Jude answered in the usual type of way, but something was off in his demeanor. He was pretending his typical calm, but Max wasn't buying it. “What's bothering you today?” Max asked.
Jude took a sip of ice water. “A woman.”
When Jude didn't immediately offer more information, Max concluded, “A woman you like.”
“A woman I want to help.”
Jude wanted to help most people. But Max could see this was a woman he likedandwanted to help . . . much more uncommon. “Her name?”
“Confidential.”
“How did you meet her?”
“Through work.”
“Is she FBI?”
“No.”
“What kind of help does she need?”
“Assistance handling debt collectors. Her father was incarcerated several years ago, and her mom suffered through an expensive medical condition. Her mom went back to work as a secretary as soon as she was able, but the family never recovered financially. And won't, at this rate.”
“She asked if you'd intervene?”
“No. In fact, she doesn't know I'm aware of the situation or that I've been reading her mail, and I'd like to keep it that way.”
Max lifted an eyebrow. “You've been reading her mail?”
“I have a warrant to do so.”
Since Jude had a warrant, she must be connected to one of his cases. A suspect? Surely not. Then maybe an informant or cooperating witness? Max hadneverknown Jude to mix something personal with FBI business. Help handling debt collectors was definitely personal. “What's stopping you and me from paying the debts off?”
“She's proud. She'd never accept that. What her family really needs is someone on their side who has knowledge of the laws pertaining to debt collection.”
“And you want to be that person but can't because . . . ?”
“It's beyond the purview of my job.”
Thinking on it, Max took a bite of coleslaw, then another. “I hate the tactics some of those collection agencies use. One of them badgered my mom—calling at all hours of the day and night—when I was in high school. The stress of it was hard on her. She ended up selling a lot of her stuff and using that money to pay them off because she was desperate to get out from underneath them.”
“Right.” Jude frowned. “The stress of this has to be getting to . . . the woman I know. She's been dealing with this for years.”
“Is she as hot as she is self-sacrificing?”
Jude gave Max a warning look.
“That's a yes,” Max said. “Fascinating.”
Jude's attention shifted to the river. The lines of his profile communicated strain.
“Your conscience isn't going to rest until you step in and help this family.” Max crossed his arms. “You're discreet and careful. Be extra discreet and extra careful with this and it'll be fine.”
Jude scratched the back of his neck, considering. “The FBI . . .”
“Doesn't have to know who you give advice to on your nights and weekends.”
For the next few minutes, they worked at polishing off the last of their food.
