Jayden Roe Mystery 02-The Final Lie by Lily Campbell (read a book .TXT) 📗

“So, why didn't you like my plan?” Jay asked as they entered the elevator.

Dave threw a disbelieving glance in his direction. “Because Gary Peters hates you. I know all about how you shamed him back then when you were learning from him. He won’t work with you. Have you ever considered that he is the one behind all this?”

Jay had been building up a dismissive laugh, but Dave’s last thought shattered it. He hadn’t actually considered Gary a suspect, partially because he was normally on the side of the law, catching criminals, not becoming one. The Gary in his mind was too much of an idiot to plan something so methodical.

Dave stepped from the elevator with him and weighed his expression. “I thought so. You’re underestimating him because of your past. Don’t you think it is possible that he has changed in the years? In fact, isn’t it more likely that he did, never wanting to be trod on like that again?”

Jay opened the door to their room and let Dave enter ahead of him. “So what do you propose then?”

“Do you really want to know, or are you going to stick to your plan no matter what I say?”

Jay swallowed a curse. “If your point has merit, I’ll listen.”

Dave nodded and claimed the bed by the window, sitting on the edge and dumping his bag beside it. “I suggest we take tonight to dig into Gary’s life since you last knew him. See what successes and failures he has had. Try and find out how he came to be in Mr. Haraby’s employ. Was it a recent hiring to find Stella, or does their relationship run longer? Does he still work alone as you used to, or has he taken on a team member like you?”

“That sounds good so far. We can add how long he has been in Carthage to the list. He wasn’t based here back when I worked under him. Anything else?”

Dave tilted his head to the side. “Hang on. Are you testing me again?”

Jay smirked. “Yes and no, but go on, finish your plan.”

Dave shook his head in defeat then spoke. “We can also check out the town virtually, see if there’s anything that doesn’t seem to fit. I also think we should check the real estate market, see if we can’t find something a touch more homey than an endless string of expensive hotel rooms. It’s how you’d usually operate, isn’t it?”

Jay arched an eyebrow. “Back when I had more than enough.”

“I have the funds now. I’ll get us a place.”

“Whoa, hang on there. Look, I said—”

Dave waved all his concerns away. “I said money wasn’t an issue for me, remember? I owned a house in Shreveport. It sold two days ago. I have the funds.”

“But—”

“No buts. Are you going to follow my plan?”

Jay stared a moment longer then raised his hands in surrender. “Your plan is a good one. Adequately careful, with a good line of thought and long term goals. Yes. We’ll follow it.”

Dave smiled, bright and cheerful, then he frowned. “So that was all a test?”

Jay chuckled. “No. I hadn’t actually considered your first point. You were right. I was tackling Gary in my mind as I knew him back then. Once I had realized that, the old plan would have been immediately out. So I thought I’d see if you’d come up with something decent first.”

“You know, the media may not be right about you being a big-headed ass, but you definitely are not easy to work with.”

Jay smothered a laugh. “Am I worse than your old manager?”

Dave chuckled. “Not a chance. I’m going to go shower.”

Jay nodded and waited for the sound of running water then pulled out his phone. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Dave, it was more that he felt like the more people who knew about Ruby’s meeting with him, the greater the chance the wrong people would find out and then she’d be in trouble.

“Hi, Keira,” he said as her distinctive, husky voice came on the line.

“My cousins told me you were impatient, but this is a first. I left less than twenty-four hours ago and you already want results?”

Jay smiled at the receiver. “If my guess about you was correct, then you have something to report.”

Her laugh tinkled down the line. “Alright, hot shot. I found them easy enough. They’re a little edgy, tracking the news coming out of Salisbury like it is gospel.”

Jay winced then nodded. “Thanks. Keep them safe, please.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“Jay, come and look at this,” Dave hurried him from the desk.

Jay left his laptop on the other desk and hovered behind Dave.

“Who’s Lloyd Bailen?”

Dave glanced back at Jay and seemed to be suppressing a smirk. “Weren’t you digging into Gary too? I thought this was a competition?”

Jay raised his eyebrows and huffed a laugh. “I was only trying to get a tab on him here in Carthage. Looks like he’s been here only for the past eight months. So who is he?”

Dave looked vaguely disappointed, but answered the question. “He’s a debt collector, or I should really say, was.”

Jay felt his eyes narrow. “Was? Is the reason he stopped why you have him up here?”

Dave smiled. “Mostly. Can you guess the rest? Maybe if I tell you that his significant other was a lawyer.”

Jay shifted to the side so that he could see Dave’s face clearly. “You’re testing me now?”

“I want to see how you work. So far, you’ve kept whatever you’re doing secret, so I won’t just give you my answers.”

Jay resisted the urge to roll his eyes in annoyance. It seemed saving his life had given Dave a rather high opinion of himself.

Or maybe he is just