Page 284 of The Sinner: James

“What was she after?”

“I don’t know. Nothing, really. She snooped around as usual but didn’t ask for anything.”

“That’s strange.”

“Yeah, it is… But whatever she’s after, she’s not gonna get it from me.”

“She could get you into a lot of trouble.”

“She could, but the story she got from that man is hard to prove. By her own account, the man’s claims were nothing more than a drunkard’s words.”

“How did she shack up with him?”

“Hmm... That’s a good question,” I say, dabbing my mouth with a napkin.

I bring my glass of wine to my lips and take a sip before enjoying the sweet aroma of grapes lingering in my mouth.

“I suspect she’s in the same line of business.”

“Seriously?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Everything. The way she was dressed and her interest in my whereabouts. The fact that she’d moved to New York, and not in the least, the man who had kept her company.”

“She’s no longer in school?”

“Nope. She took a break from it and blamed it on money, which was another clue.”

“Maybe that’s why she’s not so anxious to mess with you. If she branches out in the same line of business, it’s in her best interest to avoid family feuds.”

“Yeah, it may be. Although she threw something else at me when she left.”

I set my napkin to the side and lean back in my chair.

“Lex showed up at my door today,” I say.

Her mouth falls open.

She sets her fork to the side before clasping her hands together in a fist below her chin.

“Lex Harrington?” she says, grappling with surprise.

Her eyes glimmer with a smile.

“He still has the hots for you?” she asks.

“Yeah, he does.”

My rueful smile makes her grin fade.

“We talked... Mainly about James, but when he left, he kissed me. We were in the hallway, in front of the door, and Daria showed up right after he vanished down the stairs. Later, she wanted to know if James knew about Lex.”

“Fucking bitch.”

“That she is.”

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