Cut by Emily Duvall Page A

over at the archway leading to the foyer to make sure Jessie wasn’t coming down the steps.
    â€œI’m out. What’s up?”
    â€œJessica Cahill paid me a visit.”
    â€œAbout Melanie?”
    â€œNo; something else.”
    â€œWhat did she want?”
    â€œI’m not sure, but I think it’s about the diamonds.”
    â€œYou have a lead?”
    Someone shouted. Brent pulled the phone away from his ear. “Possibly.”
    â€œYou think Miss Cahill has them?”
    â€œYes, I do.”
    â€œWhat do you want me to do?”
    â€œFollow Jessica. Get into her hotel room. Have a look around.”
    Daniel cleared his throat. “Melanie never mentioned anything to me about a sister.”
    â€œThey had a falling out.”
    â€œWhat makes you think Jessie has what we need?”
    â€œI have my reasons. She asked me a question about green diamonds. Fine if you’re in the market for one.”
    â€œMaybe she wants to buy one.”
    Brent laughed. “She doesn’t.”
    â€œI’ll have a look around her room.”
    â€œGood.”
    â€œHotels have safes.”
    â€œThose have never been a problem for you in the past. Do you still have your contacts in the hotel industry?”
    â€œAlways.”
    â€œUse them. I’ll send you a message next time she’s at the hospital.”
    â€œI’ll wait until I hear from you.”
    Brent put his phone away. The creak on the steps announced Jessie coming down the stairs. The loudness of her steps increased the closer she got to the kitchen.
    â€œHey,” she said, appearing in the archway.
    Brent held out the engagement ring to her. “You don’t want to forget this again.”
    She took the ring. She seemed nervous as she smoothed over her hair. “About upstairs…”
    He walked over to her and leaned against the wall frame. They stood close enough for him to see the flecks of dark brown in her eyes framed by long lashes. “Save your breath if you plan to tell me that was a mistake.”
    â€œHow did you know what I was thinking?”
    â€œBecause I know you.” He put his hand underneath her chin and forced her to look at him. “And with me, it’s never a mistake.”
    â€œI think it’s best if I leave.”
    â€œWhere will you go?”
    â€œTo the Palace of Fine Arts.”
    His eyebrows raised. “Interesting choice.”
    She swallowed hard. “I’d like to see the last place Melanie went. To retrace her steps and try to get in her head. I want to see for myself.”
    â€œWill that help you be able to talk to her?”
    She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
    â€œI’ll go with you.”
    â€œYou don’t have to.”
    â€œI have a car and I know how to get there. If you don’t mind a detour first.”
    â€œI don’t want to hold you up from your day or from seeing Luke.”
    â€œLuke’s a big boy.” He needed her to say yes. He needed to give Daniel time to get to her hotel room. Brent put on the charm. “Considering what happened to Melanie there, it’ll be safer if you’re not alone.”
    A weak smile crossed her lips. “Okay, you can come with me.”
    â€œGood; let me get my keys.”
    Brent walked away. He did grab his keys, and he also shot Daniel a text. They were in the clear and the timing couldn’t be better.
    They got into his SUV. Scratches and tears ran across the leather seats from years of use. The radio didn’t work. The drawer across from the passenger seat didn’t quite close.
    â€œYou’re a smoker,” she commented, taking in a whiff.
    â€œOccasionally.”
    â€œCigarettes will kill you.”
    He laughed. “There’s a lot that will kill me first.”
    Brent drove the car away from the curb. The street angled downward the moment he passed the speed bump in the road.
    â€œIn medical school we worked on