Page 92 of No Headlines Please

I didn't dignify this with a response. "When it's done, have the car dropped here, not at the Wexford."

As I spoke, I glanced at my watch. Delaney would be returning any minute, unless she'd gotten waylaid by that woman in the elevator.

I'd been trying not to think about it – or imagine the kind of poisonous nonsense the woman might be spewing, even now, while I was here waiting.

No. Not just waiting.

I'd been productive, using the time to get a handle on the car situation instead of dwelling on something I couldn't control.

Still, the time without Delaney had gone slowly – too slowly, considering how often I'd been checking my watch.

I couldn't seem to help it. The penthouse had felt strangely empty ever since she'd left, which made no sense, considering the place wasn't even mine.

As far as the car's sudden relocation, it would require some explaining – not much, just enough to let Delaney know where the Ford was going and why.

What I wouldn't be saying was how much the move and repairs would cost. That wasn't Delaney's problem, and I intended to keep it that way.

Besides, I would be doing enough explaining once I told her the rest of it – what brought me to this building and why.

37

Maddox, Cal, or Whatever

Delaney

Inside Walt's apartment, I was still gripping the back of his recliner like it might save me from falling over with surprise.

No. Not surprise. Shock – with a side helping of mortification.

As my heart hammered, I struggled to process everything I'd just learned. The guy I knew as Maddox had shown Walt my photo – before the two of us had collided in the doorway.

He'd even given Walt his card – except the name on the card wasn't Maddox at all.

It was Cal.

Walt had promised to help the two of us connect. And now Walt was saying, "Except I didn't have to, because you ran into him yourself."

Yes. Literally. Absently, I mumbled, "In the lobby."

"Yeah, you remember me saying something about it, right?"

I wasn't even sure what Walt meant. I was still stuck on the name.

Cal.

Not Maddox.

To Walt's question, I gave a numb shake of my head.

He explained, "When I passed the two of you, I called out to him. Remember?"

I tried to think. "I guess…maybe?"

"I told him it was his lucky day. You heard me, right?"

That, I did remember, but not the way Walt described it. "But I thought you were talking to me, not him." I was still struggling to catch up. "I mean…he didn't even look in your direction."

"Yeah, because he was looking at you. I couldn't blame the guy for that."