Seth was also surprised to learn that a good paparazzo could make half a million dollars for one picture, depending on the subject, the clarity, the timeliness, and so on. Most didn’t make nearly that much, of course, but they didn’t have to get up and go to work every day, either. They could follow whomever they wanted, whenever they wanted and hang out and drink coffee or talk on their phones while waiting for an opportunity to make a buck or two. All they needed was a good photo every once in a while, and they could earn a living.

Was Ray trying to take pictures he could sell?

If so, there was nothing on the internet connecting him to that line of work. But that didn’t necessarily rule him out.

Seth shut down his laptop, then stared at the business card Gavin had passed along to him. Maybe he should just call Ray and see what the guy had to say.

He checked the clock. It was after eleven, but Kouretas had been at The Blue Suede Shoe when Seth and his brothers walked out. Even if he’d left shortly after, chances were good he wouldn’t be asleep quite yet.

After blocking his number, he bowed his head and examined the grain of the hardwood floor beneath his feet as the phone rang.

“Hello?”

Music blared in the background; Ray was still at the bar. “Are you the one looking for Tia Beckett?” Seth asked without preamble.

“I am,” he said. “Have you seen her?”

“I might have.”

“Where?”

“What’s in it for me?”

There was a slight pause before the guy said, “You’d be doing her a big favor.”

Seth began to pace. “Come on. You expect me to believe I’d be doing her a favor?”

“Can you give me the particulars? Exactly where she’s at and when she might be going out?”

“Maybe.”

“Just a sec.” The music faded before going silent, suggesting Kouretas had just stepped outside the bar. “How much are you looking for?” he asked a moment later.

Seth had no idea what to say. He was just leading this guy far enough along that he could be certain of his intentions. “Half.”

“Half of what? I don’t even know what I’ll be able to get.”

“It’ll be a lot, though, right? For the first picture of Tia Beckett after her big accident?” If that wasn’t what Kouretas was after, this was where he’d make the correction...

“There are too many variables,” Kouretas replied. “I don’t even know if I can get a good shot.”

Bingo. He was a paparazzo, all right. “What if I can get you one?”

“If you can tell me where she is, and you can make it possible for me to get the shot—a good one—I’ll give you ten percent of whatever I make.”