The Boot (Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Lucy groans and rolls her eyes. "It's so dumb. They insist that I walk a lap around every floor! This hospital has eight f*cking floors!"

We enter the elevator and step inside. Lucy pushes the button for the floor below us.

"I mean... I get it. Not only does it help to give you a break from being confined to your room, but it also helps to make sure that you are staying active, even when you're on bed rest."

The elevator reaches its destination and we step off, continuing our walk.

"I guess," Lucy says, then winces. Her free hand that isn't gripping the IV goes to her belly.

My eyes go wide. "What's wrong? Is it the babies? Are you in labor?"

She swats her hand in the air, straightening back up. "No, no. I'm fine. They just have powerful kicks sometimes."

"Oh... okay,"

"So... You were saying something about Tim's mom?"

"Right, um," I clear my throat.

"If you stall and say 'she's not who we think she is' one more f*cking time I'll scream."

I chuckle. "Sorry, I just... I'm not entirely sure how to put this into words."

"Remember, I'm not Tim. You don't need to sugarcoat this for me. I can't help you figure out how to break the news, whatever it is, to Tim if I don't even know what it is myself."

Down we go to the next floor.

"Yes, you're right. Well, um, I guess I'll just go ahead and say it."

"Please."

"Cate is a criminal,"

Lucy stops in her tracks. "What? No way."

"I'm afraid so. In fact, I have reason to believe that she is or was working with Alejandro."

"No. That's impossible. Cate wouldn't do that."

"Does she even know that you and Tim are together in the first place?"

"No, but what does that have to do with anything?"

I sigh, running my hand over my face. "How well can you really know someone who doesn't know anything about you? Last I checked, she hardly even knows who you are."

We move onto the next floor below us.

"I... suppose so. But Tim is one of the most kind-hearted people I know. He cares about people. What kind of 'criminal' could raise someone like that?" Lucy asks. "And Genn! She's great, too! Even if Cate is a 'criminal' what are the chances she'd raise two awesome kids who couldn't hurt a fly? Maybe one is a fluke, but two? No way."

"Oh, right, we forgot to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"Well, um, I-"

"Spit it out, Nolan."

"Grey had assigned Tim and myself to look into 'suspicious activity.'"

"What does that even mean?"

"It's a long story. The higher-ups are implementing some new regulations, which include the investigation of any remotely 'suspicious activity.'"

Lucy scoffs at the absurdity. "No wonder they're short-staffed."

"Anyway, there was some odd footage outside of the station this morning. Genn was about to walk in when Tim's parents, who were still supposed to be on another frickin continent for a few more months pulled up. There appeared to be some kind of argument, followed by his parents driving away and Genn leaving."