His Hush-Hush Baby - Holly Rayner Page 0,53
way, blocking her from most of the mess.
But Diane had already grabbed several cards. She started to hand them back, but something caught her eye. Wedged between a customer loyalty card for a frozen yogurt place and a business card… was a driver’s license.
Diane’s driver’s license.
“You have my license.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
Diane showed it to her.
“Oh my God.” Brie’s laugh was short. “That’s crazy. I must have picked it up by accident that day at Kai’s.”
“Right,” Diane said slowly.
“Okay. Listen.” Brie finished shoveling the rest of the goods into her purse and stood. “If you’re not going to come with me to the police department, at least give me the emails you found.”
“I don’t have them.”
Brie’s mouth fell open. “You didn’t save them as evidence?”
“No. I wasn’t thinking about that then, and—”
“I can’t believe this.” Brie’s face turned red. “Are you stupid?”
“Excuse me?”
Diane’s creep factor shot up to a hundred. Yeah, something wasn’t right here. She’d had an odd feeling right after Brie came over for a second time, and the driver’s license and her weird behavior over going to the police confirmed Diane’s suspicions.
Maybe she shouldn’t have stormed out of Kai’s office the other day. If she was going to fling accusations at him, she should have at least stayed to hear him out.
“You’re ruining everything.” Brie’s hands curled into fists. “And all for a guy!”
“I’m not ruining anything, and whatever I do is for my family.” Diane took a step back, and her back hit the wall.
“And what about me? Huh?” Brie’s eyes narrowed into angry slits. Suddenly, she reached out and slapped the wall right next to Diane’s head.
“Brie…” Her heart racing, Diane glanced at the front door. If she made a dash for it, would she make it? Or would Brie be faster and grab her?
Maybe she should stay and try to talk Brie down.
Before she could make a decision, the door flung open and Kai burst into the room.
Diane and Brie gasped at the same time. Kai ran up to Diane, slipping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her to him. In her shock, she didn’t protest, and in fact his touch felt good; it made her feel secure and safe despite everything.
“What are you doing here?” Brie had gone pale.
“Me?” Kai let go of Diane and turned to face Brie straight on. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Brie scoffed. “I’m talking to Diane, and you burst in here without even knocking!”
His smile was ice. “A lovely neighbor let me in.”
Diane worked to keep her voice calm. “Kai. What exactly are you doing here?”
He turned to her, his tense shoulders relaxing. “I came to check on you.”
“Why?” Diane asked.
“What has she told you?” He jabbed a finger at Brie. “Because she’s trying to frame me. She sent those emails.”
“What?” Brie pressed her hands to her chest in shock.
“Wait.” Diane shook her head, heart pounding. “How do you know that? How can you be sure? They were from your email address.”
“She hacked it.” Kai’s nostrils flared. “She’s smart. Talented. Ruthless.” His gaze cut to Brie. “It’s the reason I hired her in the first place.”
Brie’s pale face had given way to a tomato-red one. “I don’t know how to hack email accounts, Kai. He’s crazy, Diane. I’m out of here.”
She started for the door, but Diane blocked her way.
“Hold on,” Diane said. “I want to hear him out.”
“You can hear him out all you want,” she snarled. “I’m done here.”
Thanks to the apartment door still hanging open, they all heard the knock at the front of the building.
“NYPD! Open up!”
Brie made a choked sound.
“The police?” Diane went to look over the landing. Sure enough, there were at least four officers down there, waiting at the door.
The officer in front knocked again.
“Let them in, Diane,” Kai said.
“Screw you,” Brie hissed at him. “I’m going to sue you for all you’re worth.”
“Good luck with that,” he said evenly.
On shaking legs, Diane walked downstairs and opened up the front door.
The officer in front held up a piece of paper. “We’re looking for Brie Guzzo. We understand she might be here.”
“Yes, she…she’s upstairs.” Diane pointed. “Apartment four.”
The police bustled in, and from there on it was chaos. Brie yelling. The police shouting. Neighbors opening their doors to peek their heads out and see what all of the commotion was about.
Diane started to go up the steps to her apartment, but the door buzzed again. The man standing on the stoop, though he wore normal clothes, flashed