Page 28 of The Lady Has a Past

“What about you? Got a pistol in one of those pink suitcases? The hatbox, maybe?”

This was embarrassing. A competent professional investigator ought to have a pistol and know how to use it. She was good with a bow and arrow because she had been on the women’s archery team in college, but unfortunately firearms had not been included in the curriculum.

“I just started my job at the Kirk agency,” she said. “Raina says I’m not ready to carry a gun. She says I need more experience.”

“Don’t be offended, but I have to tell you I find that reassuring.”

She crossed her arms. “I am offended.”

“Judging by what happened on your last case, it sounds like you can take care of yourself,” Simon said. “In my experience, guns are overrated. They never seem to be available when you need one. You’re usually stuck with whatever is handy. A golf club, for example.”

She went cold and fixed her attention on the view through the windshield.

“What did I say?” Simon asked.

“Let’s change the subject.”

“You don’t want to talk about your last case.”

“It was also my first case,” she said. “And no, I don’t want to discuss it.”

“I’ve had cases that ended badly, too.”

“Is that right?” she said.

She glanced at the scars on his right hand but decided it was too soon to ask any questions about them. Scars, whether seen or unseen, were a very personal matter.

“Yes,” he said.

“Who are you, Mr. Cage?”

“You know who I am.”

His response was a fraction of a beat too slow, she decided. He had not been expecting that question. She smiled. It was good to know she could disturb the veneer of calm, cool control that Simon showed the world.

“What made you decide to pose as an antiquarian book dealer for your investigative work?” she said, feeling her way into the inquisition. “It seems an odd choice.”

“It’s not a role. I told you, I really am in the book business. I specialize in tracking down valuable antiquarian books, manuscripts, and maps for collectors. I have a reputation for being able to detect frauds and forgeries. You’d be astonished by how many people engage in deception in the antiquarian book trade.”

“No, I wouldn’t be surprised. There’s a lot of money sloshing around in that world, just as there is in the art world. And a lot of obsessive collectors. That combination always makes for a lively business in frauds and forgeries.”

“Yes, it does.”

“How did you end up doing so-called odd jobs for Luther Pell?”

Again there was a slight hesitation before Simon answered. When he did, she got the impression he was choosing his words with great care.

“Luther came looking for me a couple of years ago,” he said. “He’d heard I had a certain talent for locating rare books and that I could detect frauds and forgeries. He thought I might be useful to him on occasion.”

“I can see where that sort of talent would be useful to a lot of people.”

“It’s a little more complicated than that,” Simon said.

“I know.”

Simon’s hands tightened around the steering wheel. He kept his attention fixed on the two-lane highway.

“Is that right?” he said, his tone far too neutral. “What exactly do you think you know?”

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