“What line of work are you in—if you don’t mind my asking?”
“I’m an interior decorator.”
“No kidding. It must be fun. I mean, there aren’t many jobs where you get to spend other people’s money, are there?”
“No, I guess there aren’t.” She looked at her watch. “Whoops, somebody’s running late for the airport.”
“My fault. By all means, get going.”
“Well, again Mr. Reyn—” She caught herself. “Craig. Thanks for stopping by. It was very sweet.”
“No problem, Nora. I’ll let you know when there’s something to report on the investigation.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
They shook hands and Craig was about to walk away. “Oh, you know what?” he said. “It dawns on me, with you traveling, I should probably get a cell phone number.”
Nora hesitated for a split second. While giving out the number was one of the last things she wanted to do, she also didn’t want to appear suspicious to the insurance man.
“Sure thing,” she said. “Have you got a pen?”
Chapter 33
I RANG SUSAN right after getting back into the car. My initial two encounters with Nora merited a report back to the boss.
“Is she as pretty in person?”
“That’s what you want to know first?”
“Absolutely,” said Susan. “This girl can’t be doing what she might be doing without being a knockout. So, is she?”
“Is there a way to answer that while still sounding professional?”
“Yes. It’s called being honest.”
“Then, yeah,” I said. “Nora Sinclair is a very attractive woman. Stunning wouldn’t be too much of a reach.”
“You pig.”
I laughed.
“What’s your sense from talking to her?” she asked.
“Too early to tell. She’s either got nothing to hide or is a natural-born liar.”
“I’m going to put ten bucks on the latter.”
“We’ll see if that’s a good bet,” I said.
“With you on it, I’m sure we will.”
“You know, if you prop me up any more, I’m going to hit my head on the ceiling.”
“That, or actually come through for me.”
“Oh, I see. The guidebook says to play into my confidence.”
“Trust me, there’s no guidebook on how to handle you,” she said. “Where are you now?”
“Outside the late Connor Brown’s home.”
“Did you already do the follow-up?”
“Yeah.”
“How long did it take for her to see you?”
“Within minutes.”
“Mets or Yankees?”
“Mets,” I said. “Steinbrenner’s done trading for the year. At least until the pennant stretch.”
“Would she have actually known that?”
“No. But you can never be too careful.”
“Amen,” said Susan. “Did she believe you?”
“I’m pretty sure.”
“Good. See, I knew you were the right guy for the job.”
“Ouch.”
“What?”
“That was my head hitting the ceiling.”
“Let me know what happens next.”
“You got it, boss.”
“Don’t be patronizing.”
“Won’t happen again, boss.”
Susan hung up on me.
Chapter 34
NORA HADN’T DRIVEN very far before the irritating, nagging feeling got the better of her. Right in the middle of the road, alongside Trump National Golf Course, she threw the Benz into a tire-screeching, 180-degree turn—the steering wheel spinning like a carnival wheel in her hands. If she hurried, she thought, she could still catch up to him.
There’s something funny about Craig Reynolds.
And it has nothing to do with his sense of humor.
Nora stepped on the gas and quickly began to retrace the route she’d taken from Connor’s house. Down one narrow tree-lined street and then another she sped, swerving to pass a sluggish Volvo along the way. A little farther down, an older lady walking her cocker spaniel administered a disapproving stare.
For a brief moment, Nora second-guessed herself. Was she just being paranoid? Was this really necessary? But the nagging feeling proved stronger than any lingering doubt. She stepped harder on the gas. She was almost there.
What the…?
Nora slammed on the brakes.
She’d reached the corner of Connor’s street and had to do an immediate double take. The black BMW was still there. Craig Reynolds hadn’t left.
Why not? What is he doing now?
She shifted into reverse and backed in along the curb by some overgrown hedges and pine trees. They came in handy, shielding most of her car while still providing a decent view of his. From that distance, however, Craig Reynolds himself was barely a silhouette. Nora squinted. She couldn’t tell for sure, but it looked as though he was talking on his cell phone.
Though not for long. Within a minute, the taillights of his BMW flared amid a sputtering of smoke from the muffler. The Insurance Man was finally leaving.
Nora had no idea where he was going, only that she had every intention of finding out. The plan to surprise Jeffrey up in Boston had been usurped by a new plan.
It was called Getting to Know the Real Craig Reynolds.
Chapter 35
OFF HE WENT.
Nora knew she couldn’t follow too closely. He was familiar with her car, and the fact that it was bright red didn’t help matters. What a shame Mercedes doesn’t make a camouflage-green convertible.
VILLAGE OF BRIARCLIFF MANOR INC. 1902
Even before she saw the sign, Nora had figured out that Craig was headed for the center of town. Lucky for her. After dealing with a couple of stop signs and merging traffic from Route 9A, she could barely keep him in sight. Had he been driving anywhere else but this peaceful burg, she probably would’ve lost him.
She was familiar with the small town, having been there several times with Connor. It was a mix of working class and chic, new money and no money. Rustic lantern posts dotted the main drag amid banks and specialty shops. Bluehairs shared the sidewalk with young supermoms pushing the latest and greatest in baby strollers. Amalfi’s, an Italian restaurant that Connor adored, was bustling with lunchtime business.
Again, Nora thought she’d lost Craig.
She sighed with relief when she caught a glimpse of his black Beemer making a left turn far ahead. By the time she followed, he was already parked and stepping onto the curb.
She immediately pulled over and watched as he disappeared into a brick building. His office, she assumed.
Slowly she drove by. Sure enough, there was a sign above the second-floor windows. CENTENNIAL ONE LIFE INSURANCE, it read.
Well, that’s a good sign, so to speak.
Nora doubled around and parked about forty yards up from the entrance. So far, so good. Craig Reynolds seemed to be who he said he was. But she wasn’t satisfied yet. Something told her there was more to him than met the eye.
She settled in for the wait, staring at the building, a two-story, nondescript rectangle. Certainly nothing flashy about it. She wasn’t even sure if the bricks were real. They looked kind of phony, like that facing technique she’d seen on TV.
The wait didn’t last long. Less than twenty minutes later, Craig walked out of the building and got back into his car. Nora straightened up in her seat and waited for him to pull away from the curb.
Where to now, Insurance Man? Wherever it is, you have company.
Chapter 36