Chapter 3
I swallowed back the tears and forced my voice steady. "Work stuff? If you need to go, go. I'm fine. It's morning sickness. I'll feel better once it passes.
"Seriously, if anything changes, I'll call you."
James must have really been under pressure at work.
He rattled off a few more anxious reminders, then I heard his footsteps heading for the front door.
A few minutes later, the apartment door clicked shut.
My body finally unclenched, and the tears came flooding out.
James and I went way back, high school classmates. He was valedictorian. I was always right behind him at number two.
Back then, everyone swore we were dating. The whole school talked about it.
But we weren't. I was too focused on my grades to notice the way he looked at me, all soft and tender, or how he always spoiled me whenever we hung out.
He never actually said he liked me.
So when we got to college, I started dating someone else.
It wasn't until two years later, after a stupid fight ended that relationship, that James finally confessed. Six years, he said. He'd been crazy about me for six straight years.
The memory made my chest squeeze so tight I could barely breathe.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. A message from the girl who'd hired me. [Did you steal my diamond ring when you were here today?]
A bitter, humorless smile pulled at my tear-streaked lips.
I didn't need to stake out her building like some pathetic PI.
She was handing me proof of the affair on a silver platter.
I wiped my face and typed back. [I didn't see a ring at your place. Do you want me to come over now?]
Her reply came instantly. [Yes. Can you be here in half an hour?]
My chest was still screaming, but I forced myself off the bathroom floor.
I washed the tear tracks from my face, changed into something decent, and called an Uber to her place.
The door swung open before I even finished ringing the bell.
She looked me up and down with pure disdain, arms crossed tight over her chest. "All dressed up like you're someone, but you're a thief."
I met her gaze calmly.
She was pretty, with delicate features, and a head-to-toe designer. But the expensive polish clashed hard with the cheap rental apartment behind her.
Anyone could guess who was bankrolling that lifestyle.
So I met her gaze calmly and said, "You don't have to label me as a thief. I already called the police on my way here.
"Once they arrive, we'll let them sort it out."
She hadn't expected me to call the cops. A flash of panic flickered across her face.
But she quickly stiffened and shot back, "My boyfriend's a lawyer. Calling the police won't help you.
"You were the only one here. Now my ring's gone. If you didn't take it, who did?"
With that, she whipped out her phone and started dialing.
"James? That woman showed up at my place, and she actually called the cops! I'm here alone, and I'm scared. Can you please come over right now?"
As she spoke, her proud look vanished, and two tears rolled down her cheeks.
She looked so helpless that even I, another woman, felt like I wanted to protect her.
Was this why James cheated?
Her phone was either on speaker or she'd turned the volume up deliberately. I heard everything.
Right after she finished, a deep, familiar male voice came through.
"I'm in the middle of a major case right now. If the police show up, go to the station with her and give your statement. I'll meet you there later."
He hung up abruptly.
I'd recognize James's voice anywhere. For one horrible second, I almost lost it, almost let the tears spill right there in front of her.
Thankfully, the police showed up in time, keeping me from crying right then and there.
Sure enough, as James said, the cops arrived, asked a few questions, and I kept insisting I didn't take anything.
The girl wouldn't let up, saying I was the only one who'd been in her apartment. Since there weren't any cameras, the police ended up taking us both down to the station.
We'd barely sat down when she pointed straight at my hand.
"Officer, it was too dark for me to notice before, but now I see the ring on her finger. That's mine."
She dug a receipt out of her bag and handed it over.