Page 31 of Persuasion (Temptation 2)

“J-jewelry?” she quivered. “What jewelry?”

“The jewelry,” I answered cautiously, my pulse increasing. “Claire didn’t ask you about that?”

“No.” She slowly shook her head. “Once she started asking questions about Nick, I had her removed, not wanting Imogene to have to suffer through any more trauma.” She blinked, worry lines forming around her eyes. “What jewelry is she talking about?”

“Claire’s theory was that this guy is repeating Nick’s kill cycle. Obsessively so. And because your ex-husband stole trophies and gave them to you as a gift…”

“Oh, my god…” She covered her mouth, her entire body trembling.

“What is it?” I asked frantically. Partly to make sure she was okay. Partly because I was desperate for answers about Claire.

And I had a feeling Julia held the key.

When she didn’t immediately say anything, I leaned forward, gaze pleading. “Please, Julia.”

“They told me it was nothing. Just some true crime fanatic obsessed with my husband’s case. In my gut, I always knew it was more.”

“What was?”

“Since the case made headlines, I occasionally received strange gifts. The FBI claimed it was harmless. Just fanatics doing what they do. And I never questioned their assessment.” She lifted her gaze to mine. “Except…”

“Yes?”

“The past several years, I’ve received the periodic package with the return address of my corporate headquarters, making it impossible to trace the source. And they were always sent to one of my bakeries in the same packaging we use for official communications, ensuring someone would open it.”

“And the contents of these packages?” I asked, even though I didn’t need to. The answer was written all over her face.

“Jewelry.”