Nate didn’t say anything.He wasn’t sure he totally bought Hayes’s story.It wouldn’t necessarily be the fastest way from police precinct to courthouse to pass by Honor’s Edge.But he kept that to himself.
For now.
“He followed you all the way to the courtroom, but didn’t go in.Instead, he meandered.Got some snacks out of the vending machine.Played on his phone some.I thought maybe he’d caught wind I was following him, but when the first court recess let out, he gets up.I figured he was going to follow you again.Instead, he went right up to Benjamin Bennet’s lawyer, and they huddled in a corner together.I only got bits and pieces of the conversation but there seemed to be two main topics.Glenda Harrington being one.”
“He has something to do with Glenda Harrington’s statement?”Sam asked, frowning.
“Not sure.The second name they discussed was one I wasn’t familiar with.But I think you are.A man by the name of Bowman Lake.”
“Bo?Why would… Bennet’s lawyer know anything about Bo?”
“I’m not sure.And since I wasn’t familiar with anyone by that name, I looked into him.”Jake’s gaze moved to Nate.“Looks an awful lot like you, doesn’t he?”
“Seems to me like you should have been looking into the ID of the man who broke in here and is following Sam around over some random guy mentioned in his conversation with the lawyer,” Nate replied evenly, but he sure as hell didn’t like a man talking to Dad’s lawyer, following Sam, and somehow that damn Bo Lake was involved.
“I’ll be looking into both,” Hayes replied, holding Nate’s gaze with a raised eyebrow.
A challenge, almost.Like he should argue.Probably one of those dick-measuring contests Sam had warned him against.Nate didn’t rise to the bait.
Wanted to though.
“Couldn’t you pull him over for driving a car not registered to him?”Sam asked.“The guy following me?”
“I’d have to have more cause than that, and if I get the opportunity, I will.I’ve also informed the road deputies to be on the lookout, do a few drive-bys here on their shift.I don’t think this guy poses any danger to you, Sam, if he’s reporting to Bennet’s lawyer, but you don’t want to be careless.”
“Never am.”
Again, Jake’s gaze moved to Nate.As if to say any connection to Nate was careless.Nate narrowly resisted the urge to snarl.
“Bo Lake… he’s just looking for his family, Jake,” Sam said.“I haven’t gotten very far in my investigation yet, but nothing has led me to Glenda.”
“Glenda was similarly not forthcoming when I spoke to her.Maybe it’s a coincidence this guy is following you and talking about Lake and Glenda.”
“Yeah, we love a coincidence around here,” Sam muttered.
“I’m going to keep digging until I have an ID on the driver.Normally, I’d question the lawyer, but…” Hayes sighed.“I have concerns that me talking to the lawyer might complicate the trial at hand, and we don’t want that.But I’ve got a lot to go on.I just wanted you to be aware.Look out for tails.And if your investigation shows a connection between Bo and Glenda, I’d like to know.”
Sam nodded.“Okay.And if you get an ID on the guy—”
“You’ll be the first to hear.”Hayes hesitated, glanced at Nate again, but Nate didn’t know why this time.Except maybe there was more Hayes wanted to say to Sam but wasn’t going to say it in front of him.
Nate didn’t exactly care for that.
“Take care of yourself, Sam,” he said.He offered Nate no such farewell, but he strode out the way they’d come, while Sam stayed leaning against her desk and Nate in his seat.
She said nothing for a long time.
So long, he felt compelled to speak.“So.Going to tell me you told me so?”
Sam glanced his way and didn’t say anything.Nate gestured at where Hayes had made his exit.“Hayes didn’t make it seem like this mystery guy and the lawyer were talking about Bo because they were in some kind of cahoots with them.So, I’m waiting on the I told you so.”
She shook her head.“Not going to.”
He really didn’t like when she got that beat-down look about her.“Why not?”
“Because the fact your dad’s lawyer knows about Bo Lake’s existence… The fact Glenda might?It’s not a great sign.For anyone.”
Yeah, it really wasn’t.It left a lead boulder of dread in his gut.Not as much as someonefollowingSam yesterday.Or the fact Hayes had noticed it.
