“That’s a state secret,” he said, offering his hand. “Special Agent Jim Martinez. Caitlin said you had something for me?”

Mike shook the agent’s hand. “In the trunk.”

“Out of curiosity, why didn’t you drive him back to the agents on the scene?”

“Caitlin says you’re one of the good guys.”

Martinez smiled. “And she knows?”

Mike shrugged, walked him to the car. “She knew about me.”

Chapter 50

CHAPTER

50

TRUE TO THEIR word, the BPD kept the Bro-duce bust under wraps. Their press release announced a conference at ten AM the next day, no details. Under Mary’s supervision, Lakshmi worked all night, writing and rewriting the piece. Caitlin refused to read the drafts, opted instead for eight gorgeous hours of sleep back at the guesthouse.

She woke early, showered, checked her email. Lakshmi’s draft read better than pieces written by twenty-year veterans. Caitlin’s favorite part—she’d left Angela Chapman out entirely. According to Mary, they’d wait until the press conference to loose that arrow.

Caitlin sent a text to Scott Canton. Want to go fishing?

A reply came quickly. At Denny’s. Come now.

*   *   *

“The young lady can write.” Scott’s glasses reflected the bright phone screen. “So why are you here instead of at the press conference?”

Caitlin munched her last piece of celebratory bacon. “My ladies know what to ask.”

“You must be very proud.”

“Lakshmi’s come a long way in sixteen days.”

“Have you ever done that before, been a mentor?”

Caitlin didn’t have to sift through her twenty years of experience. “I usually work alone.”

“Why does Lakshmi get your attention?”

“Because she brought me wine and told me I’m amazing?”

“I gave you weed and told you you’re amazing. You didn’t invite me on any stakeouts.”

“Well, I want to find Angela Chapman.”

“Why? Three weeks ago, you didn’t know she was missing.”

“Damn, Scott. What’d I do to you?”

The curvaceous waitress in her fifties returned, coffee pot in hand. “How you doin’, Professor?”

Caitlin grabbed a cardboard table tent covered with glossy pictures of desserts and gave the pair their privacy.

Age didn’t weaken Scott’s charms. “Kind of in the middle of something, Charlese. You know I’ll reach out when I have needs.”

Charlese winked. “Thought I took care of your needs last night.” She smiled at Caitlin. “You want something else, hon?”

Caitlin let go of the treat tent. “Still debating.”

The woman’s perfume trail overpowered the kitchen’s cloud of fried eggs, even when she walked away.

“So you didn’t sleep at home last night, Scott?”

Scott winked. “Back to business. Now I’m on my third cup, so the caffeine might be confusing my tongue. I think I know why you’re helping this girl.”

“Fine. Why am I helping this girl?”

“She’s an intelligent, hard-working young woman with no mother.”

“I see what you’re getting at.”