Page 23

Bishop

After returning to my house, I left Eden to go to her room and went into my office. While I’d agreed with Rook that we would wait until after Crosby’s party to reach out to Knight, my gut was insisting I shouldn’t wait.

I called his number while I poured a glass of bourbon and sank onto the chair behind my desk. He picked up on the second ring.

“Two calls in a week, Bishop? What’s the occasion?”

“No occasion. Just checking in.”

“Is that code for you’ve just got home from dinner with Rook, and he bitched about the fact I said I wouldn’t come out to play tonight?”

“Something like that.”

“You asked me to do some digging into Sandro Trebuni, so that’s why I didn’t come along.”

“Have you found anything?”

“A number of things, actually.”

“Care to share?”

“I’m still putting the pieces together, but it looks like he has links to one of the families, loose links but they’re there, nonetheless. It’s not something I want to discuss over an unsecured line.”

“You think someone might be listening?”

“I always think someone is listening. What I will tell you is a deposit was made into one of his accounts for seventy thousand a couple of days before you came into contact with him. I’m currently tracing where that came from. Did you know your girl was living with a New York detective?”

“I did. My gut thinks that’s who the money will lead you to. He’s been hunting for her since they broke up.”

“One of those types?”

I grunted and took a sip of bourbon.

“Something interesting did come up in my search …” His tone was light.

“Oh?”

“Seems Ms. Marshall got herself married yesterday and has a brand-new husband and name now.”

“Oh, that.”

“Right … that . Want to share with the class?”

“She wanted to hire me. I needed a way out of a jam. Seemed like a win all around.”

“Yet the text I got from Rook suggests you told him you married her because you fell madly in love.”

“Magdalena was with him, and you know he won’t keep things from her.”

“So … you lied to him?”

“I prefer to say I managed the truth.”

Knight laughed. “Of course, you do.”

“Do you have anything else for me?”

“Nothing concrete. Give me a couple of days to chase down some loose ends.”

“Okay. Onto the next reason for my call.”

He sighed.

“You’re doing it again, Knight.”

“I’m fine.”

“When did you last leave your apartment?”

His silence was answer enough.

“It’s not healthy.”

“Bishop—”

“You know it’s not. We’ve done this before.”

“It’s healthy for me . It’s better this way, believe me.”

“You’re turning into a recluse.”

There’s the hint of a smile in his voice. “That’s not a bad thing. There are people out there. And we both know I don’t play well with people.”

“I’m coming to see you next week. You can give me your update in person.”

“Only if I let you in.”

“If you don’t, I’ll shoot your alarm system.”

“You know that won’t unlock my door, right?”

“I know, but it’ll make me feel better.”

“Fine. Give me a couple of hours’ warning before you arrive, and I’ll let you in.”

“Excellent decision.”

“Not like you’re giving me much choice, is it?”

“You’re the one who said you’d prefer not to discuss things over an unsecured line.”

“Ahhh, using my words against me. That’s uncool, Brother.”

“I could have sent Mom over instead.”

“That’s just fucking uncalled for, Bishop.”

I laughed. “Whatever it takes, Knight.”

“Fine. Okay, I’m hanging up. I have shit to do.”

“I’ll see you in a few days.”

He ended the call without replying. I set my cell down on top of the desk and stared down at it. My youngest brother had always had issues with being outside and around people. He went through phases where he would lock himself away from the world completely and the current signs were signaling that we were fast approaching one of those phases. Sometimes we were able to snap him out of it. Other times, we had to ride through until he was ready to reach out again. All we could do at this point was watch the cues and respond accordingly.

A soft tap at the door brought my head up.

“Come in.”

The door swung open, revealing the redheaded woman I’d married. She was still in the clothes she’d worn for dinner but had removed her shoes. She stood in the doorway, one hand holding onto the handle.

“Is everything okay?” I asked when the silence lengthened.

She blinked, as though she’d been lost in thought, and took a step forward. “I just wanted to say thank you.”

“For what?”

One shoulder lifted. “For hearing me in the trunk of the car. For not shooting me. For not tossing me out of the plane when I couldn’t afford your fees.”

“Don’t think for a moment that if I didn’t need something in return, I’d have taken your case.” My words were clipped. A little voice whispered liar in the back of my head.

She nodded. “I know. But I’m grateful, all the same. And I … I just wanted you to know that.”

“You’re welcome.” I pushed the power button on the laptop in front of me and waited for it to fire up.

“Bishop?”

I lifted my eyes and found her still standing just inside the room.

“I was going to make a hot drink before bed. I found some instant hot chocolate in the kitchen.” A small smile curved her lips up. “And it’s still within date. Would you like one?”

“A hot chocolate?”

She nodded.

“I don’t really drink—” Her smile dropped away, and I sighed. This clearly wasn’t about a bedtime drink. “Okay, yeah, sure. Why don’t you go and make them, and I’ll meet you in the kitchen in a few minutes? I just need to check my emails.”