After Dark by Donna Hill

man?”
    â€œWhy?”
    The man who’d produced the photo went back into his pocket and produced his identification. Agent Brian Jennings, FBI.
    Elizabeth felt light-headed. She swallowed. “I don’t understand.”
    â€œIt’s quite simple, actually. Do you know this man?”
    â€œUh, yes. Why?”
    â€œWe’re looking into his activities, and this place is one of them.”
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    â€œAccording to our information, he was the contractor on the renovation project for this establishment. Is that correct?”
    Her pulse was pounding so loud in her ears that she barely heard him.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDo you have records of his work for you?”
    â€œWhat kinds of records?”
    â€œBills of lading, invoices, things like that,” the Agent said.
    â€œI suppose so. But I’m not the owner,” she said quickly, stalling for time. “The owner just left. I’m sure she’d know where everything is,” Elizabeth said, and forced a smile.
    Agent Jennings gave her a long look that made her very uncomfortable. “I see,” he finally said. “Maybe we should come back when the owner is here. Do you know when that will be?”
    â€œTomorrow afternoon.”
    â€œAnd the owner’s name is?”
    â€œUh, Barbara Allen.”
    â€œThank you for all your help, Ms…”
    â€œLewis.”
    He smiled and the duo walked out.
    Elizabeth lowered herself to the seat. Her knees were shaking. The FBI. What could they possibly want with Ron? Or the spa? Now, she really did have reason to call him.
    Jennings and Collins stood outside the building.
    â€œShe’s lying,” Collins said. “According to the article in the paper about the place, Ms. Lewis is one of Pause for Men’ s four owners.”
    â€œYeah.” Jennings frowned. “Wonder what else she’s lying about.” Maybe this investigation wasn’t going to be a waste of time, after all.

Chapter 7
    O n the quick trip home and then the short ride to Wil’s apartment, Barbara couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that something was wrong.
    She and Elizabeth had been friends for years. They’d grown closer than most sisters and out of their close-knit group, they were the two that connected best with each other. Ellie was her best friend and she knew that the other woman was going through something and that the “something” was more significant than she was letting on. Maybe she should have stayed and talked to Ellie.
    Barbara pulled onto Wil’s street and slowed down to look for a parking space. If it wasn’t too late when she got home, maybe she would give Ellie a call, to let her know that she was there for her and ready to help.
    Barbara parked her brand-new cinnamontoned Lexus sedan. It was a big present to herself for her fiftieth birthday. Every time she slid onto the plush leather seating and eased her chair back, she was in drivers’ heaven. She’d finally turned in her ten-year-old Volvo. As much as she’d loved that car, she wanted something new to go with her new life, her new look and her new man.
    There were still days that she thought she was dreaming when she realized just how happy she was with Wil and how fate had stepped in and brought them back together after so many years. It wasn’t often that you got a second chance in life, and she intended to make the most of it.
    Barbara parked the car and walked across the street to Wil’s building. She started to ring the bell, but remembered that he’d given her a key a week earlier. She felt a little funny about it, but Wil insisted that his house was hers and she could drop by anytime. She supposed, at some point, she would reciprocate.
    She stuck the key in the front door, then took the elevator up to the third floor. She approached his door just as it was pulled open.
    â€œHey, Ms. Barbara.”
    Wil’s son,