a bath overfilled, weakened the ceiling, and the whole thing collapsed. An elderly woman is dead.
Claudia’s text is blinking, waiting for me to say something. Why is she contacting me like this? What does it have to do with—
BK: Was that one of ours?
CV: It was one of yours, Bridget! What the hell happened?
My stomach flips, and I stare back at the little screen, but the news has moved onto another story. Frantically, I google for more information, needing to see the house. When I find it, I sag with relief. I’ve never seen that building before.
BK: That wasn’t mine!
CV: First thing I did was check the paperwork. Bridget, prepare yourself. Get representation. This is going to get ugly.
My hand is shaking so badly I have trouble hanging up, and I’m afraid I’m going to get sick. The floor starts moving, and I grasp the side of Matthew’s desk.
“Bridget? Bridget! What’s happened?”
He is by my side in a blink, searching for a clue since I can’t speak. Hiswarm hand takes my wrist, and the other one goes to my lower back as he gently guides me to my chair.
“Here. Sit down. I’ll get you water.”
By the time he’s back, I’m full-on hyperventilating. He holds a paper bag over my mouth and tells me to breathe deep. As I gain control, stars flee my vision.
“What is it?” he asks.
“She knows,” I manage.
He’s pulled his chair over so we’re knees to knees, and he’s close enough to reach for my hands, which I give him. Our connection is my anchor for now, because I feel like I could fade away at any moment.
His attention doesn’t waver. “What does that mean? Who knows what?”
“My boss.”
His thumb slides over the side of my hand, soothing me. He tightens his fingers on mine, which are still trembling hard. “She said that?”
I inhale. “No, but she did something else.”
I hand Matthew my phone and point at the news feature.
“That house inspection was not my job, but she’s pinning it on me,” I tell him. “She must know what Paul told me about MSI or the falsified records. That’s the only explanation for this happening now. And there are only two ways she could have found that out. Either she got the information from Paul himself, or she got it from the police after I reported what I found. Either way, they’re gonna come after me. She’ll ruin me. They’ll arrest me for something I didn’t do.”
“And she’s already started doctoring the paperwork,” Matthew says grimly.
“Oh, God. What if they know I’ve been talking with you? I don’t want to get you in any deeper.”
“They won’t come after me,” he assures me. “They have no idea I exist.”
“Except for lunches and dinners in the hotel, Matthew. What if they’ve been watching me?”
He swallows, showing a hint of concern. “They won’t get to me becausewe’re going to stop them before they get to either of us. We’ll take care of this, Bridget. You’ll be safe.”
Tears bubble up, and I can’t trap them in time. They roll down my face. “I don’t know what to do.”
Before I can wipe them away, Matthew kneels at my side, then draws me into his arms. I sink into his embrace, needing the promise of protection, even if it is an illusion. He holds me, and I draw on his strength, so grateful he’s here.
“What do I do?” I whisper.
Unlike me, he doesn’t seem alarmed. “We’ll figure this out, Bridget. You’re not alone.” He remembers something. “Oh, and Louis is on his way over.”
