Novels by DIAMOND

The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the park near Haven Enterprises, where I’d slipped away to clear my head after the archive room meeting. I sat on a wooden bench, the faint rustle of leaves and distant laughter of kids on a playground softening the edges of my thoughts.My phone rested in my lap, a text to Ella half-typed: “Coming this weekend with Nick. How’s Mom holding up?” The Suzan-Marcus email weighed on me, a knot of suspicion tightening with every new clue, but I needed a moment to breathe, to reconnect with family before diving back into the mystery. I hit send, watching a squirrel dart across the grass, and let the park’s calm settle over me.Ella’s reply came fast: “Mom’s stressed but hiding it. Dad’s being a stubborn mule. Nick’s coming? OMG!”I stood, brushing off my green dress, and headed toward the office to grab my bag. The park’s peace lingered, but Suzan’s guarded face and Jordan’s evasiveness crept back, sharpening my focus. Torres’s workstation logs wo

The deli across from Haven Enterprises was a small haven of noise and warmth. Its checkered floor was scuffed from years of foot traffic, and the air was thick with the smell of pastrami and fresh bread. I pushed through the glass door, the bell jingling, and spotted Nick at a corner booth, his broad shoulders hunched over a menu, his tie loosened in that way that always made my pulse skip. The lunch crowd buzzed around us—office workers, delivery guys, a mom wrangling two kids—but as I slid into the booth across from him, the world narrowed to his blue eyes, steady and warm, locking onto mine.“Hey, Tee,” he said, his voice low, a smile tugging at his lips. “You look like you’ve been chasing ghosts all morning. Brew & Bean turn up anything?”I set my bag down, leaning back against the vinyl seat, the tension in my shoulders easing just a fraction. “Not much, but enough to keep me curious. The barista mentioned a regular—a guy in a hoodie, who works late in the back. Could be Marcus,

The morning air was sharp as I stood outside Brew & Bean, the coffee shop Torres had pinpointed as the source of Marcus Reed’s off-site login. The neon sign flickered lazily above the door, the pink glow struggling against the hazy grey light of dawn. A steady stream of early risers bustled past, their conversations blending with the hum of traffic and the occasional whoosh of a passing bus. The scent of roasted beans drifted through the open window, rich and earthy, weaving into the cold breeze that tugged at my coat.I hadn’t slept much—maybe three hours at most—but adrenaline had kicked in the moment my alarm went off. I’d come early, before heading to Haven, hoping to catch something—anything—that might explain who had used the coffee shop’s public Wi-Fi to tamper with our mock-up files. A familiar face. A name dropped accidentally. Even a strange look exchanged across the counter. Something.My breath puffed visibly in the cool spring air, and I tightened my scarf, peering throug

At noon, I saw Jordan’s familiar frame walking out of the break room, a lunch container in hand, heading toward the small garden terrace on the third floor. I grabbed my salad from the fridge and followed at a distance, giving him a few minutes before joining him.The terrace was quiet, the spring air crisp, with just enough sunlight breaking through the overcast sky to warm the concrete benches. Jordan was seated near the far end, scrolling through his phone and picking at a sandwich.“Hey,” I said, keeping my tone light as I sat across from him. “Mind if I join?”He looked up, a flash of surprise in his eyes before he nodded. “Sure. It’s your building, too.”I tried not to flinch at the sharpness in his tone. “Just wanted a bit of air. And maybe some company.”He shrugged but didn’t say no. I let the silence hang for a few beats as I stabbed my fork into the lettuce, trying to make it look casual.“Listen, about yesterday,” I said, watching his face carefully, “I didn’t mean to come

The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped onto the marketing floor of Haven Enterprises, the familiar hum of printers and chatter greeting me. My heels clicked against the polished floor, and I adjusted the strap of my bag.David was at the coffee machine, wrestling with a jammed filter, his usual grin replaced by a scowl. “Morning, Tee,” he called, spotting me. “This thing’s out to ruin my day.”I laughed, setting my bag down at my desk. “Not unless it involves unplugging and praying. Rough start?”“You have no idea,” he said, finally yanking the filter free, coffee grounds scattering. “Torres kept me up late with his theories about that mock-up glitch. The guy is like a dog with a bone. Have you heard anything new?”I leaned against my cubicle, keeping my voice low. “Not yet. He’s supposed to update me and Nick today. Something about Marcus Reed’s login. You think it’s an inside job?”David wiped his hands on a napkin, his eyes narrowing. “Marcus was weird, always by himself, neve

The city lights blurred past as Nick’s car wound through downtown, the hum of the engine a soft counterpoint to the quiet between us. I leaned against the window, my cheek cool against the glass, the buzz of the bar’s laughter and karaoke still echoing in my ears.The Reid Corps win felt like a triumph, but the weight of Jordan’s defensiveness and Marcus Reed’s ghost login clung to me, a puzzle I couldn’t solve tonight. Nick’s hand rested on my thigh, warm and steady, and I glanced at him, his profile sharp in the streetlights, his jaw relaxed but his eyes focused on the road.“You’re thinking too loud,” he said, his voice teasing but soft, breaking the silence. He squeezed my thigh gently, glancing my way. “Want to tell me what’s going on in that head of yours, Tee?”I smiled, shifting to face him, my hand covering his. “Just everything. The deal, Jordan, Marcus. I keep trying to connect the dots, but it’s like I’m missing half the picture. And then there’s Mom and Dad. I need to cal