Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Tracking Matthew Scott should have been more difficult.
Jane thought he needed a lesson in how not to be predictable.
She knew what he drove, and she waited outside the office for him to leave.
She’d been home to change into an outfit appropriate for a night out on the town in case he spotted her that evening.
She trailed him, knowing he had more than an hour before he was scheduled to be at McGrath’s. He drove to a dry cleaner then to the library. Jane thought about following him inside but didn’t want to be too obvious.
He couldn’t do anything even if he caught her following him.
She’d convince him that she’d been out for a stroll or a drink.
No way he’d assume she’d been following him, not when he’d told her to back off of the Simmons’ case.
Because Matthew Scott couldn’t fathom anyone not obeying his direct orders.
As he left the library, she made a face at him, wishing he could see her. Immature, but it soothed that need inside her to put him down, hard.
With little time before he was due at the bar, she let him go, content to find a place to park away from the bar. Unfortunately, everyone else had the same idea, so she circled the large lot behind McGrath’s until a spot freed up.
Jane took a moment to check herself over.
Jeans, a cute but casual dark sweater, her hair artfully arranged, a light coat of makeup to complete the outfit.
She’d used a clasp to hold back her bangs, bringing attention to her eyes and sharp cheekbones.
Normally, she was content to be listened to then forgotten.
But it would work for tonight to blend in. Just one more woman meeting friends at a downtown bar.
She left her jacket behind, stowing her credit cards, license, and keys in her pocket. After locking up, she braved the cold weather and crossed the bar’s busy parking lot.
And that’s when she saw him. Agent Scott and some man she didn’t recognize spoke in the shadows at the far side of the lot, in a low but animated conversation. Scott handed the man a business envelope.
Money? Was he paying the guy off, and if so, why? She wanted badly to close the distance between them to see the man clearly. But she’d frozen in the middle of the parking lot as it was, and didn’t want to announce her presence with any sudden movement.
Then Scott glanced her way. His gaze moved past her then whipped right back to her, and his eyes narrowed.
Shoot. Jane looked to the right of him and waved, as if at the couple exiting a vehicle nearby. The moment he looked over at them, she turned and hurried into the bar.
The warmth inside the pub relaxed her, and she used the crowd to her advantage. The place, at just past seven, felt nearly full. She made her way to the ladies’ room in case Scott chased after her. She could pretend she hadn’t seen him in the lot, like she’d only dropped in to get a drink.
After a solid ten minutes, she exited and started toward the bar. Only to be stopped when he stepped in front of her.
Shoot.
“Well, well. Jane Cannon. What a coincidence.”
She contained a wince at his vitriol. “Hello, sir. Fancy meeting you here.”
“Nice try. But I saw you following me from the library.”
“I’m sorry?” She could play dumb with the best of them. Though her cousin did the innocent expression much better.
“Save it. You’re on administrative leave.” His voice started to rise, attracting attention. “You have no business—”
“I’m not sure why you’re so angry.” She frowned, going on the offensive.
“I’m here to get a drink and meet someone.
” Please, someone be here that I know. “You already suspended me. How about getting off my—” she would have ended with something crude, likely with one of Joe’s favorite sayings, when an arm draped over her shoulder.
She froze, especially when she recognized a familiar cologne.
“Jane. I’ve been waiting.” Gunther Rapp squeezed her shoulder with one muscled arm. “I’m sorry. I’m not interrupting, am I?”
Scott blinked at Rapp, then at his arm around her. “Er, I—”
“Matthew Scott, meet my date” —she couldn’t believe she said “date” with a straight face— “Gunther Rapp.”
“Hi.” Rapp didn’t offer to shake hands, and Scott didn’t seem eager to engage either. “Oh, Scott. Your boss, right?”
“Yeah.” Jane sounded less than enthusiastic.
At that point, someone called out for Scott.
“Apologies, but I have someone to meet as well. Jane. Gunther.” He nodded to them both then turned and left.
Rapp leaned down and said into her ear, “You have some explaining to do.”
“Me? What are you doing here?”
He escorted her to a tall table by the back. “I was meeting someone and just happened to look up and see you and an obviously pissed-off guy in what looked like an uncomfortable conversation.”
Well, he wasn’t wrong.
Jane took the seat with the wall at her back and watched Rapp squeeze in across from her, nearly touching the guy behind him. From this angle, she saw Scott across the room for an instant, looking right at her, before people jostled and blocked her view.
“I’m waiting,” Rapp growled.
“For what?” No way did she want to admit he’d saved her bacon. She could have figured a way out of the altercation. Probably.
“That’s your boss. The guy who put you on leave.”
“Your point?”
Rapp shook his head. “I overheard him say that you’ve been following him.”
The obstinate glint in Rapp’s gaze told Jane he wouldn’t let this go. “Do we have to talk about this?”
“I think we do.”
She sighed. “Fine.” She summarized what she knew and what she suspected, keeping her voice low, forcing her to lean closer to Rapp than she’d liked. A server brought him something to drink, but Jane only had water, not about to touch alcohol again so soon after the New Year’s Eve debacle.
Rapp fastened his gaze on Jane. Talk about feeling under the spotlight. But he was listening to her, nodding as he prodded her to continue.
Once finished, Jane soothed her parched throat with the water, needing the break.
“Well now. That’s quite a story.”
“It’s not a—”
Rapp held up a hand. “You need to be careful with that one.” He gave a subtle nod in Scott’s direction. “He’s keeping an eye on you. He spotted your tail. Even if he buys that you only came to meet me here, he’s going to be suspicious. And there’s already someone planting evidence in your office.”
“You believe me?” Huh. She’d have thought he’d want mounds of evidence to believe someone he’d just met.
He nodded. “Your summary fits with what Gambol told me about everything. Sounds like your criminal investigation stalled before your coworker died. And your boss’s defensiveness is off.
” Rapp’s expression turned grave. “I’ve been where you are.
Be very careful, Jane. When you don’t know who you can trust, everything can go sideways in a blink. ”
She nodded, seeing a friendlier, nicer side of Rapp that made her almost like him.
“And one more thing.”
“Yeah?”
His overly friendly grin should have warned her. “If you need tips on how to manage overbearing personalities, to be a better people person, I’m happy to help.”
“Wait. What?”
“Well, it’s got to be tough being the new girl. I mean, the new person in the Seattle office. And you’re a junior agent too. That can’t be easy.”
“New person? I’ve been there a year.”
“And you’re obviously not great with people. You and Gina haven’t been getting along.”
“Have you met Gina?” She added before he could speak, “And I’m not that junior. Heck, you don’t look that much older than me.”
“I’m worlds more experienced.”
“I’ll bet.” She wanted to slug the smugness from his expression.
“Still, you’re doing a decent enough job on our tiny task force.”
“For a newbie, you mean,” she snapped.
“Yes. And on a completely separate note, you look very pretty tonight. And I mean that from a professional standpoint. You seem almost relaxed, your proverbial—and literal—hair down.”
“I’m so glad you approve.” Her words sounded as frosty as the outdoor temperatures. Rapp, however, didn’t seem to read the room.
His eyes twinkled. “It’s important that we all take a break now and then, so we don’t burn out.” His teasing expression left no doubt the guy was making fun of her. “It’s healthy to relax. But slow down on all the drinking. Wouldn’t want you to get loopy.”
She stared at her water then looked back at him. “I should have known better than to think you’re a nice guy.”
“You really should have.” Of course, the insult rolled right off him.
“Jackass.” She left in a huff, hearing his booming laugh, and felt Agent Scott’s gaze on her all the way until she left the bar.