Page 35 of A More Perfect Union

With the question,Zoey edged slightly away, subtle enough to deny, but Rook noticed it just thesame. Okay, so they were back to business. She was going to get whiplash fromthe back and forth, but two could play this cat-and-mouse game. “Interestinglyenough, the agency has an actual office in the business district.” She pointedout the window, recognizing the building from the pictures Eric had emailed toher. “It’s in that building over there.” She told George to park on the streetin front, and when the car stopped, she turned to Zoey. “You ready?”

“I’m not sure this isa good idea. What if we go in there and rattle the cage and one of them talksto the press? Wasn’t the whole point of this investigation to control the flowof information? Once we start asking questions of a bunch of civilians, there’sno putting that back in the bottle.”

“Trust me. I have aplan.” Rook climbed out of the car and held out a hand. Zoey hesitated at firstbut then grabbed on and followed her. The building was older than she’dexpected, architecture from the early seventies with nicks and blemishes in thefacade that spoke of being left behind for newer, fresher office space. SomehowRook had thought the high dollar escort service would be in one of the fancier,trendier buildings that had popped up over the last year, but maybe high dollarwas a relative term. As they walked through the doors, Rook said, “Let me dothe talking. Just stand there and look gorgeous.”

Zoey bristled at theremark, and Rook felt like a heel, wondering how often people assumed Zoey’sgood looks outweighed her sharp intellect. “Sorry, that was rude. I’m justtrying to keep you out of trouble. If anyone asks if you were here, you candeny you said anything to anyone, and say it was all me. Fair enough?”

“Let’s do this thingbefore I change my mind.” Zoey took off without waiting for a response.

The registry in thelobby listed the Lorraine Darcy Agency offices on the tenth floor. They werethe only two people on the elevator on the way up, but they rode in silence.Rook felt like every time she opened her mouth, she risked pushing Zoey furtheraway, which was probably for the best, but the quiet between them was noisywith unanswered questions. Thanks to Eric’s skills, she knew all about Zoey’slifetime of service, but she knew little about her life outside the Army. Whatkind of things did she like to do? What were her favorite foods? What kind ofwomen did she like to date and why wasn’t she with someone now?

That last one washigh on the list, but she supposed she could guess the answer. Zoey probablyliked women who were as committed to duty as she was and she wasn’t dating oneof these women because she had impossible standards. Rook realized she had noreal basis for the supposition, but she’d bet the entire big ass retainer she’dmade from Senator Newman that she was right.

The elevator stopped andRook stepped out, leading the way. Contrary to what she’d told Zoey, she didn’thave a plan in mind, but experience told her there was no substitute for asurprise visit. They walked down the well-worn carpeted hall to Darcy’s suite,and Rook noted several vacant offices along the way.

“I guess I neverimagined prostitutes having office space,” Zoey said. “I mean what could theypossibly use it for? Interviewing applicants? Training?”

Rook placed a fingerover her lips and whispered, “You’re hilarious. Don’t you dare make me laughbefore I go in.”

“Before you go in?Don’t you mean ‘we’?”

“Sure, but rememberthe rule.”

“Right, no talkingwithout your permission.” Zoey rolled her eyes and pointed at the door. “Are wegoing in or not?”

Rook pushed through thedoor and quickly realized they wouldn’t be talking to anyone at the LorraineDarcy Agency today. The large open area was littered with haphazardly placedfurniture and desk phones. File cabinet drawers stood open, their emptinessapparent from yards away. Rook spun in place, looking for something, anythingto give her a clue that this space had been the headquarters for a group ofescorts, but all she saw was the same kind of detritus that could have beenleft when a CPA or some other equally boring business moved out.

Zoey knelt and pickedup an envelope off the floor. She read it and then handed it over. “You thinkthis means anything?”

Rook took it fromher, letting her fingers linger on Zoey’s for a few seconds longer thannecessary before she reluctantly pulled away. The envelope had been slit opencleanly and the contents slid out easily. Rook skimmed the page twice beforehanding it to Zoey.

Zoey thumped thepaper with her finger. “This is an eviction letter.”

“Yes,” Rook answeredsimply, her brain churning. “Look at when it’s dated.”

Zoey traced thetypewritten words. “That’s the day after the incident at the Ivy.”

“Exactly.”

“What do you think itmeans?”

“I don’t know,” Rookanswered. She didn’t know, but she had some ideas. “Maybe someone reportedtheir little run-in at the Ivy to the building management.”

“But that’s not whatyou really think, is it?”

Rook shook her head,surprised Zoey was able to read her so well. “It’s logical, for sure, but Ikind of doubt the management of this particular building cares who does what aslong as they have the opportunity to rent out the space.”

“Good point.”

Rook grinned. “Thatmight be the nicest thing you’ve said to me all day.”

“You don’t strike meas the kind of person who needs people to say nice things to fuel your ego.”

“My ego’s fine, thankyou very much, but it’s always nice to get compliments from smart, accomplishedwomen.”

“Are you always thissmooth?” Zoey asked with a skeptical tone.

“Hardly ever, butdon’t tell anyone because I have a reputation to uphold.” She reached for theenvelope to turn the conversation back to business. “Don’t go all rules andregulations on me, because I’m taking this with me. It feels like a clue.” Asher hand touched Zoey’s again, she let it linger this time. The letter mightfeel like a lead in their investigation, but the charge she felt whenever Zoeywas near was a signal of something else entirely. Something she wanted verymuch to explore.

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