Page 59 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

She recognised a few faces and they smiled at her which definitely helped lighten her mood. The lift pinged and half the people got out, and then it continued upwards, stopping every few levels until it was just her, and the box, and her militant thoughts.

It pinged loudly when it reached the top and she sighed before stepping out and flashing her pass.

“Maddie?” Doug said and she turned seeing him coming out of the kitchen, coffee in hand.

“Doug, how are you?” She said smiling.

“Been better. You?”

“Why what’s up?” She asked.

“Oh nothing, just the old you know what case.” He said with a wink.

“I heard it was still going. I brought this for you.” She said holding the box and he nodded.

“Chuck it in with the main team.” He said heading for a different door.

“You’re not in with them anymore?” She asked.

“Nah, me and Becs got our own offices now.” He said.

“Ooo fancy.” She teased and he laughed.

“Teams not the same without you Mads.” He said before giving her smile and disappearing behind the door.

She frowned, wondering if Becky was around and half tempted to go knock for her but the file was getting heavy and she knew she had stuff to be getting on with. Besides it wasn’t a social call.

She knocked on the door to the main office, not that she needed too but she decided to play nice this time.

“Back again?” Someone said and she smirked.

“Take it Brandon’s in his office?” Maddie said and they shook their heads.

“Nah he’s with Cole.”

“What?” She said.

“He told us to tell you. They had a meeting at Black Industries.” A girl said running her eyes up and down Maddie in a way that made Maddie want to roll her eyes.

“Right. Well, here’s the case we had, all the police records, our intel too. Knock yourselves out.” She said putting it on the table and a few of them instantly started pouring through it like vultures.

“Brandon said to head over there.” The girl said narrowing her eyes.

“What?” Maddie replied.

“He told us to tell you to head over there.” She stated in a way that made it sound like Maddie was about to be in the shit again.

“Great.” Maddie said smiling before turning on her heel. What the fuck was going on? She thought as she walked as casually as she could back out of the office.

Black Industries wasa good half hour drive. Right in Central London. Right on the Thames, like the shining jewel of Cole’s ginormous crown.

She pulled up outside the carpark barrier, flashed her badge and they waived her through to a visitor bay.

She’d never been there before, to the big HQ, the overarching company that managed everything.

She walked inside and flashed her pass at the reception lady who nodded before disappearing off, no doubt to find someone to escort her.

The inside was so similar to the New York office it was almost eery. The only difference was the building was three times the size and the place seemed to jostle with life, as people rushed in and out.

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