Page 141 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

“Anyway, he won’t have sent her any of those.”

“Has he ever sent you any?”

“No! That’s why I know he won’t have sent her any.”

“Maybe she sent him some, and he returned the favor.”

“Jessie,” I warn again.

“You’ll never know unless you check.”

“That would be an invasion of privacy.”

“He knows you have the phone, and he’s expecting you to look, Jaine.”

“Jessie.” I grit my teeth. I can taste the jealousy in my mouth.

“All right, all right. Stop repeating my name using that green tone of yours. Anyway, I need to go and sort out this hacking situation. Are you heading home now?”

“Roisin has the kids, so I’m going to stay at my apartment tonight.”

“Be careful.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Later, partner.”

“Night.”

* * *

“Jessie.”

“Go easy on me, partner. I’ve barely slept.” She yawns exaggeratedly down the phone.

I’m sitting at my desk, staring at my laptop screen. “All of my emails are marked as read, and they weren’t all read. Now I can’t decipher which is which.”

“Ah, yes. There was a slight issue with yours. I forgot to ask you to log out. I’m trying to reinstate it now.”

“How long to resolve?”

“Give me a few hours.”

“I have meetings, Jessie!” I glance at the wall clock. “And I’m already late for the first one, Jesus Christ.”

“Prayers might help.”

“Jessie!”

“Who are you meeting with?”

“Rod.”

“He won’t mind if you’re a little late. Just tell him it’s my fault. Then while you’re waiting on little old me, why don’t you collect the Duster order from him and drop it off with big bad Eoin?”

“I can’t just barge into HQ unannounced.” I’m making excuses. I just don’t want to face the inevitable.

“You’re Eoin’s fiancée. You can do whatever the hell you like.”

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