“I did not, though Jenna noted someone had been in his mind previously and that his memories had been so messed up that she could not find the information I wanted.”
Jenna. I’d have to run a private search through the personnel records to see if we had a telepath on contract who went by that name. For research purposes, of course, not because I was in any way interested in knowing anything about the women he might have in his life....
I picked up my glass, took a drink, and tried to ignore the inner sliver of envy that rose at the thought of those women having already tasted the delights this man might offer.
“Deliberately messed up, I would think.” Meaning my thinking as much as Tane’s mind.
He nodded. “Do you still have this USB, or has it been placed into evidence?”
“I was ordered by Tane—or the person behind his receiving of it—not to give it to, or share it with anyone else. Even if Ihad, it wouldn’t have mattered, because it self-destructed five seconds after I finished it.”
“Someone is a fan ofMission: Impossible, obviously,” he murmured.
“Exactlywhat I said.”
His gaze caught mine, the sparks of silver gleaming in those sapphire depths. “Something else we have in common, then. Did the couple on the USB mention runestones in connection with Monica?”
“No, but we believe the man speaking was Luke Marlowe, a distant relative she was fucking after he made a reappearance in her life about five months ago.”
“With the intent, obviously, of getting information out of her.”
“Sexisa tried-and-true method of getting information from someone.”
Another smile, this time decidedly devilish. “When we have sex, dear Hanna, it will not be because I am wishing to gain information out of you.”
When, not if. “You’re getting a little presumptuous, aren’t you?”
“I don’t believe so.”
“Arrogant, you are.”
“AStar Warsfan too? I think I love you.”
I snorted and tried to get the conversation back on track. “Until six months ago, Luke was working at the National Archives, but was sacked for scanning a scarce and ancient tome on runestones.”
“Interesting timeline. I take it you’ve asked to view said tome?”
“Yes, though I suspect you could probably tell me more about its contents than I could ever learn by reading it.” I snagged a couple more slices of prosciutto and the delicious smoky cheese. “I’m gathering your investigation revolves around the runestones being kept by the various royal houses?”
He nodded and ate the final piece of roasted pepper. “There was a break-in recently, which resulted in the death of an elderly man?—”
“That wouldn’t happen to be the incident at Glebe, would it?”
His eyebrows rose. “How do you know of it? The matter was suppressed.”
“Luke mentioned it in the USB conversation, so naturally I googled. You’re right in that nothing much came up. Not even a Society search revealed much.”
“When the royal lines wish something hidden, there are very few traces left behind.”
Didn’t I know it….“Who was the old man?”
“Richard Kang. No relation of yours. He lived on the family estate in Sydney and had recently gained a much younger lover. He left a note before he went over the cliff, saying he was a fool blinded by lust and that he was sorry.”
“A common refrain used by old fools parted from their wealth by too-young women who swear it’s ‘love.’”
“Oof,” René said. “That’s a very unforgiving attitude. Maybe he was simply lonely.”
“Loneliness should never trump common sense.” And while Ididbelieve that statement, I also had no doubt I’d be just as damn dumb as that old fool when it came to the man sitting opposite me. “Was it suicide or murder?”
