Page 16 of Atonement

Alexander and I snapped our heads to look at Conrad at the same time. He looked at me briefly, sneering, before turning back to the other man.

“What, then?”

“I’m sure you’ve seen the news over the past couple of days.”

Alexander nodded solemnly as he slid the checkbook and pen back into his pocket. “Kind of hard to miss. I’ve had some calls from the feds, wanting to look into my financials. My guess is they’re tracking down everyone who ever had their hands in your company to see if we’re hiding our involvement.” He settled into a chair across from Conrad, mirroring his relaxed pose, but his shoulders were still tense.

I continued backing away from the puddle of my stomach contents, but my knees felt too unsteady for me to risk trying to stand. Looking over my shoulder, I watched a broad shadow pace back and forth beneath the door. Someone was waiting out there. Was there any chance it was Meyer? Or was it Joshua, doing his solemn duty as the turncoat exposed for what he truly was, guarding the man who’d been signing his paychecks this entire time?

“I need someone to take the fall for this deal.”

“Are you going to tell me who is actually responsible?”

Anita.She’s truly my child. As ruthless as they come.

Conrad smiled mirthlessly out of one side of his mouth. “Let’s leave that secret for another day.”

Alexander tapped one finger against his pursed lips. “I might be able to do something to mitigate this. At the very least, I can keep you out of prison. But.” He leaned forward slightly and pointed one finger in my direction. “I want assurance that this doesn’t get out. Her existence would fuck up a lot that I have going for me, the least of which is my marriage. You know I’m launching my political campaign soon.”

Conrad raised his hands as if in surrender. “Your secret will go to the grave with her.”

Alexander nodded as he shot to his feet, no doubt eager to escape before Conrad could think of anything else he wanted from him. “I’m glad we could come to this arrangement.” They shook hands briefly before turning back to me. They both grimaced in distaste.

“Joshua,” Conrad called, and the doors behind me opened with a click before the word was fully out of his mouth. “Please take my guest back to her room, and get this mess cleaned up.”

“Right away,” Joshua deadpanned. I stared at the floor as he hooked hands underneath my armpits, yanking me to my feet but mercifully letting me walk rather than tossing me over his shoulder.

“Now,” I whispered around my swollen throat. “We can go now.”

“Be quiet,” he hissed. When we turned the corner away from the room, he hoisted me into his arms. Relieved to not have to support myself for a few moments, I gripped his neck and let my head fall against his shoulder. “I told you. I’ve done all I can.”

“What is that key for?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

My eyes shut. I was so tired of this double speak, the patronizing denials when the truth was so obvious. “I’m so hungry.”

“I’ll see what I can do about that.”

The mattress had never felt so soft as he laid me down. I opened my eyes long enough to reach for the baby blanket and pull it against my chest. “Where’s Meyer?”

He took far too long to answer me. My eyes began to burn, but I had no more tears to give.

“I’m sure he’ll be by soon enough. Conrad likes to speak to him on a regular basis.”

I curled tighter around my stomach and made myself as small as possible.

“But he’s not going to come see me, is he?”

He sighed, then patted my shoulder, but I jerked beneath his touch as if he’d burned me. He froze, hand half a centimeter above my skin, as if surprised or offended that I wouldn’t want him to touch me.

“I’ll get you something to eat.”

“Don’t bother,” I whispered, rubbing the soft blanket between my fingers as if it were a magic lamp that could take me out of here. “It won’t matter soon enough.”

Meyer

I drank for two days.

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