Outfox

Drex conceded that with a nod.

“You could be completely wrong.”

“Yes.”

“Then how can you theorize with such certainty that it happened that way?”

“Because that’s how I would have done it.”

The statement caused her breath to catch. All along she had intuited that there was more to Drex Easton than he let on, that he was shrewder than he pretended to be, not nearly as laid-back, that there was a dark side camouflaged by the dimple.

But she had miscalculated just how much intensity he concealed with his superficial posturing. He was a man on a mission. One had to respect his commitment. But it also filled her with foreboding.

“How long have you been after him?”

“Long time.”

“Since—?”

“Seems forever.”

“And you won’t stop until you catch him, will you?”

“Never doubt it.”

She gestured at the file lying on the tabletop between them. “And if Jasper proves not to be him?”

“He is, Talia. He is.”

His tone left no doubt of that, either.

Chapter 25

Talia, when you left the airport where did you go?” Drex asked.

“I came home.”

“At ten o’clock.”

“Was it?”

Mike said, “Ten oh-three to be exact.”

“How can you be exact?” she asked.

“I was about to board a flight.”

Drex took up the explanation. “Mike was in Atlanta, waiting on you and Jasper to show up at The Lotus.”

“So he could spy on us?”

“Yes,” he replied without apology. “But when we learned that you and Jasper never got on the flight, and that a body had washed ashore, plans changed quickly. Gif and I went straight to the marina. We got there in time to see Elaine’s body taken away. From the marina, we came to the apartment and were on the phone with Mike giving him an update when you drove into your driveway.”

“At ten oh-three,” the large man repeated.

She ignored him. “When I got home, there weren’t any lights on inside the garage apartment. But then, if you were spying on me, there wouldn’t have been, would there?”

“No. Spying is easier with the lights off.”