“I understand,” I said.

“Anyway, I gotta get off the line. This is a business number. I run an accounting service out of my home and I’m expecting a call.”

“I’ll let you go, then. I appreciate your time.”

“You need anything more, feel free to call. Nothing I’d like better than horsing up his life the way he did mine.”

As soon as I hung up, I checked my scratch pad for Taryn’s office number and put in a call to her. When she picked up, I identified myself and said, “We need to talk.”

“Sure thing. When?”

“Soon.”

“Hang on.” She must have been checking her appointment book because when she came back on, she said, “My last client will be gone by six. I’ve got paperwork to catch up on, so I’ll be here for at least an hour after that. Come when you can.”

“I’ll do that,” I said. “Thanks.”

I hung up and the phone rang almost immediately. “Millhone Investigations.”

“Kinsey? Spencer Nash here with the information I promised. Let me know when you have a pen and paper and I’ll give you his home address.”

“Doesn’t he have an office?”

“You’re catching him on the fly. He’s here a couple more days and then he’s off on his honeymoon. He asked if there was any way possible you could meet with him today.”

I looked at my watch and saw that it was just after five. “What time?”

“As soon as possible.”

“Oh, why not? As long as I said I’d go, what difference does it make? Might as well get it over with.”

“Love the sentiment.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll behave myself,” I said, and made a note of the address and phone number when he recited it. I took my sweet time closing up, and made a detour to the post office as I drove through town so I could drop the outgoing mail in the box.

• • •

I should have known the property would have walls like a fort. These were six feet tall and constructed of hand-hewn stone. A gatehouse had been erected at the entrance and a uniformed security guard emerged as I pulled up. I rolled down the window on the passenger side and gave him my name. I told him I had an appointment with Mr. Xanakis, then waited while he consulted his clipboard.

“I don’t see your name on my list.”

“What would you suggest I do?”

“You can use the call button to ring the house.”

I inched forward to a point where I could push the call button on the keypad. I sat, engine idling, until a hollow-voiced stranger acknowledged me on the intercom. Before I had a chance to identify myself, the gates swung open and one of Ari’s white panel trucks with the XLNT logo passed me on its way out. I eased through the open gate and continued toward the house. The cobblestone driveway was a long slow curve, landscaped so the house was shielded from view until I made the final turn. This was for the wow factor.