“Can you show me what he was looking at specifically?”
Jasper nodded. “He took me out there but I didn’t see anything that caused me to be suspicious. Someone had been digging around, but it didn’t look like a big deal. A few holes in the dirt under the redwood trees. He asked me to talk to the school and find out if they had a science class or someone working on a school project. I asked; they said no. They’d banned students from that side of the campus because of the pending construction. We’d already put the fences up.”
Max wanted to do it first thing in the morning, but she needed to talk to Dru first. “I don’t know what my plans are tomorrow, but the morning is shot,” she said.
“Tuesday I’ll be at the site meeting with alumni who are planning to invest in the interior of the sports complex. I’ll be done with them around noon.”
“I’ll be there. I appreciate it.” Maybe she could get Santini to meet her there—it was worth a few minutes of his time.
“And then perhaps we could have another meal together.”
His eyes were sparkling and Max smiled. Jasper was attractive, very smart, and educated, the type of man Max enjoyed spending time with. But most of the men she dated thought they could handle her independence and drive, but within weeks they were clingy and urging her to spend more time with them and less time with work. Which meant they’d never listened to her, let alone understood her. They paid lip service to her dreams and her career drive, all the while thinking that great sex would keep her chained to them. It’s why she maintained the long-distance relationship with Marco—no strings, great sex, and she would never in a million years move to Florida, and Marco would never leave. It was perfect. Until it wasn’t.
Jasper was looking for a wife, it was clear as day. His wistful expression thinking about Jason as a sonlike figure, lamenting his own lack of a family. This was a man with an agenda, and Max needed to steer clear. He might say he was worldly and cherished her independence, but he wouldn’t remain that way for long. She pictured them in bed together, and all she could see were little sperms defeating all her birth control measures and invading her eggs.
But she had to admit that she liked Jasper and found him to be both sincere and honest; rare qualities.
“Maybe, but I’m trying to wrap things up so I can get back to New York.”
“Wrap things up? Like what?”
“Like finding out who killed Jason.”
*
It was well after ten by the time Max arrived back at her hotel and the desk clerk approached. “Ms. Revere? You have a guest waiting for you in the bar.”
If it was Andy, she was going to ignore it.
“Who?”
“He didn’t give his name, but he was at your table yesterday.”
“Blond or brunet?”
“Brunet.”
Nick. “Thank you,” she said and walked into the bar.
He was sitting in the far corner with both a folder and a beer in front of him. She had no opportunity to sneak up on him—his eyes were on her as soon as she stepped into the bar.
She asked the bartender for her favorite wine, and slid into the booth next to Nick. He closed the file he was reading. The tab referred to Jason Hoffman.
“If I’d known you wanted to see me,” she said, “I would have rushed through dinner. Good news, I hope.”
“Neither good nor bad,” he said. “But since you gave me the tip on Parker’s boyfriend, I thought I’d fill you in, at least as much as I’m able to.”
“Is she awake?”
“Not yet, but they expect her to be conscious tomorrow.”
Max was relieved. “Good.”
“I spoke with Potrero. He has an alibi for the time of the attack.”
“Did you check it out?”
He stared at her, his green eyes narrowed like a cat about to pounce.
She smiled. “Of course you did.”
“But he was definitely squirming when I spoke to him. I’m checking out his employer and I hope Parker is forthcoming tomorrow.”
Max knew better than to ask if Nick could get a warrant for Dru’s house or Rebecca Cross’s car—Max’s statement wasn’t going to get him anything. He needed probable cause, which he might get if Dru told him whatever she had planned to tell Max before the attack.
“I have a friend of mine digging around on DL Environmental.”
“Maxine—”
“Just trying to find out how much money they’re pulling in, what they’re doing. They could be totally legit, but paying for Dru’s car and Potrero’s condo—”
“How the hell did you—never mind,” he interrupted himself. “Don’t tell me.”
“I didn’t break any laws.” At least not while I was investigating Potrero. “I’ll share with you what I learn, but Shelley thinks it’s fishy. She knows everything there is to know about environmental fund-raising, so if they’re kosher, she’ll know.” She sipped her wine and smiled at Nick. “I did good.”
“You think very highly of yourself.”
“When warranted. Come on, admit it, you wish you could do what I do.”
He shook his head, but she caught a half grin. “It would be nice, but the rules are there for a reason. If I break the rules, a killer could get off on a technicality. It won’t happen on my watch. So don’t make me shut you down.”
She leaned close to Nick. “Sweetheart, you couldn’t stop me if you wanted. But I’ve been doing this for a long time. I know the lines I can’t cross.”
She wasn’t going to tell him that can’t is subjective. Some causes, some cases, she was willing to cross any line.
His eyes darkened and Max wanted to kiss him.