Dead in a Week (Forensic Instincts 7)

“I have no idea.”

A terse answer, she noted. And an interesting one. Nano was a tight corporate family. Ethan had provided a good read of both Blockman and Malcolm. And yet he had zero read on June Morris? That was odd. Simone had found June to be nervous and tightly wired, something she was sure Ethan would mention. Yet he said nothing.

Simone tucked away that factoid to probe later.

“Ethan, I see from your profile that you are fluent in Mandarin. That’s fascinating. Tell me more about it.”

“I always had a knack with languages—foreign and computer,” Ethan replied. “At Berkeley, I decided to try my hand at Chinese. What I didn’t know is that I’d be the only nonnative speaker in the class. The rest of them must have taken the class for an easy A to boost their GPAs. As for me, I worked unbelievably hard for a B. But I loved it and continued for two years.” A grin. “I guess I was a glutton for punishment.”

Simone smiled back. “And have you ever traveled to China to put that linguistic skill to good use?”

“Not yet,” Ethan said ruefully. “It’s on my bucket list.”

“You’re a little young for a bucket list,” Simone said with a chuckle.

Ethan nodded, his grin widening. “Okay then, my want-to-do list. As soon as I save up enough money and vacation time.”

Simone chewed that one over. Vacation time? Maybe. Money? Now that was an interesting topic. Ethan made a low six-figure salary. Very nice. But not enough to pay for his choice of “toys,” particularly his lavish car. The Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet had a ticket price of well over two hundred thousand dollars. Definitely out of Ethan’s price range—unless he was up to his neck in debt or getting income from an outside source.

“I’m sure that amazing convertible I saw you drive in with must suck up a lot of your discretionary funds,” she said lightly. “It’s a beauty.”

A red flush crept up Ethan’s neck. “Yeah, she’s my baby,” he replied uneasily. “I went way out on a limb when I bought her. The monthly lease payments eat up a good chunk of my salary. That’s why trips to the Far East will have to wait.”

“I understand.” Simone wasn’t going to push it. If she did, he’d become suspicious. She knew he was bothered by her question. That was good enough for now.

Time to wrap things up. She’d gotten everything she needed out of this interview. “So, is there anything else you think I should know that would assist me in helping Vance improve your department?” she asked calmly.

Ethan looked like a man whose prison sentence had just been reduced. “I think we’ve covered everything,” he said, already half out of his seat.

“Good.” Simone handed him her card. “I’ll be at Nano all week. If you think of anything else, please let me know. You’re an invaluable member of Vance’s team.”

Ethan rose, pausing only to pocket her card and collect his messenger bag. His grip on the handles was tight and he didn’t take the time to swing the strap over his shoulder. “Of course. Anything I can do.”

Probably not anything, Simone thought as she watched him leave the room. Not only had he been thrown by her more in-depth questions, he also hadn’t exactly oozed enthusiasm at her request to contact her. Nor had he responded in kind, offering Simone a welcome mat to keep the lines of communication open.

Loyalty to Vance aside, there was more going on with Ethan Gallagher. She just had to sort things out and figure out what.

But for now, it was time to move on to Zoe Pearson.

Ariel’s Grotto, Disneyland

27 February

Tuesday, 2:55 p.m. local time

Aidan grinned, watching the wide-eyed, mesmerized look on Abby’s face as she took in the wonders of Ariel’s Grotto, which was indeed an under-the-sea extravaganza. The restaurant was drenched in deep ocean-blue colors, complimented by hanging lanterns and pillars entwined with greenery. There was a full wall mural that was straight from the screen of The Little Mermaid, and—most magical of all to Abby—there was the smiling young redheaded woman who was playing the part of Ariel, dressed in an exquisite, authentic mermaid costume and seated on her scalloped throne.

“Daddy, you promised that we could take a picture with Ariel,” Abby reminded him, her mouth full of her Whozits and Whatzits Nuggetz. “There are already people in line.”

“So I see,” Aidan replied, taking a bite of his lobster salad. He’d better eat up. Abby had an agenda, and savoring lobster wasn’t part of it.

He scanned the room in a quick assessment. “People are getting dessert, so the line is thinning out. I’d say you have just enough time to clean your plate before it’s your turn.”

That made Abby twist around to look up at her father, disappointment etched all over her precious face. “My turn? Aren’t you going with me? I want both of us to be in the picture.”

Aidan’s bite of salad went down in a gulp. This one he hadn’t expected. But knowing Abby, shouldn’t he have?

“Don’t you want it to be just you ladies?” he tried, knowing, even as he watched Abby give a vehement shake of her head, that he’d soon be sitting on a shell, posed beside Abby and a mermaid, also knowing that he’d never live down his brother’s and his team’s reaction when Abby flourished this photo before everyone’s eyes.