There was the sound of a hand going over the phone. “It’s okay,” I heard him say. “I’ll take this one. Why don’t you make an early night of it? I’ll close down your computer.”

“Thanks, David. I’ll see you tomorrow,” his secretary said faintly, and after a long moment, his voice came back on the line.

“Rachel,” he said warily. “Is this about the fish? I’ve already filed the claim. If you’ve perjured me, I’m going to be very upset.”

“What is it with you thinking the worst of me?” I questioned, miffed. My eyes slid to Kisten as he gripped the wheel tighter. “I made a mistake with Jenks, okay? I’m trying to fix it. But I’ve got something you might be interested in.”

There was a short silence. “I’m listening,” he said cautiously.

My breath puffed out in relief. Fidgeting, I dug for a pen in my shoulder bag. Opening my datebook, I clicked my pen open. “Ah, you work by commission, right?”

“Something like that,” David said.

“Well, you know that boat that exploded?” I snuck a glance at Kisten. The light from the oncoming traffic made little glints in his stubble as he clenched his jaw.

There was a rattling of computer keys in the background. “Still listening…”

My pulse quickened. “Does your company own the policy on it?”

The sound of keys quickened and vanished. “Seeing as we insure everything Piscary isn’t interested in, probably.” There was another spurt of tapping keys. “Yes. We have it.”

“Great,” I sighed. This was going to work. “I was on it when it exploded.”

I heard the squeak of a chair through the line. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me. You saying it wasn’t an accident?”

“Ah, no.” I flicked a glance at Kisten. His knuckles gripping the wheel were white.

“Really.” It wasn’t a question, and the sound of tapping keys started up again, shortly followed by the hum of a printer.

I shifted in Kisten’s heated leather seats and stuck the end of the pen in my mouth. “Would I be correct that your company doesn’t pay out when property is destroyed—”

“Because of acts of war or gang-related activity?” David interrupted. “No. We don’t.”

“Fantastic,” I said, not thinking it necessary to tell him I was sitting next to the guy who had arranged the whole thing. God, please let Kisten have an answer for me. “How would you like me to come down there and sign a paper for you?”

“I’d like that really fine.” David hesitated, then added, “You don’t strike me as the kind of woman who commits acts of random kindness, Rachel. What do you want out this?”