Page 47 of The Suit

I passed him my laptop and watched as his eyes read across the email.

“What does this mean? What’s a Dainty Lady?”

I shrugged, “I don’t know, but I’m certain it’s something that Maynard is hiding.”

“Where did you get this?”

My head started pounding again with the need to lighten my burden of treachery. “I found it in Rafe Latham’s email and forwarded it myself.”

Blake’s eyes popped as his jaw fell, “How? How did you manage to do it? When Feather said spy, I never thought you’d actually get anything. Have you shown him?”

I shook my head. “I haven’t told anyone. I don’t know what to do.”

“Oh my God, is that why he was calling here? Does he know?”

I’d thought about this, wondered whether he’d figured it out. But I was certain he hadn’t, because if Rafe Latham had discovered I’d stolen an email, there wouldn’t just be hell to pay. He would have me running laps around the Ninth Circle until I collapsed, begging for mercy.

“No, I don’t think so.”

He was silent again for a moment as he thought. “Did you delete this after you sent it?”

I shook my head.

“Okay, did you delete the email you sent yourself?”

I nodded, “Yes. I don’t even know what made me think to, but I did.”

His eyes widened in surprise, “Huh. Well done, that’ll buy you time. Maybe he’ll never notice.”

“He will when I hand this over and everything disappears.”

“So you’re giving it to Feather?”

“No, but I was thinking of asking Duke what Dainty Lady was. He might not have even heard of it, then all this is nothing. It’s a coincidence. He must be working loads of cases, right?”

My question was more a pleading, a need to be reassured that I wasn’t about to create an Everest-sized shitstorm.

“Yeah, loads. As many as you are, easily. You receive hundreds of emails a day, they’re not all about the same thing.”

I gave Blake a weak smile of thanks because the words were what I needed to hear, even though it was clear both of us called bullshit. I’d even been robbed of the relish in feeling smug about the fact I’d been right and Duke had been wrong, that I’d known Rafe Latham wouldn’t stop until he had found whatever he was looking for.

“Do you want me to get Duke on the phone?”

I drummed my fingers against the side of the couch. A little enquiry wouldn’t hurt. I didn’t need to say I’d found anything.

“Yes, please.”

“Okay.” He stood and moved to the speakerphone on my desk, dialing the Chicago office.

“Duke McMullins’ office?”

“Katie, it’s Blake, I have Beulah for Duke.”

“Hey, Blake, one minute I’ll patch you through,”

We were subjected to classical Musak while we waited for Duke to pick up. I half hoped he’d reject my call.

“Holmes?” he barked, giving me no such luck. “How’s it going? Heard the assets got frozen…”

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