investigated every client David had worked with going back three years before his death. There were bankers, lawyers, industrial heavyweights, and a wide assortment of private duty assignments.”
“Private duty?”
Dallas frowned, looking uncomfortable. “Rich men and women like discreet investigations into the loyalty of potential partners or lovers. It’s one way to ensure there are no surprises inside or outside of the bedroom.”
My heart winced at his words. Perhaps I did not want to hear about David’s work after all. Maybe what I learned would jeopardize the image of David I had come to cherish since his death. But curiosity is stronger than logic sometimes.
“And did David do a lot of these private duty investigations?” I finally asked.
Dallas nodded. “Your publisher, Harold Hamper, was one.”
I shook my head, knowing my initial dislike for the wizened CEO had been well-founded. I was beginning to understand why David had wanted a clean break from Simon La Roy and his organization.
“How could you think someone wouldn’t want revenge on David for any these investigations?” I inquired
“David was involved in simple infidelities and petty white collar crimes. Sure, there were some big cases involving business espionage. But I found nothing from his past that could have resulted in his murder.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Dallas leaned in closer to me. “Do you know what kind of hatred it takes to put a bullet in the back of a man’s head? I do.” He paused. “You need a sick, twisted mind tortured by insecurity or jealousy to commit such an act. Besides, in my experience people only want revenge on the person who hired the spy, not the spy himself. No one ever had any reason to direct such anger at David until you came into his life. You were the catalyst, Nicci.”
Reason told me Dallas was right, but my heart still rebelled at such a suggestion.
I lowered my eyes to the table. “I guess I’m just having a hard time accepting that fact.”
“Whether you choose to believe it or not, Nicci, doesn’t matter. It’s the only lead I’ve got,” Dallas said, and then he cleared his throat. “I need to know now that you can handle this.” His voice resonated with concern.
I squared my shoulders. “I’m not some wilting magnolia, Dallas. I’m a lot tougher than I look.”
He nodded as he sat back. “I’m so glad.”
Our waiter returned to our table with our salads and two fresh cocktails. We sat in silence as the young man placed the food and drinks before us.
David waited until we were alone again before he spoke. “After lunch, perhaps we should go over some more details before our flight tomorrow.”
“I was going to go Christmas shopping for my family after lunch. The stores still aren’t open back home yet due to Katrina.”
“Why don’t we go shopping together?” He hesitated for a moment and then said, “It would give me a chance to spend some time with you.”
I shook my head as I felt a nagging stitch of suspicion pull at my gut. “Help our cover, you mean.”
He did not say anything but just looked down at his salad.
In a crowded restaurant filled with people, I was inexplicably overwhelmed by a desire to be alone. Away from Dallas and the ever-present loud, bustling traffic of the city outside. How was I ever going to pull off a cover with this man? How were two people who were no more than strangers going to convince the prying eyes of New Orleans society that they were a couple in love?
“I know just the place to go shopping,” Dallas stated, pulling me away from my doldrums.
“What?” I asked, unsure of what I had heard.
“I’ll take you to the shopping Mecca of New York.” He raised his hand to me just as I was about to open my mouth to protest. “I promise you will find everything you need.”
I laughed. “Let me guess. A junkyard?”
“No,” he grinned, “you’ll just have to trust me on this one.”
“Trust you?” I picked
“Private duty?”
Dallas frowned, looking uncomfortable. “Rich men and women like discreet investigations into the loyalty of potential partners or lovers. It’s one way to ensure there are no surprises inside or outside of the bedroom.”
My heart winced at his words. Perhaps I did not want to hear about David’s work after all. Maybe what I learned would jeopardize the image of David I had come to cherish since his death. But curiosity is stronger than logic sometimes.
“And did David do a lot of these private duty investigations?” I finally asked.
Dallas nodded. “Your publisher, Harold Hamper, was one.”
I shook my head, knowing my initial dislike for the wizened CEO had been well-founded. I was beginning to understand why David had wanted a clean break from Simon La Roy and his organization.
“How could you think someone wouldn’t want revenge on David for any these investigations?” I inquired
“David was involved in simple infidelities and petty white collar crimes. Sure, there were some big cases involving business espionage. But I found nothing from his past that could have resulted in his murder.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Dallas leaned in closer to me. “Do you know what kind of hatred it takes to put a bullet in the back of a man’s head? I do.” He paused. “You need a sick, twisted mind tortured by insecurity or jealousy to commit such an act. Besides, in my experience people only want revenge on the person who hired the spy, not the spy himself. No one ever had any reason to direct such anger at David until you came into his life. You were the catalyst, Nicci.”
Reason told me Dallas was right, but my heart still rebelled at such a suggestion.
I lowered my eyes to the table. “I guess I’m just having a hard time accepting that fact.”
“Whether you choose to believe it or not, Nicci, doesn’t matter. It’s the only lead I’ve got,” Dallas said, and then he cleared his throat. “I need to know now that you can handle this.” His voice resonated with concern.
I squared my shoulders. “I’m not some wilting magnolia, Dallas. I’m a lot tougher than I look.”
He nodded as he sat back. “I’m so glad.”
Our waiter returned to our table with our salads and two fresh cocktails. We sat in silence as the young man placed the food and drinks before us.
David waited until we were alone again before he spoke. “After lunch, perhaps we should go over some more details before our flight tomorrow.”
“I was going to go Christmas shopping for my family after lunch. The stores still aren’t open back home yet due to Katrina.”
“Why don’t we go shopping together?” He hesitated for a moment and then said, “It would give me a chance to spend some time with you.”
I shook my head as I felt a nagging stitch of suspicion pull at my gut. “Help our cover, you mean.”
He did not say anything but just looked down at his salad.
In a crowded restaurant filled with people, I was inexplicably overwhelmed by a desire to be alone. Away from Dallas and the ever-present loud, bustling traffic of the city outside. How was I ever going to pull off a cover with this man? How were two people who were no more than strangers going to convince the prying eyes of New Orleans society that they were a couple in love?
“I know just the place to go shopping,” Dallas stated, pulling me away from my doldrums.
“What?” I asked, unsure of what I had heard.
“I’ll take you to the shopping Mecca of New York.” He raised his hand to me just as I was about to open my mouth to protest. “I promise you will find everything you need.”
I laughed. “Let me guess. A junkyard?”
“No,” he grinned, “you’ll just have to trust me on this one.”
“Trust you?” I picked
Similar Books
