"You don't think they're actually in love?"
"In love?" he echoed with a laugh. "They've only been seeing each other for a few months; I don't think either of them sees it as love."
"Some people fall fast."
"And that's usually a hard fall."
She wondered if his cynicism about love came from personal experience or just observation, but she wasn't going to ask him that. They weren't together to share personal stories; they were investigating a bombing, and she needed to focus on that.
"There's the gym," Max said, pointing ahead. "Let's see if anyone recognizes our mystery man."
Forge Fitness had a pristinely clean and nicely decorated lobby, with solid doors presumably leading to the actual fitness center.
A young guy sat at the front desk, maybe early twenties, scrolling through his phone. Behind him, through a glass door, Kara could see a dark-haired man doing paperwork in a small office.
Kara pulled out her badge when they reached the desk. "FBI. We need to ask you some questions."
The desk clerk's eyes widened as he put down his phone. "Is something wrong?"
"What's your name?"
"Spencer."
She pulled up the sketch on her phone and showed it to him. "Do you recognize this man, Spencer?"
Spencer's face turned pale. His eyes flicked nervously toward the office, then back to the phone. "I'm not sure. You should talk to Elias—he's the manager." He gestured toward the office, his hand shaking slightly. "I'll get him." He got up from the desk, knocked on the door, stepped inside, and then shut the door behind him.
Spencer emerged a moment later with a dark-haired Hispanic man in his late forties.
"I'm the manager. Elias Costa. How can I help you?"
"I'm Agent Reid," she said, introducing herself. "We're looking for this man. Do you know him? Have you seen him?"
Elias looked at the sketch on her phone. "This is just a drawing."
"But a good likeness of who we're looking for."
His gaze moved back to the photo. Then he lifted his head and gave a negative shake. "Sorry, I don't know who that is." Elias's gaze moved to Max. "I didn't catch your name."
"Max Malone. My client, Dominic Ashford, works with one of your trainers."
"Yes, he does. Is this man in the sketch tied to Mr. Ashford?" Elias looked even more concerned now.
"No, but he might be tied to an explosion that occurred yesterday," Max said.
Elias started, surprise moving through his gaze. "An explosion?"
"Are you sure you don't recognize him?" she interrupted, not wanting to give Elias any more information. She didn't trust him, and she couldn't help noticing that the desk clerk was listening avidly to their conversation.
"I'd like to help, but I can't. This image could be anyone. Is there anything else?"
"No," Max said before she had a chance to speak. "Thanks."
As Elias headed back into his office, Spencer picked up the phone to take a call. "Forge Fitness."
Max waved her toward the door, and she reluctantly followed. "You give up way too easily," she muttered as they reached the sidewalk.
"Elias wasn't going to give up that guy."
