Chapter 3

Night deepened, and inside the company the gossip boiled over.

Mortimer's phone wouldn't stop ringing.

Some were coworkers he got along with, fishing for the real story. Others just wanted a front-row seat to the mess.

And then there were Henry's back-to-back calls, one after another.

I switched off his phone and dropped it into a drawer.

"Get some sleep."

Mortimer looked at me, his eyes rimmed red.

"Trace, I can't sleep."

"Tomorrow morning I have to go in. How am I supposed to face them?"

His voice was thick with panic.

An honest, straight-living man, suddenly saddled with something this filthy.

Anyone would break under it. I touched his cheek.

"When you go in tomorrow, don't say a word."

"Just stand there and let them put on their show."

Mortimer didn't understand.

"But…"

"No buts."

I cut him off.

"Speak up now and you only tip them off."

"We want her to play this all the way to the climax."

"Then we pull it out by the roots."

Once I'd settled him, I watched him close his eyes, worn out.

I slipped quietly into the living room and opened the laptop.

Looking at the growing stack of cards in that folder, a cold smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.

Early the next morning, Mortimer came out of the bedroom with two dark circles under his eyes.

He looked at me, started to speak, stopped. I handed him the sandwich I'd made.

"Eat, then head to work."

"Remember what I told you. No matter what they say, don't argue back."

Mortimer drew a deep breath and nodded.

"Okay. I'll do it your way."

After he left, I changed into a sharp black trench coat and rested a hand on my belly, still flat, nothing showing yet.

Baby, in my last life your mama couldn't protect you.

This time, I'm going to make every single person who hurt us pay dearly for it.

I pushed the door open and strode out.