Page 83 of Her Guarded Hero

Aurora got excited, and she laughed when she saw her cousin get all cop-ish and frowny. “What did you do Crystal?” Lindy asked.

“Remember Rex from high school?”

“Rex Roberson, the guy who was in the drama club and chess club. The one who followed you around everywhere?” Aurora laughed. She hadn’t thought of Rex in forever. Lindy frowned even more.

“Tell us what the hell you did.”

“Mindy from the beauty parlor mentioned a couple of years ago that he was a spy or something. I looked up his brother on social media and tracked him down.”

“Oh God, so who’s the spy?” Aurora asked.

“Anyway, he’s really nice, and he’s divorced. Believe it or not, he has a daughter who plays soccer. So, I went to one of her games.”

“Does he live around here?” Lindy asked.

“No, over in Sacramento.”

“You went all the way over to Sacramento to flirt with some guy who’s a spy?” Aurora asked incredulously.

“He’s not a spy. Well not exactly. He works for DHS. Anyway, I brought orange slices for his daughter’s team. Then I asked him for a favor.”

“Oh God.” Lindy hit her head on the kitchen table. “Orange slices. You traded orange slices for information.”

“I told him what it was for. And I wore a push up bra.”

“Just tell me exactly what happened,” Lindy said.

“This is a Tahoe Trio, pinky swear,” Crystal said nervously. “We can’t get him in trouble. His little girl is counting on him. What’s more, he wants to help horses.”

“And he likes boobs,” Aurora said helpfully. She needed more ice cream.

“Apparently there’s something to do with I.P. addresses and cell towers that he was able to access with things like the conversations that the Beaumont’s had with the broker that they did business buying Aladdin. I went and got the same kind of information on the Anderson’s buying Lucky, and remember way back when Zeus and Candy came in over two years ago?”

“Oh my God. Just how high up is Rex?” Lindy asked. “Didn’t he check you out and find out your married to Danny?”

Crystal opened her mouth. Then Lindy held up her hand. “I don’t want to know,” Lindy said. “Let me guess, he was able to narrow down where the calls and internet sites originated?”

Crystal nodded guiltily.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Aurora said as she stared at the circle and her heart sank.

“You ate too fast,” Crystal said knowingly.

Aurora shook her head and pointed to the circle. “That’s why I’m sick.”

“What?” Lindy and Crystal asked simultaneously.

“I have to be wrong,” Aurora said. “It can’t be right.”

“For God’s sake, tell us,” Crystal demanded.

Aurora shook her head, her ponytail flying.

“Aurora Dawn, fess up,” Lindy commanded.

“The Lyle’s are right there.”

“Huh?” Crystal looked confused.