Page 131 of Prey for You

“I’m not on the legal team, and we won’t be talking about the case,” Jeremy muttered, his face dark.

“I don’t give a shit if we do—tell me what’s happened. What’s wrong?” I insisted.

But Stephen put a hand on my chest and leaned me back. “Sam, I’m giving you myvery best legal advice.Donotmeetalone with this man. There’s got to be someone at the hospital who could—”

“Is she at the hospital?” I asked Jeremy sharply.

“Her situation is covered by HIPAA. I only have permission to talk to you. I’ll tell you everything. The Courthouse has supplied us a conference room, complete with camera. You don’t have anything to worry about,” he said, teeth gritted like he was fighting pain.

What the fuck had happened?!

“I’m going,” I said, pushing past Stephen.

Both my lawyers groaned and started to argue, but I turned on them. “Look, no matter what anyone else thinks, she’s mywife.I’m going. You guys go. I’ll get a bus home. You don’t need to be here—there’s going to be a camera and everything. He said. We won’t talk about the case. But I’m going, so if you don’t want to be involved, leave. I’ll talk to you tonight.”

They looked at each other, then at Jeremy. Stephen shook his head. “Fine,” he said. “It’s your call. But… for God’s sake, Sam—”

“I won’t,” I said quickly. “You go, I’ll fill you in when I know.”

They both shook my hand, then walked quickly down the long hallway. I turned back to Jeremy as soon as they were out of sight down the stairs. His expression was flat. It looked like he was trying not to bare his teeth at me. But he tipped his head and started down the hallway, taking a turn off to the internal stairwell and leading me down three floors and through a maze of narrow hallways. I figured it must have been staffing areas because there weren’t many people. But sure enough, he led me to a small conference room with frosted glass that let light in with no view of outside.

By the time we reached the room, I was sweating with nerves, my mind conjuring every possible option—including that Jeremy had come personally to tell me Bridget was dead.

But then he stepped aside to let me go in first.

I clocked the two-way mirror on one wall, and the camera on a tripod in the corner and whirled on Jeremy who was shutting the door behind me, locking it from the inside and blocking my access to it by standing in front of it.

“Is this a fucking trick?” I said, letting my voice drop to a Cain-worthy growl.

He shook his head. “I needed to make sure we were alone and this was all that was available,” he said tightly.

“I’m not going to give you anything. If you’re trying to corner me—”

“This isn’t about the case. This is about Bridget.”

I eyed him warily, but I needed to know what was going on with Bridget. “Talk. What happened? Is she safe?” I was trembling.

“No, she’s not fucking safe. But you knew that,” he said suddenly, his tone dropping to venomous.

I tensed, but Jeremy huffed. “Oh, don’t worry, I’m not here to kill you—though I wish I could.” Then he turned to the camera and waved. “I’m not here to kill him, but I wish I could. And I might one day.”

Then he looked at me flatly. “There you go—if I so much as touch you, you can use that to nail me.”

I stayed back, watching as he walked across the room to throw his jacket over the camera, then turned to face me, arms folded.

“What the fuck is going on?” I muttered.

“Not what you think. There has been… an incident. I’m here to fill you in. But not as an agent, or a law enforcement officer, or a lawyer. Just you and me, man to man. No legal counsel, no official interview, no records unless you want to get your phone out and start recording. Which you’re welcome to do. My point is only, say what you mean, mean what you say.”

I kept my back to the wall and watched him. “I don’t trust you.”

“Shocking.”

“Tell me what you came here to say, then leave.”

“You sure?”

“What the fuck is going on, Jeremy.”

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