The Killing Game(20)

“You don’t have any other enemies?”

“I didn’t even really know I had these. I haven’t been involved in the business until recently.”

Luke nodded. “The fact that it’s a play on words for your last name, which is part of the corporation name, points to the Carreras in a way. They’re attacking Wren Development and the Wren family as a whole. But it’s strange for them. Unless . . .”

“Unless?”

He shrugged. “I’ve followed the Carreras for a long time. They’re money-motivated thugs. Little birds need to fly suggests they want you to leave, and that makes sense, but they usually don’t have that much imagination. His threats to you this morning? They were on the nose. ‘We’re good friends and bad enemies.’ That sounds just like them.”

“So?”

“I don’t know. I don’t like the idea that someone has some deeper, hidden message. The note inside your cabin was directed at you, whereas Brian coming to see you at the gym today was in order to make you the messenger. It’s psychologically different.”

“I guess you’re right.” She put down her fork, unable to eat.

“You don’t like it?”

“No, it’s . . . the pregnancy, I think.”

“Ah.” He regarded her soberly. “I’m not trying to scare you. I’m just spitballing here.”

Andi’s pulse had elevated. Her mind was jumping all over the place. “You think they’re specifically targeting me.”

“I don’t know. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No, say what you’re thinking. Please. I need to know.”

“I think you might be a target,” he said carefully.

“That’s why I came to you.” Her voice was rising. “They left me that message. They . . . chose me because I’m the majority stockholder.”

“Wait . . . don’t jump to conclusions. It could be more personal.”

Andi gazed at him. Perplexed, she asked, “What do you mean?”

“Could they know you’re pregnant?”

“No!”

“I just thought maybe they’re targeting you because they think you’re the most vulnerable. That you’ll cave easiest.”

“They don’t know about the baby because I just found out.” Andi stood up and Luke stood, too.

“That’s not it, then. Shit. I’m doing this wrong. I shouldn’t have said that. Bolchoy would have my head if he were here.”

Andi felt dizzy. “I’ve gotta go pack my house.”

“I’ll take you home. No packing. You need to lie down.”

“I’m fine . . . really . . . I just need to rest a while.”

Luke threw some cash on the table and Andi felt like she was moving through water as she pulled up her bag. She heard his terse, “I’ve got it,” and then he was guiding her back to his office. She realized he hadn’t given her a chance to pay her half.

*

Andi sat on her couch amid the boxes, feeling like an idiot, while Luke glanced around, taking in the signs of her packing. “I’m fine,” she said with more conviction than at the restaurant. “I don’t need to lie down.” She’d been scared that she was facing another blackout, but she’d known almost immediately that it was a reaction to the news and maybe too little food that had accounted for her faintness. Luke had gotten her a glass of water as soon as they’d entered her house and she’d bounced back.

“When is this move taking place?” he asked.

“Movers are coming tomorrow afternoon. A lot of this is going to storage. My cabin’s too small for most of it.”

“The movers are taking everything. You’re not lifting anything yourself.”

A part of her was irked that he sounded so authoritative. Another part wanted to just close her eyes and say, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” It had been too long since she’d been able to lean on anyone.

“Yes, the movers are doing the heavy lifting. My friend, Trini, said she’d help,” she added, though all Trini had said was that she wanted Andi to meet her new guy. That was the extent of their weekend plans together, and that one was iffy at best.

“You said you just found out you’re pregnant.”

“After I sold this place, yes. The cabin’s small, but I wanted to move.”

He nodded.

“Do we need to write up a contract or something?” she asked. “This has all been kind of weird.”

“First I want to get clear what you want me to do. Keep an eye on the Carreras. Keep them from threatening you and carrying out those threats. Find out if the Carreras are behind the note that was addressed to you, and offer you protection.”

“Yes. Right.”

“What about the broken lock—at the cabin?”

“I think it’s being taken care of.”

“Let me know.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“What about a meal? You didn’t eat anything.”

“I had a few bites. What I really need is my car back. I appreciate your driving me home, but I’m okay. Really. I’d like you to take me back to it.”

“You sure?”