A Silken Thread - Brenda Jackson [111]
“So what do you have to tell me?”
The minute Brian spotted Matt seated at a table in Larry’s Sandwich Shop, he grabbed a seat and cut right to the chase. He knew his friend would understand.
Without preamble, Matt replied, “It seems your girl Donna is the one who set you up.”
Over the past week Brian hadn’t wanted to consider the possibility that Donna had a part in what happened, and to know that she had made his blood boil. “You sound certain.”
“I am. Rule number one. Don’t set a brother up unless you intend to cover your tracks.”
“And she didn’t?”
“Not completely.” Matt then took a sip of his beer. “First there were those infamous red panties with the letter D. Turns out they’re made to order. Some designer in Chicago. I was able to track down the identity of the person who ordered them. A professor at the same law school Donna graduated from.”
Brian nodded slowly. “Circumstantial evidence.”
Matt chuckled. “Yes, but what if I told you she was known around campus as the ‘blow-job queen’ and it was rumored that she and this professor had something going on and that their secret affair is what helped her graduate from law school at the top of her class?”
“Still circumstantial,” Brian said after the waiter had placed a beer in front of him and he had taken a sip.
“And what if I were to tell you that she is presently blowing Judge Meadows?”
Brian almost choked on the sip he’d taken. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I put a tail on her and my man reported that, not only does she have a standing time each week in the judge’s chambers, but they also schedule clandestine meetings at the Ritz-Carlton twice a week. And we have pictures to prove it.” Matt paused for a moment. “She was also placed at your home the day of Erica’s visit.”
Brian set his glass aside. “She was?”
“Yes. You live in a gated community. She has access because she lives there as well, so no one had to check when she came in and when she left. But what she didn’t think about was the security cameras. I obtained a video.”
Anger was radiating from every pore in Brian’s body. “But why did she do it?”
“I guess she wanted to make sure there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that you and Erica would marry, and I can only assume she figured once she got Erica out of the picture, she would go after you for herself.”
Brian leaned back in the chair. “Well, I guess you solved that one.”
Matt shook his head. “No, it only opens more questions up in my mind and there is one sticking out further than the others.”
“Which one?””
“How did she know Erica was surprising you and coming to town, in order to time things so perfectly?”
Brian lifted a brow. “That’s a good question and there’s only one way to find out.”
Matt chuckled. “Yes, we’ll be paying Ms. Hardy a visit after we leave here.”
Less than an hour later both Matt and Brian were knocking on Donna Hardy’s front door. When she opened it Brian could tell that she was surprised to see him.
“Brian? How nice to see you.”
“Donna, this is a good friend of mine, Matthew Seacrest. He’s a private investigator and I hired him to find out who broke into my house and set me up.” He saw something flash in the depths of her eyes. It happened so quickly that if he hadn’t been observant he would have missed it.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh, really? I wasn’t aware someone burglarized your home. But what does that have to do with me?”
“Give us a few moments of your time,” Matt said, “and we’ll certainly tell you.”
“I was on my way out,” Donna said.
“That may be, but I think it would behoove you to let us come in and discuss a few things,” Matt said.
She shrugged and took a step back. “Mr. Lawson is my boss so I can’t refuse to meet with him, can I?”
A smile touched Matt’s lips. “You can, but I think regarding this matter I’d think twice about it.”
She paused slightly and then said, “Then please come in.”
They entered her home and the smell of Allure greeted them, just like it had that day in his bedroom. “I would offer the