When she reached that location, she did a slow turn. From this spot, she could easily see the entrance to the café. Is that why he had stopped here? Had he been watching for someone to enter or exit the café? Had he been talking on the phone? Or had the phone triggered the explosion?
Pondering that thought, she suddenly started when a figure came down the street and moved toward the plywood-covered door of the café. The man wore black jeans with a black coat, and he looked exactly like Max Malone. She waited for a couple of cars to pass by and then jogged across the street, coming up behind him as he poked around the entrance.
"Looking for something?" she asked sharply.
"You?" he said in surprise. "You were at the café this morning. You went back inside to rescue people."
"So did you. I'm Special Agent Kara Reid. And you are?"
"Max Malone." A smile crossed his lips. "And there's nothing special about me."
His attractive charm did not go unnoticed, but she wasn't going to let it distract her. "Why are you trying to get into the building?"
"I wasn't trying to get in; I was just looking around. I was curious about what happened here this morning. What about you?"
"I'm looking into the explosion."
"Do you have any leads?"
"Just you."
He cocked his head to the right, giving her a speculative glance. "Why would I be a lead?"
"You walked into the café, looked around, then walked out. But you didn't go far. You were standing across the street watching the building when the explosion occurred."
"You seem to know a lot about my actions this morning."
"There are multiple cameras in this area. Want to explain your behavior?"
He hesitated, then shrugged. "I was looking for someone. I had a meeting at the café, but she didn't show up. That's why I didn't stay."
"Who were you meeting?"
"Does it matter?"
"Everything matters when a bomb goes off in a crowded café in the middle of New York City. Answer my question."
He studied her for a long moment, then said, "Samantha Barkley."
She straightened at his answer. "Ms. Barkley was in the café. She was in the restroom."
"I heard that later. At the time, I didn't think she was there."
"How do you know her?"
"Mutual friend. And I don't really know her. She asked me to meet her. I was a little late, so when I didn't see her in the café, I thought she'd gone."
"What did she want to talk to you about? Was it a case she was working on? And who is your mutual friend?"
"She didn't say what she wanted to speak to me about, but I run a security firm, so I assume it had something to do with that."
"What kind of security? Are you a bodyguard?"
"I offer a variety of services. I'm sure you already looked me up," he said, a knowing gleam in his eyes.
"Yes. And I found very little information about you. It's almost as if you've been doing a job that no one could know about."
"Or maybe I just stayed off the internet."
