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Renaldo answered a few more questions and ended the call. “Harlow has given you permission to enter her unit and retrieve what you need.”

“So…how does this work?” Aunt Birdie leaned her elbow on the counter. “You escort us up to her apartment?”

“I’m not allowed to leave my post. Ms. Wynn’s unit is on the fifteenth floor. Unit 1512. You will need to take the center set of elevators.” Renaldo pointed in the general direction. “Once you reach her floor, I’ll buzz you in.”

“Fifteen twelve. Got it. Although Harlow told us where she thinks she left the manuscript, it might take a few minutes for us to track it down.” She grabbed Eryn’s arm, whisking her toward the gleaming brass and glass bank of elevators.

Pressing the “up” button, Eryn gave Renaldo a friendly wave and stepped inside. She waited for the doors to close and swiped her brow. “For a minute there, it was touch and go.”

“He was going to let us in. All we had to do was convince him to call Harlow.” Birdie’s expression grew mischievous. “Can you imagine the look on Robert’s face if Renaldo had let us in and we waltzed right into the apartment while he was here?”

“Something tells me he’d be livid. What would be even better is to catch him and his assistant together.”

“He’s no dummy. I hate to say it, but if he’s already canceling Harlow’s credit cards and emptying bank accounts, I can only imagine what else he has up his sleeve.”

“Which is why Harlow needs to get ahead of this.”

The women reached the fifteenth floor. Turning left, they strolled down the spacious corridor and stopped in front of her unit.

Eryn let out a low whistle. “Even the door looks expensive.”

Click.

As if by magic, the door unlocked.

“Something tells me we’re being watched.” Aunt Birdie grasped the handle and led the way inside the spacious marble foyer. “Let’s split up.”

“What are we looking for?” Eryn asked.

“Proof that Robert is the snake we know he is or proof he’s messing around with his assistant. Hopefully, we’ll find both.”

Splitting up, Aunt Birdie started on one side of the apartment while Eryn began searching the other. They tore through drawers and dug through closets, searching every nook and cranny.

Eryn was the first to finish. “The place is clean.”

Birdie gave a thumbs down. “Cleaner than a whistle. This might be tougher than I thought.”

“Check out the view.” Eryn slid the curtains aside, gazing out onto Central Park and the New York skyline. “I wonder how much an apartment like this costs.”

“A pretty penny to buy, to maintain, to furnish.” Aunt Birdie walked in a slow circle. “Maybe I don’t know my niece as well as I thought I did, but this doesn’t look like a place Harlow would call home.”

“I was thinking the same thing. This is too…” Eryn struggled to find the right description. “It’s too much.”

“Over the top.” Aunt Birdie opened the entertainment center door and peered inside. “Ten bucks says this apartment was Robert’s idea. I’ve visited Harlow but never been inside her homes. I wonder what her other places look like.”

“The Palm Beach condo is very nice. Her unit has a balcony overlooking the ocean, with white, sandy beaches only steps from her door. It’s beautiful. The Malibu home is stunning, but a little too fancy and formal for my tastes.” Eryn picked up a swirly blue vase and tipped it over. “Renaldo is going to wonder what happened to us.”

“The clock is ticking. I’m not ready to give up yet. There must be something.” Aunt Birdie snapped her fingers. “I haven’t checked the main bathroom.”

Eryn finished sifting through the living room bookcase and caught up with her. “What are you looking for?”

“Women’s toiletries. Check it out. La Cler.” Birdie grabbed a bottle of expensive looking facial moisturizer. “I bet Harlow is particular about her moisturizers.”

“She is,” Eryn confirmed. “All of those makeup sessions she endures means she’s picky about the products. Off the top of my head, I can’t remember the brand name but this isn’t it.”

“I’m almost positive these aren’t hers.” Birdie pulled her phone from her purse. She snapped a photo of the bottle before dropping it into her bag.

“What are you doing?”