“I’d been staying at the studio the past few days,” Briony recalled. “It was around then that I started feeling weak and unwell.”
“But haven’t you stayed at the studio overnight plenty of times before? You never felt sick then, did you?”
Suddenly, Briony remembered the day Lauren had brought Irwin to see her at the studio. Now that she thought about it, Irwin had seemed a little off.
Could it have been him…?
James pressed, “Who are you talking about?”
Briony’s expression changed. “Hand me my phone.”
James quickly passed it to her. Briony dialed Hannah.
Hannah picked up almost right away. “Briony?”
“Hannah, I need you to go to my office and the break room. Look very carefully and see if there’s anything unusual–like some kind of energy stone or mineral.”
“What?” Hannah was startled. “Energy stone? Aren’t those radioactive or something?”
“Exactly. Just check for anything strange, will you?”
“Okay, but what am I even looking for?”
“I’m not sure,” Briony said, her tone grave. “It’s just a hunch. I can’t say for sure there’s anything there, but I want you to double–check for me.”
“All right, I’ll look now.”
“Let me know either way, okay?”
“Of course.”
After she ended the call, Briony stared at her phone, her expression heavy with concern.
Northborough, Wentworth & Associates.
There was a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
Carl entered, quietly closing the door behind him. “Mr. Wentworth, our people have arrived in Silveridge.”
Stewart didn’t look up, his dark eyes fixed on the papers in his hands behind his glasses. “Go on.”
“Ms. Kensington was rushed to the hospital straight from the airport. The doctors say she’s at risk of miscarriage.”
Stewart paused, then looked up. The cold gleam on his glasses was unmistakable. “What’s her condition
now?”
“The baby’s stable for now, but Mrs. Kensington’s abdominal pain seemed unusual. The hospital suspects she’s been exposed to something highly radioactive. Thankfully, they caught it early. The baby i Mrs. Kensington is weak and needs to stay in the hospital for observation.”
right, but
Stewart removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose, brow furrowed. “Assign two more people to keep watch.”
“Yes, sir.” Carl hesitated, then asked, “About the Lockwood family dinner tonight–are we still going?”
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Stewart’s eyes narrowed. “Yes. Make sure we bring a few good bottles of wine.”
“Understood.”
Meanwhile, Hannah paced between Briony’s office and the break room, searching thoroughly, but she found nothing suspicious.
She called Briony. “I’ve checked everywhere–didn’t find anything.”
“You checked the bathroom too?”
“I did, everywhere,” Hannah replied. “But honestly, I have no idea what that thing’s supposed to look like. If you want to be completely sure, we’d need a professional team to come and scan the place.”
“Then get in touch with a specialist and arrange for them to check it out,” Briony said.
“Will do, but it’s late, so it’ll have to be tomorrow.”
“That’s fine.”
After hanging up, Briony turned to Gwendolyn White and Carney. “Professor, Mrs. Winslow–I’m stable now, and it’s getting late. Why don’t you two head home?”
“I’ll stay with you tonight,” Gwendolyn insisted.
“That’s not necessary.” James stood up from the sofa. “Mrs. Winslow, you and Briony’s teacher shouldn’t stay up so late–let the young handle it. I’ll take care of Bryn tonight.”
“Oh, what do you know about taking care of anyone?” Gwendolyn chided him, but her tone was affectionate.
“I may not be a nurse, but the nurses are right here. Mrs. Winslow, please don’t worry. Go home and get some rest, both of you. I’ll keep an eye on her–you can trust me.”
Briony nodded. “Mr. Delaney’s looked after me plenty of times in Northborough. It’s fine, Mrs. Winslow, you and Professor White should go home.”
“Well, all right. We’ll come see you tomorrow, then.”
“Thanks.” Briony glanced at James. “Could you walk them out?”
“Oh, no need! We know our way.” Gwendolyn gathered her bag. “We’re heading out then. You rest up and don’t worry.”
Briony managed a small smile. “I will.”
Northborough, midnight.
“Mommy-!”
Irwin shot up from a nightmare, sobbing so hard it roused Jeannie in the next room.
She hurried in and scooped the boy into her arms. “Irwin, sweetheart, you’re all right. Was it a bad dream?”
“Ms. Radcliffe, I dreamed Mommy’s baby went to heaven. Mommy was hurting–she was bleeding so much…” Jeannie gently rubbed his back. “Shh, darling, it was just a dream. You’re Mommy’s baby, aren’t here, safe and sound–and so is your mom. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
You’re
“But… but Grandma said Mommy’s new baby would go to heaven soon! I didn’t know that meant Mommy would bleed so much… I’m scared. I don’t want Mommy to get hurt…” He sobbed harder, clinging to Jeannie, his little body wracked with fear.
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