Page 47 of Lennox Lane

“Lane, hey. Sorry to call so early, but I needed to check something before I touched it.”

Lane pushed herself up against the pillows, the sheet tucked beneath one arm. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing wrong, exactly. At least I don’t think so.” Marisol sounded excited and cautious, a combination that immediately put Lane on alert. “We got a donation through the emergency fund portal overnight.”

Lane’s brows pulled together. “Okay. How much?”

There was a pause.

“One hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.”

Lane sat up straighter. “What?”

Beside her, Lennox went suspiciously still.

Marisol rushed on. “Exactly. That’s why I’m calling. It came in anonymously, but everything cleared on the processor side. I still wanted to make sure it was legit before we moved anything or started allocating funds. I know we need it for the kitchen repairs, the pantry expansion, and the weekend meal program. I didn’t want to touch mystery money without checking with you.”

Lane turned her head slowly toward Lennox. He looked entirely too calm for a man lying in bed beside chaos. Before Lane could speak, he leaned slightly toward the phone.

“It’s legit,” Lennox said. “Spend away.”

Silence.

Lane stared at him.

On the phone, Marisol said, “Um…”

Lane’s eyes narrowed to slits.

Lennox smiled.

Not big.

Not safe.

Just enough to confirm his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Lane picked up the phone. “Marisol, I’ll call you back in ten minutes.”

“Okay. Is everything⁠—”

“Everything is fine.”

Lennox’s brows lifted.

Lane added, “For now.”

Marisol wisely said goodbye.

Lane ended the call and set the phone facedown on the bed.

Then she looked at Lennox.

He dared to look peaceful.

“One hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars?” she asked.

“Yes.”