Betrayal by Gregg Olsen Read Free Book Online Page B

else existed. Because of her obvious and maddeningly overt sense of entitlement, Brandy’s downfall had been met with more glee than tears.
    â€œGreat,” Gloria had said. “But still, as you know, I’m not advising you that this is a good move for you, Brandy.”
    Brandy stopped the sweeping loops of her signature in midscrawl.
    â€œI don’t recall asking your advice a second time,” she said.
    Gloria had tried to smile, but it wasn’t easy. “I’m just doing my duty, Brandy.”
    â€œWho pays your fees?” Brandy asked, pretending to think. “I believe that’s me . I hired you for your services. This is how it works. I ask you for something, you do it, and then I pay you.”
    Gloria could have said something about the fact that Brandy hadn’t paid her for anything for three months, but she thought better of it. She’d leave that to the law firm’s collection department. Brandy Baker was experiencing hard times like a lot of people since the housing bubble burst and the disastrous economy followed.
    The documents were stacked in neat and perfect order. Her will, insurance policies—both personal and homeowner’s—were pushed across the mahogany table that served as Gloria’s desk. Brandy’s financial portfolio had been hit hard. She didn’t need an accountant or a lawyer to figure out that part.
    Brandy got up and grabbed her coat from the silver hook next to the heavy glass door. “How long until all this is settled?” she asked.
    Gloria looked at her watch. “Should be in the system this afternoon.”
    Brandy nodded. “That’s fine. No real rush. It just feels really good to move things along.”
    Her phone vibrated, indicating a text message.
    She looked down. An annoyed look swept over her face and she started texting.
    â€œWhat is it?” Gloria asked. “Is everything all right?”
    Brandy shook her head. Her eyes were no longer full of condescending ire. She just looked hassled.
    â€œMy daughter, Brianna,” she said as she rolled her eyes. “I’m supposed to go shopping with her for a Halloween costume. Teenagers can be so needy. If you were a mother, you’d understand that.”
    Brandy pushed open the door with a whoosh and disappeared down the hallway toward the bank of stainless-steel elevators, where she would check her hair and makeup. No matter if her ship was sinking, Brandy cared about appearances.
    She always did.
    A part-time clerk named Ted came into Gloria’s office.
    â€œJeesh,” he said, setting the day’s mail down, “that woman’s a real piece of work.”
    Gloria took off her glasses and flipped through the stack of mail he’d delivered. “Look, Ted, I know you’re only twenty-four and from Idaho, but that’s no excuse. That’s not the way we talk about our clients in this office.”
    â€œSorry,” Ted said, his face reddening as he backed out of her office. “Just saying . . .”
    Gloria put her glasses back on and returned to the files arranged in front of her. Ted was right. She’d thought the same thing, of course. Everyone in the office did. Brandy Connors Baker was nothing if not a piece of work.

Chapter 7
    BETH LEE PUT DOWN HER PHONE after texting most of the day away with Hay-Tay, her singleton name for the Ryan twins. Fittingly, Halloween night had, indeed, been a nightmare. She was definitely too sick to go to school, and it wasn’t because of the alcohol. Or puking at the party. It wasn’t from the monster fight that she’d had with Olivia or Brianna after the hostess with the killer party had stolen Olivia right out from under her nose. It wasn’t any one of those things but surely the combination of all of them that had kept the sixteen-year-old home. The sum of each item had conspired to make her feel sicker and sadder than she had in a very long time. Above