Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
“This will not end well,” Spader said as Kevin and Muldani walked away. The camera followed them, and the reporter was giving a hurried closing statement, but Spader muted the TV and turned a serious look on Jeremy. “You told me what happened to the Ravens after they lost championships. Being shamed by one of their own on the tail-end of a canceled season will have disastrous consequences for them. I hope they have access to the help they need.”
Jeremy thought of the Ravens’ short careers, Reacher’s gaunt appearance, and Jean flinching every time Tetsuji Moriyama’s name was uttered. “I don’t think they ever have. Edgar Allan has never prioritized their longevity or sanity, only their reputation.” He clapped a hand over his pocket to try and muffle his phone; the flurry of alerts said at least two teammates and Rhemann had caught the news. “I need to get to Jean and warn him.”
“Let me know if I can help,” Spader said.
“This helps,” Jeremy promised, patting his pocket where he’d put her cash. “Thank you.”
She saw him to the door, and Jeremy got back across town as quickly as he could. Staying for the interview had cost him precious time, and Jeremy parked right as Jean’s session should be ending. He texted Jean a quick, “On my way up,” as he took the stairs at a run. Jean was sitting tense in a chair in the waiting room when Jeremy arrived, and Jeremy smiled apologies as he held the stairwell door. “Sorry, had to step out for a bit to meet someone. We need to talk, but it can wait if you need a moment.”
“We have a problem,” Jean guessed as he followed Jeremy down.
“We don’t,” Jeremy promised, but waited until they were at the car to say, “Muldani turned on the Ravens.”
Jean froze with his hand on the door handle. “No. No,” he said again, sharp and incredulous. “She fought too hard to join the line. She would never turn on his team.”
“It is not his team anymore,” Jeremy pointed out. “That was her argument. Come on.”
He should have texted Cat that they were on the way back, but Jeremy wanted to make sure he and Jean got through this before she joined them. The ride back was too short to hash it all out, but by the time Jeremy parked at the Lofts Jean had stopped arguing in favor of staring at him. Jeremy finally messaged Cat, then turned as best he could in his chair to study Jean’s blank face.
“She really came to see you in South Carolina, didn’t she?” Jeremy said.
Jean waved that aside. “She came to confront Kevin. She did not know I was there until after she arrived.”
“But she saw you,” Jeremy pressed. “She knew what they—what he—did to you.”
Jean glanced away. “Yes.” Jeremy thought he would leave it at that, but Jean flexed his hands and felt the line of his knuckles. Jeremy had seen him check his ribs often enough to know Jean was chasing phantom pain. Jean finally explained, but the answer dragged out of him slow as molasses: “But she thought it was someone else. The last time she saw me in such a state, it was. I am not surprised she got it wrong.”
Grayson, Jeremy guessed, except Jean wasn’t reaching for his throat like he did every time the man came up. It should have been reassuring, but Jeremy only felt sick to his bones. Jean had left Edgar Allan with a string of horrific injuries this spring. Finding out it had happened before, and that neither Riko nor Grayson were to blame, was unbearable. He wanted to demand a name, but he knew Jean would deny him.
“Jean,” he started anyway.
Cat pried open the back door with a loud, “Holy shit, boys. Tell me you saw that.”
“I did, at Dr. Spader’s,” Jeremy said. He shifted so he could dig the envelope out of his pocket and offered it to her over his shoulder. “She let me come get this early.”
Cat hesitated before tucking it into her purse. “Thank you. I mean it.”
Cat obviously wanted to gossip about this new development, but Jeremy didn’t know how to get to her uncle’s motorcycle dealership. She tried juggling directions and chatter for a few streets before giving up on the latter, and finally Jeremy could pull up to the curb outside the front door. Rhemann had beat them here and was waiting on the sidewalk.
There was no point getting out, so Jeremy wished them a cheerful good luck. “Let me know how it goes!”
Cat leaned between the front seats to kiss his cheek before following Jean out of the car. Rhemann turned the keys over to Jean’s waiting hand, pointed to where he’d parked the Raven car, and lingered to exchange a few serious words. He only moved toward Jeremy’s car when Cat ushered Jean inside. Jeremy peeled away from the curb as soon as Rhemann was settled in the passenger seat.