Catching Sam: Book 2 of 5: The MacDonald Brothers by Emily Matthews (best mystery novels of all time TXT) 📗

matter that this gal was so dull he wanted to shove the coffee straws into his eyes to get her to stop talking. He would listen to everything she said with a smile or, in this case, a concerned frown.

“Wow. That’s terrible,” he said. Beckie was going on and on about her mother’s cancer treatments and how she reacted to each. Like he cared. He was running out of time and money. He needed some real, usable information.

This was the third time he’d taken her to coffee. He knew he’d have to ask her on a real date soon, or it would look suspicious. Someone legitimately trying to have a relationship wouldn’t stop at lunch dates at the coffee shop. His buddy, Jackson had reluctantly wired him a small loan but that would run out in a real hurry if he had to take her to dinner.

“Does work take your mind off things? At least give you a chance to focus on something else for a while?” He tried to get the subject back to her work.

“Oh, yes. That is actually a nice distraction.”

“It almost sounds like you and the lady you intern for are friends. That’s cool.” He let that hang to see if she’d elaborate.

“Yeah. Annie—she said I could call her that—is super nice.”

“Does she live near you? Have you ever been to her house?”

“Oh, no. We’re not that close. I heard she lives in the same neighborhood as Sam MacDonald, though. And I’m sure he lives somewhere super fancy.”

He gritted his teeth at her overuse of the word super.

“Wow, she must make a lot of money then.” Money he’d never seen. In all the time they were together, he thought she was eking out a living and had just enough to keep them both fed and with a roof over their heads. She’d probably been socking away thousands. Bitch. Once again, he regretted the insistence on a prenup and separate bank accounts. Who knew how much he would have been entitled to in a divorce?

“I don’t know about that. She’s not really in to flashy things. I mean, she drives a normal car and stuff,” she said hesitantly. She seemed to be getting wary of his line of questioning.

“Oh yeah, what kind of car?” He knew he was coming on strong, but could not walk away without something. Maybe, if he could get some useful information, this would be the last time he’d have to sit here and listen to her drivel.

“She just purchased a Ford Edge. She gave me a ride to work the other day when my car wouldn’t start. It’s nice but not gaudy or anything.”

“Does she have a rich husband?” he asked. He knew she couldn’t be married because he’d never signed the divorce papers, but needed to find out if there was someone else in the picture he might have to deal with at some point.

“No, she’s single. Although…” She leaned in close and lowered her voice. “I’m pretty sure she’s seeing Mr. MacDonald.”

“What? Are you serious?” he blurted without thinking.

“Shhh,” she hissed. Looking around to make sure no one had turned their way, she whispered, “You can’t say anything to anyone. I’m sure they wouldn’t want anyone to know.”

“Yeah, no, of course. I can keep a secret.”

Oh. My. God. The wheels started turning. What if he could get money from Sam MacDonald over this? He’d have really hit the jackpot. Then again, it could just be a rumor or Annie making shit up. Or maybe Sam liked her, but not enough to cough up cash for her.

He’d gotten what he came for. It was time to bail.

“Well, I hate to eat and run, but I’ve got to get back to the old grind.” That probably made him sound like he was ninety years old, but oh well. He bent to give her a peck on the cheek. “I’ll call you,” he muttered. Leaving her with a confused look on her face, he hightailed it out of there.

She was nice enough, but he’d gotten all he could out of her. Knowing what kind of car Annie drove and a possible location of her neighborhood—it couldn’t be that hard to find out where Sam MacDonald lived—was gold. He had to assume she parked in the underground employee parking garage, so he’d wait outside on the street for a Ford Edge. Then he’d follow her home and bingo.

He’d need to give more thought to the Sam MacDonald angle. Maybe he’d wait to make a move and spy on Annie until he could confirm or deny she and Sam were seeing each other. If he could get some pictures to prove it, that would be even better. That would take longer, but the payoff would be worth it. Annie probably hadn’t told Sam about him, and who knew how much Sam would pay to make sure no one knew he was having an affair with a married woman whose husband had just gotten out of prison for manslaughter.

Sam would gladly pay off Wayne and then break up with Annie. Maybe, if Annie were lucky, Wayne would consider taking her back. He’d have to see what she was like now. She was hot, but what if she’d turned into a real bitch or something?

When he went to scout out the best place to watch cars exiting the parking garage, he was pissed to learn there were three exits. Damn it. He’d have to pick one to wait at tonight, and if he didn’t find her there, he’d wait at a different one tomorrow.

***

Annie was pacing the floor of her office. It was lunchtime, but she had no appetite. She’d been relieved when Beckie told her she had a lunch date and wouldn’t be able to eat with her. Annie was in no mood for company right now. She’d made a few more desperate calls to find someone, anyone, to install her security system but had come up empty. Now, even the guy who had wanted a