Natalie Crowe.
My breath hitched. I stared at the screen, then lifted my gaze up to the building.
Was Natalie tied to Blackstone Capital?
It took seconds to confirm.
One of the emails had her full signature block at the bottom: Natalie Crowe, CPA—Blackstone Capital, LLC. And right above it was an attachment titled RentLedger_12mo.xlsx.
Natalie wasn’t just aware of Blackstone’s leases.
She managed them.
Natalie worked for Gerald Knox.
My chest tightened as I started scrolling. Dozens of emails from Natalie to Harlan Properties—rent ledgers, maintenance approvals, renewal addendums—all tied to Blackstone Capital.
Natalie had been lying to us.
My heart began to pound. Had James walked into a trap?
If she’d contacted Knox, it wouldn’t have been done with a phone call the security team could overhear. She would have texted or emailed.
I yanked the hard drive free and slipped it into my jacket pocket. This thing was pure gold, and I wasn’t letting it out of my sight.
I dropped the laptop onto my seat, scrambled out of the car, and rushed for the entrance. The receptionist looked up at me with a questioning expression, but I didn’t waste time with explanations or permission. I went straight down the hall, and when I reached Natalie’s office, I flung the door open.
James sat in a chair in front of her desk. Natalie was positioned behind it, posture stiff. They both looked up in surprise, but James’s hand was already inside his jacket, possibly reaching for his gun.
Natalie recovered first. She offered me a warm smile. “Harper. Goodness. You know how to make an entrance.” She gestured to me. “It took me a moment to recognize you since your hair’s different. Skeeter said you weren’t coming today.”
I shut the door behind me and sat in the chair next to James. “I changed my mind.”
“Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to look up those LRPD names yet.” Her voice softened into an apology. “I’ve been distracted by everything going on.” She gave James a grateful look. “I was just thanking Skeeter for his protection.”
I leaned back, letting the silence stretch long enough to make it uncomfortable.
I angled my head to the side. “How soon after we left yesterday did you notify Gerald Knox that we’d come by asking about him?”
James sat up slightly—alert and on edge.
Natalie’s face went pale as all expression drained away. For a half second, she looked like she might actually crumble. Then she pasted on a weak smile. “What are you talking about? Why would I contact Gerald Knox? I’m trying my best to lay low, not draw his attention.”
“You played it smart,” I said. “You had about a thirty-minute window before your security arrived yesterday. Plenty of time to send a message.”
Anger sparked in her eyes. “I don’t like what you’re insinuating, Harper.”
“I’m sure you don’t,” I said coolly. “Because I just upset your cushy world.” I held her gaze. “I know you’re the accountant for Blackstone Capital.”
She tried to look shocked, but it didn’t land.
James stiffened. “You’ve been doin’ Knox’s books, Natalie?” he asked, his voice deceptively calm.
Her eyes flew wide. “Skeeter, I?—”
“It’s a yes or no question,” he said with an edge.
Natalie’s hand trembled on the desk. She didn’t answer.
