like when my mother was with him. Valentina is very quiet, a home-maker. It must be different. And he’s older.’
Devlin shrugged. Dysfunctional didn’t necessarily mend, just because it got old. If Olivier Kessel was a crap father then, he was likely still a crap father now. But Kaz Elmore had not just survived she had succeeded, without him. He took a moment to consider that. She was a determined lady, and now she was his client. C.L.I.E.N.T.
He had all he needed. He pushed back his chair, to signal that the meeting was over. Time to get the show on the road and the disturbing Mrs Elmore off the premises. Give a man room to do what he had to do. Like figure out what the fuck he’s got himself into? Oh, yeah – that.
Kaz felt a small flutter of disappointment when Devlin got to his feet. Reluctantly she followed. Confidences were over. Devlin was back to business again. She’d told him a lot, more than she should, and he’d undoubtedly guessed a whole lot more. Yet she didn’t feel exposed. She was comfortable with him. Surprise made her frown. Take care around this man.
‘What?’ He was watching her.
‘Uh – you didn’t answer my question, a while back,’ she improvised. ‘Is Jeff still in the States?’
He flipped a hand. ‘It’s a big place. Plenty of room to hide. D’you think that he’d stay? Would he want to?’
‘I don’t know. I would say not, but … How would he get Jamie out of the country?’
‘There are ways – but a small girl isn’t like an adult. We can’t rule out that he just slipped under the radar. And got away with it. I guess cancelling her passport wasn’t the first thing on your mind.’
Kaz caught her breath. Her stomach swooped, giving her a queasy spasm. She still hadn’t grasped all the implications of this. ‘He could have just got on a plane?’
‘No one was looking for her.’
‘Because she was meant to be dead.’ Kaz shut her eyes, taking it in. ‘You’ll check on that?’
‘Of course. And I need you to give me a list of friends, family, acquaintances, anyone you think might help him, any place you think he might go.’
‘I have some old address books. I could ask – No!’ She pulled up short, realising the crater yawning in front of her. She could have jumped into it, headlong. The thought made her palms damp. ‘I can’t tell anyone about this, can I? At best they’ll think I’m unstable.’ Bitter recollection of her uncle’s scepticism piled into the sinking feeling in her stomach. ‘And if anyone does know anything, they could warn Jeff.’
‘You need to tread carefully.’ Devlin didn’t sound concerned. ‘But a little healthy curiosity about the whereabouts of your ex-husband wouldn’t look too odd. Just don’t go calling half of London.’
‘I won’t.’ She took a moment to gather herself, looking around for her bag. ‘Thank you for lunch. For everything.’
‘You’re welcome. I’ll be in touch when I have something from Hoag.’
‘Oh. Yes.’ For a second a swirl of blackness made her hesitate. ‘We will find her, won’t we?’ The qualm of doubt was hollow around her heart.
‘Maybe not in a week. Don’t worry.’ Both his hands covered hers. Then he let go. ‘We’ll work something out.’ He slid another business card across the table. ‘E-mail address, and my mobile number. You can send me the list. Let me know who you’re going to speak to – just your closest friends. I’ll take care of the rest. And I’ll follow up any leads you get.’ A hint of warning in the pitch of the voice.
‘Yes.’ She shivered as she picked up the card. ‘Thank you.’ She wrenched herself together and headed for the door.
Devlin stood back while the waiter cleared the table. The glass with her lipstick on the rim was already loaded onto the serving trolley. She’d been wearing some light, clear fragrance. He wondered how long that was going to hang around to bother him. It had been an interesting two hours.
Devlin shrugged. Dysfunctional didn’t necessarily mend, just because it got old. If Olivier Kessel was a crap father then, he was likely still a crap father now. But Kaz Elmore had not just survived she had succeeded, without him. He took a moment to consider that. She was a determined lady, and now she was his client. C.L.I.E.N.T.
He had all he needed. He pushed back his chair, to signal that the meeting was over. Time to get the show on the road and the disturbing Mrs Elmore off the premises. Give a man room to do what he had to do. Like figure out what the fuck he’s got himself into? Oh, yeah – that.
Kaz felt a small flutter of disappointment when Devlin got to his feet. Reluctantly she followed. Confidences were over. Devlin was back to business again. She’d told him a lot, more than she should, and he’d undoubtedly guessed a whole lot more. Yet she didn’t feel exposed. She was comfortable with him. Surprise made her frown. Take care around this man.
‘What?’ He was watching her.
‘Uh – you didn’t answer my question, a while back,’ she improvised. ‘Is Jeff still in the States?’
He flipped a hand. ‘It’s a big place. Plenty of room to hide. D’you think that he’d stay? Would he want to?’
‘I don’t know. I would say not, but … How would he get Jamie out of the country?’
‘There are ways – but a small girl isn’t like an adult. We can’t rule out that he just slipped under the radar. And got away with it. I guess cancelling her passport wasn’t the first thing on your mind.’
Kaz caught her breath. Her stomach swooped, giving her a queasy spasm. She still hadn’t grasped all the implications of this. ‘He could have just got on a plane?’
‘No one was looking for her.’
‘Because she was meant to be dead.’ Kaz shut her eyes, taking it in. ‘You’ll check on that?’
‘Of course. And I need you to give me a list of friends, family, acquaintances, anyone you think might help him, any place you think he might go.’
‘I have some old address books. I could ask – No!’ She pulled up short, realising the crater yawning in front of her. She could have jumped into it, headlong. The thought made her palms damp. ‘I can’t tell anyone about this, can I? At best they’ll think I’m unstable.’ Bitter recollection of her uncle’s scepticism piled into the sinking feeling in her stomach. ‘And if anyone does know anything, they could warn Jeff.’
‘You need to tread carefully.’ Devlin didn’t sound concerned. ‘But a little healthy curiosity about the whereabouts of your ex-husband wouldn’t look too odd. Just don’t go calling half of London.’
‘I won’t.’ She took a moment to gather herself, looking around for her bag. ‘Thank you for lunch. For everything.’
‘You’re welcome. I’ll be in touch when I have something from Hoag.’
‘Oh. Yes.’ For a second a swirl of blackness made her hesitate. ‘We will find her, won’t we?’ The qualm of doubt was hollow around her heart.
‘Maybe not in a week. Don’t worry.’ Both his hands covered hers. Then he let go. ‘We’ll work something out.’ He slid another business card across the table. ‘E-mail address, and my mobile number. You can send me the list. Let me know who you’re going to speak to – just your closest friends. I’ll take care of the rest. And I’ll follow up any leads you get.’ A hint of warning in the pitch of the voice.
‘Yes.’ She shivered as she picked up the card. ‘Thank you.’ She wrenched herself together and headed for the door.
Devlin stood back while the waiter cleared the table. The glass with her lipstick on the rim was already loaded onto the serving trolley. She’d been wearing some light, clear fragrance. He wondered how long that was going to hang around to bother him. It had been an interesting two hours.
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