Page 48 of Desperate Justice
Diana’s designer eye makeup and expensive cosmetics were untouched.
Allison rubbed her face, staring in disbelief.I know I locked the door. I did. And Diana went out after me, did she forget to lock it?.
She checked her waist pack. As always, she’d taken her valuables with her to breakfast. Her clothing was scattered, but the sensor she used to detect cameras in a room was missing.
That and... She did a thorough investigation. The two teddy bears were missing, and then she remembered Rafe had offered to carry them since she was tight on space, having to cart some of Diana’s belongings.
Allison walked outside, groaning. Last thing she needed was a break-in.
Rafe, who had the room next door, was walking out to his bike. He saw her distress, immediately ran over.
“What’s wrong?”
“Someone broke into our room. Nothing’s missing, far as I can tell, but it’s a mess. None of Diana’s things were touched, but my clothing...”
Her voice broke.
He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Stay out here.”
Withdrawing his gun, he stepped into the room. Allison followed.
“Whoever did this is long gone, Rafe. They didn’t take anything. But why do this?”
From the bathroom, he called out in a grim voice. “I know why.”
Allison went into the tiny bathroom.
The small bottle of suntan lotion and pancake makeup she had on the counter crowded with Diana’s things were smashed, the contents squeezed out.
But more disturbing was the message on the mirror written in Diana’s expensive red lipstick.
TURN BACK ALLISON BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.
CHAPTER 13
More than ever, Rafe wished Allison hadn’t joined them on this trip. That message on the bathroom mirror was a grim warning, but for what, he didn’t know.
Her sister’s belongings hadn’t been touched.
Allison insisted on cleaning up and not calling the police or telling her sister. She scrubbed the lipstick off the mirror as he silently helped pick up her clothing off the floor.
Rafe held up a pair of fire-engine red panties with lace. Nice. Under normal conditions, he’d tease her about them.
Instead he stuffed them into her backpack.
Much as he disagreed with her not calling the authorities, he understood. As he picked up shards of her shattered electronic tablet, he vowed to keep a closer eye on Allison.
Somehow he knew this vandalism was connected to her sister.
By the time they finished, he saw Diana approach on the sidewalk and he whistled to Allison.
She emerged from the bathroom and immediately embraced Rafe, looking up at him with a smile.
Again, the act. Pretending they were lovers. Too bad it wasn’t real.
The door unlocked. Instead of releasing her—damn, she felt amazing in his arms—Rafe simply glanced at her sister.
“Pardon,” he murmured. “Didn’t realize you’d be back so soon.”
