Lethal Bond: Jamie Bond Mysteries Book #3 by Gemma Halliday, Jennifer Fischetto

here."
    Caleigh smiled. "Of course, Daddy. I'd love to show you." She held out a hand. "My office is this way."
    They took a few steps, and he stopped. "I know this is short notice, but I do hope you three beautiful young ladies will allow an old man to take you to dinner tonight?"
    Caleigh laid a hand on his arm and giggled. "You're not old, Daddy."
    That so wasn't the point.
    Before I could open my mouth to protest, Maya said, "I'm free tonight."
    Mr. Presley looked to me, but Sam replied, "I can find a babysitter."
    Great. Now I had no choice.
    It wasn't that I didn't want to get to know Caleigh's father. I just wasn't ready for the lying and pretending portion of the evening. Of course, the plus side was another free meal, and I had a feeling Daddy would pick someplace more elegant than a roadside taco joint.
    "This is very generous of you," I said. "I'd be happy to join you." My first lie of the night, and I had a strong feeling it wouldn't be the last.
    "Good." He turned back to his daughter. "When we're done here, you can give me your key, and I'll settle in at your place. Then at dinner you can introduce me to my future son-in-law."
    Oh, boy.
     

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    It didn't take Caleigh long to show her dad around and dazzle him with a couple of old cases we'd worked. I noticed how she didn't mention any that were too scandalous, like the actress posing as a wife, the nudist husband, the panty thief, our current swingers, or even the gay couple. She asked for an hour off to drive her father to her place, to help settle him in, and to make sure she hadn't left anything embarrassing out in the open—like her vibrator. I was a very accommodating boss.
    On their way out Mr. Presley waved and shouted, "Don't forget tonight."
    Like I could if I wanted to.
    As they walked out, I took Sam aside and explained what was happening over at the DA offices.
    "How can I help?" she asked.
    I grabbed my purse from my bottom desk drawer. "Go with me to check out this Vanessa Estevez and find out what we can about Rocco."
    "Sure thing."
     
    We pulled up in front of Vanessa and Rocco's home, a two-story former motel turned apartment building that clearly needed to be condemned. Boarded up front windows in half the units, loose shingles, and a broken concrete walkway. A line of beat-up, rusted cars bookended a late model SUV at the curb. And on a pathetic strip of dried grass than ran between the buildings sat a popped beach ball and an overturn tricycle.
    At the corner, a small circle of guys hung out, they're eyes shifty enough that even to the casual observer they were obviously up to something. Two cars had slowed down in the past ten minutes we'd been parked here. One of the guys would step to the passenger window, lean in, and he and the driver would make exchanges. It was all done so openly. They obviously weren't afraid of the cops, or more likely, the police didn't drive by this part of town too frequently. The beat cops weren't stupid.
    "What's the plan, boss?" Sam asked.
    The address Maya had given me listed a unit 104 on the ground floor as belonging to Rocco. The curtains were drawn, and there was no sign of life inside. I dialed the office. "Not sure yet."
    "Bond Agency, how may I help you?" said Maya.
    "It's me. Can you run a plate, please?" I rattled off the numbers and letters of the SUV and waited for her to do her magic. Even if Rocco were a low level dealer, there's no way that swaggering guy would be caught dead in any of the other junk-yard rejects at the curb.
    One of the men at the corner stared in our direction. He'd been watching us since just after we'd arrived. Now he pointed to us. It was time for us to make a move. The last thing we needed was them coming this way and causing a scene. We'd never get to speak to Vanessa then.
    I looked to Sam and said, "How do you think we should play this?"
    "She has kids, so…"
    "Social workers." It was the easiest way. Into the phone, I said," Got anything yet, Maya?"
    I