"Information, maybe. Proof of something. Access to your business operations." Forrest's fingers flew over his keyboard. "Or maybe she really is just a qualified assistant who needed a job."
"You don't believe that."
"No," he admitted. "But I'm a cynic. Comes with the territory."
He left with a promise to have preliminary results by end of day.
I returned to the window.
Friday, Julia would come in for her polygraph. Stone would ask her questions, Forrest would monitor her responses, and I would watch, wondering if I was hiring an assistant or inviting a killer into my life.
The smart play was to walk away. Rescind the offer. Tell her I'd changed my mind.
But I'd never been good at the smart play when something interesting was on the table.
And Julia Russell was like a breath of fresh air.
Even if she might be the death of me.
Especiallythen.
My phone buzzed. Text from Stone:Reid Bauer is in town. Has intel from NY. Meeting him at Tiki Tabu 8 p.m. You should be there.
I texted back:I'll be there.
Reid Bauer. I hadn't seen him in years, but if Stone was bringing him in, the situation was serious. Reid had connections throughout the East Coast—the kind of connections that knew things before they happened.
If the Russos were making a move, Reid would know about it.
I glanced at the clock. Five hours until the meeting.
Five hours to wonder what I was walking into.
Chapter 8
Quentin
The Tiki Tabu Bar was owned by Keola, a Polynesian American who'd fought in the Middle East with Stone. The place was low-key, private, and most importantly—far enough from my usual haunts that nobody would think to look for me here.
Stone preferred it for sensitive conversations. No corporate surveillance, no paper trail, just cash and discretion.
Keola greeted me at the door with his trademark smile. "Mr. Vanetti."
"Quentin, please. I'm not at work."
"You got it." He gestured to a corner table with a Reserved sign. "Your usual spot. Old-fashioned?"
"You know me too well."
I settled into the corner booth, back to the wall, view of all entrances. Old habits.
Keola returned with my drink and a knowing look. "Stone called ahead. Said he'd be here in ten."
"Of course he did."
"Whatever you two need to discuss, you're safe here. No bugs, no eyes, no problems."
"That's why we keep coming back."
