“Eva and Angie were at ZZ’s. And I’ll bet they come busting through the front door of King’s any minute.”
“Did something happen?”
“There was a bar fight. Nothing out of the ordinary.” He opted to skip the Margo-with-the-baseball-bat chapter. “They were there asking questions.”
“About?”
“That’s what I’d like to know.”
“Any sign of Dixon?”
“No.”
The front door of the bar opened, and Angie and Eva hustled inside. They had red cheeks and a hint of wildness in their eyes. They seemed no worse for the wear.
Garrison rose. “You talk to Carlson. I need to have a chat with Eva.”
“Sure.”
Angie glanced between Eva and Garrison. Normally, Angie had something to say, but this time she kept her mouth shut. She watched as Eva and Garrison kissed and vanished upstairs.
“That looks like trouble,” Malcolm said. “What am I missing?”
Angie sat at the bar. “I’m sure they’ll tell us sooner or later.”
King approached them. He was a short guy with a trim build, and some likened his appearance to a leprechaun. However, he was not a man to be underestimated. “So no hello from Eva?”
“She’ll be right back,” Angie said. “She needs a minute with Garrison.”
King set a soda in front of Angie. “You hungry?”
“Starving. Roast beef on rye.”
“What no salmon cakes, babe?”
She grinned. “Living dangerously.”
King winked and laughed as he left.
As Angie sipped her soda Malcolm watched her. With her hair down, and a tight T-shirt stretched over pert breasts, she looked … sexy. Shit. More attraction to The Barracuda. Not good.
She didn’t spare him a glance. “Yeah, I know. Not my usual apparel.”
“I’ll say. But then if you’re going to a place like ZZ’s it’s best to ditch the suits.”
She glared at him. “How did you know?”
“I was there.”
“I didn’t see you.”
“That’s the idea. Blend in. Don’t piss off the staff.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What were you doing there?”
“That’s a question better answered by you.”
The flush in her cheeks deepened a shade. “We went to ask after a client of mine.”
“Sierra Day?”
“No. Lulu Sweet.”
He’d heard it all. The key witness in the Dixon trial— the same woman Dixon had referenced in Carlson’s office the other day. “You tore her apart. And now you’re her lawyer?”
“As of two days ago. Eva asked me for help. Lulu is trying to get custody of her son.”
He’d never liked the way the system had torn into Lulu, but it really bothered him to know now she had a son. “How old is the kid?”
“Nine months. And I know what you’re thinking. The kid was born after the trial. Anyway, she swears she didn’t use for most of her pregnancy, and she was clean until he was a month old. Her mother found her in a stupor and took the kid. Lulu is trying to get him back. She was supposed to meet me in court yesterday but didn’t.”
“That’s when Donovan cornered you.”
“Right.”
Absently, he traced circles on the table with his thumb. “The grandmother got custody?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe it’s for the best.”
She shook her head. “Lulu really seemed to want that kid.”
Malcolm had to put a few points in Carlson’s column. She’d been trying to help Lulu. “You call Lulu?”
“Quite a few times. Eva was sure she had gotten into trouble and wanted to check it out. Lulu worked at ZZ’s as a waitress.”
“I’ve seen her there before. She works hard. Seems to keep her nose clean.”
“Why were you there?”
“It’s a new favorite spot of Dixon’s. Just thought I might pick up something.”
“Did you?”
“Not after you and your sister’s show. Made sense to leave.”
“Right.” She stared into her cup. “I didn’t realize that Dixon liked that place. He never mentioned it before.”
“Like I said, it was a new haunt.” He frowned. “When did Lulu start working at ZZ’s?”
“Six months, give or take.”
“That’s about the time Dixon started frequenting the place.” He’d come to believe that true coincidences were very, very rare. “And no one has seen Lulu?”
“No one. We even visited the room she rented. Nothing out of place.”
“When was she last seen?”
“Last night at the bar. Went on a break. Never came back. Her shoe was found in the alley.”
He snorted. “Anyone call it in?”
“No.”
He traced the rim of his cup. “Two women who knew Dixon. One is dead. One is missing. And you have links to all three.”
A cold sensation settled in her belly. “I only accepted Lulu as a client a few days ago, and I doubt anyone knew it other than Eva or Lulu.”
“Lulu could have told someone. She wasn’t known for her discretion.”
Angie’s brows knitted. “I don’t think it was her. She was very focused on this case.”
“Both women knew Dixon. Both women knew you. That is too odd to dismiss.”
“Lulu could still turn up.”
“She could. But I’d like to speed the process up and look for her. Something tells me she’s a piece of the puzzle.”
“What puzzle?”
“That’s the million-dollar question, Counselor.”
Angie had heeded Kier’s warnings to be careful but refused his offer to drive her home. She was just parked across the street.
So when she heard footsteps behind her as she approached her car, she tightened her hold on her keys and tensed.
“Hey, mermaid.”
The familiar voice had her raising her head as she opened her car door. The man stood only a few feet away. He had come out of nowhere, and though he was smiling and relaxed, her senses jumped to alert. She glanced back toward King’s, hoping to see Malcolm standing watch over her. She didn’t see him in the crowd.
She threaded her keys through her fingers. “Do I know you?”
The man grinned. He was young, maybe early twenties, and fit. Long, thick dark hair curled around his face, and his expressive blue eyes made what would have been an ordinary face striking. “You don’t recognize me. I’m hurt.”
“Who are you?” The vague hint of welcome in her voice vanished.
“I guess you’re not used to seeing me with my clothes on.” He laughed. “From the gym. I’m the swimmer who shared lane four with you.”
Relief rushed over her and eased the tension that had wrapped around her spine. She’d been casual about her safety around Kier but now realized she was anything but safe. She barricaded her body behind the open car door. “Right. Sorry. I guess the dry hair threw me off.”
He chuckled. “Swim goggles aren’t the most attractive look.”
Breathe. “I love the impressions the goggles make around my eyes. I look a bit like a bug when I get out of the water.”
He wagged his finger at her. “But you’re there almost every day.”
“I’m hooked, I guess.” She relaxed back against the car frame. “You swim like you’re in training.”
“Not anymore. But I guess old habits die hard. I used to swim a lot as a teen. Competed some, but now swim just for fun.”
“You must have been good. You make me feel like a turtle in the water when you zoom past.”
He shrugged. “I did all right.” He held out his hand. “My name’s Martin.”
She accepted the hand and wrapped warm, long fingers around his callused palm. “Angie.”
He tightened his grip around hers, momentarily trapping her hand in his. A second clicked by. The hesitation didn’t last long enough to set
off alarm bells, but it was enough that when he loosened his grip she drew back her hand. “Well, Martin, thanks for saying hi. I’ve got to be going. Early day tomorrow.”
He slid his hands into his front pockets. “You going to hit the water?”
“I’m going to give it a try. Depends on how much work I have to review tonight.”
“Work. This late? What do you do?”
“Lawyer.”
He nodded. “I figured you for some high-profile professional.”
“Why’s that?”