Page 9 of The Perfect Accomplice

“And I also did a little research and found out that this isn’t the first time you’ve been involved in investigations. I guess you worked for a private detective?”

“You guess?” Hannah repeated, on more familiar ground now that she was the one keeping the other person off balance.

“I know,” he acknowledged. “I read about your involvement in a few cases in news reports. “Anyway, it seems like you have a real gift for this sort of thing and as it turns out, I have a friend who could use your help.”

“So to be clear,” Hannah teased, deciding to throw him a lifeline, “you thought that if you bought my coffee drink, I’d repay you by helping your friend?”

“Exactly,” he said, seeming to find his verbal footing again. “I was hoping to bribe you with caffeine and sugar. How’d I do?”

“What’s your friend’s problem?” she asked, not answering his question.

“Maybe I’ll let him tell you,” Finn said. “It’s kind of sensitive and I think he’d like to share it rather than going through a third party.”

“Who is he?” Hannah pressed.

“His name is Reggie Calderone. He’s one of my fraternity brothers, or will be, if I ever move beyond being a pledge.”

Hannah felt the urge to say no flat out but managed to swallow the word.

“I’m not a fan of fraternities,” she reminded him. “You may not know me well, but you should already know that by now.”

“I do know that,” he conceded. “But I also know that—and please don’t take this the wrong way—you pre-judged me based on your personal bias and ended up kind of embarrassing yourself.”

“I think that’s overstating it a bit,” Hannah insisted unconvincingly.

“I would just hate for you to make the same mistake twice and have that reflect poorly on your character,” he said, now the one doing the teasing. “At least hear him out. You can always bail if you’re not interested.”

Hannah thought that was an eminently reasonable request, though she kept that to herself.

“When were you thinking?” she asked.

"It's super time-sensitive, so preferably tonight," he said quickly. "I was hoping you could come to his room at the house."

“The fraternity house?” Hannah wanted to know.

“Yes, Hannah, that’s where he lives.”

Again, there was that little charge at hearing her name on his lips.

“I don’t like the sound of that,” she admitted.

“He just wants some privacy when he talks to you,” Finn explained. “If it helps, I’ll be there.”

“That’s supposed to be reassuring?”

“Yes,” he said, grinning broadly, his dimples nearly blinding her.

Her cheeks flushed again, and she looked down so that her hair fell around her face, hiding it. “Fine, I’ll go,” she muttered, hoping she sounded put out.

“Thanks,” he said. “Give me your number and I’ll text you a specific time after I talk to Reggie.”

Ignoring her reservations, Hannah pulled out her phone and exchanged contact information with him. Still, despite Finn’s charm, she wasn’t sure this was a good idea. The idea of going solo to a fraternity house on a Thursday night and hanging out with two guys in one of their bedrooms gave her real pause.

But she’d said yes. Backing out now would seem weak. So she ignored the little shiver running up her spine and said nothing.

CHAPTER FIVE

Jessie couldn’t take it anymore, so despite the slight risk involved, she punched Ryan in the arm.

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