Page 52 of Puzzle for Two

“It doesn’t mean they couldn’t have missed something.”

“They didn’t miss anything.Isure as hell wouldn’t have missed anything.”

“Probably not.” Zach studied Chico. His anger and defensiveness were understandable after being questioned by law enforcement. “What do you think happened?”

Chico didn’t unbend, didn’t soften. “I’m waiting just like everyone else to hear what the law has to say.”

“And if the law says it’s murder?”

“You got a lot to answer for, GQ.”

Zach gave a short laugh. “Hey, I don’t think either of us are walking away with glowing job references.”

Chico’s chin jutted pugnaciously. “Why wouldIwalk away? Mrs. B. has no problem with my work.”

Surprise, surprise. Zach considered and discarded a couple of replies. He said, “Then you don’t believe Mrs. Kaschak-Beacher had anything to do with Alton’s death? Even though she’s the one he—”

“No. I don’t,” Chico interrupted. “I also don’t care if she did.”

At Zach’s expression, Chico laughed. It was not a pleasant sound. “Maybe you didn’t notice. He wasn’t a model husband.”

“Yeah, I noticed. I also noticed you didn’t seem to have any problem with that.”

“None of my business.” Chico’s smile turned acrid. “You didn’t have any problem, either.”

“He was my client.” It was true, though it wasn’t much of an excuse.

“We both know that’s not all he was.” Chico’s tone was pointed.

“What else was he?” Zach didn’t understand the edge in Chico’s voice.

“Come on, man. He always told me everything. I heard all about how you called him up after Spanish Bay, told him you were wearing the lace panties and begged him to give you another chance.”

“What?That’s not what happened.”

“And he didn’t believe you, so you sent him that video. I saw it myself.” Chico snorted. “After you made such a fuss too. But youreallygot off wearing those panties. I was impressed. That was like porn-star grade performance.”

“W-What?”

“I’m not judging. We’ve all got our kinks. I think you both took one hell of a risk at the restaurant, though. No wonder Mrs. B. was so worked up. Jesus.”

Zach opened his mouth, but no words would come.

Chico sighed. “Like I said. He always told me everything. I know you sat on his lap all through dinner, rubbing your ass on his dick and letting him feed you crudités. He said you sucked on his fingers right there in the restaurant.” Chico shook his head. “I guess that’s part of what you both got off on? The risk. The excitement of messing around in public.”

Zach felt hot to the bone and then ice cold. “Thatneverhappened.Noneof that ever happened.”

“Give me a break.”

“It didn’t happen. Period.”

“Oh, I think it did. I saw your eyes when he started naming dollar figures. I told you myself you’d give in eventually. They always do.”

Zach said, “This is a total fantasy. In a crowded restaurant? Seriously? You believed that?”

“Hell, yeah, I believed it. The sheriffs did too.”

“The…” Zach’s voice gave out. “You told the…that bullshit to the sheriffs?”

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