Page 161 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

She woke up dreading going into the office, dreading facing Cole. Becky made her an extra strong mug of coffee and Aidan gave her a sympathetic look as they headed in.

She sighed, knowing she’d brought this on herself, brought all of this on herself.

She sat at the main table rifling through the notes with Becky but her mind was focused on the door, focused on whenever Cole was going to walk in.

Becky flicked through the papers, cross referencing and marking off each bit.

“Was it just you that worked the Anderson file?” She asked Maddie and Maddie looked at her as if she hadn’t quite registered the question so she repeated it.

“Yeah I was the lead. It was mainly me and McCullough although a few other agents worked it before me. How come?” Maddie said.

“There’re just a few inconsistencies that’s all.” Becky stated.

Maddie frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Here look, our files state Anderson’s full name as Matthew James Anderson but the Homewell files have him as Matthew Jim Anderson.”

“Could just be a typo?” Maddie suggested.

“The date of births are off too. Ours has him born September 78 but Homewell has it September 76.”

“More typos?” Maddie shrugged but it felt off. Like Homewell were sloppy, but then how did they know their intel was correct and it was Homewell at fault? “Have you checked it?” She asked.

“Yeah we’re definitely in the right.” Becky stated.

“Hmmm, I know Homewell aren’t always top of their game but seems a bit off that they made such basic mistakes.” Maddie muttered more embarrassed than anything else.

“Also this intel your friend gave you doesn’t match.” Becky said.

“What intel?” Maddie asked.

“That paper he copied. Burke wasn’t it?” Becky replied.

“Yeah it was Burke. What doesn’t match?” Maddie said.

“The account details for one. Either he had a secret account we didn’t know about or they made a mistake with this because we can’t find the one on there anywhere. It doesn’t exist.”

Maddie frowned and picked up the paper she was referencing.

“Burke’s not usually sloppy.” She said. “He’s normally on it, meticulous almost.” She muttered scanning her eyes over the document but it wasn’t like she could see the errors was it?

“Want me to ask him about it? Maybe he knows why there’s a mistake?” Maddie asked but Becky didn’t answer and she looked up seeing Cole standing there and Becky looking awkwardly between them.

Shit, Maddie thought and internally she cringed because she didn’t want to do this, whatever it was, not here, not now, and especially not in the god damn office.

He opened his mouth to say something but his phone rang and he frowned picking it up.

“What? No, leave it, I’ll look at it now.” He barked before turning and heading back for his office.

“Fuck.” Maddie muttered and Becky shook her head at her.

“What?” Maddie asked her.

“You know you two are going to have to sort it out eventually right?” Becky replied.

“Maybe. I don’t want to do it at work.” Maddie stated.

“Where else can you do it? It’s not like you’re staying at his now?” Becky pointed out.

“Urgh. This is why you shouldn’t have sex with people you work with Becs.”

“Bit late for that Maddie.” Becky quipped and they both laughed because they knew it was true. It was too late. Too late for all of it.

Maddie sighed, pulling her phone out and texting Burke.

“I’m going to see if Burke has any idea about the Homewell file.” She said. At least she could do that, she thought, focus on her work, focus on the case and figure the whole Cole clusterfuck later.

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