Ryder knew how important it was to Kinsey that Con believe she was innocent, so he sat back and allowed her to answer all the questions.
Kinsey’s wide violet eyes were trained on Con as she pointed to the monitor. “The e-mail was exchanged between Harriet and another individual.”
“Harriet is the person above your boss, correct?”
Kinsey gave a firm nod, a slight lift to her lips. “Correct. The individual mentions KB.”
To help, Ryder swiped the thread of e-mails from Kinsey’s computer to the wall behind Con. Constantine turned to read them.
Kinsey’s quick smile she shot toward Ryder made his gut clench. She thought it was enough to absolve her in Con’s eyes, but he knew Con would think differently.
The information was certainly going to help, but it wasn’t going to clear her altogether.
“Interesting,” Con said as he turned back to face Kinsey. “The pictures confirm it’s you they speak of. Otherwise, KB could be anyone.”
Kinsey’s lips flattened for a heartbeat. “I know. Ryder and I already spoke about that. The fact is, that e-mail is about me.”
“They got into your flat and computer.”
Ryder leaned back in his chair, his hands laced behind his head. “I already thoroughly checked and cleaned her computer and mobile when she arrived. There was nothing on it.”
“That you found,” Con said.
Ryder held his gaze for a long stretch of silence. Ulrik had gotten something past Ryder once. That wasn’t going to happen again. “There was nothing.”
“I’m happy to hear it.” Con then shifted his attention to Kinsey. “This is certainly important. It proves they were watching you for some time. It also shows that these people knew our true natures, and they fully expected you did as well.”
Ryder closed his eyes in frustration. He then sat up, his gaze snapping open. “In all of this, we’ve assumed that Kinsey was working with those at Kyvor.”
“I’m not,” she stated.
He ignored her and continued. “What if they were hoping she did know something to force her to talk about it?”
“When they learned she knew nothing, then they changed tactics,” Con said with a nod.
Kinsey sat back down and rested an elbow on the table. “To do what?”
“If you didna have information to share, then they were going to put you in the nest with us,” Ryder told her.
Her lips parted as the truth hit her. “So that I would turn to them scared out of my mind and give them what they want. That’s why Cecil was so adamant that I remain this morning.”
Con pointed to the e-mails behind him on the wall. “There is more. This isna the first e-mail.”
“Or the last,” Ryder added.
Kinsey puffed out her cheeks before she blew out a breath. She turned her chair to face the table and began typing. “All right, you little buggers,” she said to the screen of e-mails. “Just try and hide from me.”
Ryder rose and followed Con from the room. Con waited in the corridor. “She’s innocent.”
“So both of you keep saying.”
“You just saw proof.”
Con merely looked at him. “Did we? How long have you been looking through those e-mails?”
“I’ve been focused on other things. Kinsey has been sorting through them for the better part of yesterday and today.”
“In all those e-mails, she manages to find one that would clear her? You doona think that’s odd?”
“I think she’s good at what she does. I think she’s been looking through every e-mail. She didna stumble upon this one.”
Con twisted his lips. “Fair enough. So she found the e-mail. With her initials and pictures of the two of you?”
“We’ll find the data needed to clear her name for good.”
“And if you doona? Have you thought about that, Ryder?”
It’d crossed his mind a time or two. “I doona need to.”
“Perhaps you should.”
Ryder looked to the doorway. The rows of monitors hid Kinsey from view, but he could hear her talking to herself. “She’s no’ a part of this.”
“I hope you’re right. If you’re wrong, then you’ve given Ulrik everything he needs to tear us apart.”
Ryder watched Con walk away. He was sure of Kinsey.
And yet, he couldn’t help but worry. The implications Con mentioned were staggering. Ryder wasn’t just putting his own honor on the line. He was putting the entire way of life for everyone at Dreagan in jeopardy.
He strode back into the computer room, walked around the monitors, and grabbed Kinsey’s chair. He jerked it back, turning it so she faced him. Then he put his hands on either side of her face and gazed into her violet eyes.
“Ry—” she began.
He kissed her, claiming her lips in a kiss that he’d been dying to give. Her mouth softened beneath his, parting so their tongues met, dancing against each other.
It was heaven. Pure, utter bliss.
Ryder knew he stepped over the boundaries Kinsey had set upon her arrival, but in all honesty, he didn’t care. Not at that moment.