Wendy did not come from money, and there was nothing wrong with that. But her husband, Nathan Lawrence, seemed to be an okay guy. He was a high school teacher specializing in history, civics and government. Dan had already started watching him for Wendy, and the wildest thing the man had done so far was sponsor a high school trip to the zoo.

“Wendy, I need to tell you,” Dan said, “I’ve followed him after school every day for a week now. He’s gone home. I don’t know what has made you think he...that he might be using you, cheating on you, and staying married to keep his money.”

“I saw the text on his phone. You are truly the best. Thank you! Loved my time with you!”

Dan shook his head. “I hung around at the café by the school, too. I’m pretty sure that was from one of his students.”

Wendy sat back in horror. “A student! Oh, my God!”

“No, no, Wendy. Students might well have a distant crush on a teacher like that. I didn’t say your husband was acting wrongly in any way. I think that text might have been from Lily Levan, one of his honor students, and it was innocent—a thank-you for the help he gave her filling out forms. She’s in line for a few scholarships, but the paperwork on them can be overwhelming.”

“Are you refusing to...to work for me?” Wendy asked.

“No, of course not. I’ll continue on your case. But I don’t think I’m going to find anything. I think your husband is honest and upright, and I’d hate for him to find out you don’t trust him.”

“In one set of pictures you gave me, he was with a woman,” Wendy said.

“Wendy, he was with a man and a woman. They had folders out on the table; I believe it was a business meeting.”

“He’s a teacher.”

“Yes, and he helps students decide where to go for college, he helps their parents when they’re trying to figure out how to pay for college. Wendy, he didn’t leave with the couple. The couple left together, and the man’s arm was around the woman’s shoulder.”

“And you don’t know who the couple were? What kind of an investigator are you?”

Dan sighed. “I can use some contacts and see if I can find out who they were. You’re afraid your husband is cheating on you. Well, he wasn’t cheating on you with that woman. I didn’t know you wanted dossiers on all his students and their parents and every bartender or server he ever spoke nicely to in a restaurant.”

“There is something up,” Wendy whispered.