Page 17 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

“Go on then enlighten me why don’t you.” She said.

“It’s a highly classified, six eyes only project with top security clearance.” He said and she felt herself blanch. She knew what he was getting at but at the same time had no idea.

“I think you’re a little above my paygrade. I look after Serious Crime, you know kidnappings, high value theft, murder. I’m not into that whole, spy shit.” She said looking between them both like they were mad.

“Yet you were working the Anderson Case…” He stated.

She shrugged. “Holden put me on that. It wasn’t my thing. Fraud doesn’t have the thrill factor for me.”

He smirked. “Not even with a touch of espionage Miss Cooper?”

She shook her head. “I think you’ve got yourselves confused. We’re not BlackWater. We’re Homewell. We don’t deal with espionage, high stakes, national security, any of that shit.”

They both smirked then like she was an idiot and she frowned looking back at Curtis before she could stop herself. What the fuck was going on? She thought.

“We had a search conducted of your apartment today Miss Cooper.” He said.

“You what?” She snapped.

“What we found made some interesting reading.” He said pulling a evidence list and she swallowed. Had they found her Run Box she wondered, because that would take some serious explaining.

He began reeling off the items, most of them were easily explainable and she waited to hear the words she was dreading.

“… an encrypted USB concealed behind the fridge.” He said and she frowned then.

“What USB?” She asked.

“You tell me…” He replied.

“I literally don’t have a clue what that even is.” She stated.

“So you don’t make a habit of hiding things behind your fridge then?” He asked.

“I don’t think any sane person hides things behind their fridge.” She replied.

He gave her a smug look before listing a few more items she didn’t recognise and then the nail in the coffin. The judas kiss if they were looking for dodgy dealings…

“Paperwork for an offshore bank account that by the looks of it holds a substantial amount of money, hidden amongst some lingerie magazines.” He said finishing the list.

She smirked then. Because if they’d found the Run Box they would have said it way before Kelsey’s god damn mags. “That’s not mine either. It belongs to my sister.” She said.

“Sure it does.” He replied.

“She’s a model. And has questionable tax filings.” Maddie snapped. “And that lingerie magazine, that’s hers too. Check her out if you want, she’s the lead girl. I recommend the centrefold, the girl can really bend.” She said before she could stop herself.

Cole Black had had enough by that point. Enough of her games, enough of her attitude too. He walked out of the gallery, down the steps and slammed into the room.

She couldn’t help it, she jumped as metal door crashed against the wall and then she glared at him, getting to her feet.

“Decided to leave your ivory tower have you?” She stated.

He grabbed her by the throat, slamming her into the cold, hard wall behind her. Her hands curled around his wrist and she dug her nails into his skin but he either didn’t notice or he didn’t care.

“This isn’t a fucking joke.” He snarled as she met his stare.

“You don’t scare me.” She muttered.

“Then perhaps you need to learn a lesson Miss Cooper.” He said.

She scowled. His hand was still tight around her, her feet were barely touching the floor and they could both feel her pulse racing under his grasp.

“Tell us what you know.” He growled.

---