Chapter 37
Nora's POV
The silence stretched. Lucas stood frozen on the balcony, phone pressed to his ear, his knuckles white against the railing.
Through the glass door, I could see Lucas's rigid shoulders. Whatever was being said on the other end, it wasn't good.
Finally, he lowered the phone. For a moment he just stood there, staring down at the darkened street below. Then he turned and came back inside, his expression deliberately blank.
"Lucas?" Marianne's voice trembled slightly. "What happened?"
He tossed his phone onto the couch. "Nothing. Just work bullshit."
"That didn't sound like nothing," I said quietly. "Are they really firing you?"
Lucas ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tight. A muscle jumped in his cheek. "Yeah. Effective immediately."
Marianne pressed her fingers to her lips. "But why? You've been working so hard."
"Does it matter?" Lucas cut her off, his voice sharp. Then he seemed to catch himself, softening his tone. "Sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to snap at you."
He went back to his room and closed the door.
I gently squeezed Marianne's hand. "I'll go check on him."
She nodded, worry plain on her face.
Pushing open Lucas's door, I saw him lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. I studied his face—the tight set of his mouth, the evasive look in his eyes.
"Lucas." I kept my voice steady, almost professional. The tone I used when interviewing reluctant witnesses. "What did they really say?"
His eyes flickered to me. He sighed.
"I collected groundwater samples like I was supposed to," Lucas continued. "Standard procedure. Sent them to the lab, got the results back a week later." He turned to face me, his expression grim. "Heavy metal contamination was at 200% over safety limits."
"Jesus," I breathed.
"So I wrote it up in my report. Exactly what the lab results showed. Submitted it to my supervisor." Lucas's laugh was bitter. "Next day, I got called into HR. They told me I'd 'exceeded my authorization' by including that data. Said I was 'creating liability concerns' for the company."
"They asked you to falsify the report," I said flatly.
"They asked me to submit a 'corrected version.'" His fingers curled into air quotes. "One that showed acceptable contamination levels."
"And you refused."
"Of course I fucking refused." His voice cracked slightly. "Those are people's drinking wells, Nora. Kids live out there. I'm not going to lie about poison in their water just because it's inconvenient for the company's quarterly earnings."
Pride and fury warred in my chest. Pride in my cousin for doing the right thing. Fury at the people who'd punished him for it.
"So they fired you," I said. "For refusing to cover up a public health hazard."
"That's the official story, anyway. 'Position eliminated due to restructuring.'" He smiled without humor. "Very clean. Very legal. No wrongful termination, no whistleblower protections. Just a routine layoff."
"There's more," I said slowly. "Isn't there. Something you're not telling me."
Lucas's expression shifted. Became guarded. "What do you mean?"
"Does this have anything to do with Kyle?"
"No." He said calmly. "He probably wouldn't even know about this kind of thing."
"Fine," I said quietly. "But if you need anything—"
"I'll be okay." He turned back to me, attempting a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Don't worry about me. I've already got my resume updated. There'll be other companies that need me."
The forced optimism in his voice made my throat tight.
I stood, crossing to him. For a moment we just looked at each other—two people who'd both chosen careers that put principles before paychecks.
"I'm proud of you," I said. "For not caving. For doing the right thing even when it cost you."
"Yeah, well. I learned from the best."
When I left his room, Marianne was waiting in the living room. Her expression told me she'd been standing there the whole time, listening.
"Come on," she said quietly. "Your father's things are in my room."
I followed her to the bedroom at the end of the hall.
She pulled out a box and a document folder from under the bed.
Inside the box were union pins and badges. A framed picture of Dad and Mom on their wedding day. And photos of our family from when we were all together. The document folder contained Dad's death certificate and his will materials.
Marianne picked up a photo, wiping dust from the glass with a soft cloth. "Your cousin's got your father's stubbornness. Won't back down even when it costs him everything."
I took the cloth from her, gently cleaning Dad's photo frame. "Maybe stubbornness runs in the family."
"Maybe." She sighed.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. Unknown number.
"Ms. Grey?" A smooth, professional voice. "This is Jeremy Wright. I hope I'm not disturbing you."
I straightened instinctively, as if he could see me through the phone. "No, it's fine. Director Wright, what can I do for you?"
Marianne quietly stood and left the room.
"I wanted to ask if you'd be available tomorrow evening. There's a chamber of commerce dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel in Silverton—8 PM. Mr. Sterling will be attending."
My mind went blank for a moment. "I... what?"
"It's a networking event with business leaders. Sterling wants someone professional and capable there." Jeremy's tone was carefully casual. "Your recent performance has been excellent. You're the ideal choice."
"Is this Sterling's request?" I asked carefully. "Or yours?"
"Mine, actually." He hesitated.
I thought of Julian's concern at this morning's meeting. And now he needed help.
"No problem," I answered.
After confirming some final details, the call ended.
I came from the bedroom to the living room, but didn't see them.
Then voices came from Lucas's room. Low, but distinct.
I moved quietly to the door, easing it open just enough to hear.
"—can't tell her!" Lucas's voice, low and urgent. "Mom, you have to promise me you won't say anything."
"But she could help—"
"No." Firm. Absolute. "That's exactly why I can't tell her. If she knew the truth, she'd blame herself. She'd feel responsible."
Marianne's voice rose slightly. "Lucas, what aren't you telling me?"