Page 121 of Moonlit Colorado

“Sure, but giving you the mask is one thing. If she knew how violent Vincent Brady is and she gave you sensitive information, she should’ve expected he might come after you.”

“Nina didn’t know if Vincent would stop her before she could get away that night, and she couldn’t let him find her with top-secret data about her employers. She probably just wanted to get rid of it and wasn’t thinking too much about what would happen later.”

“Yeah, but?—”

Suddenly, Grace sucked in a breath, hand clapping over her mouth. “Wait a minute.My purse.”

“Did you leave it at the pizza place?” I slowed the SUV, about to make a U-turn.

Grace waved her hands. “No. That’s not it. Not the purse I have today. Just…keep driving. We’re going to Piper’s house.”

“Want to elaborate? I love you, and I’ll do anything for you, but I gotta admit, I’m confused.” I glanced over at her and was surprised to find Grace wasn’t frowning anymore.

Instead, she was smiling.

“I think I know where Nina’s top-secret information is.”

THIRTY-FIVE

Grace

Piper livedin a cottage a block away from Silver Linings Coffee. She opened her front door, all smiles, before I even had a chance to knock. “I had no idea you were heading back to Silver Ridge so soon. You must be feeling better, not that you letmeknow.”

“I’m doing well.” On our way here, I had messaged Piper to make sure she was home. But there was too much to explain to do it over the phone, and I was still trying to understand all of it myself. “I would’ve given you the heads-up sooner, but a lot has been going on.”

“I bet.” She smirked at Dane, who was right behind me. “Come in, but watch your feet. Emma and Maisie were over here earlier. The kids had a Lego party.” We walked inside, dodging toys. “I lost the living room to the mess, and I’m trying to limit the spread, but you know Ollie. He’s a force of nature. Do you want a drink?”

I had missed Piper like crazy, and I wanted to tell her everything that had happened. The good and the bad. But that would have to wait. At the moment, I had other priorities that were more pressing.

“This is going to sound strange, but do you have that purse you loaned me the night of the hotel grand opening? The red clutch.”

“Sure.” She narrowed her eyes. “But?—”

Piper’s son came barreling into the entryway. “Hi, Miss Grace!” Ollie gushed. “Will you help me build my Lego city? I poured out all the pieces I have, and Mom said it’s like a toy factory exploded in our living room!”

Piper looked at me with a silent lament, then turned back to her son. “Sweetheart, they just got here.”

“But Mama?—”

“I’d love to help you, Ollie,” Dane cut in. “I happen to be a Lego aficionado.”

Ollie eyed him suspiciously. “Who areyou?”

Piper opened her mouth, probably to scold her eight-year-old about being rude to a guest, but Dane spoke first. “I’m Grace’s boyfriend. Dane Knightly. She’ll vouch for my character.”

Piper’s eyebrows shot toward her hairline.Boyfriend? she mouthed.

“Dane has my personal seal of approval,” I said, pushing my boyfriend toward the living room Lego disaster. “Also, Maisie is a big fan of him. Dane gave Maisie that snow globe, remember?”

That was enough to convince Ollie. As soon as they were off in the living room, I grabbed Piper’s hand and went toward her bedroom, which was at the back of the house. “Seriously, I will catch you up on what this is about. But I really need to see the purse I borrowed. It’s urgent.”

“Hey, if your boyfriend is going to entertain my kid for a while, I’ll let you take your pick from my wardrobe. Anything you want.”

“Just the red purse.”

“I don’t have many occasions to use my fancy stuff, so it’s just been sitting here since you gave it back to me.” Piper went to the closet and pulled out a plastic bin, removing the lid. There was the red clutch, right on top. Piper handed me the purse.

I held my breath as I opened the flap and looked inside.

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