Her Secret| ✓

04

For this chapter listen to Good Thing by Kehlani

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"DO YOU THINK YOU could explain why you had no identification on your person? I run a hospital, and have a few connections at the police station-is there anyone I can contact for you?" Montgomery Laurence, who was sitting across from Diana in his Tuder-esque study, explained in natural tones. It was the morning of the next day, Montgomery had asked her to meet him in his study.

Montgomery noticed Diana's keen awareness that she was being led to answer specific, vital questions, but she could only play along at this point-her name and face were household brands by then.

Diana turned her head slightly to Erik, he could see the way she squinted at him in disappointment and spite, she lowered her gaze and stared at an ottoman until she thought of what to say. "You do not have to spare my feelings-your son clearly, didn't," Diana said, a little too much attitude in her voice.

Montgomery flattened Erik with a disapproving look a parent would use on a fifth-grader.

"Look, I do not mean to be rude here, and I do not know what your son has told you," Diana paused and glared at Erik. "But I swear I did not escape a mental facility. I worked at a newspaper until I went freelance, the cops in this area reached out to me for my assistance on a case," The more Diana explained it, the farther she fell down the rabbit hole.

Montgomery leaned forward in his seat, perplexed by the explanation; obviously, Diana ground her teeth, he had expected something else. Montgomery was a very tall man, Diana observed him openly-curiously. Like Erik, his broad shoulders looked sturdy and dependable.

Diana's eyes glassed over as her mind wandered and she tilted her chin down, she licked her dry lips and looked up at the same chiselled features as Montgomery's sons'. The similarities between blood relations ran strong in that family, she thought.

I can do this, even if it is just a lie, Diana thought, she leaned forward and supported her elbows on her knees. What good is the whole truth, anyway?

"I was mugged on my way to my hotel room last Wednesday night, my phone battery died, and I do not have any friends in this area I could contact," She said quickly, levelling her gaze. "You can talk to Captain Larson at the SPD, he will back up my story," Diana pressed her lips together.

"I got a job offer in the Seattle area, so I left Kennewick a while back. The police requested my help-I have done quite a significant amount of research into the Jumprope murder case, a copycat has surfaced, and they want my help. So here I am," Diana cut herself off, it was apparent that she was not about to elaborate on that subject by the sudden dip in her voice, so Montgomery let it slide.

Erik watched as Diana pressed the flat of her right hand against her ribs, taking a moment before she recovered. "I quit, I wanted a change, Boston sounded nice," As Diana explained her events of the past few months, Montgomery listened thoughtfully.

Erik's face was unreadable as he put his hearing on autopilot to think, crossing his arms over his broad chest. She would sooner have her skin sizzle in front of her than mention one detail about her, Erik mused critically.

"Boston? Massachusetts?" Montgomery interjected, following her trail. Diana paused as she drank her coffee, turning to glance at Erik over the brim of the tall ornate mug, bracing her ribs with her other hand as she leaned over and gently laid the mug on the lacquered mahogany table. "Lincolnshire," Diana supplied in a raspy voice, leaning back against the soft but stern chair.

"Now, if you will be so kind as to point me in the direction of the front door, this place is like a maze," She added the last part as she stood. She did her part; storytime was over. I need to get out of here and back to that hotel room, I am aching to.