Ellen Butler

Diamonds & Deception Ellen Butler

The rainbows-and-unicorns period of her friends-to-lovers relationship with Mike Finnegan officially over, Karina Cardinal is taking a tactical retreat. No way is she calling him for rescue from one of her infamous scrapes. Too bad trouble, if not her middle name, is a close relative. Sadira Manon, friend and colleague of Karina's sister Jillian, has been dropping way too much cash on designer labels for a middle school teacher. Even one who moonlights as a jewelry store clerk. But when she's accused of theft, the loose diamond falling out of her purse is enough for the police to sing the song of their people--Miranda Rights. Karina, Jilly, and Silverthorne Security join forces to investigate who's setting Sadira up to take a fall, and why. They dig up a shady tangle of Russian mob ties and gambling debts. By the time Karina realizes they've dug too deep--and maybe a little too far outside the law--Jillian's in trouble, and the only way out of this particular pot of hot water is to make that phone call . . . and hope Mike doesn't let it go to voice mail.