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‘Hi, Alex Walker. I’m here because I work for Isabelle Kane,’ she said to the old guy.

‘Yes, of course. Miss Kane,’ he said, dipping his words in self-satisfied familiarity with the famous woman.

‘She mentioned you’d met,’ Alex lied. ‘She said there’s a lot of trust between you and Mrs Archer.’

Brett was brimming with pride. ‘Twelve years I’ve sat on this gate. No one gets past without my say-so. Mrs Archer knows I wouldn’t let her down.’

‘Well, I’m afraid Mrs Archer is possibly about to get caught in a bit of a sticky situation,’ Alex explained.

Brett’s bushy eyebrows flew up in alarm. ‘Oh?’

‘Yes, well, I’m sure you’re aware of Isabelle’s impending divorce…’

From the look of it, he was not. ‘Of course,’ he said quickly.

‘Well, Mrs Archer had a photograph in her possession, and it’s… I’m not gonna lie to you, Brett. It’s the crux of the whole thing.’

He nodded fervently, and Alex could tell that he was pleased to be taken into her confidence, just as she’d intended. This man’s Achilles heel was his ego. Alex could exploit that.

‘I see,’ he said, stroking his beard.

‘Yes. And that lady over there…’ Alex turned and pointed at Leigh, still sitting in her car, watching. Alex wanted her to see the gesture. ‘She works for Erin Porter.’

‘She mentioned that, yes.’

Alex smiled. ‘Right. She wants that photo. And I know I don’t need to tell you this, but we must make sure she never even gets the chance to ask Mrs Archer for it.’

‘Of course,’ Brett nodded. ‘That’s exactly what I said. She’s not getting in while I’m breathing.’

‘I knew I could rely on you.’ Alex felt confident he was set up. Now came the punch. ‘And obviously,I’llneed to see Mrs Archer to get a copy.’

‘Oh. Oh, I see. Have you called her?’

That would have been a trick because Alex didn’t have the number. ‘Yeah. Can’t get through. Is something wrong with the landline?’

‘Landline? Mrs Archer doesn’t use the landline. She uses her mobile. Her staff should pick it up, though.’

Alex had made a mistake there. She’d thought that an eighty-year-old woman would be old school. Wrong.

‘You know what? Why don’t I just pop in and see her?’ Alex said smoothly.

Brett’s arse kissing stopped short. ‘Oh no, Miss. Appointment only. No exceptions.’

‘But…’

Alex heard a car door slam. She turned to see Leigh standing next to her Ford Focus, looking admittedly very cute in her little black suit. What was she still doing here? She’d gotten the knock back. She should have been driving off with her tail between her legs, defeated. Not walking over to see Alex about to be told to fuck off, too.

‘Yes?’ Brett asked coldly.

Leigh flashed a smile. ‘Hi, sorry. I just wanted to check. Could you call the house again?’

Brett looked at her and laughed. ‘I just did. And like I was just telling this lady…’

Brett, don’t fuck me here.

‘…It’s appointment only. You both need to leave.’

Leigh looked at Alex. ‘Oh?Youcouldn’t penetrate the gates? I’m shocked. You’re such a great salesperson.’