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In that moment, Grant wanted to be dead with his son.
Grant knocked on the door to Maddie’s condo at twelve thirty that afternoon, then used his key to let himself in. She had arrived twenty minutes before he had; it wasn’t that their relationship was secret around the office—Franklin of course knew, Jeff, Maddie’s assistant, and probably most everyone else—but they nevertheless maintained a professional working relationship during business hours.
Maddie was everything that Regan hadn’t been. She was passionate; she loved him and showed him every day that she cared. She sent him sweet texts, surprised him with dinner or a date night or with sex games. Spontaneous and bold and beautiful.
Grant had loved his ex-wife, but he needed more than she could give him. Maddie gave him all that he had wanted.
Only now, for the first time, he wished—for just this day—that Maddie could put her emotions and fears aside and assess this turn of events with a practical, clinical eye. His emotions were too raw, too troubled, and he needed someone to support his decision, not reinforce his doubts.
“Maddie, it’s me,” he called out.
She stepped from the kitchen into her living room holding a glass of white wine. She never drank during the day. Had he done that? Made her stress and worry so much that she was drinking alone at lunch?
She stared at him for ten seconds, shook her head, and gulped half her wine. “I knew it,” she said, her voice cracking.
“Maddie, let’s just talk this through again.”
“We talked last night, and you agreed that you wouldnottell your ex-wife anything. That we would just forget everything, and it willgo away.”
That was true, but when he went home after the nightmare, he couldn’t sleep. After seeing Regan this morning, he realized he couldn’t put everything in the past behind him. There were unanswered questions—questions Grant hadn’t realized until now that he needed answers for.
If Tom Granger was right and Chase was murdered in his place—dead because the shooter missed Grant—then Grant needed to know who was behind it. Had Tom figured it out? Was that why he was killed? Would Grant be next on the list? If he learned the truth, would Grant be dead, too?
But then you would know. You’ll be dead, but you’ll know, and you need to know.
Grant didn’t have a death wish, but he also couldn’t walk away. The realization probably came too late, as everything seemed to be spiraling out of control. Tom hadn’t shared with him a name, but Regan was a smart woman. She would learn what Tom did. Would she die, too? Could Grant live with her death on his conscience?
Yes...and no. He could live with it if he gave her everything he knew, so she went into this investigation, into Tom’s investigation, with eyes wide open. She could take precautions. She was trained, she was smart, she was determined.
Granger was trained and smart and determined, too. And he’sdead.
Grant said, “Regan came by the office this morning.”
“I know,” Maddie snapped. “Everyone is talking about it!”
Great, he thought. He didn’t need the gossip, but mostly, he didn’t need anyone to become suspicious. Franklin... Grant just couldn’t believe his friend and mentor Franklin Archer was behind any of this. But one of his clients? Yes...that Grant could see. Because Franklin had taken on some sketchy clients. Rich, powerful, but sketchy just the same.
“Grant, tell that nosy womannothing!” Maddie pushed. “You have to just... I don’t know, tell her that you don’t know anything!”
“She knows Granger called me, that we met. Regan is not going to back down. Come with me tonight, talk to Regan with me. She can get you protection—”
“No fucking way am I saying a single word. I shouldneverhave helped you gather the information about Brock Marsh.Never.It’s only going to hurt the firm. Do you actually think thatFranklin, your closest friend and confidante, is somehow... I don’t know...privyto what happened to Chase?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’tknow? Don’t you think youshouldknow before you make accusations that will ruin his life, the firm,youif they are untrue?”
He had thought about that, which was why sleep was rare these last three weeks. “Fresh set of eyes...”
“No! You don’t see it, Grant! I love you, Iloveyou, more than I’ve ever loved anyone. You know that. So know that I’m telling you this as the woman who cares for you. You’re going off the deep end. Granger—” she spat out his name as if it tasted foul “—was wrapped up in an insane conspiracy theory and used your pain and anger about what happened to Chase to get you to help him. Why? I don’t know! But you saw the records, there’s nothing there!”
“We think the records were coded. Tom was analyzing them, trying to figure out—”
“Do you hear yourself?”
He did hear himself, and he didn’t know why Maddie was so angry.
“Regan will be discreet.”
