Chapter 5 - Someone Inside the House Was Lying
I returned to Brooklyn.
For exactly six hours.
Then Miles appeared at the clinic.
I groaned.
“No more mysterious cash.”
“No cash.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Atlas stopped eating again.”
I closed my eyes.
“Jared?”
“He hasn’t left the dog.”
That changed my answer.
When I returned to the mansion, Jared was sitting on the kitchen floor.
His suit jacket was gone.
Sleeves rolled up.
Atlas lay beside him.
“You listened,” I said.
Jared looked exhausted.
“Don’t sound so surprised.”
I crouched.
Atlas immediately raised his head.
“Hey, handsome.”
His tail moved once.
Jared noticed.
“Traitor.”
I smiled.
Then Atlas suddenly stood.
His attention fixed on the hallway.
Nina appeared.
Atlas relaxed.
Behind her came another employee.
Atlas growled.
Not aggressively.
Warningly.
The man stopped.
Jared stood.
“Who are you?”
“Daniel, sir. Night maintenance.”
I looked at Atlas.
“Was he here three weeks ago?”
Nina nodded.
Daniel immediately said, “I had nothing to do with Edwin.”
Nobody had accused him.
Jared noticed.
So did Miles.
Daniel’s face went pale.
Miles quietly escorted him away for questioning.
An hour later, Jared returned.
“He helped Edwin access the security system.”
“Why?”
“Money.”
“And Edwin?”
“Selling information.”
“Is it over?”
“For Atlas, yes.”
I looked at him.
“And for you?”
Jared was silent.
Then he handed me an envelope.
I frowned.
“I told you—”
“Open it.”
Inside was a check.
One hundred thousand dollars.
I tried giving it back.
He refused.
“You worked.”
“I was here maybe twelve hours.”
“You saved something that mattered to me.”
“Jared.”
“No conditions.”
That stopped me.
“No contract. No obligation. No expectation that you return.”
He placed the check on the table.
“It’s yours whether I ever see you again.”
I studied him.
“You actually understood.”
“I’m learning.”
Atlas nudged my hand.
Jared looked down.
“Apparently slowly.”
I smiled.
Then Jared said, “There is one thing I want.”
My smile disappeared.
“What?”
“Dinner.”
I stared.
“You’re asking?”
“Yes.”
“And if I say no?”
“I go home disappointed.”
I waited.
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
I smiled again.
“Ask me tomorrow.”
Jared nodded.
May you like
“Tomorrow.”
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