Page 156 of Every Silent Lie

It takes what little energy I have in this moment to stop myself from reacting in a wholly inappropriate manner to his apparent satisfaction. “Look,” I breathe, “Dec Ellis drove the price down because he’s a smart businessman and he made sure he knew what state your company is in and what he was purchasing. I don’t know who’s come along and bought TF Shipping, or why they have, given the financial state of it. I can only assume they haven’t done their due diligence and you haven’t been transparent, but—” But what? What am I going to do? Rat them out? Find out who’s bought TF Shipping and call them to make sure they know what they’re letting themselves in for? For what purpose? Self-satisfaction? To have the last laugh? Am I about to threaten them to get that good reference?

No. I don’t need to. Karma will do all the work. I take a breath and stand taller, reaching for my coat and pulling it on. “I hope you both have a lovely Christmas with your family.”

“Oh, we will, won’t we, Dad? We’re looking at a family holiday to Mauritius, five-star, first class.”

“Maybe don’t put that on the company card,” I quip, smiling sweetly as I claim my box of things. Thomas moves to allow me past, but Anthony does not, meaning I have to shuffle by carefully so there’s no contact. He makes my skin crawl.

“Ms. Moore?”

I look up to find the two officers who came to my apartment standing outside the elevator. Jones and Hyde. “Hi,” I say, as they both look at the box in my arms. “I just lost my job.”

“Oh,” Hyde says, “I’m sorry to hear that,”

“Don’t be, it was time for me to move on. How can I help you?”

“We wondered if we might show you something?” Jones asks, approaching. I can feel Thomas and Anthony behind me, interested.

“I’d ask you to come into my office but it’s not mine anymore.”

“Take it,” Thomas says, moving aside and sweeping his arm out.

“No, it’s fine, I can talk to them at h?—”

“Just take the office, Camryn,” Thomas says, almost sternly, motioning back into the room.

“Okay.” I reverse my steps, frowning at Thomas as I pass. He looks stressed. “Come in,” I say to the officers, and they join me.

As does Anthony. “Since you’re on our premises,” he says, helping himself to a chair and getting comfortable.

I scowl at the prick. “This is Thomas Fryer, my boss. And his son, Anthony.”

“What’s this all about, then?” Anthony looks at me with too much interest, no doubt hoping he’s about to get some dirt.

“Anthony,” Thomas says in warning. “Let’s give them some privacy.”

He holds his hand up, silently silencing his father, and Thomas throws me a look full of apology.

“Shall we?” Hyde asks, eying Anthony.

“Sure.”

Jones approaches me with an iPad and taps at the screen a few times before showing it to me. I withdraw when I see myself on the screen walking through the dark street in the snow. “The footage is very clear,” she says.

“I can see,” I murmur.

“Thanks to the snow. You mentioned you didn’t get a look or even a glimpse of the man in question.”

“He was wearing black. And a hood.”

“Man in question?” Thomas asks. “What’s happened, Camryn?”

Jones glances at me, and I shake my head mildly. “I was attacked.”

His eyes fall to my cheek, and I shrink a little. “You told me?—”

“I know what I told you, Thomas.”

Jones hums, tapping at the screen again and pulling my attention back there. “This is a few minutes before.”