Cut (31 page)

“No.”

“Had you ever seen him before?”

“Never.”

“I'd like you to come down to the station and have you meet with a sketch artist.”

“I can do that, except I don't have a car and I'm at the Palace of Fine Arts.”

“I can send over one of my officers to get you.”

Jessie proceeded to tell him where she would be and she got up to go wait by the entrance for the officer.

When she met Detective Brennan down at the police station she gave her official statement about the man who approached her in front of the hospital. He asked why she didn't call him, and chose to go to the hospital security instead.

“I don't have a good answer,” Jessie said. “I wanted Melanie to be safe and I thought the hospital security would be the right place to start.”

“Are you familiar with D & F Diamonds?” Detective Brennan said.

“A little bit. I know they are owned by Jefferies Abbott.”

Detective Brennan's eyebrow shot up. “That name has come up a lot in the last few days. Have you met him?”

“Yes, last night, at Whitaker's Auction House. I met him briefly.”

“How did you get an invitation to the auction?”

“Through Brent Harrison. We've spent some time together since Melanie's attack. I wanted to see the kind of lifestyle my sister had been living.”

“Did Brent and Jefferies interact at all during the auction?”

“A little. They exchanged small talk. Although—”

“Although what?”

“They seemed tense. I asked Brent about it and he said it was business related.”

“Did he offer any clues as to the nature of that business?”

“No.”

“Is there anything else about Brent's behavior you found odd?”

“No, I don't know him that well. I think he's under a lot of stress with Melanie's death and running the business.”

Detective Brennan nodded. “I think we have everything we need. We have the sketch you made and we'll take it from here. If you think of anything else, give me a call.”

She shook his hand and offered a weak smile. “I want my sister's killer off the streets.”

“There's nothing that would give me greater pleasure. We're doing everything we can to find him.” He led her out of the room. “By the way, do you know where I can find Brent Harrison?”

She shook her head. “Sorry, I do not.”

The police station sat three blocks away from Jessie's hotel so she walked back. She went straight to her room and took a shower. The police station gave her the creeps. She wanted to wash the visit off her body.

Cleaned-up and exhausted, Jessie lay on the bed. She closed her eyes and fought back thoughts of Brent. If she'd only been honest from the start. If she'd only kept the diamond in her pocket. The loathing in his eyes this afternoon. She never wanted him to look at her like that again. Not like she would have to worry about seeing him. He'd keep his distance and she'd stay out of his way. She didn't want that. She wanted to hold onto him and feel his arms around her. That was the place she felt secure and certain. The way her body fit with his; the way he protected her. She had more than a crush on him and last night had been more than a fling. She'd felt at home in his arms.

A message dinged on Jessie's phone and she checked the screen.

Can you talk?

Jessie sat up and typed back.
Who is this?

Kendra.

When?

Ten minutes.

Where?

Front of your hotel.

What's this about?

Six pink diamonds.

She exhaled a long breath. She sat at a crossroads. She could give up or pursue the lead. This would have to be with the knowledge that she wouldn't get her sister back and she couldn't run to Brent. Jessie summoned up the last of her strength and made a decision. The grief would have to wait. She let her fingers do the talking and texted
I'll be down.

She shoved her feet into her shoes and got her purse. It crossed her mind to contact her mother and she sent her a brief message before she left the room.

A small crowd took up the space in the elevator and Jessie snagged the last spot.

The doorman opened a door for Jessie to walk through, and outside, a nondescript midsize car pulled up. The door opened. “Get in,” Kendra said.

Jessie entered the car at once. “I hope this isn't about Elizabeth Downey, because I already contacted her office.”

“The acquisitions lawyer isn't the reason I drove all this way.”

“What do you want to tell me?”

“I know the identity of Elizabeth.”

“You do? How?”

“I missed Melanie's clue at first and then the answer hit me.”

“You saw the note she left me.”

“I saw it on Luke's desk. I recognized her handwriting.”

“Brent stole it from me,” she said, self-righteously.

“More like Daniel, but at any rate, Elizabeth isn't one person.”

“She's not?”

“
She
is two people.”

“I don't understand.”

“You'll have to come with me.” Kendra entered the traffic and stepped on the gas.

Jessie lurched forward. “You have to tell me.”

“You need to see for yourself. That was the point of Melanie's note.”

The light changed green and the car moved again. It wasn't long before Jessie recognized the direction they were going. They were headed to Luke's. “I have no reason to be at his house,” she said, worried.

“Which is why I'm sneaking you inside. You won't have long.”

The sight of the house churned her emotions up again, and she didn't know if she could hold it together upon seeing him. A double dose of anxiety hit at the sight of the familiar car parked in the driveway. “Brent's here?”

“He arrived not long ago. Both Luke and Brent are inside,” Kendra warned. “I'm going to bring you around through the kitchen. If they see you, I have a story made-up about you meeting your mother here. Or something.”

“Or something?”

“I'm winging it. I don't usually sneak people into the house.”

“Where do I go once inside?”

“Go up to the nursery.”

“The diamonds are in there? Have you looked around? Where are they?”

“I haven't looked. I thought you should get the first chance. The answer's in the names on the wall.”

Her nerves frayed. This was the worst plan ever. At the same time, she couldn't walk away. If the diamonds were in the nursery, she would get to them before Luke or Brent. She'd put them somewhere safe.

They got out of the car and closed their doors without making a sound. Neither said a word as Kendra led her to the side of the house. The kitchen sprawled out in front of them. A gleaming set of pots and pans sat on the counter and the smell of dish soap wafted in the air.

“You're in the clear. Go upstairs,” Kendra whispered and motioned her hand. “I'll try to find out what Luke and Brent are doing. If you feel like you'll get caught, get out of the house and wait for me in the car.”

“Wait. Are the twins in their room?”

“They're with their Auntie Stevie.”

Jessie moved stealth-like and with quick feet up the large staircase. The urgency to see the names on the wall pulsed with every large thump of her heart. It beat so fast she thought her chest might explode.

One…two…three steps to the hallway. The plush carpet welcomed her shoes. She opened the door with a steady hand, careful to keep the noise nonexistent. She poked her head inside.
Forget the diamonds for a moment
. Jessie wanted to freeze time.

She entered the room and walked over to the crib closest to her. She couldn't get enough of this room—the smell, the love no doubt Melanie with which had greeted these two girls every day. But as Jessie peered over the crib, her jaw dropped. A lump with a rounded bottom and feet laid confined to the far end. Jessie's lips started to quiver and tears formed in her eyes. A hundred unsaid words passed through her heart. Her gaze flashed up to the name above on the wall. In chunky purple letters the name Lydia Beth hung on the wall.

“Hi, Lydia,” she mouthed, and ran her hand over the darling little face.

She looked to the other crib and saw it was empty. Jessie looked up at the name above this one and saw it belonged to Annabelle Eliza. The letters D-R-E-A-M-I-N-G scattered on the wall between the names like fairy dust. She didn't think about the consequences. She wanted to hold the child against her. Lydia was half of Melanie's heart and soul. She came from her. And Jessie already loved her. She reached out her hand to rub little Lydia's head, already full of curls and stopped. Her gaze reverted back to the wall. That's when she saw it.

Annabelle
Eliza
and Lydia
Beth.

“Elizabeth,” she said. The answer was in their middle names. Right in front of her. Uncomplicated and easy. Melanie didn't have to go far to hide the diamonds. They'd been in her house all along.

“You shouldn't be in here,” Brent said.

Jessie spun around.

He put his finger to his mouth and waited for her to walk out of the room. She followed him to the room next to the nursery. A bedroom draped in deep purple curtains and gold hues accentuated the wall.

Jessie slipped further into the room and Brent closed the door. She backed up against the wall. The sight of him triggered tears. Her eyes filled with water and she blinked. She let them go. “I came to get the diamonds,” she said.

“In the nursery?” he said, laughing. “You shouldn't even be in this house.”

“You think I'm lying?”

“I don't care what your reasons are. If Luke catches you…”

She searched his eyes and found nothing but coldness. “I need to make this up to you. This isn't only about Melanie anymore. It's about you.”

He scoffed. “You're going to get my son back?”

“Will you forgive me then?”

Brent propped his arm on the wall next to her head and leaned in. A cold stare; a hot touch. His body covered hers. Her chest rose up against his. Silky sweet heat coiled within her. The intimacy of his gaze kept her from moving. Their lower sections brushed over one another. Their thighs grazed. Brent lowered his lips to hers.

The force with which he kissed her felt different from last night. This time he wasn't gentle. He pushed his tongue into her mouth. The fast repetition of his lips ran straight to her nipples. She groaned with how hot he made her. She might melt right here and now with his hands working down her sides. She needed to ease the pain she caused him. This was her way.

Brent took off her shirt. He lowered his head to her chest and traced her cleavage with his tongue. He tore down her bra and cupped her breast in his hand. He flicked his tongue over her nipple and dragged his tongue back over her chest and up her neck until he fused his lips to hers. He saturated the kiss with intense motion that made her beg for more. They moved to the bed without breaking contact.

The bed caught Jessie's fall. The rest of Brent's clothes ended up on the floor. He ran his finger over the spot between her legs. She couldn't hide the dampness, and he looked at her as he touched her. Strong pleasure pulsed through her. It all led to the pressure of his finger. He stopped abruptly. She opened her eyes and he entered her.

She gasped. She thought she saw the corner of his lip lift. He wasn't punishing her, she realized. He wanted her. He wanted this. She laid her hand on his jaw and looked at him. She needed him to see her more than ever. The part of her that wanted him to love her and not reject her for all of her mistakes. To forgive her. To accept her.

Brent paused. He took her face and lowered his lips to hers. The lower half of his body thrust inside her and brought her to another place.

Then, without saying a word, he dressed and left the room.

Any self-control he had left him the moment he'd seen her. So much for not making love to the one woman who'd crushed his chances of ever getting back his son. He'd almost laughed at himself at how quickly he'd changed his mind. One look at Jessie, at the fiery set of her eyes and he wanted to feel her against him again. He needed to look in her eyes and see the love she claimed to feel for him. He'd put all of himself into resisting her and he still hadn't succeeded. She was his weakness and his ruin.

The phone in his pocket chimed and Brent checked the message. From Daniel:

Luke knows.

Knows what?

That you know he sold your diamonds.

Brent shot a look down the hall in the direction of his brother's office. “Son-of-a-bitch,” he said. He flew down the stairs and headed straight for Luke's office. That gave Jessie a chance to get out of the house. She shouldn't have been snooping around in the first place. Not with Luke on the brink of an emotional catastrophe and especially not now. At least he knew the diamonds were in the nursery.

But first, Brent would deal with his brother.

“I'll take one of those,” he said with a razor-sharp tone as he entered Luke's office and saw the bottle of whiskey on the desk.

Luke lifted his head a little. The remnants of tears hung in his eyes. The glass of whiskey sat in his hands. “Help yourself.”

Brent poured his drink and took a seat next to his brother.

“She's dead because of me,” Luke said.

Brent squeezed his fist around the glass. “You didn't do anything.”

Luke cracked a laugh. “Like you don't know.”

“You want to do this now?”

“Yup.” Brent took a swig of his drink. The sharp sting of the whiskey couldn't calm the rage he felt beneath his skin. He shoved the glass to the side and stood. He got up in Luke's face.