Faux Vows, True Desires

After running a fair distance, Darlene finally allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief when she realized Keith hadn't followed her.

She stopped by the roadside, opened the trunk of her car, and pulled out her cellphone to use its flashlight. Rifling through the stacks of cash inside the box, her fingers stumbled upon a tiny tracking device.

With a chuckle, she mused, "I knew you'd pull something like this."

She plucked the tracker from among the bills and flung it into the roadside brush. After a thorough second search to ensure there were no more bugs, she closed the trunk and restarted the car.

Keith had been convinced he'd gather enough proof to confirm she was the elusive Darlene. But the tracker had landed too close to the Moore residence for comfort. Without even checking, he knew Darlene had discovered his little spy gadget and tossed it aside.

Clever girl. Always on her toes. You don't get that kind of street smarts without a few years under your belt.

Keith's appreciation for Darlene grew, as did his intrigue. Her actions were peeling back the layers of his curiosity.

By day, she was Ms. Darlene, a vision of beauty with a gentle nature that could fool anyone into thinking she was a delicate flower. Such a girl, like a greenhouse bloom, deserved to be treasured and protected, not meant for the likes of him.

Keith's wife wouldn't need a prestigious family background or a stunning face, but she must be strong-willed. Otherwise, entering the Blue family would be a recipe for disaster, leaving her open to the same tragedies that befell his mother.

But if the masked woman was indeed Darlene, her wolf-in-sheep's-clothing act might just fit the bill. Her facade was dangerously deceptive-even he had been fooled. If Lucy hadn't been playing matchmaker, suspecting Darlene was the woman behind the mask, Keith might never have seen through her charade. Darlene had mentioned keeping tabs on him, indicating she had access to some serious intel. It would make sense if she were the mastermind behind Cipher Detectives. Only Lucy had known he was visiting the Moore estate prior to his arrival, and she had been with Darlene at the time. It must have been their overheard conversation that led Darlene to follow him there.

Through various tests, he and his sister had all but confirmed Darlene's secret identity. "One of these days, I'll peel off that mask myself and see who you really are," Keith muttered to himself before loading the money back into his car. Tomorrow, he would return it to the Anderson brothers.

vehicle-a carful of cash was not something to leave unattended. Keith slipped back to the Moore estate and was just about to sneak into his guest room when the motion-sensor light flicked on. The door to another room opened, and there stood his glamorous mother, Janice, silently observing him. Keith nearly jumped

like that? You

in you?

with Darlene, Keith hesitated between

was that girl with the silver butterfly

Keith know there was no fooling her. Rubbing his temples, he asked, "Mom, why are

the subject.

confessed, "I honestly don't know who she is. But,

walked back into her room, commanding her

mother wanted her to keep an eye out for suitable girls for him. Now,

five-minute encounter.

belongs to s

Keith followed his mother into her

said

we talk about this tomorrow?" Nonetheless,

her gentle tone. "I only have warm water in my room. Would you like some?" The Moores, unlike the Blues kept a simple quest room for Janice with a thermos in case she got thirsty at night, so she

set was a special purchase by Fiona Lewis Moore, intended for Janice's leisure-knowing full well that guest rooms at

Without pouring the water, Janice sat opposite him,