“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Would you…Is there somewhere you can put this?” She touches a finger to the papers. “Somewhere safe, so no one else can ever find it?”
“Absolutely. Are you okay?”
She forces a brave smile. “I’m fine.”
Cora opens the door and comes in. “Oh.” She stumbles to a stop. “Hi, Vera.” She gives me a look. “No one told me you were coming in this morning. I’m sorry I wasn’t here. I take it Beau filled you in on the latest developments in your sister’s case?”
I close the file and slide it into the top drawer. “We may have another lead.” I fill Cora in on what we found with the photo.
“That’s good work,” she says, clearly impressed. “Very good work. We can talk to the employees in the stores to see if they know Marie or can tell us anything about her.”
I don’t mention my idea of staking out the shopping center. If Cora knew I was going to do that, she’d want to bill Vera for our time.
“We can do that this afternoon, after my appointment,” I tell Cora.
“Thanks for reminding me. I almost forgot. The sooner we get your license current, the sooner you can stop stealing my car and buy your own.”
“She’s teasing,” I tell Vera. “I don’t steal her car, I borrow it.”
Cora waves it away. “Potayto-potahto.”
Vera stands and puts her bag over her shoulder. “I should go.”
I walk her to the door. “I’ll call you later and let you know if we find out anything at the shopping center.”
“Thanks.”
“Bye, Vera,” Cora says.
Vera puts up a hand in response and goes out to the reception area. I watch her until she disappears around the corner.
Cora crosses her arms and gives me her spill it look. “What’s going on with you and Vera?”
I avoid her gaze and sit down at my desk. “What do you mean?”
She closes the door. Shit. This is going to be a serious talk.
“I see the way you look at her.”
Careful to make my expression neutral, I shrug. “I can’t not look at her.”
“Noooo.” Putting her palms on my desk, she leans into my personal space. “You know what I mean. Like you’ve seen her naked or you want to see her naked.”
My gaze sticks to my computer screen, but I don’t see any of the words on it.
“Oh, my God. You fucked her, didn’t you?”
I pull out my rusty big-brother voice and glare. “Don’t talk like that.”
“You’re not denying it.” She presses her fingers to her temples. “Holy shit, Beau. You could get fired for sleeping with a client. I vouched for you!”
“Sshh. Keep your voice down.”
“Why? There are a million women in San Diego and you have to fuck a client?
“So the rules are different for Leo than they are for me?”
“I wasn’t the client. You were.”
“You were both employees. That’s allowed?”
“Well, no, but that was different.”
I stand and face off with her. “How?”
“We can’t take her money if you’re screwing her. That’s just wrong.”
“So don’t take her money.”
“Oh, no. No, you don’t. We’re not going there. End it. Now. Or I’m pulling you off the case.”
I want to hit something. Preferably myself. In the face. Instead, I strike the top of the desk. “Don’t you dare do that, Cora.”
“Don’t make me do it.”
“You have no idea what you’d be fucking up if you do.”
“Enlighten me.”
“I can’t.”
“I’m your boss. Give me a reason not to fire you.”
“She’s…I can’t tell you. I promised.”
“Let me get this straight.” She props her hands on her hips. “You’re choosing her over me and your job?”
“I’m not choosing anything. You’re trying to force me to make a choice I can’t and won’t make.”
“This isn’t like you. Give me something here, Beau. Make me understand.”
“Remember how you fought for me when no one believed in me and my innocence? Against Mom and Dad. Against the system that put me in prison for life. Against everyone?”
She nods, her lashes fluttering like she’s fighting tears. I’m hitting her soft spot. I have to be careful not to hit it too hard.
“Vera needs a Cora. I’m her Cora.”
“Why?”
“I can’t tell you why, and I’m so sorry for that. Please. Trust me.”
She’s wavering and she doesn’t want to. “But do you have to sleep with her?”
“It just sort of happened. Neither one of us expected it. I don’t know how to explain that part. It’s too…big.”
Tipping her head to the side, she considers me for a long moment. The corners of her mouth tilt into a reluctant almost-smile. “That’s actually the only part of this I think I do understand.”
“Good. Then maybe you can explain it to me.”
“No. I think this is one you’re going to have to figure out for yourself.”