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and foremost. Student came somewhere close to last. But she d never really had to worry about
getting good grades. DevX Tech had taken off before Joslyn even hit kindergarten, so they d always
had the security of knowing they could be whatever they wanted to be. Joslyn wanted to be popular
and Emma was still trying to figure that part out.
So what has Russell found in Joslyn s laptop? asked Jace.
It was delivered to him yesterday, so hopefully we ll have access to the bank statements
sometime today. He works for a software firm during the day, but he should be getting off work
around five in the UK.
So we ll do a sweep of the rest of the rooms here and if we don t see anything suspicious,
we ll agree to meet up once this Russell guy gets you more information to go on.
Emma really didn t want to hold off any longer, but she supposed they could wait until they
heard from Russell. Maybe then she could even go out to dinner with Luke and Michael so they
wouldn t worry about her as much. Sounds good. Why don t we start with the master bedroom?
Jace held a hand out to signal for Emma to lead the way. As they walked, her boots clanked
against the wood, but Jace s sneakers made no noise. If she hadn t known he was right behind her, she
would ve thought she was alone in the apartment. She wasn t used to feeling like the largest person in
the room.
She pushed the door open to the master suite. The entire room was just as pretty and sterile as
the rest of the place. A bright pink comforter covered a king-sized bed and an oversized modern art
piece over the headboard contained a mix of pinks and golds. The rest of the room contained pristine
white furniture and walls. Doesn t look like Terry ever spent much time here. She took in the
feminine aesthetic.
According to him, he had no idea she even had the place, said Jace from beside her.
Emma frowned. Then how did she afford it? This place has to be thousands of dollars a
month.
Jace crossed the room and opened up the top drawer to the dresser. I guess that s something
we can figure out when we get access to her bank statements.
Don t do that, snapped Emma as she ran over and pushed the drawer shut.
Jace raised a brow. Isn t this why I m here?
You re here to help me dig into her life, not her underwear drawer.
Sorry, muttered Jace as he backed up. Why don t I just sit here and let you do all the work?
Emma sighed and looked through the drawers. It seems we keep on ending up in bedrooms
today.
Jace let out a little laugh. Looks that way, doesn t it?
What was that place you took me to this morning?
It was quiet and out of the way, said Jace.
Emma shot him a knowing look. He knew exactly what she d been asking.
That s my apartment, said Jace. But when I m not renting it, it s where the coffee shop
owner meets his mistresses.
You brought me to an affair hidey hole? exclaimed Emma.
Quiet and out of the way, repeated Jace.
Disgusting.
Convenient and cheap. Jace stood and crossed to the bathroom. I guess we ll agree to
disagree.
As pristine as the place looked, there were a few personal items. A change of clothes in one of
the drawers. A pair of sneakers and a pair of black, strappy stilettos. There were no drawers full of
underwear so she d officially overreacted to Jace doing pretty much exactly what she asked him.
And he was either nice enough to not say anything or he hadn t noticed. Emma would bet money
on option number one, though.
The last drawer Emma pulled open had a small black clutch and nothing else. A quick glance
inside the tiny purse showed it was empty, but something was in the side pocket. Jace, she called.
Check out this receipt I found.
He came out of the bathroom and crouched down next to Emma as he read the receipt in her
hand. Drax Club, he said. You ever heard of it?
I m not from here, she said. You?
Nope. Jace pulled out his phone. Let me look it up. He took the receipt from her hand and
entered information in.
She wasn t going there alone, said Emma. One of the charges is for whiskey and Joslyn
would never drink that.
And I can say the bar isn t a complete dive. Or else it would be cash only, no receipts.
There are places that don t accept credit cards?
Jace let out a laugh. You ve led a very sheltered life, Ms. Devereaux.
Doesn t feel that sheltered, she said. Both parents dead at a young age. Sister on her way to
prison. If Emma had been sheltered, it was a shelter made out of straw instead of brick.
Looks like an upscale bar in Brooklyn, said Jace. I can check it out later tonight and see if
it s worth following up on.
Emma shook her head. No. I m going with you.
He raised a brow. Do you think you can find out things I can t?
I think we both know very different sides of Joslyn, said Emma. You think of her as a cold-
blooded killer. I think of her as a confused family member. It would be better if we both went there.
Hey, if you want to come, I m all for it. I just think it s going to be a waste of your time.
Then I guess you re lucky I have a lot of free time on my hands. She smiled.
Lucky is one way of putting it.
CHAPTER FIVE
Jace pulled his black sedan into one of the few parking spots available on the crowded
Brooklyn street. The city was notoriously unfriendly toward vehicles and that reputation was well
founded. Jace had outrun angry mobsters on the streets of Moscow and that was less dangerous than
navigating through the various boroughs during rush hour. The sun was just starting to go down and he
was supposed to meet Emma in front of her cousin s building in two hours. He figured he could get a
bit of reconnaissance done before he brought Emma here.
Sure, this wasn t a bodyguard job, but he wasn t about to bring her into a pit of vipers. She was
just too& small. She talked a good game and was quick-witted enough to handle herself in most
situations. But no amount of smarts and bravado could hide just how vulnerable she was when she
went walking into Drax.
He might not have wanted to help her at first, but he couldn t deny that she needed all the help
she could get. When they got closer to Joslyn s friends who were more like Donny, who Joslyn hired
to kill Victoria, Emma would need backup.
But before he went in to scope out Drax, he had to see to Michael s one request for this
investigation. He grabbed his phone off the seat next to him and typed in the number he knew by heart.
After two rings, Hansen answered. About time you called, he said with his posh British
accent.
So you got my message.
Do you think I m a miracle worker?
I think you re smart enough to get me what I want. If you do, there s five thousand pounds in it
for you.
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