Page 68 of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper

“But you’re a computer guy. You could fake all that.”

Careful. “I suppose. Although if I can do it, there’s likely someone who can undo it.” He tapped his finger on his thigh. “And I think I’ve been patient enough—what’s going on? Why are you asking about Marjorie? Has she said something about me? Leveled some kind of accusation?”

“Why would she do that?”

Mitch let out a quick exhalation of breath. “Why does Marjorie do anything? She’s a liar.” He hesitated. “I hate to speak ill of anyone—anyone at all—but she lied about me, and she cost me everything I’d worked for.” He glanced around the homey space. “And maybe, in the end, I might be better off. But it doesn’t hurt any less.”

“So you feel animosity toward Ms. Dawes?”

“I don’t feel anything toward Ms. Dawes. She’s in the past. I’ve moved on. Heck, I’m pretty sure she has too.”

“So you had a relationship?” The cop’s dark eyes were incisive.

“If you want to call it that.”

Colton’s eyebrow cocked. “What would you call it?”

“Well, I thought we were serious. Turns out she didn’t feel the same way. She betrayed me with someone I thought of as a friend. Someone I trusted. Then she stabbed me in the back at work.”

“You worked together.”

“Yes. She was a vice-president, and I was a lowly cog. Our relationship wasn’t strictly forbidden—I wasn’t a direct report—but it was ill-advised. For many reasons.”God, please let this be enough.

“You regret the seven-month affair.”

“Absolutely and…” Mitch scratched his jaw. “How did you know it lasted seven months?” He wracked his brain. “I didn’t tell you that.”

“You didn’t.”

Mitch waited for elucidation. Nothing. “So who’ve you been talking to? And I wasn’t charged with any crime down there, so why are you here now? What’s happened?”

“I was contacted by a Mountain View police sergeant. Asked me to see if you had an alibi.”

“An alibi? An alibi for what?” Suddenly, puzzle pieces clicked into place. “What’s happened to Marjorie?” Hopefully nothing bad. Because for all the animosity he held toward her, he didn’t wish her ill.

Colton held his gaze.

What does he see?

Hopefully not a guilty man. Whatever accusation might be launched at him, he wasn’t guilty. Whatever’d been done, he hadn’t done it. Except the cop obviously wasn’t here to share good news. No, this wasn’t a social call.

“Ms. Dawes has disappeared.”

So what?But Mitch knew better than to utter his first caustic thought. “Disappeared? Okay, so what does this have to do with me?”

Colton was saved from answering as the side door flew open and Loriana blew in like a hurricane.

Chapter fifteen

NosyNormawasusuallya pain in Loriana’s ass. The neighbor’d often commented slyly if she spotted a man leaving Loriana’s in the morning. Implied something was wrong with enjoying company. Old prudish shrew.

Yet, on this formerly lovely Tuesday morning, Loriana was never so grateful for the old meddlesome spinster. Loriana tried to be charitable to everyone—even succeeded most occasions—but Norma strained all her nerves.

As she’d raced home from the library, however, she’d mentally said a little thanks to the tiresome old nag. Apparently Colton’d been loud enough to rouse even those with hearing aids turned too low and who watched television way too loud. Norma’d also made a cutting remark about theBlackman. Okay, so maybe that thanks was a little too soon.

Her car was barely in park and off before she hopped out and barreled toward the house. Thank God the door was unlocked. Having to slow down to unlock it would’ve mitigated some of her obvious fury. She threw herself in the house and came up short, finding Colton and Mitch all cozy in her living room.

Mitch rose while Colton pivoted from his spot at the mantel.

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