With little time before he was due at the bar, she let him go, content to find a place to park away from the bar. Unfortunately,everyone else had the same idea, so she circled the large lot behind McGrath’s until a spot freed up.
Jane took a moment to check herself over. Jeans, a cute but casual dark sweater, her hair artfully arranged, a light coat of makeup to complete the outfit. She’d used a clasp to hold back her bangs, bringing attention to her eyes and sharp cheekbones. Normally, she was content to be listened to then forgotten.
But it would work for tonight to blend in. Just one more woman meeting friends at a downtown bar.
She left her jacket behind, stowing her credit cards, license, and keys in her pocket. After locking up, she braved the cold weather and crossed the bar’s busy parking lot.
And that’s when she saw him. Agent Scott and some man she didn’t recognize spoke in the shadows at the far side of the lot, in a low but animated conversation. Scott handed the man a business envelope.
Money? Was he paying the guy off, and if so, why? She wanted badly to close the distance between them to see the man clearly. But she’d frozen in the middle of the parking lot as it was, and didn’t want to announce her presence with any sudden movement.
Then Scott glanced her way. His gaze moved past her then whipped right back to her, and his eyes narrowed.
Shoot. Jane looked to the right of him and waved, as if at the couple exiting a vehicle nearby. The moment he looked over at them, she turned and hurried into the bar.
The warmth inside the pub relaxed her, and she used the crowd to her advantage. The place, at just past seven, felt nearly full. She made her way to the ladies’ room in case Scott chased after her. She could pretend she hadn’t seen him in the lot, like she’d only dropped in to get a drink.
After a solid ten minutes, she exited and started toward the bar. Only to be stopped when he stepped in front of her.
Shoot.
“Well, well. Jane Cannon. What a coincidence.”
She contained a wince at his vitriol. “Hello, sir. Fancy meeting you here.”
“Nice try. But I saw you following me from the library.”
“I’m sorry?” She could play dumb with the best of them. Though her cousin did the innocent expression much better.
“Save it. You’re on administrative leave.” His voice started to rise, attracting attention. “You have no business?—”
“I’m not sure why you’re so angry.” She frowned, going on the offensive. “I’m here to get a drink and meet someone.”Please, someone be here that I know.“You already suspended me. How about getting off my—” she would have ended with something crude, likely with one of Joe’s favorite sayings, when an arm draped over her shoulder.
She froze, especially when she recognized a familiar cologne.
“Jane. I’ve been waiting.” Gunther Rapp squeezed her shoulder with one muscled arm. “I’m sorry. I’m not interrupting, am I?”
Scott blinked at Rapp, then at his arm around her. “Er, I?—”
“Matthew Scott, meet my date” —she couldn’t believe she said “date” with a straight face— “Gunther Rapp.”
“Hi.” Rapp didn’t offer to shake hands, and Scott didn’t seem eager to engage either. “Oh, Scott. Your boss, right?”
“Yeah.” Jane sounded less than enthusiastic.
At that point, someone called out for Scott.
“Apologies, but I have someone to meet as well. Jane. Gunther.” He nodded to them both then turned and left.
Rapp leaned down and said into her ear, “You have some explaining to do.”
“Me? What are you doing here?”
He escorted her to a tall table by the back. “I was meeting someone and just happened to look up and see you and anobviously pissed-off guy in what looked like an uncomfortable conversation.”
Well, he wasn’t wrong.
Jane took the seat with the wall at her back and watched Rapp squeeze in across from her, nearly touching the guy behind him. From this angle, she saw Scott across the room for an instant, looking right at her, before people jostled and blocked her view.
