“I own Southern Supply. We provide tiles, bricks, trim, things like that, to builders. Primarily new homes, but we have a warehouse open to the public.”

“Over off Guadalupe, right? Way out there, in the county?”

“Yeah.”

“I put in an apartment over my garage last year, picked up all the tile there. Got a good deal because of a manufacturing flaw or something—but once I got it in, I couldn’t tell.” While Sean had put a studio apartment above his garage, he’d hired someone to do it and had no idea where they got their supplies.

“Remainders are great, really good deals for do-it-yourselfers.”

Sean sipped his second beer. Clemson stared at himself in the mirror and sighed.

“Was that hot blonde your ex? I wasn’t prying, I saw her reflection. A looker.”

“God, no. What a ball-breaker. She’s my lawyer, trying to get me out of a prickly financial situation. Have you ever made a mistake—just a little mistake—and it snowballed into an avalanche?”

“Once or twice,” Sean said.

“And no matter what I do, the damn avalanche doesn’t stop.” He drained his whiskey. “I’d better go. The last thing I need is for her husband to see me.”

Odd comment, Sean thought, for someone clearly not having an affair.

“Thanks for the beer. Drive safe,” Sean said.

“You too.”

Sean waited for him to leave, then texted Lucy:

He’s leaving. He met for less than three minutes with a woman, here’s the best pic I got. Said she’s his lawyer and he’s in a “prickly” financial situation. I’ll be out in a couple minutes.

Sean didn’t want the second beer. He put a generous tip under the glass and got up, heading toward the entrance. The bar and restaurant were separated by a small waiting area. A long hall led to the restrooms and kitchen.

At the same time, the blonde was walking toward him. But it wasn’t the blonde who caught Sean’s eye; it was the man walking behind her.

Sean went quickly down the hall toward the restrooms and slipped inside. His heart was beating, but he didn’t think Harrison Monroe saw him. And he might not recognize Sean, though Sean couldn’t count on that. If he were a guy like Monroe, he would have done the research and known who was who.

He just couldn’t take the chance.

From the bathroom, he texted Lucy:

Harrison Monroe is here with the lawyer. I think it’s his wife. Will confirm in a second.