White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz Page B

over two weeks later, a trusted informant was killed in a car crash.
    In addition, Fallon was certain that some of the Society’s carefully guarded computer files had been hacked into by someone who was very good when it came to not leaving tracks.
    The new conspiracy appeared to be centered on the West Coast. That meant that he was in charge of stopping it. He had a dozen agents working on various leads but he desperately needed a break. His best hope at the moment was Jake.
    The arrival of Clare Lancaster was not a good thing.

Chapter Seven
    Clare closed the lid of her laptop, got up from the chair and went to the balcony door. The slider did not want to move in its metal track. Eventually she was able to force it open. It made a harsh grating, grinding sound as it retreated, fighting her every inch of the way. She had a hunch the noise carried to the room next door.
    She went out onto the narrow balcony and stood looking down into the murky pool.
    According to what she had just learned from her online search, Jake Salter was exactly what he claimed to be: a successful pension-and-benefits consultant. She had found a few pieces and a brief profile on him in the financial press.
    There was also a small reference to a marriage that ended in divorce after less than a year.
    She remembered the little frissons of energy that had whispered across the nape of her neck during the drive back to the Desert Dawn Motel.
    Unlike most people, Jake didn’t just tell lies. He was living a lie.

Chapter Eight
    The cell phone rang just as Clare emerged from the shower. She tried to wrap one of the paper-thin towels around herself and discovered that it wasn’t long enough. She used it to dry a hand and picked up the phone.
    “It’s me,” Elizabeth said. “Are you up for breakfast?”
    “Sounds like a very good idea,” Clare said. “I’m a little hungry after my late-night swim.”
    “I heard about that. I’m pretty sure everyone at the party knows what happened. Saw what Valerie did to your car, too. Dad said that Jake took you back to the hotel last night.”
    “That’s right.”
    “Look, since you don’t have your car, why don’t I drive out there to the airport and pick you up? We can have breakfast at one of the resorts on Camelback Road. Afterward I’ll take you out to Stone Canyon so you can deal with the rental car situation.”
    Clare surveyed the seedy-looking motel room. She really did not want Elizabeth seeing the Desert Dawn Motel. Jake’s reaction last night had been bad enough. Her sister would be downright horrified.
    “I can get a cab,” she said quickly.
    “Forget it. Let’s see, it’s seven-thirty now. Rush hour. Going to take a while to get out to the airport. See you in about an hour.”
    Clare sighed. “I’m not at the airport.”
    There was a short, startled pause.
    Elizabeth cleared her throat. “Uh, don’t tell me you wound up at Jake Salter’s house last night?”
    “No.”Clare felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “For Pete’s sake, Liz, whatever made you think I went home with Jake? I just met him. You know that.”
    “Okay, okay, take it easy,” Elizabeth said. “I was just asking. Didn’t mean to upset you.”
    “I’m not upset.”
    “Right. So, if you’re not at Jake’s house and you’re not at an airport hotel, just where the heck are you?”
    “Things have been a little tight lately,” Clare said. “Let’s just say that I’m staying at a budget establishment.”
    “Dad asked you to come down here to Arizona. Didn’t he pay your way?”
    “He offered,” Clare admitted.
    Elizabeth groaned. “You, of course, turned him down. I swear, you’re as stubborn as he is, you know that? All right, give me the address of this ‘budget establishment.’”
    “It’s a dump,” Elizabeth declared.
    “It’s not a dump,” Clare said.
    “It’s a dump,” Elizabeth repeated flatly.
    She had known Elizabeth would be horrified by the Desert Dawn Motel, Clare reminded herself. The only hope was to try to change the subject.
    They were eating breakfast