Page 58 of Lion & Lamb

“Come on, you know how this looks. And it’s going to look even worse when it all comes out. I’m trying to help Francine.”

“When all you’ve got is a hammer,” Maya said, “everything looks like a nail.”

“And that means?”

“You think I was Archie’s side piece, that he bought me this penthouse apartment and filled it with beautiful things—a taste of the good life I’d always craved back in West Virginia. Is that right?”

“If Archie wasn’t paying for it, who is?”

“That’s none of your business.” Maya reached out and touched the side of Cooper’s face. “Don’t get me wrong. I like you.”

“I like you too,” Cooper said, then gently took her wrist and guided her hand back to her lap. “Which is why I hope you’re not hiding something. Or worse. Because I’m not going to stop until I find out what really happened.”

“I know,” she said. “Which is why you should be careful out there.”

“Why is everyone always telling me that? Do I have a bull’s-eye pinned to the back of my jacket or something? And if so, does it at least match my socks?”

Maya stood up, indicating their late-night meeting was over. Lupe took the cue and popped up from the floor expectantly.

“If multiple people tell you the same thing,” she said, “it just might be the truth.”

Chapter59

“I NEEDto see you. Right now.”

“Cooper, it’s two in the morning. I’ve got a long drive ahead of me. Don’t you remember? We did this dance already.”

“It’s not about that. I’m talking about our case.”

“I have to leave for Atlantic City in…ugh, like four hours.”

“It will just take a minute. You and Janie hitting the craps tables?”

Veena Lion paused. She was wide awake and wouldn’t be going to sleep anytime soon. She’d been at her kitchen table poring over stacks of documents and was feverishly mapping out their case and all of its possible tangents on a legal pad. She’d tried to shake off the effects of the martinis (and her bar-side make-out session with Cooper) with work and endless cups of black coffee. None of it helped. Veena felt jittery. Maybe she should just power through the rest of the night and try to catch a nap tomorrow. Even though she never, ever took naps. “How soon can you get here?”

“I’m parked in front of your building.”

“Of course you are.”

Cooper was at the door before Veena could decide what to cover with a blanket or push into a closet. Whatever. They’d known each other a long time. If a messy apartment was a deal breaker, then so be it.

“You know, it’s been forever since I’ve been here,” Cooper said. “I like what you’ve not done with the place.”

“I wasn’t expecting company at two a.m.”

“Anyway, I just spent some time with the elusive Maya Rain.”

“At her invitation?”

Cooper raised his eyebrows. “Are we jealous, Counselor?”

“No. I’m just trying to figure out her game.”

“Me too,” Cooper admitted. “But I think she’s one of the good guys.”

“Do you think that because you want to justify sleeping with her?”

“That’s absurd.” Cooper made a show of looking around the messy apartment. “Speaking of, do you still keep your bed in the adjoining room?”

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