Since their meeting regarding Ricardo the day before yesterday, Nora had received a reply from the Washington State Department of Corrections informing them that Ricardo had never been an inmate in their system.
They’d also learned more about Ricardo’s federal conviction. He’d served two years for stealing three porcelain Ming Dynasty figurines from the home of a wealthy elderly couple in California and then transporting them over state lines.
Nora had assured them that she’d continue to search for past convictions, past arrests, and his present-day address.
When Zander had taken Carolyn to lunch yesterday, he’d updated her on the information Nora had discovered. He’d also asked her if she’d be willing to go through Frank’s things, in case Frank had hidden evidence of his past life inside their house.
“I’ve been meaning to go through his things,” she’d told him. “Not because I’m ready to give anything away, but because his things are comforting. What should I look for?”
“Anything out of the ordinary,” he’d said. “Keys, photos, a piece of paper with names and telephone numbers on it. Anything.”
After he’d parted from Carolyn, he’d called Detective Shaw and brought him up to speed on the Triple Play heist and Ricardo’s rap sheet. Shaw had been interested, but he’d also politely pointed out that no evidence tied either Frank or Ricardo to the Triple Play.
“Having fun?” Zander asked Britt as he took the position beside her at the bar.
“I am.” Color tinted her cheeks. A strand of dark hair fell across her forehead and curved around the upper shell of her ear. “You?”
“Yes,” he lied. “I’ve eaten four pot stickers. My life is complete.”
“Have you met the people here you don’t know?”
“Nah, but I’m fine. I know plenty of people here, and small talk with strangers makes me irritable.”
“I saw you over there looking irritable a minute ago. Is that why?”
“I must have been thinking through a problem with my plot—”
Reid elbowed his way between them. “Excuse me, buddy. Just let me catch the bartender’s eye real quick. An empty glass is a crime at a birthday party, eh?”
Zander was forced to take a hurried step back. His shoulder bumped the glass of wine the woman behind him was holding. He shot out a hand to steady her glass before any of it could spill. “I apologize.”
“No problem.”
Reid did not seem sorry. “Everyone have something to drink?” he asked loudly, looking to the right and left. He had dark blond hair and dressed like he’d been born rich and attended Princeton. “The birthday of a girl as beautiful as this one is a reason to celebrate, so speak up if you need another.”
“I was standing there,” Zander said to Reid in a flat voice.
“Huh?” Reid’s face swung to Britt for confirmation.
“Yep,” Britt said. “He was standing there. Reid, this is my friend Zander. Zander, Reid.”
“Well, no problem, buddy. I’ll move out of your space as soonas the bartender here pours me another shot. What can I order for you? You look like you could use a couple of beverages.”
“I’m good,” Zander said.
“No, really. I’m going to get you something. A beer at least.”
“No.”
The bartender poured another afterburner for Reid. “Your friend Zander seems kind of angry,” Reid said to Britt.
“He’s not usually angry, no,” she said. “Serious is more his style.”
“Nobody,” Reid declared, “is allowed to be angry tonight because—”
“I’m allowed,” Zander said with quiet menace, “to be whatever I want to be.”
“—it’s your birthday!” Reid raised his glass to Britt. She nodded in response. He turned away from the bar and stumbled, spilling a third of his drink on Zander’s sleeve.
