Page 39 of Sinister Secrets

“Then it might have been done by a higher-end laser printer.”

Thinking of all the printing a real estate office might do, I feel the first real hope I’ve had in this investigation. “What does that mean?”

“The better ones embed a code with the serial number, date, and time.”

“How would one find this code?”

“If your eyes are good enough, you might be able to see it. It will be in yellow dots.”

I squint at the page, but the lighting in the coffee shop is too dim. Quickly, I start putting everything back inside the box.

“You are the queen of techies.”

“Very true. I want you to remember that. Don’t go replacing me with some computer geek in Miami.”

“Impossible.”

Ending the call, I grab the box and hurry outside, eager to see if the code is visible to my naked eye. Even if it is, I’ll have to ask Director Lopez to get a warrant to access the real estate office’s printer. Though I suspect they’d give me access if I ask nicely, I don’t want to risk giving anyone the chance of altering or erasing information if it turns out I’m wrong.

Despite my rush, my steps falter, my momentum coming to a complete stop as I spot the man leaning against the back of my car. He gives me a lazy smile as he straightens and comes toward me, but there’s something dangerous about the look in his eyes. Something cruel.

“Hey, Cass.”

“Matt,” I say, giving a curt nod and propelling myself back into motion, altering my course to move around him.

He takes a big step to the side, blocking my path.

“I don’t have time for this. What do you want?” I ask.

“To give you one last chance.”

“To what?”

His gaze drops to my body. He licks his lips in a way that makes me want to strangle him with his own tongue. “For me to take you back.”

“Not interested.”

Raising my elbow, I turn, making him choose between getting out of my way or taking the hit in the gut. Wisely, he moves aside.

“You might be changing your mind soon enough,” he calls after me as I continue to my car. “Heard you got yourself a Mini-Me. Only she’s younger. And skinnier. And blonder, isn’t she?”

Though I feel my spine go rigid, I refuse to react. How does he know about Chelsea? Has he been watching me? The Sanctuary? If so, does it have something to do with what happened to Gordon?

It doesn’t matter right now. All that does is getting out of here before I lose my temper and reveal that he still has the power to get under my skin.

“I bet that guy you’re shacking up with loves having two of you around… but how long do you think it’s going to take before he decides to trade you in for the newer model?”

Wrenching the door open, I toss the box onto the passenger seat and myself behind the wheel. Make Matt jump out of the way to avoid being hit as I peel out of the parking lot with a squeal of tires. So much for not showing my irritation.

But as I look in my rearview as I drive away and take in the nasty smirk Matt wears as he watches, I realize that I’m not the only one betraying themselves—he really thinks that it’s going happen.

CHAPTER 22

My throat is tight, jaw aching as I glare out the windshield. I know I shouldn’t let Matt bother me. Nothing he does or says should matter. He’s a horrible person with an overinflated ego who could possibly be a killer. That’s what I need to be concerned with—finding out who’s responsible for Gordon’s murder—not what some bitter ex has to say.

It doesn’t matter if he thinks Jake’s head will get turned by our new tenant. I trust Jake. Know that he’s not the type of man to “trade me in” for someone he just met because of a few physical characteristics. Our connection goes deeper than that, is based on more. He’d never

leave me for a stranger.