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“This isn’t good.”
“I figured that from what I overheard.” She held out a hand. “Can I see what was inside the program?”
His lips twisted slightly. “It’s not pleasant.”
She gave him a cold stare. “I have enough of this from my family. Don’t try and sugarcoat real life for me, Rylan. I’m a grown-up. I can deal with it.”
“Sorry.” He handed over the program.
Even though she’d given him the tough talk, Bree opened it tentatively. He was right. The insert had been cut to the same size and shape as the pages of the program. It even had the Wise Gal logo across the top. But the pictures it included were unlike anything Bree had ever exhibited. They were the worst kind of pornography, depicting a range of unsavory acts.
“How...?” She looked up at Rylan in confusion.
“How did that get inside your promotional program?” he asked. “That’s what I was going to ask you.”
A tap on the door made them both turn in that direction. When Kasey stepped inside, her face was ashen. “Bree, I don’t know what’s been going on, but my phone has been ringing nonstop.”
“Could it have anything to do with this?” Bree held up the insert.
Kasey gasped as she looked at the images. “When the first few calls came in, I didn’t know what was going on. I’ve had sponsors calling to withdraw their support, customers canceling orders... Even the mayor has been on the phone.” She raised tear-filled eyes to Bree’s face. “I swear to you...those pictures were not in the programs when they came from the printer. I checked them myself.”
“Did you check the programs again before you sent them out?” Bree asked.
“No, I didn’t see any reason to do that...” Kasey looked from Bree to Rylan. “Why would someone do this? How did they do it?”
“You forgot the key question,” Rylan said. “Who did this?”
* * *
By working nonstop for the next three hours, Bree, Kasey and the two receptionists had managed to contact most of the people on the gallery’s mailing list. It was a relief to learn that not all of the programs that had been sent out had contained the ghastly insert. Most of those they had spoken to had calmed down once the situation had been explained.
Afterward, Bree put a call into the mayor. Like most local politicians, he was a little in awe of the Colton name, and it hadn’t taken her long to pacify him as well. The local newspaper and radio station had asked for comments. Both had run with a one-sentence statement about a mix-up. So far, it looked like the damage had been contained.
“But it still means someone got into Kasey’s office and put those things inside the programs before she mailed them.” Rylan called Trey and relayed the details of the incident to him. “That took time and planning.”
“It also took audacity,” the sheriff said. “Whoever did it could have been interrupted at any time.”
“Unless it was done at night, or when the gallery was closed.” Rylan had given it some thought. “If that’s the case, the person who did this overrode the security system. David thought the person who attacked him that morning was heading for Bree’s apartment. What if that was a cover? What if the guy had actually just left the gallery?”
“It’s a possibility,” Trey conceded.
“There are two lines of inquiry here,” Rylan said. “Someone had those pornographic leaflets printed. And he also entered this gallery at some point.”
“I’m on it,” Trey assured him. “What’s the motive here? Damage Bree’s business so she’s forced out of the Diamond? Wasn’t that the message in the original emails?”
“It’s a two-pronged attack. It’s personal because he’s attempting to destroy her reputation with these vile pictures, but he’s also hitting the gallery. After the guy who came in here today to complain gave us a heads-up, we’ve been able to calm things down,” Rylan said. “Nevertheless, it’s the last thing Bree needed to deal with right now.”
Frustration was building like a bubble in his chest. How was he supposed to endure this? Wanting to care for Bree, yet being forced to keep his distance? He could be her bodyguard, but he wanted to be more than that. He wanted to hold her, to shoulder her troubles and shut out the world. But it was his own damned fault that he couldn’t do those things. He had told her lies, broken her trust and hurt her beyond repair. And the worst part? He’d known all along what would happen once she knew the truth, but had not done anything to stop it.
