Page 5 of Puzzle for Two

Zach nodded, though he wasn’t convinced by Beacher’s reasoning. Granted, Beacher knew Mrs. Beacher and Zach did not.

He had to ask. “Areyou gay?”

Beacher got a funny expression. He licked his lips as though his mouth was suddenly dry.

“I…”

“Forgive me if this feels intrusive, but what I mean is, would there be any truth to this…scenario? Have you had gay relationships in the past?”

A tiny, barely perceptible wince from Beacher. “No. Not yet, at any rate. As I said, I wouldn’t have dreamed of being unfaithful. But that doesn’t mean…”

Zach waited, but Beacher didn’t finish his thought.

Finally, Zach said, “Of course not. I really only bring it up because, well, if your plan is to succeed, we’d—you’d—have to be convincing in your role.”

Beacher smiled a slow, strange smile that sent a little frisson of unease rippling down Zach’s spine. Beacher’s light gaze studied Zach’s face, dropped as if to assess the width of his shoulders, the breadth of his chest, and though Zach was seated behind a very sturdy desk, he had the uncomfortable sensation of being stripped naked and assessed from head to foot.

He was not shy nor insecure about his looks, but that kind of auction-block appraisal wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

Beacher continued to smirk in that troubling way, saying lightly, “No need to worry.Thatwon’t be a problem.”

Chapter Two

“What wasthatabout?” Brooke stared at Zach as the heavy glass door swung shut behind Alton Beacher.

Zach watched Beacher lope across the parking lot and climb into a black Porsche Boxster parked diagonally across two spaces. Two seconds later, the Porsche glided silently away on its ultra-high-performance radials, cutting off both an SUV and a minivan as it progressed out of the parking lot.

“That’s our new client.”

“Alton Beacher hiredus?”

Zach, smiling ruefully, glanced at Brooke. It wasn’t like looking into a mirror or anything, but there was a strong family resemblance. They were both tall and lanky. Both had their mom’s wavy, chestnut hair and lousy eyesight, their dad’s blue eyes and stubborn chin, and a smattering of Grandpa Lake’s freckles across the bridge of their noses. The freckles were adorable on Brooke. On Zach? Nobody took a boyish accountant seriously. Let alone a PI who could have passed for one of the Hardy Boys.

“I’m on my way to deposit the twelve grand he just paid us for a weekend’s work.”

Brooke’s eyes widened. “Who do we have to kill?”

“Nobody. We have to keep someone from killinghim.”

“Uh, that might be a little above our pay grade.”

“Not anymore.” Zach waved the short but satisfyingly thick stack of money orders.

Brooke’s brows shot up. “Money orders? Who’s he worried about snooping through his check book?”

Zach grinned. “Very good.”

“I know. I’m wasted behind this desk.”

“Well, you won’t be behind the desk much longer. These guarantee you can head back to school this fall.”

Brooke looked pained. “Yeah, Zee, about that.”

Zach shook his head. “You’re going back to school. That’s what Pop wanted.”

“What about what I want? I wasn’t sold on being a business major when Pop was still here to disappoint. Now that he’s gone—will youpleasestop shaking your head at me?”

Zach stopped shaking his head, but his expression must have said it all.

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