Shattered: A Novel by Allison Brennan

Author:Allison Brennan [Brennan, Allison]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Thrillers, General, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths, Suspense
ISBN: 9781250129284
Google: TcMEDgAAQBAJ
Amazon: 1250129273
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Published: 2017-08-22T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-two

Max was famished and Lucy was late.

Max weighed the etiquette instilled in her by her grandmother versus her need for food. Was this an actual planned dinner? Or was it a suggestion? Was it more, “I’m eating at 8:00 P.M., join me if you can” or “We’ll meet at eight to dine together?”

No matter how she sliced it, they’d planned on eating together. Damn, she was going to implode from lack of food. What was the etiquette for waiting? Twenty minutes? Thirty? She was pretty certain there was a rule about it somewhere … but she certainly wouldn’t be calling her grandmother to ask.

Max was on the verge of summoning the waiter when Lucy walked into the dining room. The fed stopped briefly, assessed the venue and everyone in it. She scanned the room as if she had a photographic memory, pausing over every table—not looking for Max, but knowing where everyone was. Was she doing a threat assessment? She was an odd duck and Max didn’t know exactly what to make of her.

Max always understood people. She was beginning to grow frustrated with the fact that she hadn’t been able to pin Lucy Kincaid Rogan into a corner. The not knowing was going to drive her up a wall. She knew why. So much about her childhood was still a mystery to her that she sought answers where she could find them.

Lucy sat down next to Max instead of across from her where the place setting was laid out. Lucy moved it over herself. Typical law enforcement—Max’s ex-boyfriend Marco and current boyfriend Nick—was he still her boyfriend, she wondered … she didn’t know and that saddened her—would have done the same thing.

“I’m sorry I’m late—I ended up reading the rest of Justin’s file.”

“And what did your brother say?”

“He’ll talk to Nelia.”

“Very well.”

“I didn’t expect you to be so reasonable about it.”

“I am always reasonable.”

Lucy smiled and almost laughed. When had Max given her the impression that she wasn’t reasonable? Maybe almost walking out yesterday to interview Detective Katella alone … but that was one time.

“All I care about is the truth,” Max said. “I don’t much care how I get it, either, as long as I trust the information. Your brother has a long and distinguished career and I have a sense that he’s extremely honest. I think he’s the best person to find the answers we need.” She paused, just a beat. When Lucy didn’t say anything, Max added, “He holds back. During the call, I could see that he wanted to say things, but refrained. He’d be easy to beat in poker.”

“And why is this bad? If people took a minute to think before speaking, most conflicts would be avoided.”

“I suppose I could learn that lesson, but in my business when I make people angry, I tend to get the truth.”

The waiter came over and Max ordered two appetizers and a second glass of wine. “I’m famished,” she told Lucy, “but I’ll share and give you time to look at the menu.

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