Page 11 of Puzzle for Two

UnlessJordan was using his own merchandise to create the illusion that someone else was trying to make him look guilty?

Sure. But were Jordan and Altonreallycompetitors? Beacher’s Toy Company crafted beautiful handmade retro-style toys. Whereas Old Timey Fun Ltd. specialized in drowning the market with cheap, mass-produced junk not intended to give more than a few minutes’ amusement. These captains of industry had to be targeting two completely separate market shares.

There was a third suspect, though Alton had not included his younger brother, Ransford, in his dossier. Ransford was only mentioned in passing as Alton built his somewhat halfhearted case against Rusty Jordan. According to Alton, Ransford had accused Jordan of dissolving his company, Pacific Playhouse, after a bankruptcy acquisition.

From Alton’s perspective, this accusation strengthened the case against Jordan. From Zach’s perspective, Ransford was financially pressed, inclined to blame others for his problems, and, very possibly, in Alton’s will.

So, three potential suspects to start with—and a whole lot of legwork ahead. Zach smiled contentedly, glancing at the signed contract still lying on his desk. His first real case. And already profitable before he’d even put in his first day’s work.

There was just one little cloud on the sunny horizon, and that was the fake-boyfriend charade. His face burned again at the recollection of Flint’s derisiveyou come cheap.

Not that he really gave a damn what Flint thought. Well, healreadyknew what Flint thought: that it was amateur hour over at Davies Detective Agency. That Zach needed to wake up and sell whatever was left of the business’s assets while there were assets left to sell.

It wasn’t as if Carey Confidential was in such great financial shape either. But at least Flint knew what he was doing.

Okay. Stop.

Zach had been working alongside Pop in various capacities for nearly a decade. He had experience, knew how the business worked. He had his PI license. He wasn’t a complete novice, regardless of what Flint believed.

Regardless of what Flint, Pop, his mother, Ben…

Frankly, everyone but Brooke believed he was out of his mind. And the fact that Brooke was behind him one hundred percent should probably be the most discouraging reflection.

Whatever. When he thought of that beautiful eleven thousand nine hundred dollars sitting in Davies Detective Agency’s business checking account, he felt calm and confident in a way he hadn’t since…since that terrible Sunday afternoon when Pop, who’d never taken a sick day in his life (not including getting shot in the line of duty) had dropped dead mowing the front yard.

Something he really,trulydid not want to think about.

Besides, that money was just theadvanceon the weekend at Pebble Beach. Let’s say the case took a week—which was pretty optimistic, but still. Seven days at five hundred bucks an hour?

Granted, first he had to get through that weekend, and that was where his stomach knotted up and his doubts set in.

Thank God he didn’t have to try and explain any of this to Ben.

Ben had been against pretty much every professional decision Zach had made ever since he’d left his first accounting job with Kaufman & Cohen, CPA, APC, to work for Pop, and Zach’s decision to try to keep the agency going after Pop had passed had been the final straw for Ben. Ben had given Zach an ultimatum, which Zach had, frankly, been secretly relieved to reject.

Yes, it had been areliefto have a legitimate reason to end things. To not have to be the bad guy in anyone’s eyes but Ben’s.

Ben had tried to back down, but no way was Zach willingly stepping back into what had increasingly felt less like a relationship and more like a cage. That bird had flown.

However, there were still potential problems.

Ben had the troubling habit of showing up in unexpected (and inevitably public) places to try and “win” Zach back. Meaning, coerce, coax, debate and, when all that failed, berate Zach into resuming their relationship.

Alton Beacher would probably not take kindly to public scenes.

And previously quiet, mild-mannered Ben had become better and better at making scenes in public.

But then, for a control freak like Ben, this situation had to be hell, and as exasperated as Zach was, he couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for his ex. He had no wish to hurt Ben any more than he already had by walking out, and seeing Zach in a “relationship” with Alton Beacher would certainly hurt.

Luckily, Ben wasn’t any more into golf than Zach was, so the chances of him showing up at Pebble Beach were slim.

A noise from the lobby interrupted Zach’s thoughts.

Had he locked the front door after Brooke and Pepper left for lunch? He suspected he hadn’t. Had Ben decided to drop by for another chat?

God.

He set the file aside, half rose—stopping as a familiar voice called with a trace of impatience, “Anyone here?”

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