Chapter Twenty–Three #2
“Oh, God. What if they know I’ve been talking with you? I don’t want to get you in any deeper.”
“They won’t come after me,” he assures me. “They have no idea I exist.”
“Except for lunches and dinners in the hotel, Matthew. What if they’ve been watching me?”
He swallows, showing a hint of concern. “They won’t get to me because we’re going to stop them before they get to either of us. We’ll take care of this, Bridget. You’ll be safe.”
Tears bubble up, and I can’t trap them in time. They roll down my face. “I don’t know what to do.”
Before I can wipe them away, Matthew kneels at my side, then draws me into his arms. I sink into his embrace, needing the promise of protection, even if it is an illusion. He holds me, and I draw on his strength, so grateful he’s here.
“What do I do?” I whisper.
Unlike me, he doesn’t seem alarmed. “We’ll figure this out, Bridget. You’re not alone.” He remembers something. “Oh, and Louis is on his way over.”
For some reason, that makes me want to laugh.
I guess it’s his change in tone, like he thinks Louis will be the answer to the whole problem.
For the sake of sanity, I let myself believe him.
He holds my gaze, and his expression is so sympathetic I’m almost undone again.
He uses his thumb to brush away my tears, and something happens.
I see how much he cares. I feel it. He wants to show me, but he is a quiet, reserved man, and he isn’t sure how.
He’s doing all he can just by holding me this way.
There’s an old expression about someone’s heart being carried on their sleeve, and in this moment, I see it on Matthew’s face.
Then I wonder if it’s on mine as well, because suddenly, I sense myself falling.
This is how it feels, I realize. It’s not just in the movies, it’s real.
And it’s happening to me. I don’t know if Matthew is completely aware of what’s going on, but I lean toward him in that perfect moment, and he kisses me.
We both pull away at the same time, and I can see he’s as surprised as I am by what we just did.
“Do you like Thai food?” he asks.
I laugh, weak all over again. His mind must be going a mile a minute, the way he can change direction so quickly.
“I’ll order for the three of us, and we’ll solve everything today.”
I sniff. “Everything?”
His head tilts slightly, his cheeks pink. “As much as we can.”
Louis had said he would be in the office within the hour. I am keen to meet the man and work on next steps, but it turns out the time passes too quickly. I have just discovered Matthew, and I want more time alone with him. I know he wants the same with me.
“Bridget.” He’s still on his knees.
“Stand up, Matthew. That’s got to be uncomfortable.”
He does, but he does not move away. When he touches my waist, my arms go around his neck, and I kiss him again. This time, he responds with much more than surprise.
He takes a breath. “Bridget, I hope you don’t—”
“No, I don’t mind,” I whisper, letting this new sensation surge through me. I feel the scruff of his beard, the strength in his shoulders… “Don’t stop.”
Eventually, we come back to ourselves, and the silence of his office feels suddenly awkward.
“I’m sorry,” we say at the same time, even though I’m not.
The uncomfortable pause is thankfully broken by a confident rap on the door, and Matthew jumps over to greet his friend.
Louis is a fortyish, slender man with long arms and dwindling blond hair.
His demeanour is of a very serious man who gets pleasure from the work he does, rather than anything else.
He’s been to see Matthew before, I realize, because he strides into the private office as if he owns the place.
He walks directly to me, puts two hot bags of Thai food on the table, and extends his hand.
“Nice to meet you. Louis Lewis.”
I control myself, but really? Louis Lewis?
“Uh, thank you for coming. I’m Bridget Kelly.”
He nods to me, then to Matthew. “Lunch first.”
The food coming out of the paper bags smells incredible.
I sit back while they set out noodles and rice and whatever else they ordered, then Matthew pulls two plates from the cabinet behind his desk.
He sees the problem and flips one of the container lids over.
That’s his plate, he has decided. Three sets of chopsticks have been packed in the bags.
Louis is quite serious when it comes to doling out the food.
He scowls at me without a word, holding a spoon and waiting for a nod.
When he gets one, my plate fills with lunch.
I want to thank them both, but Louis has no time for that.
He and Matthew are eating intently, not paying attention to anything but the food, so I do the same.
It’s not until Louis is done that he pulls out a notebook and pen, and he places his phone near me on the desk.
“Now then,” he says, pressing the RECORD button. “What are we dealing with?”
“Organized crime,” Matthew tells him.
I blink. That sounds so much bigger than what I was thinking. “What?”
“That’s what I’m betting. Shoddy construction deals, falsified documents, who knows what else. Bridget will tell you how it all started. I’ll show you the evidence.”
Louis listens to my story, thinking things over, taking notes. Between bites of his second serving of pad thai, he fills his phone with photos of everything Matthew shows him. His questions are machine-gun fire, one after another.
“Who else has seen the falsified paperwork? Have you noticed any other suspicious people or behaviour besides those workers? Tell me more about the Montey crates. Did you get your hands on more than one? The subbasement is intriguing. You said earlier that when you were there, you got past a locked door, then when you opened it, you described a long, narrow storage room with its own door at the other end.”
“Yes, and none of that was on the blueprints,” I tell him.
Louis faces Matthew, and it’s like the two of them forget I’m even there. “Sounds like a smugglers’ tunnel.”
“Exactly,” Matthew replies, equally excited. “And we all know tales about smuggling in those tunnels near the railway.”
“We do? I don’t,” I say, sweeping up a stray noodle from the desk.
Louis frowns at my interruption. “Well, those of us in the know, know. What do we know specifically about the Dominion’s tunnels?”
I would love to know who those “in the know” are. I’m a building inspector. Shouldn’t I be in the know?
“Well,” I say, “there’s only one ‘official’ tunnel these days. It connects the hotel to Union Station, and it’s used every day by tens of thousands of commuters and hotel guests. That tunnel is not connected in any way to the door I saw in the basement.” I hesitate. “At least not that I know of.”
Louis taps his pen repeatedly on the table.
I can almost see him thinking. Matthew is sitting back, enjoying the conversation.
I wonder how many other mysteries the two of them might have discussed in the past. In the next moment, Louis is on his feet, pacing.
He grabs his phone off the desk and speaks monotone into it.
“George. Louis. Today’s collapse. I need permits, inspections, and contractor records. Need evidence of cost cutting, cheap materials, or deliberate sabotage. Time is of the essence.”
He scowls. “Yeah. And check into the names of the investigating detectives on that balcony collapse six years ago. You know the one I’m talking about?”
He hangs up and dials again. “Fred. Louis. I know it’s Monday.
I know you’re watching the football game tonight.
I don’t care. Need whatever you can find on Vale’s Property Inspections.
Claudia Vale, in particular. Yes, yes. I know who she is.
Also dig up what you can about a company: Montey Series Industries.
Hardware. Probably out of China. We suspect they’re trafficking blow. ”
I feel a pang of guilt hearing Claudia’s name, but that passes quickly. She deserves whatever’s coming. I mean, I hope something’s coming her way. Otherwise, I’m done.
“While you’re doing that, do a run on her employee, Bridget Kelly. I want a listing of all her projects, any reviews, any possible connection to today’s building collapse.”
Me? I mouth at Matthew. He shrugs.
“I want to know about a Paul Brzezicka, recently deceased under questionable circumstances at the Dominion. You know the drill. I’ll send you the spelling.”
Louis listens, all efficiency. “Oh, you know,” he says to football-watching Fred. “Yesterday. We both know you aren’t doing anything these days. Help me out.” Pause. “Thank you. Give Helen my best.”
“Anything else you need to tell me?” he asks us, shoving his phone in his back pocket.
His tight expression prods for more, but I think we’ve told him all we know.
“No? All right. Well, first off, I’ll give you a little insider info on Ms. Claudia Vale.
She’s been implicated over the years in a number of things, but she’s slippery.
Nothing sticks. No one’s proven anything yet, though this paperwork could be very useful in doing that.
Now, before we get too excited, I need to warn you that Ms. Vale is not the lead on all this.
She works for a much more dangerous guy. ”
“Who?”
“Big fella. He’s got his hands in everything, including drug and human trafficking. It would be a prize to catch him, but I don’t see that happening. Unless, of course, we can flip Ms. Vale.” He chuckles to himself. “Wouldn’t count on that. She’d rather go to jail than give him up, I imagine.”
“Why?”
“Because if she turns on him, she won’t make it through a week be-hind bars.”
“But who is the man in charge? What’s his name?”
He glares at me. “I have my sources, and I’m not giving them up.”
Matthew and I exchange a startled glance. “No, I—”
“You’ll know when the rest of the city knows, on the day I publish my front-page exposé.”
He seems efficient, but I’m not sure he’s thought this all the way through. “Well, then you’ll be the one in hiding, and we’ll be bringing you Thai food.”
“This isn’t my first exposé, Miss Kelly.”
I snap my mouth shut, but I have to ask. “What happens next? What can I do?”
“We,” Matthew puts in, taking my hand. “What can we do?”
I am so grateful in that moment. I have Matthew, and I have Louis. I guess I also have his contacts, George and Football Fred.
“Nothing.”
He pushes his face toward mine, needing me to take him seriously. As if I wasn’t already. Louis is a little scary, to be honest. I’m glad he’s on my side.
“I don’t like that text from your boss. Can you stay somewhere else, like your mom’s?”
I think of Grandma and her tiny apartment. She would love to have me stay, but I can’t risk getting her involved in any of this.
“I’ll get a hotel.”
“Cash only. Pay cash for all meals. Stay off the grid. You are going invisible. Got it?”
This is starting to feel like a TV show, but I don’t say that. “All right. Can I stop in at my apartment to pick up my things?”
“Be quick and be careful. Chances are, after your visit to the police station, they’re watching you already. If you see anyone suspicious or any cameras pointed your way, anything like that, keep walking. Do not go inside if anything feels off.”
“All right. How will we know that things are moving and I’m safe?”
“Things are already moving. As for results, I’ll keep you posted.”
“Do you know how long?” I can’t hide the sudden shine in my eyes. “The thing is, Louis, I’m scared I might be the next one crushed under a bunch of crates.”
I’m used to his glower by now, but this time I sense a little bit of sympathy to it. Just as quickly, it’s back to normal. “Stay away from crates and basements,” he advises.
He leaves with no ceremony, and he takes the leftovers with him.
“He will eat that all week,” Matthew says, watching him go.
“I don’t know how much is left,” I tease. “You both were going in for third helpings.”
He grins. “I’m an eater.”
“So I’ve noticed.”
Now that Louis is gone, our earlier moment of intimacy hovers between us. It appears neither of us is sure what to say next, and I’m starting to feel a little embarrassed. Maybe I shouldn’t have kissed him.
Matthew clears his throat. “Bridget, I have a question, but it might be— Well, I know it is, actually. It’s just that—”
“Go on.”
“Sorry.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know what I was thinking. No. It’s way too much.”
That’s encouraging. “Just ask me.”
“What about if you…” He exhales and holds my gaze. “Okay. Never mind a hotel. Come stay at my place.”
I’m momentarily stunned. Not in a bad way, though.
“I will sleep on the couch,” he quickly assures me, and I’m already disappointed. But there’s always hope. “I guarantee, you will be safe from everyone, including me.”
I hope that last part isn’t true. We’ll see.