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Monroe looked from Jack to Tess. Suspicious, but with a good poker face. “The officer said I could go, but I need to lock up. You’re not with law enforcement, so I’m asking you to leave.”
“Of course,” Jack said. “But if you could—”
“I’m not interested in talking to you, Mr. Angelhart. If you have any questions, please contact my attorney, but since you have no authority or jurisdiction, she won’t have anything to say to you, either.” Monroe handed Jack a card.
Carmen Delarosa, Attorney-at-Law.
Tess knew Carmen Delarosa. She knew most of the practicing lawyers in town after working for her mom and Aunt Rita for years before becoming a PI.
Jack didn’t back down.
“I’ll need to report to my client that you met with one of their employees.”
Monroe frowned. “Mr. Angelhart, my reputation would be damaged without cause if you spread a rumor that I was doing anything unethical. I can assure you I wasn’t.”
“You can assure me, but I would still like to know how you are acquainted with Ms. White.”
Monroe ran a hand through his dark blond hair. It was a bit on the long side and curled at his collar. It made him look young.
“Jennifer interned for me when she was in college. She asked me to meet her, said it was important and would explain when she saw me. I agreed.”
“You make a habit of talking to interns in a short-term rental?”
“This is my house,” he said. “She wanted to talk, and felt she was being followed. The house was available, so I reserved it for her through one of my companies for a few days. When Jennifer interned for me, she was hardworking, intelligent, and I gave her a recommendation for future employment. That’s all I have to say.”
“What did she want to talk about?”
“We didn’t get that far. I need to contact my homeowners insurance and my lawyer. If you have further questions, call Carmen and she’ll pass them on to me. I’ll give her a heads-up so she doesn’t put up roadblocks, fair enough?”
Jack nodded and watched Monroe walk away.
“He’s lying.”
Tess hadn’t seen that. “He sounded genuine.”
“Everything he said was the truth, except they were in the house long enough for Jennifer to tell him something—or offer to give or sell him information or software. Maybe he said no, doesn’t want rumors to fly; maybe he was considering it. But he didn’t tell us the entire truth.”
“Was the poisoning an accident or on purpose?” Tess wondered out loud.
“Too coincidental to be an accident,” Jack said. When he saw Officer Cameron, he called out, “Hey, Cam, let me know what the lab rats come up with?”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Cameron said.
Jack and Tess walked back to their car. “Now are we going to the hospital?” she asked.
“Should be just in time to talk to White.”
Tess laughed. “Really? You think Margo can’t talk, bribe, or sneak her way in?”
Jack hesitated. “Maybe. But nurses can be pit bulls when it comes to protecting their patients.”
“Twenty bucks says she gets in.”
“No way I’m taking that bet.”
Nine
Margo Angelhart
