I pretended that he hadn’t just said we. “A private eye? Where would I find one?”

“I know one. He’s reliable and resourceful. You can count on him.”

“Really?” This was getting interesting. I leaned forward. “How do you know?”

Martin’s eyes flicked to the crowd waiting for our seats. “People can’t be trusted,” he said quietly.

“What are you talking about?”

I put my hand on his arm. It worked like truth serum. “When people know you have money, they will stoop to anything to extort it from you. They will even try to drag your family, your children, into it.” The words tumbled out of his mouth and he looked surprised by what he’d come out with.

“Has someone blackmailed you?”

He gazed at me and then leaned forward so that his lips almost touched my ear. “A few have tried. They don’t get away with it.”

“Did someone try to involve Ridley?”

Martin pulled back abruptly and downed the rest of his drink. “This place is more crowded and noisy than I’d like. Why don’t we go somewhere else to talk?” There were people lined up against the wall behind us, glasses held high, as if toasting To hell with the fire code.

I was disappointed that he’d shut down when I mentioned his son, and I tried not to show it. “What did you have in mind?”

“We could go back to my place.” He caught my expression. “Or one of my properties?” By property, he meant hotel. He may as well have been saying Would you like to try out one of the mattresses with me? “There’s one close by, with a stunning bar and a wonderful Japanese restaurant. You would love it.”

“I’m sure I would.” It was tempting to go with him. I knew he wasn’t telling me the whole truth, but I wasn’t sure whether he was holding something back, or if he was outright lying. If Sarah Lyons had identified my sister correctly, Claudia came back to her building on New Year’s Eve and she might still have been in the apartment when Martin called the next morning. Could there be something going on between them?

Martin took my contemplation for consent. He set a large bill on the countertop, thanked the barman, and stood up. He helped me with my coat, and took my arm as we ducked around the red velvet curtain. He opened the door for me, putting an arm around my waist at the same time.