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Eryn wrinkled her nose. “DEFCON 2 level?”

“You bet.” Aunt Birdie finished her latte and sprang to her feet. “Let’s roll.”

Chapter 12

Aunt Birdie fired off a brief text to Harlow.We’re going in.

Harlow:Going in where?

Birdie:Your apartment. Do we need a code?

Harlow:You’ll need to get past the doorman. Renaldo should be on duty this time of the day.

Birdie:We might need a little assistance.

Harlow:Is Robert around?

Birdie:I have no idea. We’re about to find out. Standby.

“Let me do the talking.” With Eryn by her side, Harlow’s aunt strolled into the lobby of the prestigious Central Park Skyline apartment building and approached the security guard’s desk. “Good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon.”

Aunt Birdie introduced herself and Eryn. “We’re here to pick up something from Harlow Wynn’s apartment. I’m her aunt.”

The man eyed them suspiciously and began flipping through his clipboard. “I don’t see either of your names on the list of approved visitors. I can’t let you beyond this point.”

“Is Mr. Barbetz, Harlow’s husband here? Perhaps you can ask him.”

“He left a few hours ago.”

Eryn glanced at the man’s nametag,Renaldo.“Renaldo. Harlow speaks very highly of you.”

“She does?” The security guard’s tone softened. “Ms. Harlow is a sweetheart. I heard about her accident. How is she doing?”

“She’s healing.” Aunt Birdie scrolled through the screen and showed Renaldo the picture she’d taken at the Happy Camper during dinner the previous night. “She’s in physical therapy and should be back on her feet soon.”

“Please…tell her I have been thinking about her and keeping her in my prayers,” he said.

“We certainly will.” Aunt Birdie shifted her feet. “About the special item Harlow needs. It should only take a minute for us to run up to her place and grab it.”

“What is it?”

“It’s…uh…a manuscript for an upcoming project she’s considering signing on for,” Eryn stammered. “She left the hard copy here and needs it.”

“She cannot get a copy from the studio?” Renaldo asked.

“I have no idea. Maybe the studio execs have some sort of policy about handing out scripts willy-nilly. All I know is she was hoping to work on it while recovering…to take her mind off her injuries.”

Aunt Birdie could see he was waffling. So close. They almost had one foot in the door. “Maybe if you talk to Harlow on the phone and she gives you her verbal approval,” she suggested.

“I have her number.” Renaldo tapped the keyboard. He reached for the desk phone and began dialing. “Hello. Is this Harlow Wynn?”

Birdie could only hear the security guard’s side of the conversation. Him asking about her health. Him wishing her well. “I have two women, one who is your aunt…”

“Aunt Birdie,” Birdie whispered.

“Your Aunt Birdie is standing in front of me. She’s here to get something from your apartment. Robert? No. He left early this morning.”