Page 139 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

“It’s my culinary specialty.” Brandon replied and Maddie laughed.

“Well it looks perfect.” Maddie said tucking in. He’d covered the top with an absurd amount of cheese and if anything that made it taste even better. Both Cole and Brandon finished before her and they made small talk while she ate.

“They found my prints.” Maddie said when she’d finished and they both looked at her.

“Who did?” Brandon asked.

“The Police. They said they were on some shrapnel from the bomb.” Maddie stated.

Cole narrowed his eyes and glanced at Brandon.

“Do you know why your prints would be there?” Brandon asked.

“No. I can only think they’re trying to set me up again. Like last time.” Maddie said looking between them. “Only I thought we were over this. I thought they were through with me.”

“Apparently not.” Cole muttered.

“It’s easy enough to transfer prints if you know what you’re doing.” Brandon stated.

“You believe me that they’re planted?” Maddie said.

“Of course we do Maddie. We know you didn’t put those bombs there.” Cole snapped.

Maddie sighed running her hand over her injured leg. Now that she was sat down, now that she’d properly stopped it was hurting worse than ever.

“How is it?” Cole asked.

Maddie shrugged. “I pushed it too far. It’s been getting worse for weeks but I couldn’t just sit there and wait.” She replied.

“You shouldn’t have run like that Maddie.” Cole said.

“Seriously? You would rather I just sit by and do nothing? Just sit and wait?” Maddie snapped.

“Better that than you injure yourself unnecessarily.” Cole said.

“It wasn’t unnecessarily though was it.” Maddie replied. “I was looking for you. Doing it for you.”

“What else are you doing for Cole Maddie?” Brandon asked cutting between them.

“What?” Maddie said frowning as she looked at him. Cole looked too and gave Brandon a tiny imperceptible nod.

“You need to stop pretending.” Brandon said.

“What do you mean?” She asked quietly.

He smirked looking across at Cole who just looked right at her.

“What the fuck is this?” She asked, her eyes darting between them. Her heart was racing, thumping in her chest.

Cole picked up a brown envelope from the table and laid out the photos one by one for her to see. “Games up Maddie.” He stated as her eyes looked in horror from one image to the next.

“What game?” She said but they could both hear the change in her voice.

“We know you’re being blackmailed.” Brandon said and she actually choked at the words.

“You had me followed?” She snarled glaring at Cole.

“It wasn’t me.” Cole said. “Jennifer had you followed. She was trying to show me that you were cheating on me.”

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