Page 59 of The Hacker
Tully’s tense jaw relaxed infinitesimally at their instant capitulation. “You will also stay totally, completely, and absolutely away from each other. Hopefully, that will allay any suspicion these bastards might have that you are working together.”
She had not expected that and she didn’t like the lurch of dismay that vibrated through her suddenly hollowed-out rib cage. “But Leland just bought a gym membership. Won’t it look even more suspicious if he suddenly cancels it?”
Tully looked at Leland. “You find a really good reason to try to get a refund. Make it convincing.”
Leland nodded, his face impassive. “I can do that.”
The dismay turned to something much more upsetting. Abandonment. No, rejection. He didn’t care enough about her or about their relationship to try to argue with Tully. Even after she’d spilled her guts to him.
All the stupid, misguided hope she’d allowed to grow shattered under his indifference.
She blinked back the pathetic tears that burned behind her eyelids. It was her own fault. Natalie had warned her. Hell, she’d warned herself. This should have been just a casual sex thing. She’d been an idiot to believe it could mean more.
She braced her spine. She’d survived far worse.
“And I’ll bitch about clients who fill up my schedule and then bail after a few sessions. That should reassure them that we’re not in cahoots.” She was proud of the fact that her voice didn’t waver.
She snuck a glance at Leland. His expression was unreadable.
“Do you need anything else from me?” she asked Tully. She had to get out of there before she crumbled.
“Yeah. Let’s go through all the possible suspects, one by one. Even people you think couldn’t possibly be involved.”
She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to collect her thoughts in the face of Leland’s coolness. Opening them, she kept her gaze on Tully as she listed the people she’d discussed with Leland and Natalie. Tully probed deeper with his questions, making her examine her colleagues in ways she didn’t enjoy. She’d spent a lot of time and effort creating this little world where she felt unthreatened. Now Tully forced her to turn that on its head and search for evil in the one place where she had almost convinced herself it didn’t exist.
“What about the gym’s layout?” Tully asked. “Can you give me a rough description?”
“I’ll do that,” Leland interrupted. “I think it’s time Dawn went home.”
His words were clipped but when she turned toward him without thinking, his gaze held a tender concern that made her swallow hard. “But you don’t know about the basement.”
“Tully can look it up. He has ways to get construction drawings.” Leland stood and made a chopping motion with his hand when Tully opened his mouth. “I’ll get you an anonymous town car to keep Tully happy.”
So they wouldn’t even get to share the limo one last time.
“Good idea,” she said, pushing up out of her chair. “Might as well begin as we mean to go on.” Platitudes were useful when your heart was ripping itself in two. Really, how had her heart gotten involved in this anyway?
Leland had his phone out and frowned at the screen as he typed.
“My apologies, ma’am,” Tully said, his cowboy persona reappearing as he stood. “I can get a little intense when I’m on a case.”
“It’s a pretty intense case,” Dawn said. “Will you at least let me know what’s going on when you can? Work It Out is, well, more than just the place I work.”
Tully nodded. “I could tell by the way you spoke about it. And about Ramón Vazquez. I assure you that I’ll do my best to keep the takedown as quiet as possible.”
“I guess if Ramón and Vicky are involved, the gym will have to close.” The tears welled in earnest. She pinched the bridge of her nose to fight them back.
“You won’t have any problem finding another job,” Leland said, looking up from his phone. “You’re an excellent trainer.”
He knew that wasn’t the issue. Did he think he had to make it so crystal clear even here that they were no longer together?
He nodded and held up his phone. “Your ride will be here soon. I’ll go with you down to the lobby to make sure it’s the right car.”
“Just give me the license number. I can take it from there.” She couldn’t bear to be alone with him in the elevator, knowing that he could let her go so easily.
Leland walked beside Dawn down the hall toward the elevator. She seemed so small and vulnerable and feminine with her hair swirling loose around her shoulders. Not the warrior-athlete he had trained with or the wildly passionate lover he’d brought to orgasm in the pool. Now he understood that she had good reason to be fearful. He’d felt her stiffen and struggle to shift positions at times when they made love. Although he’d swear she felt less that way the longer they were together.
Now his reckless, thoughtless actions had brought her terror roaring back to life. A dagger thrust of guilt slashed through his gut.
