Page 73 of Lion & Lamb

Cooper’s attention was all on Maya, so much so that he failed to notice that Archie Jr. had hurled the football. Cooper caught it at the last possible second, and the blow took his breath away.

“Nobody taught you to keep your eye on the ball, Cooper?” Maya asked.

Cooper coughed, then tossed the ball back to the kid. “I thought I was.”

“He’s pretty amazing, isn’t he?”

“It’s good to see you again, Maya.”

“I don’t seem to be able to shake you,” she said.

“Exactly how hard are you trying?”

Was that shyness on her face right now? Or flirtation? Whatever it was, Cooper didn’t want to ruin the mood just yet by mentioning her boyfriend the homicide detective. “Is there somewhere we could talk?”

Maya glanced over at the Hughes kids playing with Lupe. “Not here. Let’s talk in the pool house.”

“Because sure, talking inside the pool house in the middle of a freezing January day isn’t suspicious at all.”

“Or we could do this another time.”

“Pool house it is.”

Cooper told the kids to look after Lupe, and he let Maya lead the way.

Chapter76

Transcript of private conversation between Cooper Lamb and Maya Rain, captured using an ambient recording app on Lamb’s smartwatch

COOPER LAMB: This place is huge! You could fit my entire brownstone inside here. Twice.

MAYA RAIN: Interesting you mention that. Why were you outside my apartment yesterday morning?

LAMB: You saw me down on Eighteenth Street, huh?

RAIN: I was waiting for you to come upstairs and tell me whatever was on your mind, but you never did.

LAMB: Maybe I was working up the courage until your boyfriend showed up in his white Bronco.

RAIN: Ahh, so you saw Detective Bernstein pick me up. Is that what this is about?

LAMB: Detective, huh? So formal. Especially considering you two started kissing after you climbed into the passenger seat.

RAIN: You know, Cooper, I didn’t think you were one of those sleazy private eyes who goes around taking photos of married men with their younger lovers. Guess I was wrong about you.

LAMB: Is Bernstein your sugar daddy? Because I have no idea how he swings your Rittenhouse Square condo on his police salary.

RAIN: Bernstein has nothing to do with where I live. I’m not dating him. You have the wrong idea about so many things.

LAMB: Maya, this is f------hopeless. I already know who’s paying for that place of yours. In fact, I’m going to pay him a visit this afternoon. I just wanted you to tell me the truth. Just one time.

RAIN: You’re free to speculate however you want.

LAMB: By the way, who’s Vanessa?

RAIN: Are you just throwing random names at me to see if I’ll react?

LAMB: It’s either your real name or another identity you use. I’m leaning toward the former.

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