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“Who called?” she asked.

He paused, then sat on the bed. He handed her the warm cup, her fingers cold against his where they brushed.

“I have to go to the manor,” he explained, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness. “Montgomery called the cops and needs me to sort things out. Jackal will probably be there, too.”

“The cops?” she asked, pushing herself up awkwardly with the arm not holding the hot tea. “Has anyone talked to Hartley yet?”

“Montgomery called her.”

“She’ll be pissed,” she muttered, looking around. “Shit. Where’s my phone?”

“Calm down. I know you think you have to fix this, but you don’t. You need to rest.”

“Eventually the cop’s going to want to talk to the woman who fell on the dead body, don’t you think?” she asked, her voice just shy of sarcasm.

“Yes. But not tonight. You can talk to them tomorrow, if they’re still interested.”

“Of course they’ll still be interested!” she said, practically shouting. “It’s a dead body.”

“Montgomery says he has some connections. Pretty high up ones from the sound of it. Certain people that would like Cavendish to stay private.”

She stared at him, then nodded slowly, sinking back against the cushions.

“That’s true. But you can’t hide a dead body,” she said, and blew on the hot tea. “Or cover up a murder.”

“There’s no proof of murder yet,” he stated.

“Are you saying Lawrence, if that’s who it is, jumped into that hole and died of his own free will?” she asked.

“I’m saying, as decomposed as he was, it’s going to be hard to prove how he died.”

She sighed then sipped her tea. After a few moments, she settled further back against the headboard.

“So you’re going to the manor?”

“Yeah. Right now, in fact.”

She nodded, then took another sip.

“Will you be back?”

He stared at her, trying to understand the look in her eye. She looked like she was holding her breath.

“I will. To check on you. If the cops clear me, I’ll be heading back to Chicago. Probably as early as tomorrow.”

“Friday?” she asked.

“Shit, that’s right. It’s already Thursday. No, I’ll head out later today,” he said.

She nodded then her familiar cocky expression slid down over her features.

“So this is goodbye, I guess,” she said, and held out a hand. “I’ll be honest. I’m a little sad you’re going. You’re the best sex I’ve had in a long time.”

He looked at her hand, then back at her.

“I’m not going yet. I’ll be back to check in on you.”

“I’ll be fine,” she said, moving her hand closer. He took it in his but didn’t shake. He just held it, her strong fingers gripping his.

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