thought.
No wonder Rhian likes to play the field
. But he smiled and said, ‘Hey, no problem. You’ve seen everything, anyway. If you want to wait here, I’ll just go grab my keys and folder and see if Rhian’s ready to leave.’
Dennis just nodded and Vaughn turned to go back inside. He was already thinking about which restaurant he’d take the guy’s girlfriend to next week. And for what he had in mind afterwards, it needed to be one fairly close to a hotel.
FOURTEEN
On the busy sidewalk out front, Mayfield shook hands with them both and said, ‘Don’t forget, guys, you call me any time you got any questions, okay?’ He glanced quickly at the woman he knew as Rhian. ‘Any time at all.’
‘Thanks,’ Bishop said, still playing dumb.
‘We’ll definitely be in touch, Vaughn,’ Jenna Falstaff said, giving him a sultry smile.
Vaughn grinned back, then turned and marched off down the street to wherever he’d parked his car.
Bishop took off the glasses and rolled his shoulders, ironing out the kinks that came with stooping for so long. ‘So when’s the wedding?’
‘Not exactly subtle, is he?’ Jenna said with a sigh. ‘I think I need a long shower after all that. Boy, the things I do for you.’
‘Don’t give me that. You were enjoying yourself. I saw you.’
‘Well, maybe a little,’ she said. They began walking towards the narrow side street that bordered Equinox Tower’s west side. ‘So did you have enough time?’
‘Just about. He caught me out of breath but the inhaler explained it away.’ They stopped at the corner of the side street. It was more an alley really, but it allowed them to get clear of the lunchtime sidewalk traffic. ‘What about you? You get the floor plans?’
‘Naturally.’ She reached into her shoulder bag and handed them over. And a key. ‘For 1507,’ she said. ‘He’s sure to notice it’s missing before too long, though.’
‘Well, I should be safe enough for a few hours, at least. After that, it won’t matter.’
‘What if this Addison’s already gotten free? He’ll try to warn Gaspard, won’t he?’
‘Not if he wants to keep breathing. Admitting he gave Gaspard’s name to a complete stranger would be like signing his own death warrant, and I don’t think even he’s
that
dumb.’
‘Well, if you say so. But I think you’re taking a big risk.’
Bishop shrugged and looked at Jenna for a moment. Then he leaned forward and kissed her. ‘Thanks for helping. I really appreciate it.’
Which was something of an understatement. Last night, his internet research at Addison’s revealed the sole agent for Equinox was an outfit called Slocombe Realty. He’d then called Jenna and asked if she’d be willing to come down to Pennsylvania to help him out with something. She hadn’t been too happy about it, but she eventually agreed to pick up the few items he asked for and then drive straight down. He couldn’t think of anybody else who’d do the same.
Jenna touched her lips with two fingers. ‘Wow, was that an actual kiss? From
you
? And just what else was I was gonna do, James? In case it’s escaped your attention, this is about the closest thing we’ve had to a date in months. It seems you’re always busy, or is it that you’ve got yourself a new squeeze and I’m just being slow?’
‘You know better than that.’
‘Do I? So what is it, then? Has the thrill gone already?’
‘Look, let’s not do this now, huh? Not here on the sidewalk. Not when I got a dozen other things on my mind.’
‘Seems to me you’ve always got something on your mind,’ Jenna said with a snort. ‘And as far as I’m concerned, now’s as good a time as any. Besides, what’s the big obsession about finding this Selina girl, anyway? I’m getting the impression she means a lot more to you than you’ve been making out.’
‘She’s just someone who needs help, that’s all,’ he said. He really didn’t want to get into all the whys and wherefores
No wonder Rhian likes to play the field
. But he smiled and said, ‘Hey, no problem. You’ve seen everything, anyway. If you want to wait here, I’ll just go grab my keys and folder and see if Rhian’s ready to leave.’
Dennis just nodded and Vaughn turned to go back inside. He was already thinking about which restaurant he’d take the guy’s girlfriend to next week. And for what he had in mind afterwards, it needed to be one fairly close to a hotel.
FOURTEEN
On the busy sidewalk out front, Mayfield shook hands with them both and said, ‘Don’t forget, guys, you call me any time you got any questions, okay?’ He glanced quickly at the woman he knew as Rhian. ‘Any time at all.’
‘Thanks,’ Bishop said, still playing dumb.
‘We’ll definitely be in touch, Vaughn,’ Jenna Falstaff said, giving him a sultry smile.
Vaughn grinned back, then turned and marched off down the street to wherever he’d parked his car.
Bishop took off the glasses and rolled his shoulders, ironing out the kinks that came with stooping for so long. ‘So when’s the wedding?’
‘Not exactly subtle, is he?’ Jenna said with a sigh. ‘I think I need a long shower after all that. Boy, the things I do for you.’
‘Don’t give me that. You were enjoying yourself. I saw you.’
‘Well, maybe a little,’ she said. They began walking towards the narrow side street that bordered Equinox Tower’s west side. ‘So did you have enough time?’
‘Just about. He caught me out of breath but the inhaler explained it away.’ They stopped at the corner of the side street. It was more an alley really, but it allowed them to get clear of the lunchtime sidewalk traffic. ‘What about you? You get the floor plans?’
‘Naturally.’ She reached into her shoulder bag and handed them over. And a key. ‘For 1507,’ she said. ‘He’s sure to notice it’s missing before too long, though.’
‘Well, I should be safe enough for a few hours, at least. After that, it won’t matter.’
‘What if this Addison’s already gotten free? He’ll try to warn Gaspard, won’t he?’
‘Not if he wants to keep breathing. Admitting he gave Gaspard’s name to a complete stranger would be like signing his own death warrant, and I don’t think even he’s
that
dumb.’
‘Well, if you say so. But I think you’re taking a big risk.’
Bishop shrugged and looked at Jenna for a moment. Then he leaned forward and kissed her. ‘Thanks for helping. I really appreciate it.’
Which was something of an understatement. Last night, his internet research at Addison’s revealed the sole agent for Equinox was an outfit called Slocombe Realty. He’d then called Jenna and asked if she’d be willing to come down to Pennsylvania to help him out with something. She hadn’t been too happy about it, but she eventually agreed to pick up the few items he asked for and then drive straight down. He couldn’t think of anybody else who’d do the same.
Jenna touched her lips with two fingers. ‘Wow, was that an actual kiss? From
you
? And just what else was I was gonna do, James? In case it’s escaped your attention, this is about the closest thing we’ve had to a date in months. It seems you’re always busy, or is it that you’ve got yourself a new squeeze and I’m just being slow?’
‘You know better than that.’
‘Do I? So what is it, then? Has the thrill gone already?’
‘Look, let’s not do this now, huh? Not here on the sidewalk. Not when I got a dozen other things on my mind.’
‘Seems to me you’ve always got something on your mind,’ Jenna said with a snort. ‘And as far as I’m concerned, now’s as good a time as any. Besides, what’s the big obsession about finding this Selina girl, anyway? I’m getting the impression she means a lot more to you than you’ve been making out.’
‘She’s just someone who needs help, that’s all,’ he said. He really didn’t want to get into all the whys and wherefores