An Extraordinary Match (The Match Series Book 3) by Barbara Dunlop Page A

teeth.
    “What did you say?” asked the sheriff.
    “I said vacations suck.”
    The elevator pinged, opening to a lobby full of curious stares.
    *
    On the pool deck at the Sunny Autumn Seniors Community, Sam glanced up at the sound of his name.
    Lizbet had joined Sam and JW in their usual spot on the pool deck. But instead of sitting down, she gripped the back of the lounger, her face pale and eyes wide.
    Sam came to his feet, moving toward her. “Lizbet? Are you all right?”
    JW stood as well. “Do you need a doctor?”
    “I just got off the phone with Jillian,” said Lizbet.
    Sam found himself touching her shoulder. “Are you ill?”
    “It’s Jade.”
    A cold feeling settled in Sam’s stomach. Had Logan somehow stepped out of line? Had he upset or hurt her? Sam was going to bloody kill him.
    Lizbet gazed up at him. “Jade’s in jail.”
    JW reacted first. “Why? Where? Lizbet, sit down.”
    Sam nodded his agreement, urging Lizbet to the closest chair. “Tell us what happened. Is Logan in jail with her?” He couldn’t wrap his mind around anything that made sense.
    Lizbet shook her head as she perched sideways on a lounger. “They say she stole electronic information, credit card numbers from an Edwards family business. She didn’t, Sam. She’d never do something like that.”
    “Of course she didn’t,” Sam agreed.
    From what he’d heard about Jade, she was honest and principled. It made absolutely no sense that she’d break the law. Nor would she compromise her values and risk her professional reputation for some quick cash. And if she did, he was confident she would never have gotten caught.
    “This is our fault,” Lizbet moaned. “I sent her there. My granddaughter is in jail, because of me.”
    “We’ll help her,” said Sam.
    Lizbet looked hopeful for the first time.
    He didn’t know what she’d need, but he’d figure it out once he got there. “Did she say anything about the evidence?”
    Lizbet shook her head. “It’s the Twin Peaks Resort. Jade was staying there. Jillian says Jade piggybacked on their Internet connection, and they accused her of stealing credit card accounts.”
    The more Sam heard, the more puzzled he became. Could Jade have been solving a crime rather than committing one? If so, why didn’t she tell them what she’d been doing? Maybe it was confidential. Or maybe she’d tried to explain, and they hadn’t believed her.
    He quickly realized he could waste a lot of time on pointless speculation. He needed facts, and he needed evidence. No matter what was going on here, the town of Mirror Falls would need technical help to get to the truth.
    He straightened, making up his mind. “I’m going to Mirror Falls. I can check out their computer system, and nobody will suspect I’m there on Jade’s side.”
    Lizbet gripped his hands. “Would you? Would you, really?”
    “Absolutely. I’ll get there just as soon as I can.”
    *
    Since Sheriff Clive Edwards was Logan’s second cousin, Logan was given immediate access to the Mirror Falls holding cells. Inside, he paced his way down the narrow hallway, his anger and disgust building as he grew closer to Jade’s cell.
    He and Elroy had returned early from their trip to the cottage because Elroy had received a last-minute booking. Thank goodness they had. He rounded the corner now and smacked his hand against the bars, rattling the door to her cell.
    Jade recoiled where she sat on the plank of a bed. Then, recognizing it was him, she quickly came to her feet.
    “I’m trying to figure out,” he barked, not holding back any of his anger and disgust, “if there was something I said, some small piece of information I gave you yesterday that allowed you to victimize my family.”
    Her complexion blanched. “Logan, you don’t understand.”
    “I understand perfectly. What was all that about? The sweet talk, the jokes, the kiss ? No wonder you were so interested in my family history, who was who and what they did.”