Ring of Lies (11 page)

‘
What?
’

‘
Your hair, it’s longer than last time we met.
’

Grace looked away from his intense green eyes.
‘
I felt like a change.
’

‘
It suits you.
’

She swallowed hard.
‘
Thank
you.
’

‘
Still play tennis?
’

‘
Occasionally.
Look, Jack, this isn’t a
—
’

He gave her a sideways glance.
‘
A good idea?
Probably not, but
I’m only
making small talk
, Grace.
I’
m not asking you
to fall into bed with me
.
God knows I gave up on that idea months ago.
’

An unwelcome blush crept into her cheeks
.
‘
I just assumed that you’d
treat this like a business meeting
, that’s all.
’

They walked on in silence.
After two blocks
,
t
he
y
turned left
on
to
Ocean Drive.
Like those of Collins Avenue, the buildings were a mixture of pastel
colo
u
r
ed mansions, ult
ra-chic hotels, bars and clubs.

Jack
ignored the enticing aromas wafting from the
stylish
res
taurants and upscale eateries.
Instead
,
he chose a table
at one of the
crowded
sidewalk caf
é
s.
Once seated, h
e ordered two shrimp salads, a glass of
Pinot Grigio
for Grace
and a small beer for himself
.
  He toyed with a napkin and studied her face for a moment.

‘
Okay, Grace.
What’s so important that you need my help
?
’

She took a deep breath and
organized
her thoughts.
‘
Two weeks ago
Daniel was killed in a road traffic accident.
On the day he
died
h
e
was supposed to be
in Birmingham
attending a conference, yet
the police found
his car on a country lane not far from Heathrow Airport.
’

‘
There could be any number of explanations
for that
.
He might have changed his mind
at the last minute
and decided to fly.
’

‘
Jack, you and I both know i
t
takes
longer to drive to
Heathrow
than it
does
to
drive to
Birmingham
from my home
.
’

The kitchen
staff
had been uncommonly quick.
Jack waited until their server was out of earshot before continuing.
‘
Maybe he
’d arranged to
pick
someone up and
take
them to the conference
.
’

‘
That doesn’t make sense either
.
Besides, t
he police told me he was alone in the car.
But that’s not the
only
strange thing about his death.
As I was leaving the church
after the funeral service
a
man
approached
me
.
’
She shivered at the recollection.
‘
I’d
not
met him be
fore and had no idea who he was.
He asked about some
electronic files Daniel was
keeping for him
.
When I said I
knew nothing
about them, he threatened me, and grabbed my arm.
Not only that,
he
knew all about my appointment with the solicitor
.
He even mentioned my sister
,
Catherine
.
’

‘
Electronic files?
You mean the
computer disks they
’re
stored on
?
What did Daniel do for a living?
’

Grace stared at Jack, trying to see past the cold eyes and expressionless face.
‘
He is… was an accountant.
’
She speared a shrimp and took a bite.

‘
That explains it then,
’
Jack said with a smile.
‘
The guy must have been a client.
’

‘
He said not.
And even if he were, it doesn’t explain how he knew about my appointment
or
Catherine
.
’

‘
I don’
t know, Grace.
It could
just
have been a
lucky guess.
’

‘
I don’t think so.
When I got home
I went through Daniel’s briefcase.
I found th
e
s
e
.
’
She opened her purse and handed him the passport
and the slip of paper
.

He flicked it open.
‘
Lionel Lattide.
Do you know this guy?
’

Grace held his gaze.
‘
Oh, yes
,
I know him.
He’s
Daniel Elliott, my late husband
.
At least
that’s who I thought he was
.
’

Jack
let out a low whistle
, but said nothing.

‘
That’s not all.
’
She took a sip from
her
glass.
‘
Six months ago
,
Daniel or Lionel
,
or whoever he is, purchased a beach house on Gasparilla Island.
I knew nothing about the purchase until
I heard that h
e
’d
bequeathed
it to me.
We’re not rich, so
I have no idea where
he found the money to purchase another property, especially one overseas
.
So you see, Jack.
I had no choice but to come to Miami.
’

‘
You’ve got my attention
, Grace
.
Do you know
which real estate agent sold him the house
?
’

‘
Actually, it looks like it was handled by an attorney.
Our
family solicitor gave me his
business
card.
I have it here.
’

He took the proffered card.
‘
Zachary Parous.
Can’t say that I’ve heard of him
or his firm
, but that doesn’t mean
a thing
.
H
ow about we pay him a visit?
’

She tipped her head to one side
and smiled
.
‘
I was hoping you woul
d say that.
’

Jack pulled out his cell phone, punched in the num
ber off the card
,
and hit send.
H
e
handed Grace the phone.

While s
he listened to it ring
, he said
,
‘
Try and set up an appointment
for tomorrow
.
If they say no-can-do, insist.
’

The phone answered on the third ring.
‘
Parous and Associates.
How may I direct your call?
’