Viper's Kiss by Shannon Curtis Read Free Book Online

hands clenching and relaxing. “What is happening? It’s not me. I wasn’t there. It’s somebody who looks like me, but it’s not me.” He could hear the panic in her voice.
    Luke blinked. “That is obviously you on that tape. You have access to the TI network. It was your top secret, protected pass codes that were used to break into the security system. Your technical fingerprint left when you did it. And you’re in the footage. It’s all you.” She was arguing, when the evidence was right in front of her.
    “Let me get this straight. I crack Tek-Intel’s state of the art security network, but forget to disguise my IP address, which is pretty much like leaving a calling card. I go to the trouble of dressing up in a black outfit, presumably to blend in with the night, but forget to hide my hair. And I break into a guarded lab with my hair in a braid, a braid that would leave me vulnerable in a physical encounter?” Maggie scoffed.
    Luke nodded. “I said you did it. I never said you were smart about it. Admittedly, with just one of these details, I’d be skeptical, but when all the evidence starts to add up, I can’t ignore it. Neither can the authorities. I have to follow the lead.” He shook his head. “Are you trying to use the ‘Oh, it’s not me, Judge, it’s my doppelganger’ defense?” He couldn’t believe it.
    Maggie’s eyes narrowed. “Doppelganger? You want a doppelganger? I’ll show you a doppelganger.” She walked up to the keyboard. Luke’s hand shot out.
    “You do realize that’s not the only copy, right? Just in case you’re trying to delete it?”
    He almost laughed when she rolled her eyes.
    “Fine,” she snapped. “Check Google for Miss April Hotrod.”
    Luke frowned. What the hell is she trying to do, now? He couldn’t figure out what her aim was. But he was interested to see how her mind worked. He opened up a web browser and searched for Miss April Hotrod.
    He clicked on the first entry, then stood back as an image filled the screen. His jaw dropped.
    “Well, will you look at that.” Maggie stared down at him from the screen, a come-hither look in her eyes, her mouth pouting sexily as she sprawled naked over a nineteen sixty-eight Ford Mustang. He swallowed. He loved nineteen sixty-eight Ford Mustangs.
    “Nice wheels,” he observed. He looked at the angry woman standing beside him. “Should have known you were wearing a costume today. No way a young woman would really dress like that.” He eyed the collared shirt, the sensible skirt and flat shoes.
    Her mouth dropped open and his eyes narrowed. She looked kinda, well, hurt, for some reason.
    Her mouth closed with a snap, and she pointed to the screen. “That is not me. That woman’s name is Kandy Karamel.” She grimaced.
    Luke looked at the screen again. The woman was beautiful. Sexy. He looked askance at Maggie. Then back at the screen. It had to be her. Same color hair, same full lips. He shrugged.
    “Looks like the same woman to me.” He looked closely, then back at Maggie’s undone shirt. She frowned and crossed her arms over her chest, her cheeks reddening. Well, nearly the same. The woman standing beside him was certainly well endowed, but he estimated her assets had been airbrushed and enhanced in the image on the screen. And she had green eyes in the photo instead of the gray eyes shooting darts at him now.
    “You’re a woman of many talents,” he admitted. Damn, she looked hot up there.
    Maggie groaned. “It isn’t me.”
    She gestured to the screen, and Luke caught sight of her bra again. She did have great breasts and didn’t need the alterations worked on the image on the screen. He sighed as he realized he was staring. Oh, he was going to hell.
    “Search Kandy Karamel, if you like. It isn’t me in that photo, just like it’s not me on that film.” Her voice rose.
    Luke shook his head. “Nice try. Interesting idea, though. Try to make yourself look as plain-Jane as possible after doing a