Same Place, Same Time. C.J. Carmichael

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СКАЧАТЬ come up with something. There are other angles to work on though. Like Lorne Thackray. He’s likely to take over as manager of the entire hardware chain now. And he has no alibi for that afternoon. He went out for lunch at one and didn’t return until almost three. He claims he ate alone, then went to check prices at some of his competitors in the neighborhood. Did his name come up in any of your sessions with the Walkers?”

      “No. We focused on the relationship between Nan and Jerry. The only other person they sometimes talked about was their son.”

      “Okay, tell me more about that secretary of yours.”

      “Again? She’s wonderful. Very organized and dependable. That’s why, if she says the keys were there on Monday, I believe her. And if she says she locked up every day, then I’m certain of that, too.”

      “You’re very trusting. I assume you checked her references before you hired her?”

      Trista narrowed her eyes. Was he implying that she was wrong to trust Brenda as much as she did? If so, was it only because he never took anyone at face value, or was there something more concrete behind his question?

      “She had all the qualifications for the job, and then some. Plus she had an excellent letter of reference from her previous job.”

      “Did you phone her employer to confirm the information?”

      “No, I didn’t,” Trista said defensively.

      “I see.”

      Trista sighed with exasperation. “Why do you ask? Do you know something about her that I don’t?”

      “I just wondered if you checked her references. It’s a fairly common business practice, after all.”

      Trista flushed under the implied criticism. She felt worse, knowing that he was right. But in this case it hardly mattered, did it? After all, Brenda had worked out perfectly. “Why are you so interested in Brenda? You can’t think she’s responsible for any of this?”

      He didn’t answer, just picked up his fork and started eating. She tried to concentrate on her food, but it was impossible to keep her eyes off Morgan for very long. She noticed little things, details she hadn’t thought about since she’d left him. The way he held his utensils, as if they were too small for his strong, capable hands. The way he slouched back in his chair slightly as he ate. The way his strong shoulder muscles bulged beneath the thin knit of his navy shirt. Morgan had always looked good in dark colors.

      If he was aware of her covert glances, Morgan gave no sign. For once, his penetrating blue eyes were not focused on her. As he ate he glanced around the café casually, but Trista knew that weeks later he would be able to give a precise and accurate description of the restaurant and the people in it—including approximate ages, and educated guesses about what each of them did for a living.

      “There was another reason I wanted to talk to you tonight,” Morgan admitted when his plate was empty.

      “Oh?” She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear this.

      “To apologize. For getting off track at your office. I appreciate that you’re trying to cooperate on this case, and I realize that the only way it’s going to work is if we avoid personal topics.”

      “That sounds reasonable.” Trista sipped her water, marveling at how cool and calm they were being all of a sudden. What had happened to Morgan’s all-consuming anger? She decided she didn’t want to know.

      “So what do you do at Suni Choopra’s campaign headquarters?” Apology over, he now steered the subject matter to neutral ground.

      “I’m a volunteer there.” She didn’t bother to ask how he’d known where she was tonight. With all the information he had on her, she didn’t need to.

      “Really?” Morgan shot her a puzzled glance. “I don’t remember you being interested in politics.”

      “Things change.” Wasn’t that an understatement? “I met Suni two years ago. She was knocking on every door in my apartment building, asking how we felt about certain government policies.”

      Morgan was right. She’d never had much interest in politics. But Suni had struck her as different. Within minutes of meeting, they were sharing a cup of coffee and talking like old friends.

      The bond, she’d realized, was loneliness.

      Most people would find it impossible to believe someone with a life like Suni’s could be lonely. She spent her days and most evenings surrounded by people. Her social calendar was full and her workdays long and varied. Yet Trista had soon realized that Suni had sacrificed many things for her political ambition, including a normal family life, with a husband and children.

      “Didn’t you say that you met the Walkers at one of Choopra’s fundraising parties?” Morgan asked.

      Trista nodded.

      “And you started your practice what—two years ago?”

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