The Fall of East: Book 3 in the Hear No Evil Trilogy, Malone, Nana [inspiring books for teens txt] 📗

hand on his desk. "No, it was Theroux." Suddenly, he checked his watch. "Is there an official reason for this impromptu chat?"

Amelia stepped forward. "Well, we just really wanted to check in with you and see if there had been any other disturbances, see if you’ve noticed that anything else was missing."

"He wanted access to my vault. I already told you this."

"Well, can you just tell us if anything was missing from your vault then?"

His face went red. "No, of course not."

We knew that to be a lie. A prickle of unease skittered over my skin, and I hoped to God that Lucas was done.

My phone buzzed, and I glanced down at it. Lucas had taken a picture of himself eating a scone. Idiot. He also took another one of him with the spoon in a plastic bag along with a teacup.

Amelia nodded when I nudged her with my elbow. "Well sir, we just mostly wanted to check in with you. Interpol obviously takes this case very seriously. If you think of anything else, please give us a call."

And then we were on our way back out to the car, wondering just how much Lord Jameson was hiding.

* * *

East

In the seat next to me, Bridge shifted his weight. He was not cut out for surveillance. "Do you want to get out of the car and stretch?"

He frowned at me. "Look, I'm just not used to sitting so still for so long. I'm used to being more active."

"Is this another day where I get stuck in the van on my own?"

He rolled his eyes. "No, I just don't know how you do it. The idea of sitting anywhere and being confined just gets to me."

I winced thinking back to school. When we were freshmen, Bridge was always in trouble. Always. And whenever he was in trouble, they kept him in detention, which was basically solitary confinement. It was in a single room with only one window to let in the light but so high in the wall that you couldn't see out of it. Professor Stonesworth, God, he was the worst. Old, stodgy, never smiled, and he was ancient. So you were always worried about him dying on your watch.

“You didn’t have to volunteer.”

He chuckled at that. "Yeah, if I'm being honest, I needed to get out of the house. Mina has been a real pill lately. I don't know what her problem is."

“Trouble in paradise?" I shifted my gaze back to the Jameson Art Trust building. We had cameras on the inside, but there were some areas we didn't see, and if Garreth came out, I didn't want to miss him.

"I don't know. Lately, every time we talk about the wedding or setting a date or anything like that, we fight."

I nodded absently. "Are we ever going to talk about that whole Mina-hitting-Emma thing?"

He sighed. "I knew it would be you who couldn’t let it go."

"Of course, I can't let it go. Mina hit Little Tobes. That's astounding. I still can’t believe Emma left her standing."

"Mina’s pretty ticked that, apparently, I took Emma’s side, even though Mina’s the one who got violent. I don't know… it’s just sloppy right now."

I sighed. I knew he wasn't going to like this, but I had to say it. "Mate, you don't have to do this. You can walk away. I know it's not in you to quit, but God, if you're miserable, don't tie yourself to her.”

"I—" He stopped and leaned forward. I turned immediately as well and zoomed in with my camera up. I snapped photos as Garreth Jameson walked out of the building.

He turned left, and a vaguely familiar brunette approached him. Bridge muttered under his breath. "What the fuck is this?"

"You took the words right out of my mouth."

“Is that the bird he’s shagging?”

I shook my head, realizing where I knew her from. "She's already taken."

"Taken?"

I nodded. "She is the fiancée of Nyla’s boss."

Bridge whistled low. “So, should we chase or leave them alone?"

God, I wished I could hear what they were talking about. They started walking toward the park, so we had no other choice but to get out and follow.

The drizzle had started, so we grabbed the umbrella and followed after them, our trainers slapping on the wet pavement as we jogged.

Bridge asked, "Do you think she's in on it?"

“I don't know much about her. Just that she’s a graduate student. Art history. Not much to go on."

He frowned. "Art history?"

"Yeah, destined to be broke forever unless she can curate a museum.”

"Right. So maybe this is work related?”

I kept watching the pair of them. "I don’t know. She's too young to be part of that art school crew."

"Oh yeah, the one Nyla was talking about. You think she's part of that forgery ring? Are you sure she's too young?"

"Yeah. The info I have on her says she's twenty-two."

Bridge cursed. "Right. Approaching now."

"I know. What is she doing with him?"

“Let's get a little closer and see what we can do."

“I'm not sure this is anything."

My stomach knotted. I'd been sitting on Jameson for two days. The clock was ticking, and we had nothing to tie him to the car park warehouse on Santiago Street.

The team was strapped trying to work on both angles, and we were running out of options and time.

"So, I wonder what will happen if we don't get Warlow?" Bridge asked.

I sighed and turned to him. "Well, I'm sure we don’t want to find out. I doubt Theroux will be understanding.”

“I was afraid you’d say that.”

With rain pelting the umbrella, I circled back to our earlier conversation. “So, Mina?”

For a long moment, he just stared at me. His lips twisted into a smirk, and then he shook his head. "You're a twat, you know that?"

"I feel like you've said that to me before.“ Usually, I let it go. Mina was his business. But not this time.

"I don't even know why I talk to you."

"Because I give you the least amount of shit. Look, if