I pictured Jules on a white-knuckle roller coaster and held back a smile. I didn't think that would be his idea of fun. He'd look cute in a pair of Mickey Mouse ears though. They all would.
I tentatively put that on a list of things we could do when all of this was over.
"Depends what he was doing there," Archer pointed out.
"That's true," I agreed. "Any indication he was doing anything…"
I didn't finish that sentence. We all knew what I was referring to.
"If he did, he’s kept it hidden well," Cass said. "He had a couple of public appearances. A movie premiere, an interview on some morning show. That's about it."
He took another bite of focaccia and added, "He also went to a hockey game." His lips twisted in annoyance that someone like Zeus could share a common interest with him.
"Please don't tell me he caught a game puck," I pleaded.
"Doesn't look like it," Cass said. "He was sitting too far back. Up in one of the boxes."
"Of course he was," I said. "Shame he didn't choke on a hot dog."
They both gave me a funny look but I shrugged and gestured for them to continue.
"He returned to New York City the morning of Harlow's fancy dinner," Archer said. "Just in time to put in an appearance."
"I found his address," Cass said. "He lives a few blocks away, in an apartment building. Nowhere fancy by the look of it."
"Keeping a low profile," I guessed.
"That seems to be his shtick," Cass agreed. "I've looked into his financials and he has more money in the bank than his living situation and travel would suggest. As far as I can tell, he's made some surprisingly shrewd investments. Things no one knew anything about until, out of nowhere, they were a big deal."
"Insider trading?" I asked. Nowthatwas illegal.
"That would be my guess, yes," Cass agreed.
"Anything we can prove?" I asked. It wouldn't hurt to have a bit more dirt on him.
"In time, we can," Cass said. "I need to hack into his stock portfolio. See how much he's actually bought. Then look at those companies and how they were situated right before he made his purchases. Onemightbe a coincidence, but it looks like a lot more than that."
"Anything the police are looking into?" I asked.
It was Archer who answered. "As far as I can tell, he's squeaky clean on the outside. Or he's bribed the right people."
"My guess is the second one," I said.
There was no way in this universe or any other, that Zeus was innocent. No, he knew how to work the system and fuck with people. He was like a spider, hiding up in the corner, pretending to be busy with his own web, while really spinning people into it. Tying them up until they couldn't escape, then eating them alive.
The analogy made me shudder. I really didn't like spiders.
"He seems to have some very important friends," Archer added. "Businessmen, politicians, a few movie stars."
"Any transactions between him and them in his bank account?" I asked Cass.
"Archer, can you send me a list of names?" Cass asked. "I'll compare them with deposits and withdrawals." He glanced up at me. "Do you think he's blackmailing them?"
"At this point, nothing would surprise me." I pushed my ponytail back over my shoulder. "How better to get away with shit than to have powerful people in your pocket?"
"I can think of people I'd rather have in my pocket." Cass grinned.
I laughed softly.
