Page 79 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

“Brant and Dani are sleeping together,” she lobbed that bomb my way before I could get in my car.

It felt as if my eardrums had burst. There was a loud ringing in my ear. Those were words I had never expected to hear. Never wanted to hear. I dropped my phone again. She had to be lying. Please, I prayed, don’t let it be true. It couldn’t be true. I turned back around to face her. Suddenly, I had a moment of clarity and reminded myself that she didn’t know I was with Brant, and if she thought I didn’t care about this, she would leave. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, or why you think that would matter to me, but you need to leave,” I said, going with my theory. Unfortunately, that turned out to be wishful thinking.

“Oh please. I know you care. I know everything.” She reached into the satchel and pulled out several pictures. She began to flip through them and mockingly said, “What do we have here? Brant leaving your house. Or what about this one? Brant staring longingly at you during Taron Taylor’s release party. This one is my favorite: Brant walking you to your car after your birthday party. He really looked like he wanted to kiss you. Lovesick fool.”

I blinked and blinked. Was this real? “Have you been following me?”

“No, you idiot. Why would I follow you? Besides, I don’t follow anyone. I have people for that.” She handed me the photos. “You can keep these. I have my own copies.”

I numbly took them, sick to my stomach that she was having someone follow Brant. I felt so violated on his behalf, and my own. It did plant a seed of doubt in my mind, though. If she was having Brant followed, had she seen him and Dani together? Was she telling the truth about that? No. It couldn’t be. Could it? Please, God, no.

“I see you’re worried now. That’s good. You should be.” She stepped closer and looked me over from head to toe, sneering as she went. “I knew he pined for you and your sister the entire time we were together,” she spat. “Do you know how that feels?”

I said nothing.

“Well, you’re going to. You’re going to feel the pain I feel. If I can’t have him, neither can you or Dani.”

I honestly began to fear for my physical well-being. I assessed the situation, wondering if I should try to incapacitate her and flee. But what if she had a weapon in her satchel? I started to shake from fear.

“Why should he get his happy ending when I’m stuck with a man almost twice my age?” she continued with such vehemence. “Tell me!” She poked my chest.

That lit a fire in me. “Do. Not. Touch. Me.”

That seemed to penetrate her rage, and she came to herself for a moment and backed up. She straightened her coat and took a deep breath.

“I’m leaving now.”

“Don’t go,” her voice pleaded like a small child. “You haven’t heard the best part yet. You see, I’m just trying to protect you.”

Wow, she was all over the place. I thought she needed a mental health evaluation.

“I don’t need your protection. Goodbye.” I opened my car door.

“The baby Dani lost was Brant’s,” she said clearly and coolly.

I stood stunned, holding on to the door handle for support. “You’re lying,” I whispered, feeling as if I might vomit at just the thought of it.

“I have proof.”

I refused to acknowledge her. She’s crazy, I kept telling myself.

“I know you don’t want to believe me. But have you ever asked yourself why Brock and Dani rushed to get married?”

“They were having a baby,” I stammered.

She laughed. “That’s what they wanted you to believe. But the truth is, they were covering up Dani and Brant’s affair.”

I shook my head. I couldn’t believe it.

“I know you don’t want to believe your sister and your lover could do such a thing to you, but believe me, it’s all true. And I have proof,” she sang way too gleefully.

“More pictures?” I held my stomach.

“Not quite, unless you count ultrasound pictures.”

I whipped around. “You took pictures of my sister’s ultrasound?”

“I wouldn’t say I took them—more like accessed them.”

“It was you who broke into Dr. Paulson’s office?”

She sighed almost dreamily. “Not me.”

“You could go to jail for that.”

She wagged her finger in front of me. “Ah, ah, ah. Don’t you know I have a get-out-of-jail-free card? If your boyfriend or his family even think about turning me in, all hell will break loose.”

I didn’t believe her. Couldn’t believe her. I felt as if I couldn’t breathe. She was only trying to keep herself out of trouble. I had every intention of going to the police.

“You don’t believe me. Oh, honey, Brant and all of the Hollands have been lying to you. Let’s just say his dad has a lot of blood on his hands . . . literally . . . and he wants to keep that a secret. And all I have to do is snap my fingers”—she snapped her fingers in front of my face, causing me to jump—“and my father will destroy all of you. So, it’s best if you keep your mouth shut.” She put her finger to her mouth and said, “Shhh,” before that laugh of hers came out again, scaring the living daylights out of me. Had she always been this insane? More importantly, was she telling the truth? Did John Holland have blood on his hands? Is that why Sheridan had left him? Were they all lying to me?

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