Page 80 of Murder Notes

“I won’t call.”

“I won’t answer.” He hangs up.

I end the call, already walking, this party over as far as I’m concerned. That data Tic Tac sent me is far more important than more mingling and chitchat about my dress. Now, if I can just get out of here without being intercepted. I text Lucas as I walk: I’m leaving. Tell me all about her tomorrow. I mean, don’t tell me all about her.

He replies with: Okay. I’ll tell you all about her.

I reach the lower level again, walking fast, with my head down to discourage conversation. It’s a strategy that gets me to the coat check without delay. I step into the room off the foyer to hand in my ticket, and once I’ve bundled up, I’m about to leave when I catch a glimpse of Greg behind the curtain I’d visited earlier. There’s a woman with him and they’re talking in near whispers, and I catch a glimpse of her hand on his arm, then his on her waist. An uneasy feeling slides down my spine for no good reason. He told me he had a booty call here. It has to be that woman and even if it’s not, this isn’t my business.

I shake it off and walk to the door, but I find myself looking behind me, just as the woman exits the curtain, but Greg doesn’t follow. I’m about to turn back to talk to him, but one of the attendants calls out the woman’s name in greeting, and I go cold all over. Olivia Mason. It’s the Romano family member who owns the party service. Incapable of seeing Greg in this moment without losing my shit and hurting his, I exit to the stairs. Greg’s dirty. No. No. No. He cannot be dirty.

Kane appears by my side. “Why do you look like you’re about to explode?”

“Because I’m at a party with a bunch of politicians that include my father. Do you come to these things just to taunt Pocher?”

He laughs that low, addictive laugh of his. “I do not, but his displeasure is always an added bonus to any day or evening.”

“He told me that as an FBI agent and a future first daughter, I shouldn’t be seen with you, with my father’s blessing.”

“You’d think a man who’d been your father for your whole life would know telling you not to do something is an invitation to do it. Now about that red dress.”

“I look like my mother.”

“I was going to say you owned it and the room tonight. Did you learn anything helpful?”

“Did you?” I counter, not ready to show him any more of my cards until he shows me some of his. “Did you—”

“I’m handling your request,” he says. “Just make sure you remember my terms.”

I stop and turn to him. “Your terms? What terms?”

“You will not go near Romano.”

“I will do what I need to do, Kane. I’m going to ask questions and get answers, with or without you.” I turn and start walking, clearing the steps, and I about have a heart attack as I spy Rich, who shouldn’t even be able to get on the property, leaning against the hood of my car, dressed in jeans and some sort of army jacket.

“Lover boy to the rescue,” Kane says. “I guess you won’t need my help getting out of that dress.”

I stop walking again and face him. “If anything happens to him, I will know it was you.”

Kane’s eyes darken, his lips twisting sardonically. “That would be my father’s way of handling this. And we both know I’m not my father.” He turns away and walks toward the other side of the parking lot.

He might not be his father, but I know Kane, and every part of me says I need to get Rich the hell out of here. I inhale and hurry toward him, and he pushes off the car to meet me. “Hey, babe,” he says, his hands going to my waist, under my coat, and I cringe with the idea that Kane is watching. “Wow,” he says. “Holy wow. You look amazing.”

“Why are you here? How are you here?”

“Eddie from the station got me in to surprise you. Nice guy.”

“No. He’s really not. Rich—”

“You weren’t responding and I know how you get with these big cases. I was worried about you.”

He really doesn’t know, but that isn’t actually relevant at this moment. “You shouldn’t be here.” I remove his hands from my waist and step backward and not just because of Kane. Because I’ve led him on or he wouldn’t be here, and it’s not fair to him. “You need to go home.”

“Lilah—”

“I told you before I left this wasn’t working.”

“You’re under a lot of pressure. I get that.”