Nate had arrived and within minutes was working to tap and clone the phone. Looking at Nate thoughtfully I realised that if hiding the secret from Lane was tough for me it must be much harder for him and starting a relationship with dishonesty is never good.
Lane is fabulous so of course there's no doubt she'll be understanding when she finally knows the truth but the more I thought about it the more I doubted the reasons we were keeping it from her.
She was the most trustworthy person alive. Fact. Anything I told her would remain locked! She was also crazy clever and funny and always coming up with the maddest plots but if put to a cause like this she would likely have had this case solved by now!
Resolved in my decision I decided to put it to the guys. Clearing my throat I approached them where they were huddled around Blades computer screen.
"I think we should call Lane up here and explain everything to her she would be an asset to help solve this!"
Nate looked up and eyed me before turning to Blade.
"She's right you know, with Lane onboard this will be solved in no time!"
Smiling at him widely I turned to Blade with my most angelic face on but he didn't seem too bothered, without even looking up from the screen he waved me off.
"Go, get my EA to call her up and then explain it all to her and see if she has any ideas."
Squealing, I ran out to put the request to his Executive Assistant before he changed his mind!
* * *
"Holy shit.. Tasha.. holy shit.."
Lane had taken it surprisingly well, apart from not having formed a sentence since being brought up to date with everything.
"Wait so that whole romance was faked? You guys were totally hot together I can't believe that was fake! I know you said the engagement was fake but I thought the chemistry was real!"
"Ok so I've told you about a murder and that we are gathering evidence to solve it and the murderer is my stepfather and the victim is Blades sister and you're fixated on whether a couple of kisses were faked?!"
"Oh no bitch, don't think I've forgotten you talking about a screaming orgasm!"
Laughing I winked at her and darted back into the main office from Blades bedroom, Laney hot on my heels.
Nate, the man of few words, left the desk and walked to Laney as soon as we entered the office, sliding his fingers into her hair and tilting her head back he pressed his forehead against hers.
"We good?"
"We are".
Lane backed up her statement by pressing a soft kiss against the underside of his jaw and my heart just melted into goo at my feet!
"You guys are so cuuuuute!"
Nate looked at me in playful disgust and Lane dragged me over to them and into their couple cuddle.
"Nate, baby, she's my family, which makes her your family too.. so give your new little sister a cuddle."
"Ahahahaha Lane you act way more like my mum than my sister! Does that mean I should call Nate daddy?"
We burst into giggles and Nate immediately retreated to the desk muttering under his breath.
"Sorry daddy I didn't quite hear that what did you say?"
"I said never call me that!"
Lane and I looked at each other and dissolved into giggles once again, Blade and Nate watching on like we were a new species they'd just discovered and were interested in but didn't understand.
"Jokes aside, Lane have you got any insight from what you've heard?"
"I assume you guys have searched all properties owned under his name, his company name, subsidiaries, and his wife and daughter? He and Flora had a special place and if that place wasn't a hotel then it's likely he owns it or it's owned under someone else's name but it's really him.. You could also bribe the local hotels to tell you if he had stayed there or had a room ordered for a few hours a week etc? Then if he did you could check cctv depending on how long they keep the videos and if you can tie them together then at least you can prove the affair."
Nate, Blade and I looked at each other in shock and awe. So much had happened since getting the letter that none of us had even considered any of those options. Abigail Lane was a genius!
"Laney, I bow down to you oh Queen of the Spies!"
* * *
"When I said you were a spy you know I was kidding right?"
Lane had walked in with piles of clothes, hats, scarves, wigs and make up! It was Saturday night a couple of days later and having received the list of Jaspers properties we had ruled out the ones too far away or that were occupied and had gathered at Blades house to split some between us to go and view tonight.
"You don't think Jasper would be really suspicious if he thinks Blade Night is checking out his properties? We have to look different at each property otherwise it could be dangerous!"
Blade and Nate exchanged glances but ultimately agreed that disguises would be good but rejected the make up - just wigs and hats etc.
We had decided to go out in teams of two and unfortunately, as they were a couple, that meant I was stuck with Night! Wearing my hair in plaited pigtails and a baseball cap pulled low Blade was wearing a blonde wig and he looked like an anime character.. it was ridiculously attractive!
Sliding me a sideways glance as he started the engine he faced front again as he pulled out of his driveway.
"What is it Tasha?"
"What's what?"
"What's wrong with you? You seem tense.. don't tell me I make you nervous?"
I know he was teasing with his huskily spoken words but it really pissed me off. What's fun about messing with someone's feelings? Swallowing hard I counted to ten and blew out a deep breath.
"Nothings wrong, how far to the first property?"
"About twenty minutes"
"Cool, wake me when we get there."
With that I rolled my head to the side and closed my eyes pretending to sleep. If we continued talking I was worried I'd murder him with his own seatbelt.