One Night Only

Part 17

Stevie had been locked up in her room for some time now. Lindsey sat with the others, but his thoughts were with her. He responded, when he was addressed, but otherwise, he kept his mouth shut. Nobody seemed to care, why Stevie upped and left so suddenly, but it was killing Lindsey, knowing she was hurting and he couldn't go to her.

Lindsey felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and he took it out. He received an email from a sender he didn't recognize. Saying that it was something important, Lindsey went to his and Lauren's room to check, who wanted what from him.

"You're not the only one doing background checks." 

There were also a couple attachments. Lindsey's thumb lingered, before he dared opening the first one. His eyes grew wide and he brought his phone closer. The quality of the pictures wasn't very good, but he and Stevie could be easily identified - the two of them in the pool, yesterday. The second, zoomed in picture were of them in her room, kissing.

Locking his phone, Lindsey leaned forward, head in his hands, his knee bouncing. What the hell was going on? It had to be from Lauren's father or someone, working for him. Lindsey was absolutely sure that he had done nothing to reveal himself to Mr. Lynwood. So far, he had only worked on the case from his office. On the other hand, the man somehow knew about Greg. It was supposed to be an easy financial investigation, Lindsey had worked on the kind before. All of a sudden, he was being the one looked into. Possibly, his boss had chosen the wrong approach this time. Although, unlike the times before, Lindsey's firm had very little to go on, he needed to find out more one way or another. And what's better than a blabbermouth daughter.

First things first, Lindsey had to inform Jeffrey. He forwarded the email and taking a deep breath, dialed his boss' number. After listening how irresponsible, careless and unprofessional Lindsey was being, Jeffrey instructed him to find out, whether those pictures really came on Mr. Lynwood's order or was it from another, unrelated case.

Taking a moment to compose himself first, Lindsey walked out of the room at the same time Stevie did. Her eyes locked with his and she wanted to disappear again, but Lindsey stopped her, his hands reaching for hers.

"Stevie-"

"Let me go, Lindsey." She asked weakly, but he shook his head.

"No, I want to finish saying, what I wanted to say to you."

"Don't." She warned him, looking up at him.

"Stevie, I-"

"Lindsey, don't." Stevie tried pulling away from him, but his arms wrapped around her waist, stopped her.

"I'm-"

"Stop!"

"Stevie, I'm falling in love with you."

There. He said it and he couldn't take it back. She had no fight left in her, hearing those words come out. Her eyes glazed over with tears and she hung her head low, he pulled her closer. 

"I don't think that I was supposed to hear that. Or see this." 

Stevie and Lindsey turned to find Tom standing at the top of the stairs. "Tom-" Lindsey opened his mouth to speak, but he didn't know, what to say.

"It's none of my business." He shook his head. "I don't know you, so... I'm not going to say anything."

"I... thank you." Lindsey breathed a sigh of relief, when Tom went into his and Jane's room.

"I told you..." Stevie sniffled. "I told you, we'll get caught."

"It wasn't Lauren or Jane." He argued. "Don't worry."

"Aren't you worried?" Stevie made some space between them, she hugged herself around the middle. Lindsey didn't respond. "We have to stop, Lindsey. What if next time, it is Lauren?"

He felt like screaming, like banging his head against the wall or tearing his hair out. None of what had happened, was supposed to happen. Stevie was still just a step away, Lindsey chewed on his bottom lip, breathing heavy. He took her by the hand and walked them inside her room, fully intending to tell her the truth.