“I’ll think about it,” Sam said. “I’ll let you know one way or the other this evening.”
* * * * *
They were just pulling out of the parking lot when Jason’s phone rang.
He glanced at Dreyfus’ contact info and groaned.
“Better get it over with,” Sam advised in the tone of one with a lot of practice at receiving irate phone calls from colleagues.
Jason clicked the Accept button. “West.”
“Really, West?” Dreyfus said. “I seem like a serial killer to you?”
“No, of course not. I just…”
“I mean, I’m not a fan of magic, but going around knocking off magicians seems a little extreme.”
“I agree. I apologize. I really am sorry.”
“I was the one who guessed that there would be a tarot card at the Santos crime scene. Why would I point that out if I was the one leaving the cards?”
“I know. That was partly why I, er, started having doubts. I thought maybe it was a…” He glanced at Sam’s profile and cleared his throat. “A cat-and-mouse thing.”
Sam made a smothered sound that turned into a cough.
Dreyfus began to splutter.
“Anyway,” Jason said quickly. “Aside from thinking you might be a serial killer, I enjoyed working with you.”
There was an astonished silence, and then Dreyfus laughed. “Aside from you never wanting to investigate anything that doesn’t have to do with art history, I enjoyed working with you too.”
“Thanks.”
“I guess this is it, then? Are you finished, um, consulting on the Khan case?”
“Yeah. I think I’ve provided as much insight as I’m able to.”
Sam was staring straight ahead. He could have been alone in the car for all the attention he appeared to be paying. Jason searched his soul and said, “Hey, Dreyfus. I think you should probably try to get a search warrant for Elle Diamond’s place.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It’s a long shot, but…yeah. I think that moving van of hers is probably going to turn up on some of the surrounding security cameras in the Khans’ neighborhood.”
“Wow. Okay. I’ll do that. I’ll try, anyway.”
They chatted a minute or two more and then said their goodbyes. Jason clicked off his phone.
Sam said, “Nicely done, West.”
“Yeah. Well.” Jason turned to stare out the window.
Sam reached over and gave his shoulder a squeeze. Buck up, little buckaroo. “You can only do what you can do within the confines of the law—which you’ve sworn to uphold.”
“Yes. I know.” Jason sighed. He thought it over and said more cheerfully, “Anyway, she’s never going to get a search warrant on my say so. I’m the guy who accused her of being a serial killer to her godfather.”
Sam’s lips twitched. “Possibly not. Shall we celebrate the semi-successful end to your case? How about I treat you to the best steak dinner in Cheyenne?”
“It’s a little early for dinner.”