Betrayal of Trust Read Online Free PDF Page A

It cheapens it in a way.” The only real relationship she’d ever had. It was a bittersweet memory, but one she cherished all the same.
    “If you don’t get the story someone else will. Are you willing to let it be Kellie?” He leaned forward. “I’ll let you in on a secret a little birdie told me.”
    “What?”
    “Kellie’s mother is a club friend of Matthew Strong’s mother. Seems they meet once a week for lunch. So you see, Kellie has an inside track to this guy too.”
    Raven’s competitive nature took charge. Ken was right. Matthew couldn’t hide forever. Eventually someone was going to track him down and get a story out of him. No way was she going to let that person be Kellie. She stifled a growl. Why did everything have to come to that girl handed on a silver platter? Well, she couldn’t have Matthew!
    She snatched up her cell phone.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Calling Matt, what do you think?”
    Triumph shone in his green eyes. “You know the number by heart?”
    “If it hasn’t changed since we were dating. You know I never forget anything. As far as I know he’s still living in a wing at his parents’ mansion. Since his dad died, he’s sort of the man of the family.”
    Ken rolled his eyes. “Families are a chain aroundyour neck. You have to cut them loose or you’ll never have any peace.”
    Raven hated when he talked like that. Her head and her heart were constantly in a struggle about family and she didn’t like hearing it so blatantly from a bohemian with no morals and no ethics. If Ken weren’t such a great cameraman…
    She dialed Matt’s number while Ken looked on. It rang four times then a child answered. “Hello? Who is this?”
    “I’m not allowed to say,” the child replied. “Who’s this?”
    “Is—is this the Strong residence?”
    A long pause on the other end.
    “Hello? Are you still there?”
    “Yes,” came the whispered reply.
    “Is this the home of Matthew Strong?”
    “I’m not allowed to say.”
    “Who are you talking to, Jamie?”
    As if caught playing phone pranks, Raven quickly disconnected.
    “What?” Ken stared at her, his eyes asking the obvious question.
    “A kid answered. I think I must have gotten the wrong number.”
    “Maybe it was Matthew’s kid.”
    Raven scowled. “And no one knew about a wife and child? Come on.”
    “Yeah, that’s true. So what now?”
    Raven took a sip of the too-sweet, chocolate-flavored coffee and pinched a bite from her muffin.
    “Matthew was always a creature of habit. He probably still works out at Randy’s Gym on Harrison.”
    “Mr. Senator at that dive? I don’t see it.”
    “Trust me.” Digging into her purse, she tossed some bills on the table, then stood.
    “Where are you going?”
    “I think it’s time to get back into shape. See you later.”
    With a grin, she exited Corner Coffee and headed to her car. First stop—the sports shop two blocks away. She’d need exercise clothes and gym shoes if she were going to pull this one off.
    Now, please God, let Matthew still work out at the gym.
     
    The memory of that phone call this morning irked Matthew. Jamie knew better than to answer the phone. Only the girl’s insistence that the caller had been a woman stopped Matthew from calling the phone company and changing their number.
    He couldn’t explain to Jamie. And that made things hard. The kid was growing more independent by the day. Answering the phone was taboo. She knew that. If one of her friends called, she could talk. But she could not answer on her own. Why had the little girl picked now to start testing the limits?
    Dusk was settling as he pulled into the parking lot. His muscles twitched, anticipating the welcome punishment. He knew he could trust Randy not to let anyone know he was coming in to work out. The salty characters at his gym were serious body builders who didn’t care if he was a senatorial candidate or a factory worker named Ed. As long as he didn’t hog the free