A Diamond in the Rough (Diamond in the Rough Series Book 1) by Elisa Marie Hopkins

Author:Elisa Marie Hopkins [Hopkins, Elisa Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stellar Jay Publications
Published: 2015-03-24T07:00:00+00:00

FOURTEEN

CONFUSION. PANIC. SHOCK. Worry. That’s what goes through my head as I walk inside my apartment.

Jess moves across the living room like she’s a falcon after a heron. In this scenario, I’m the heron.

“Thank God you’re okay!” she yells out, hugging me. “Christ, Sophie! Where were you? Why haven’t you called? Have you completely lost your mind?”

Before I answer anything, I look around the living room. The flower vase where my roses had lounged—Oliver’s exquisite display of affection—is shattered all over the floor. The roses are dead. There is glass everywhere. Not only that, the dining table is overturned, as are the chairs. Small items have been knocked off the coffee table. There are at least four people carefully going through the mess while two other persons clean up.

“What happened here?” Oliver’s face clouds over.

“This is Detective Hamilton.” Jess gestures at the man next to her. “He’s with the FBI. He’s in charge of the ongoing investigation involving you.” She focuses on me.

“You called him in?” asks Oliver.

“Yes, I called him in. I didn’t sleep here last night.” She starts explaining. “When I got home today, I saw the place was completely trashed...Sophie’s bag was here, her cellphone was here...her things were here, everything was here except her! I didn’t know what to think!”

“It’s okay. I’m right here, Jess.” I try to sound composed. This is unbelievable, I think to myself as I look at the disarranged furniture. “What’s missing?”

Detective Hamilton speaks up. “Missing?”

“Yes. It’s obvious someone broke in. What did they take?”

Jess and Detective Hamilton look at each other like there is something else boiling under the surface.

“Detective, come forward with the truth,” Oliver demands.

Concern covers the mustached policeman’s expression. “The truth is, this wasn’t a heist, Miss Cavall.”

Naturally, I turn to Oliver for answers. When I don’t get them, I ask, “Then...what was it?”

“Look around.” He waves a hand. “Someone came in through the balcony doors. This is a loud warning. Someone is angry. It’s only been a couple of hours and we are still working on gathering the facts. It looks like someone was trying to send you a message.”

“Send me a message?” I laugh because he has to be joking. “No...no...that’s not possible.”

His brow furrows. “Please come with me. I’d like to show you something.”

We move across the living room and he pushes open the door to my bedroom. What I find there is disturbing. There is a doll in a lilac dress sitting on my bed with her hand waving out, a bouquet of flowers in the other, and a tiara nested on her blonde head. A knife cuts right through the doll’s chest.

Message received.

***

“MR. BLACK! CAN I get a picture of you both?”

Oliver nods at the photographer and I look at Oliver for protection. We’re standing on the boat dock headed toward Cassie’s party. The narrow path leading to the yacht is entirely covered in red carpet and charming fresh flower arrangements. My hair is slicked back in a wavy ponytail and I wear a shimmery, rose colored open-back dress, and nude strap-heel sandals.

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