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Gus glanced at the screen. “Not to put too fine a point on it…but she’s hot.”
“Married.”
“Oh.” He sat back down and returned to his brief. “Good luck, then.”
Theo wished the men a hurried farewell. Before she left, Mac gave her the code to his security system, which he had changed that morning in light of the previous day’s invasion.
Veronica Cole was waiting in the car.
It had snowed again the previous night. Someone had already shoveled the driveway. Veronica Cole waved from the Porsche, and Theo climbed into the passenger seat, trying valiantly to do so elegantly despite the low profile of the car. Veronica laughed.
“You have to free-fall into the seat,” she advised. “There’s no other way.”
Theo landed in the leather upholstery with a thump and then opened her eyes. It had worked.
Veronica laughed. “That little heart-starter came as a standard feature.”
“Where are we going?” Theo asked as the agent pulled her car out of the driveway.
“I thought we could grab breakfast in my hotel suite. We can be assured of privacy there…unless that makes you uncomfortable.”
“No…not at all.” Theo was relieved she didn’t have to explain her current need to keep a low profile. The venue would satisfy Gus and Mac.
Breakfast was already set up in Veronica’s elegant room at the Oread. A small table had been draped with crisp white linen and laden with fruit, croissants, eggs, pancakes, and almost anything else one could dream of eating for breakfast. The room was fortunately large enough for a second table, at which they sat with plates gathered from the first. This was clearly not a standard service.
Initially they talked of Underneath. Veronica had no official news, but she could say the manuscript was “causing a stir” at Day Delos. “Of course, there is more than the quality of the manuscript at play when we consider a writer.”
Theo recalled what Veronica had told her at their last meeting about the impact of the writer’s reputation. She felt sick. Had the article in the Star stolen her chance? She stuttered an explanation. “I thought Mary Cowell was an old friend of Dan’s. I didn’t know she was a reporter.”
“Oh, Theo, I know.” Veronica steadied her. “But I won’t lie to you. The partners are concerned that you may always be associated with the death of Dan Murdoch, even if the real killer is apprehended.”
Theo nodded, not trusting herself to speak and hating Mary Cowell at that moment.
“You mustn’t fret,” Veronica said calmly. “As I said, your manuscript is exceptional, but I did want to talk to you about our conversation on the phone.”
“Yes,” Theo said, though she was not sure what the agent meant.
“You asked me about Dan’s gardener,” Veronica prompted.
“Yes, I thought the police might not have known about him. That he might be able to tell them something about Dan.”
“That’s very proactive of you, Theo.”
“It’s the least I can do for Dan…”
Veronica smiled. “I can understand why you feel that way—it’s natural, of course. But has it occurred to you that your interest in the case might be read another way?”
Theo stopped, startled, bewildered. “What other way?”
“It may be assumed that your interest is indicative of a guilty mind.”
“But I didn’t—”
“I know that, Theo.” Veronica cut short her horrified protest. “It’s just the association that’s a concern. It may not be the best idea to take such an active interest in the investigation while you’re still a subject of it. Certainly, Day Delos and Associates would be happier if you were to put as much distance between yourself and Dan as possible.”
“But Dan was…”
“Dan was a successful writer, and he wanted that for you, for your work. He, more than anyone, would understand, I promise you.”
