Page 9 of Follows with Intent

Nico had to admit, as he heard himself, that his tone might have slipped a bit.

Some microcalculation took place on Jadon’s face, and he said, “Sorry, I—” Then he grinned, and it was like someone had flipped a switch, because he looked relaxed and—well, if Nico weren’t a total idiot, happy to see him. “What are you doing here?” And then, “I didn’t know you wore glasses.”

“I don’t, usually,” Nico said. Which was, technically, the truth. But he took the glasses off, folded them, and tucked them into a pocket of the cardigan. “And I’m here for a seminar.”

“You are?”

Nico stood a little straighter. “Believe it or not, Jadon, yes. I actually do go to seminars. They even let me present papers once in a while.”

“Uh, okay. I mean, I thought it was more of a police thing, but that’s great that they’re letting private investigators attend too.”

Nico stared at him.

“What?” Jadon finally asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the theology seminar I’m attending this week. Here. At Chouteau College.”

Jadon’s smile grew. “Ah. I thought—there’s a symposium for LGBTQ law enforcement professionals. Well, you don’t have to be gay, but a lot of the attendees are.”

“That explains the sexual ley line,” Nico said under his breath.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

A group of men passed, suspending their conversation as they stared at Nico and Jadon—particularly at Jadon, in his coffee-soaked clothes.

“It’s not a fucking strip show,” Nico snapped. “Put your eyes back in your fucking heads.”

The men—more of the burly, police types—exchanged startled looks and walked a bit faster toward the exit.

When Nico turned back to Jadon, he was smiling.

“You’re here all week?” Jadon asked. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Figured you were busy, like always.”

Jadon’s smile dropped.

“Don’t worry,” Nico added, “I won’t hold you to your promise.”

“Hold on—”

At that moment, Maya passed them. Nico called her name, and when she turned around, he jogged to catch up.

4

Nico

“No,” Nico said. “No, no, no, no, no.”

“But why not?”

It was a typical Maya question: smart, logical, ruthlessly practical. As they approached Eldridge Hall, where the seminar was being held, she checked her sectioned Afro in the door’s glass. Then she looked at Nico.

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