Scarlett and Brayden stood in the upstairs hallway while Beni showed Cass and Tyler where to hook up Tyler’s computer.
“I’m going to search Laylani’s study,” Scarlett told Brayden.
“Yeah, let’s,” he said.
“Tyler?” called Scarlett.
Tyler spun around. “Yeah?”
“If we needed help getting into my evil stepmother’s laptop, is that something you’d be comfortable doing?”
His answering smile was serpentine. “For sure. Cass told me everything, and I’m totally on Team Scarlett’s Revenge.”
“Aww, we have a team name,” said Beni.
“Thank you,” said Scarlett, with a grateful look at both Cass and Tyler. “It means a lot to have you on my side.”
“Here to help. And on that note, where’s your security setup?” asked Tyler.
“It’s in my father’s study.”
Scarlett led him to the downstairs study, which was filled with Jules’s books. Brayden watched from the doorway as she opened the cabinet where the security system was kept.
“There are some cameras on the outside of the house, although no one checks them unless there’s an issue,” she said to Tyler as she pulled out the old laptop they used to view the feeds.
“Great.” Tyler took it from Scarlett.
“My stepmother’s study is next door. I’m not sure if her computer is in there or not. I’ll go check while you get started here.”
Tyler sat down in front of the laptop. “Cool.”
Scarlett’s nerves spiked. She prayed Laylani would stay away long enough that she didn’t get caught in the act. She halfexpected the door to be booby-trapped or locked, but the room was still as she pushed it open. She noted right away that Laylani’s laptop was missing from her desk.
“I’ll check the desk.” Scarlett was hyperaware of every sound around them as she moved into the room.
“I’ll look in there.” Brayden moved to a decorative white trunk sitting under the large garden-facing window.
All of Laylani’s desk drawers were unlocked. Scarlett methodically searched each one, her palms sweating as she did, but all she found were old receipts for clothing and jewelry purchases.
“The trunk has nothing important,” said Brayden as he kneeled next to her and ran his hands along the underside of the desk.
“What was in it?” asked Scarlett.
“Her wedding dress and a few photo albums.”
“Ugh,” said Scarlett. She lost hope as every drawer revealed only the mundane. There were no bank statements, birth certificates, or anything of the like. She finished looking through the final desk drawer—unused greeting cards—and sat on her heels. “It makes sense she’d remove anything I could’ve used against her.” She looked around for anything else that could hold Laylani’s secrets. Just for good measure, she took the cushions off the small love seat, but she found nothing. Not even a pack of Laylani’s menthol cigarettes.
Brayden ran his hands through his hair. “Should we look in her bedroom?”
“Yes, but something tells me there’s no point. She must be keeping things somewhere else, like at Moira’s house.”
“Let’s try anyway,” said Brayden.
They did a similar sweep in the bedroom Laylani had shared with Jules until his death. This time, they did find cigarettes in the nightstand. And disturbing artifacts Scarlett wanted toforget, including Laylani’s extensive lingerie drawer. Aside from the clothes that still hung in his section of the closet, there was little evidence of her father in the room.
In the bathroom, Scarlett stilled when she noticed a bottle of his cologne. She took the cap off the bottle and inhaled. The familiar smell of vanilla and leather reminded her of visiting her dad in his study. Laughing with him. Talking with him. Tears spilled over her cheeks as her breath caught. She missed him so.
Brayden appeared in the doorway. When he saw her, he slid his arms around her waist.
