Page 68

‘Because when she tells me she never heard of any emotional or financial abuse, I get to see your face in real-time. It’s gonna be wonderful. I wish I could film it.’

‘You’recertain, are you? Of Isabelle’s virtue?’ Leigh quizzed.

‘Of course,’ Alex lied. ‘I mean, she’s no nun. I’m aware of that. But this shit your girl accused her of is fucking low.’

Leigh looked at Alex, and she could feel the heat of her examination. It was making Alex’s neck warm. She kept her eyes on the road.

‘So, what happens if you’re right?’ Leigh asked.

‘What do you mean?’ Alex said, changing gears. She didn’t need to, she just wanted something to do.

‘Well, if she’s innocent, the next step is to refute these claims.Directly, I mean. How are you going to do that if you can’t produce Amanda? If you’re planning to keep your promise to me, you’re locked out of that move forever.’

‘I’ve got something on the back burner. You needn’t worry about that,’ Alex said, tossing her a cheeky smile.

The investigator had gotten back to her just this morning and confirmed some stuff. There was indeed a Matthew Downing in Erin’s past, and he had died of cancer. His mother confirmed he’d had an early relationship go bad, too. It was a good sign.

‘Hmm. What could that be, I wonder?’ Leigh asked herself theatrically.

‘Don’t waste your time trying to figure it out. I’m utilising info you’re not privy to.’

‘Very mysterious.’ Leigh paused. ‘You know what? I don’t think you have anything. I think you just want me to think you do to keep me on my toes. Maybe even trick me into trading information with you.’

‘Now, why would I do that when I only have to say pretty please?’ Alex teased.

Leigh snickered. ‘Wow. A little goodwill doesn’t go that far with you, does it?’

‘It went far, believe me. It still does,’ Alex said, letting herself be sincere for a moment. Leigh didn’t respond, and Alex felt the need for a slight conversational pivot. ‘Whydidyou give the name up, by the way?’

Leigh gave her a quick look. ‘Because you asked nicely.’

Alex rolled her eyes. ‘No, really.’

‘I’m hoping that when you have to ditch her, everyone else will follow suit, and her career will be wrecked,’ Leigh told her. ‘Butalso, because you asked nicely.’

‘That’s smart,’ Alex conceded. ‘Very smart indeed. Bit of a gamble, though. What if it goes the other way and you find out Erin lied through her teeth?’

‘That wouldn’t be my call,’ Leigh admitted.

‘I guess not. I would bet money that woman’s career is about to take a jump, and with it, her PR needs. She’s about to become a cash cow. Carter and Simon are gonna want to hang onto her.’

‘Maybe,’ Leigh said, and Alex glanced away from the road to examine her expression. She looked troubled.

‘You have doubts about her, don’t you?’ Alex noted.

Leigh looked down at her laptop. ‘It’s not my job to have an opinion,’ she said heatedly.

Alex didn’t like hearing Leigh say something like that. It seemed wrong. It was fine for Alex to play the game and talk the talk, but Leigh wasn’t Alex. She wasn’t so cynical. Alex hated the idea that could change.

‘That’s really how you’re going to play this? Bullshit,’ Alex asked.

‘It’s notbullshit,’ Leigh snapped.

‘I know you. It is.’

True anger slipped into Leigh’s voice. ‘You don’t know me.’

Alex didn’t want to address that, but she was far from finished with the topic. ‘You should walk away from that company.’