She pecked him on the cheek and went into her room and closed the door. He was about to go to his room when he heard the doorbell ring. He looked at his watch.
What now?
He hustled down the stairs to find Valentine at the open door staring at . . . Jennifer Stamos.
CHAPTER
44
VALENTINE TURNED TO LOOK AT Devine. “It’s for you, Travis.”
“Thanks.”
Valentine walked off and Stamos looked nervously at him. “Surprised?”
“Yeah, I am. Everything okay?”
“Can we talk?”
He looked around. “Out on the front porch is the most private. I’ve got three roommates.”
“Okay. But what about the people living in the places next to you?”
“They’re empty. Being renovated by the owner.”
“Okay.”
“You want a beer or something?”
“No, I’m good.”
He closed the door behind him, and they sat side by side on the brick steps.
She had on shorts and a sleeveless blouse and sandals. The temperature was still around eighty and humid. She looked at his clothes and said, “Did you just get home?”
“I had a few errands to do after work.”
“Is this a bad time?”
“No, it’s fine. Did you take the train out here?”
“No, I took that Zipcar parked over there. It’s silly to keep a vehicle in the city.”
Devine looked at the green Prius. “Agreed. And you got my address from . . . ?”
She looked embarrassed. “From the personnel office.”
“Didn’t think they gave that info out.”
“They normally don’t. Look, I’m sorry. I just wanted—”
“It’s okay, Jennifer. Fire away.”
He knew why she was here. He just wanted her to know this was not going to go all her way, or easily.
“I spoke with . . . Brad.”
“And he told you that we met?”
“Yes. It seems that everything is resolved.”
“Nothing is resolved.”
She looked startled. “What? But I thought—”
“That part is fine. But we still have no idea who killed Sara. It wasn’t me. Do you know where Cowl was when Sara was killed?”
Stamos shrank back from the question. “You can’t possibly think that—”
“Well, people certainly thought that I might have killed her. And he told me he wanted to have sex with her, but it was a no-go on her end and that probably pissed him off. I’m telling you this in good faith. If you run to Cowl and tell him I told you, things will get complicated really fast.”
“I won’t do that, I swear.”
He looked at her, trying to gauge her sincerity. “Did you know that Sara had her abortion back in December? That was before I even got to the firm.”
“Why is that important?”
“Because some people were trying to make out that I was the father of her child.”
“That’s crazy.” She paused. “But did you sleep with her?”
“I’m not going to answer that. Do you know where Cowl was when Sara was killed?”
“No, I wasn’t with him that night.” She suddenly scowled at him. “I understand you took pictures of Brad and me . . .”
“Don’t get all pissed off, Jennifer. I needed some leverage. And what the hell were you thinking doing it out in the open like that? He has a damn penthouse with a bed!”
“He . . . just grabbed me, said it would be exciting. It all happened so fast.” Her cheeks flushed. “Will you erase the pictures?”
“No, but I’ll never look at them again.”
“How can I believe that?”
“Believe it. I did not find it the least bit pleasant. I don’t just mean with what happened to Sara. I mean it seemed pretty damn degrading . . . to you.”
She flushed again. “That’s my business.”
“Yes, it is. But why exactly are you screwing the boss? You have the talent to make it on your own. This isn’t nineteen eighty.”
“Do you really think things have changed that much, Travis?”
“I don’t know. I’m not a woman.”
“That’s right, you’re not. So don’t judge me,” she added sharply. “And for your information, there are only three female partners in the entire firm. I know two dozen more who lost out to guys who weren’t half as good, according to the damn Book. So take your eighties comment and shove it.”