Page 58 of Little Empty Promises

“You’re suspicious by nature,” Simone said.“It makes sense.”

“Being suspicious is a good thing,” Hunter added.“It’s how you solve cases.”

“It never feels good when I find out a person I see as a suspect is innocent.”

Hunter shrugged.“It’s part of the job, isn’t it?”

It was part of the job—one of the tougher parts.

As I thought about the day ahead, the office door opened, and an unwanted visitor strolled in, looking smug and full of himself.I wondered if he’d noticed the eyeroll I’d just sent his way.If he had, he’d ignored it.

He flashed me a big smile and walked over.

“Hello, ladies, I’m sorry to interrupt.”

“Simone and Hunter,” I said, “This is?—”

“Benjamin Branson,” Simone said.“You’re running for mayor.”

“I am.”

He held out a hand.Simone shook it.Hunter did not, recoiling back onto the couch like she wanted to melt into it.

Turning toward me, he said, “Georgiana, I need a few minutes of your time …ifyou don’t mind.”

I did mind.

I minded a lot.

“Why?”I asked.“If you’re here to try and get information out of me about the case, you wasted a trip.Until I have something more concrete, there’s not much more to say that you don’t know already.”

“Are you sure?”he teased.“From what I hear, you made a big find yesterday.”

Was he baiting me?

Or did he know something he shouldn’t?

If so …howhad he come by the information?

“How would you know about what happened yesterday?”I asked.

Sensing the irritation in my voice, Hunter and Simone stood, exiting the room and ducking inside the kitchen.

Benjamin grinned, seeming all too happy to have them out of the way.

“You didn’t answer my question,” I said.

“As to knowing what you found, I have my sources.”

“Do yoursourceshave names?”

“The source does have a name.”

I had to admit, I was intrigued.

“I assume your source isn’t Foley or Whitlock, because they wouldn’t share confidential details about the?—”

“Let me stop you there.The information did not come from them.We haven’t spoken again since our meeting in Foley’s office.”

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