Page 94 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

“She’s fine.” Cole said.

“She’s at the hospital. Aidan walked in on it and he got her help.” Brandon added.

“Did he catch them?” Maddie asked.

“No but it tells us something.” Cole said.

“What do you mean?” She said back.

“Becky said they were trying to blackmail her, trying to get information from her and when she refused to cooperate they resorted to using force to try and persuade her.” He explained.

“Blackmail her about what?” Maddie asked.

“I’m not sure she’d want everyone to know.” Brandon said.

Maddie nodded. “But she’s okay?”

“She’s got a broken leg and some cracked ribs but she’ll heal.” He replied.

“Jesus.” She muttered before looking between them then. “So do you think they’re blackmailing anyone else?”

“It’s more than likely.” Brandon replied.

“So how do we know then?” She asked.

“We don’t, that’s the problem but we need to act like everyone is a mole.” Brandon said.

She sighed. Why was everything so complicated. “So what do you plan to do about it?”

“Leave that to us. Just keep your mouth shut and watch your back.” Cole said and she gritted her teeth because the way he said it made it sound like she spent her entire waking hours blabbing her mouth off like a proper gossip.

“Can I go see her?” She asked.

“Not tonight.” Cole said and she gritted her teeth even more.

“How come?” She replied.

“She’s resting. I doubt she’ll want visitors.” He replied in a way that made her feel like a child.

“I’ll leave you to it.” Brandon said standing up and glancing between them. Cole nodded to him and Maddie got up to show him out not that he needed it she thought, he’d made himself more than at home already.

She shut the door behind him and sighed before walking back to the couch, pulling the paper from her pocket.

“What’s that?” Cole asked.

“Something Burke gave me. He said he got it from the Anderson file and thought it might be of use.” She said.

“I highly doubt it, we’ve got everything we can from that part of the case.” He stated.

“Burke’s a good agent, there could well be something here.” She replied irritated that he had simply dismissed it like that.

“Maddie trust me, there’s nothing in it.” He stated.

She rolled her eyes and put the paper away, not because she believed him but because she couldn’t be bothered with debating it anymore, besides she could check it out herself and see.

“I want you to pack some things.” He said and she frowned.

“What are you talking about?” She asked.

He got up walking to her. “With everything going on, I think it’s safer if you don’t stay here.”

“This is my home.” She stated.

“And no one’s taking that away from you. I’m just saying until the heat of this case is off that maybe we put you somewhere more secure.” He replied.

“What like a safehouse?” She asked.

“No.”

“Then where?” She said.

He gave her a look and she felt her jaw drop. “Are you joking?” She half whispered because she didn’t quite believe it.

“It’s only temporary but it’ll be safer than here.” He stated.

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