Assumed Identity(64)

“I wasn’t hurting anybody.”

The sharp crack of splintering wood spun them both around as the door swung into the room and Jake stepped inside. He looked from Robin to Mark, who instantly released his grip on her, and back to Robin. “Everything okay?”

Mark sputtered beside her. “You just broke a door in the church. Who’s paying for that? Me, I suppose?” He tried to make a quick exit, but Jake was blocking the open doorway. He glanced over his shoulder at Robin and his slender shoulders sagged. “Add it to my tab.”

It wasn’t until she nodded that Jake stepped aside. “I’ll have my lawyer contact you.”

When Mark turned and walked out into the crowd of curious onlookers, Robin followed him to the door and clung to the splintered frame around the lock, scarcely aware of the organ music turning the guests’ attention back to the sanctuary. She drew in a heavy breath, wishing she felt better about knowing the truth. “One mystery solved.”

“Mark was cooking the books?” Jake came up behind her, cupping her shoulders. Robin leaned back against his solid strength. “Do you think he could have attacked you?” Jake asked against her ear. “Maybe to get you out of the way so he could recover any proof of his embezzlement?”

“I don’t know. Mark doesn’t seem like the violent type. Sneaky, yes—but swinging a baseball bat?” She turned when she could feel Jake stewing about something behind her. “What? Do you recognize Mark from the attack?”

“No, but...” Answer the question, Jake. No more secrets, please. He squeezed her hand where it rested against his chest. “Stay here.”

“That’s not an answer.” The crowd parted as Jake moved through it. He caught up with Mark Riggins on his way out the side door to the street. Something Jake said—or maybe the hand clamped over Mark’s shoulder—convinced him to turn around and come back into the office where Robin waited. “What are you doing?”

“Not a nice guy, remember?” Jake shoved Mark into the room, closed the door, then pushed Mark back against it, pinning him to the carved panels with a forearm pressed against his throat.

“Jake.” She tugged at his arm, but it wasn’t budging.

“What, you haven’t humiliated me enough?” The forearm caught beneath Mark’s chin and lifted him onto his toes. “Robin, call off your thug before he breaks my neck. That’s going to leave a mark.”

“I can do something worse if you don’t answer my questions,” Jake threatened. “Understand?”

Mark nodded.

“Jake?” Robin was more worried about Jake getting into trouble than Mark’s comfort. “You said he didn’t attack me.”

“A few nights ago, I followed you around the corner from Robin’s shop and saw you selling an envelope of photographs to a man wearing gloves.”

“You followed me?” Jake’s arm and Mark’s common sense quickly silenced that protest. He nodded.

“What pictures?” Like those horrible threats she’d been receiving in the mail? Mark had something to do with that? She didn’t know her friend at all, apparently.

“Who were those pictures of?” Jake prompted. “Robin?”

Mark glanced at Robin as his cheeks turned red from a dwindling oxygen supply.

“Tell him,” she ordered.

“Emma. They were pictures of Emma. I’m so sorry.”

“You sold pictures of my daughter?” Robin felt her own face heat up. She was livid. He got a break on cheating her business. But exploiting her daughter? “To some stranger?”

“Not lewd ones. Nothing illegal. Just pictures of her sleeping, or in her swing.” Mark didn’t seem to know whom he should be more afraid of. “The guy wanted them for his sister. She lost a baby and was really sad. He thought the pictures would cheer her up.”

“What guy?” Jake demanded.

Another terrible thought had Robin turning about the room. “Where’s Emma?”

“I left her with Shirley, the lady from your shop,” he assured her before resuming the inquisition. “What guy?”

“I don’t know his name. He came to the shop a couple of times while you were on maternity leave. Bought flowers. Paid cash. Left pretty quickly when he found out you weren’t there.” Mark’s face was as red as the checks on his tie now. “I was getting the money to pay you back. To get some cash back into the accounts before you figured out what I was doing.”