Page 76 of Puzzle for Two

“But—”

“As far you’re concerned, I think he got distracted from his original reason for hiring you. I think he decided you could serve a better purpose, and he set about trying to seduce you. He wasn’t honest with you, which is a big part of why you weren’t able to do the job he originally hired you for.”

Zach said slowly, “Do you really believe that?”

“One hundred percent.” Flint’s smile was sardonic. “You must know me well enough by now to realize I’m not going to tell you what I think you want to hear, unless I believe it’s the truth.”

Fair enough. Zach was pretty sure Flint was not the type to soothe people with comfortable lies. Which he was grateful for. Flint really believed everything he was saying, and he made a convincing argument. Zach still felt guilty about Alton, but maybe not as guilty as he’d felt the day before.

When they reached the parking lot and their separate cars, Flint said, “I’ve got some things to check on. Let’s meet back at your office around noon. We can have lunch and determine where we are with the investigation.”

“Uh… Okay.” Zach had assumed they would go back to the office and figure out their next move. It seemed Flint already had a next move. That was a bit disappointing. Not that Zach needed direction from Flint, but it was kind of nice working with a partner. “What are you checking on?”

Flint said vaguely, “I’ll let you know, if it pans out.”

“That’s a little mysterious.”

Flint grinned. “I’m a mysterious kind of guy, Zachariah.”

“Huh.” Zach was openly skeptical, and Flint grinned again.

“See you shortly. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”

“So, no limits?”

Flint touched his finger to his temple in ahere’s-looking-at-you-kid, climbed into his SUV, and started the engine.

Brooke was in the office at her computer, typing away at who-knows-what—a Facebook post?—when Zach pushed open the glass door.

“Hey,” Zach began. “Could you—” He broke off at Brooke’s pointedly sideways look.

Zach glanced at the lobby chairs as a tall, handsome, blond man rose. The man looked familiar, but Zach couldn’t quite place him.

“Zachery Davies?”

“Zachariah. Yes?” Zach’s initial curiosity gave way to wariness as he took in the other’s flushed face and too-bright eyes. Whoever this guy was, he was mad as hell. “Can I help you?”

The man’s mouth opened in what looked like a snarl.

Brooke cut in quickly, “Zee, this is Ransford Beacher.”

“Mr. Beacher?” Zach was startled. “I’m so sorry for your loss.” Now that he knew what to look for, the family resemblance was noticeable. Ransford was taller, thinner, and younger than Alton, but he had the same chilly good looks.

Ransford spat out, “Not half as sorry as you’re going to be, if you don’t stop harassing Zora!”

“W-what? I haven’t had any contact with your sister-in-law since the night Alton—your brother—”

“Don’t give me that bullshit! Your partner was up at the house yesterday interrogating her while you were trying to question the household staff. Martinez came straight to Zora the minute you left. In fact, I saw you myself on your way out the gate.”

“Your brother hired me to find out who was threatening him. I have an obli—”

“And we all know how that turned out. Anyway, you can cut the pretense, Slick. I know all about Alton’s side interests.”

Slick?That was a new one.

“Regardless of what you think you know, my relationship with your brother was strictly professional. Rightly or wrongly, he thought your sister-in-law might be behind the threats he received.”

“And who the hell would blame her? When I think of what Zora’s had to put up with through the years. The humiliation. The disrespect. The way he used her and her money. I wouldn’t blame her if she did kill him. Which she didn’t. Never in a million years.”

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