Chapter 79

He really did. But he couldn’t find enough of a verb in Lee’s sentence to see

anything at all. All he knew was that Lee was distressed and angry, and Patrick

had no bloody idea how much was due to him—to them?—and how much due to

something else.

“Sit down,” he

ordered. Lee, mercifully meekly, sat down hard on one of the remaining chairs.

Patrick lowered into the seat beside him. “Tell me what the problem is. How can

I help you?”

Lee’s look was

stricken. “Jesus, Patrick.” Everything in his look said “if you only knew!” But

no words came out. Elbows braced on his thighs, he sank his head into his

hands.

Oh God. The sight of Lee so upset

tore into Patrick. “You bloody idiot, don’t keep me in suspense.”

Lee took a deep

breath. “I hoped I could sort it out before telling you. I’m having really

serious trouble with my landlord.”

The penny

dropped. “All those phone calls?”

“Yes. It’s all

come to a head this week. He’s refusing to renew the lease. I’d been