Page 69 of Moonlit Colorado

“I assume you didn’t leave traces on the system?”

Margot smiled thinly. “I’m much too careful for that, dear.” Of course she was. Good thing I had the woman working forme. “I passed everything I have on Lancaster to your investigator, Warren Crenshaw. He’ll be able to find out more for you on Lancaster’s business dealings and travel.”

“Thank you. I can talk to Kip about Lancaster too at some point this weekend, and I’ll be sure not to give away your spying.”

She nodded. “I’d rather avoid the ire of your brother. If I can help it.”

I wanted to say Kip wouldn’t dare harass someone so close to me, but who was I kidding? Kip was a coward when it came to striking directly, but he could still make Margot’s life difficult.

“What about Nina Jamison? Anything?”

We had already concluded that her name might be fake, since Margot hadn’t been able to find anything about a Nina Jamison matching the redhead in the photo Chief Landry had shared. No social media, credit history, nothing. Ms. Scarlet was apparently a ghost.

Margot shook her head. “Afraid not. But the investigator will work on finding her too. Hopefully he’ll have more luck.”

I cast a glance toward my bedroom door, making sure it remained closed. “And the other matter I asked you to look into?”

“Grace’s eldest brother? Aside from Grayden O’Neal’s military discharge and incarceration record, I didn’t find much. He was released from prison a couple of years ago, but I wasn’t able to tell where he went afterward. Should I get Warren involved?”

“Send him the info. Just to see if we can find O’Neal, but tell Warren no contact yet.” I needed to know for sure if Grace wanted her brother in her life again. And there was the fact that Ashford would want the exact opposite, but…yeah. I would deal with that later.

“One other thing, Dane. I saw Izzy this morning. Gave her your love.”

The espresso churned in my stomach. “I was planning to visit Mom tomorrow. How did she seem?”

Margot paused. “It wasn’t the best day for her today. Tomorrow’s a new one.”

True. But I hated that I actually feltrelief, knowing I hadn’t missed one of Mom’s rare moments of clarity while I’d been out with Grace.

“Has Kip taken Bristol to see Mom this week?” I asked. “Or at all?”

“Not that I’m aware of. The nurses didn’t mention any other recent visitors. Aside from your father, of course.”

I muttered a curse, but a resigned one. I couldn’t believe my brother had failed to take his fiancée to see our mother during the week of his wedding. Not like Mom could come to any of the festivities. But Kip owed it to Mom to at leasttrymaking her a part of it.

“Maybe they’ll stop by and visit your mother tomorrow before the ceremony,” Margot said. “You might run into them.”

I huffed a laugh with zero humor. “One big, happy family.”

Margot sipped her espresso. “And Grace? Are you bringing her with you to see Izzy tomorrow as well?”

Shit, I hadn’t even considered that. “Not sure. Grace might prefer to hit a museum or sightsee instead while I take care of the visit with Mom.”

“You really think Grace would prefer that?”

“She already has to deal with Dad and Kip. I can’t subject her to all the Knightly family issues. She’s here to get her mindoffof bullshit like that. To have fun.”

“Grace doesn’t seem like the type to want only fun.”

“Well, maybe that’s whatIwant for her,” I snapped.

Margot frowned like she was disappointed in me. Couldn’t blame her. I was being an asshole.

“I need to get ready,” I said, knowing I was avoiding the issue. But I didn’t have the energy to untangle it.

“Please do.” Margot checked her watch. “Thirty-five minutes.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered as I walked away.

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