Page 21 of Even if You Fall

With a harsh shake of my head, I stalked away from her and through the building, to Briggs’ office, mentally cursing overly bubbly women who woreStar Warstees and high heels.

I opened Briggs’ door as I knocked and muttered something resembling an apology when I realized I’d walked in on an argument between him and Rush. Then again, it could’ve just been a conversation—Briggs made every normal conversation seem like an argument.

“Couldn’t wait?” Briggs ground out as I shut the door behind me.

“I told you I don’t trust her,” I said in way of answering.

Briggs rolled his eyes as he sat back in his chair, his hands dragging through his hair and intertwining on top of his head, but it was Rush who spoke.

“Trust who?”

“The new girl,” I answered at the same time Briggs muttered, “Chloe.”

Rush’s chest pitched with a laugh. “Why?”

I gave him a look like I wasn’t sure why he was questioning me, then gestured to Briggs. “The fact that either of you are questioning me instead of just believing me says a lot about what you think of my specific skill set.”

At that, shock stole across Rush’s face. “Wait, you’re serious?”

“Apparently,” Briggs said under his breath. “And we’ve never questioned you, Thatch. We rely on you more than you realize. But Chloe’s?—”

“Lainey’s housemate,” I cut in irritably. “I know.”

Briggs gave me a look to let me know I was pushing it. “Not what I was gonna say,” he went on. “I was saying she’s fine. I checked her—like I told you.”

“Background checks don’t show everything,” I said, aggravation coating my words. “You know that. You know they can be faked.”

“Wait,you’rethe one trying to get rid of Chloe?” Rush said as if just putting something together, then released a disbelieving huff. “Her first day, she said someone was already trying to, but I didn’t think she was serious. And I wouldn’t have thought she was talking aboutyou.”

I lifted my hands to the sides before folding my arms over my chest. “ThatI’m-so-happyact she’s got going on? It’s just that—an act.”

“Thatch...” Briggs mumbled as Rush let out another huff of a laugh.

“She’s hiding something.”

“That’s how she is every time I see her,” Briggs maintained. “Lainey said she’s been that way for as long as she can remember.”

“Doesn’t mean she isn’t hiding something,” I argued.

“Or maybe it isn’t what you think,” Briggs countered.

My head jerked back. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He let out a long sigh before pinning me with a glare. “I did extensive searches into her, her family, and her extended family. There are no areas for concern,” he said, refusing to answer and trying to end the conversation, given his tone.

But I wasn’t done.

“I also think she knows something about our Donut.”

At that, the feeling in the room shifted as Rush and Briggs gave me their full attention, both seemingly ready to hear me out. Finally.

“I was showing her how to file client paperwork and was gonna have her start a new folder for this Donut. When she opened the first document on the superintendent, she started reading it and panicked. Shoved away from the desk and nearly fell over herself trying to get out of her chair.”

Briggs gave Rush a concerned look before focusing on me again as I continued.

“She tried playing it off—said there was a spider. There wasn’t. And up until last spring, she was working?—”

“As a teacher,” Briggs finished for me with a subtle nod. “Same district?” At my confirming grunt, he mumbled a curse and let his attention drift to Rush again.

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