Page 98 of Smokescreen

She pivoted until she was in front of the door and beside Reid.

Daphne’s smile instantly disappeared as she seemed to realize her planhadn’tworked.

“What areyoudoing here?” Daphne directed the question at Olive.

“We need to talk to you,” Reid announced.

Then without invitation, Olive stepped inside the motel room.

Reid followed and closed the door.

“This isn’t a good time,” Daphne murmured, her arms raised as if to block them.

Good luck with that.

Olive scanned the room. Multiple suitcases were scattered about, piles of clothes were stretched across the bed, cosmetics lined the dresser, and a fancy gown hung from the sprinkler—a big no-no, but this didn’t seem like the time to mention it.

“We know you’ve been blackmailing Hannah,” Reid started. “I want to know why.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” For an actress, Daphne wasn’t that great at acting. Her cheeks turned red, and her gaze shifted—a sure sign she was lying.

Reid pulled up the security camera footage and showed Daphne the images of her buying the phone.

Daphne gawked. “How did you get that?”

“That’s not important,” Reid said. “Whatisimportant is finding out why you’re doing this. Because our next stop is the sheriff’s department.”

“Okay, okay, okay.” Daphne raised her hands. “You don’t need to get law enforcement involved.”

“We’ll be the judge of that.” Olive gave her a look.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” Daphne insisted with a pouty frown. “I knew you started dating someone, Reid. I thought if I could send her home then maybe I’d have a chance with you.”

Reid shifted his weight. “How did you even know about Olive?”

Her cheeks turned even redder. “I stay in touch with a couple of the ranch hands. No big deal. They keep me abreast of what is going on.”

“Who?” Reid demanded.

She rattled off a couple of names Olive didn’t recognize—but not Cooper’s.

“Are you sure Cooper isn’t one of those people?” Olive added.

Daphne scowled. “Who told you that?”

“I have my sources.”

“That’s ridiculous.” A certain edge of defensiveness rose in her voice.

Reid grunted.

Olive knew he’d be having a talk with those guys as soon as he got back to the ranch—including Cooper. In fact, Cooper would probably be at the top of his list, despite what Daphne had said.

“So you decided to dig into Hannah’s background, find out a piece of information you knew she wouldn’t want revealed, and then manipulate her into doing your dirty work?” Reid continued to press, disgust in his tone.

Daphne sighed, her pert features now pouty. “When you say it that way . . .”

“Tell me exactly everything you’ve done,” Reid said. “We can only assume you’re the one who told Hannah to hang the doll up.”

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