Hell no. When I get my greedy little hands on that woman, it is on. And I mean on.
Now, here I am, struggling not to cry in rage and mortification as the four Lane brothers proceed to start pumping me for information like I’m some sort of criminal.
Do I know who Williams reports to?
No, I do not since the only people I’ve met with were her and Digg, my handler.
Did she ever once mention the Lanes or hint at a connection with us?
No, again. Honestly, the only time I’ve ever really had a conversation with the woman was that one time I had to ask her to give me sick leave because I had a cold.
The other agents who’d met me at Melissa’s house were all strangers to me and didn’t do much but ask me a bunch of questions and report back to her with their findings.
Namely, that Melissa must have gotten spooked and split.
We know different, and why I didn’t tell Williams that the last time we spoke is a mystery to me, but it seems my gut knew something I didn’t.
Right now I’m assuming she’s hostile, too, and I’m keeping my ass on the Lane estate till I know differently.
“Come on, Trace. There must be something more,” Jared pushes, starting with that teeth-gritting, pacing, mumbling stuff the guy seems to do all too often.
“There isn’t, Jared, okay? I am not a real FBI agent. I usually ride the desk when I’m not attending social events with Timothy and Daddy. I profile people. That’s it. Mostly from files or intel, and on the rare occasion I get to watch an interview. I don’t know what the hell is going on with this case or why she even bothered to send me, besides wanting me and Jace to get together.”
Jace is as frustrated as his brother and I sit back with a groan when he starts mumbling again, his way of letting me know that the interrogation is nowhere near finished.
Wyatt—thank God for him and his clear thinking—sits forward with his elbows on his knees and stares at me intently.
“What did she give you as a cover?”
“Just Ronny. She knew that Ronny and I used to be ‘friends’ a long time ago and she sent me here to ask her to be a bridesmaid. It seemed like a good enough excuse at the time, so I just ran with it. Though, really, I would rather not be in the same breathing space as that psycho. And anyway, what is up with Paulie lately? She never calls anymore,” I mumble to myself, shaking my head with fatigue.
Ronny has called me three times in as many days and left voice mail after voice mail asking about the wedding and whatever the heck else she can get out of me.
They all assume I left town already, and from the calls Mom’s been giving me, again leaving voice mails, everyone just assumes I’m headed home and prepared for the wedding.
I’ve been called by numerous people so far this week, but not one damned phone call from my best pal Paulie. Talk about a kick in the teeth. I guess she didn’t like me trying to encourage her to live her life.
“Paulie?”
I snap back to reality and stop my mutterings about fickle friends when Jared pauses in his pacing and turns to face me.
“What?”
“You mentioned Paulie. What about her?” he demands, making me nervous all of a sudden.
“Er, she hasn’t called me? Sorry, I know that’s got nothing to do with any of this, but it’s been bugging me and I feel hurt. We usually speak at least once a month, and after the other day and the way she snubbed me, I guess I’m feeling a little off.”
“No, I mean why would you be speaking to Paulie Hayes?” he asks slowly, narrowing his eyes at me.
“Because she’s like my best friend? We’ve been pals since Jace first brought me here and we never lost touch. We used to speak every week before she just stopped calling a few months ago.”
Seriously, what is his problem?
“Jared, do you have a crush on Paulie Hayes?” I ask when the thought hits and won’t let me go. “That’s not a good idea. She’s like been engaged—well I guess it can be considered engaged—to Andy Huley for years. Her mom and dad are just keeping her in circulation for the eventuality that they find a richer man to squeeze for money.”
Jared turns white before grabbing his keys and making tracks out of the room at a dead run.
“What did I say?”
“Huley? You’re sure?” Jace demands, shaking me slightly when all I do is stare at the door.
“Yes. Andy, the middle son. What? I thought everybody knew about this. It’s been going on for ages now. Jace, what’s the problem?” Miah and Wyatt are cursing and making to leave as Jace starts pacing himself and throws me a look.
“How do you know all this?”
“She told me like the first week we met and went for coffee. What’s the big deal? If Jared digs her, he can so get one over on Andy Huley. The guy is like ten pounds overweight and balding already.”