Free Unbreakable Bond by Gemma Halliday Page B

smile flooded my vision. I quickly snuffed it out.
    "Positive," I said. But my voice cracked.
    Danny’s eyebrows rose. "Not convincing, Bond."
    "Jesus, would you drop it, Danny? Fine - Aiden Prince is an attractive man. Is that what you want me to say?"
    He turned his gaze out the window, his expression hidden. "No. It's not."
    I poked him in the arm. "Don't tell me you're jealous?" I teased.
    He let out a sharp bark of laughter. "Of what? Slick hair and a spray-on tan?" He patted his abdomen. "A six-pack beats that any day."
    I snorted. "You think pretty highly of yourself there, Casanova."
    "Hey, I've never gotten any complaints."
    I held up my hands. "I wasn't putting you down. Lord knows you've had every bimbo from here to Manhattan fall at your feet."
    He turned on me. "Is that it? Just because I get laid that somehow puts me in a different league than Mr. Ken Doll?"
    "What league, Danny?" I asked.  "I said he was attractive, that's all."
    "Yeah, he's a real catch, with is flashy career, making peanuts working for the state, and his dead wife sympathy card."
    I stared at him, stunned into silence.
    He paused a moment, then averted his gaze, as if realizing how far below the belt that comment had struck. "I don't trust him, that's all," he mumbled.
    "That makes two of us."
    We didn’t say anything more, just sat there watching 2B.
    Maya texted back that Donna Martinez had a valid California state driver license, but there was no info on the type of car she drove. Same went for her late husband.
    Several tenants in surrounding apartments came and went, but there was no activity at Donna’s. After another thirty, butt-numbing minutes, I decided we’d waited enough.
    I grabbed the door handle. "Let’s go have a look."
    We exited the van and sprinted across the street. Early Friday afternoon meant most people were at work. Would that include wanna-be-actresses?
    I knocked on her door, praying no one would answer. As much as I wanted to haul her ass to the local precinct, I also wanted to find proof of her involvement in setting me up and murdering the judge. A handwritten document detailing her plan to frame me and kill the judge would be a bit much to ask for, but a girl could hope.
    When no one came to the door, I pulled a pouch of tools from my jacket pocket, ready to put my lock picking skills to work.
    But before I even opened the little black case, Danny turned the knob and pushed. The door creaked open.
    "Who doesn’t lock their door in North Hollywood?" he whispered.
    Agreed. This was not a good sign.
    We slowly stepped over the threshold, and I called out. "Mrs. Martinez? Anyone home?"
    Was it possible she’d seen us coming and hid? If so, I planned to go through every square inch. If she was quivering in a closet, we’d find her.
    Daylight streamed through the window, illuminating a small, pastel living area. A light blue sofa took up most of one wall. A white coffee table sat in the center of the beige carpet. A television, a couple of cheap end tables, a short bookcase, and a lemon-colored chair completed the tidy set up. The place looked like a photo shoot for Pottery Barn and smelled of cinnamon and vanilla. All very feminine.
    A thin stack of mail sat on a side table. An electric bill, flyer for 20% off at Macy’s One Day sale and the latest copy of Cosmo were all addressed to Donna Martinez. At least we had the right apartment.
    Sadly, no murder weapons, no confessions, and no Donna.
    "Look." Danny pointed to a sheet of paper sitting on the coffee table. It had the same print as the striped envelope.
    I walked over and scanned it.
    Dear Mr. Sterling,
    Thank you for your consideration in the role of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. She was such a classic beauty and magnificent woman. I am so honored to have been given the opportunity.
    Sincerely,
    Donna Martinez
    I raised a brow and glanced at Danny. "Is she serious? What decade is she from? Who sends thank you notes to casting directors?"
    Danny