Page 76 of Liar's Point

The knot in her stomach was back again.

“And Cassandra Miller isn’t really your name.”

She bristled. “Yes, it is. It’s my maiden name.”

“Catherine Cassandra Miller is your maiden name.”

She bit her tongue as she formulated a response. “I’ve been going by my middle name since I filed for divorce,” she said with a shrug. “I needed a change.”

He nodded. “I get that.”

“Good.”

Nerves started to dance around in her stomach. A background check. What did that mean, exactly? How deep would he dig?

“Look.” He leaned closer and pinned her with those eyes. “I don’t want to put you on the spot here. I just want you to know—you asked about attorney-client privilege the other day, and I want to make sure you know that you can talk to me. I’m a problem-solver. That’s what I do.”

She stared at him, pulse thrumming as she tried to imagine really talking to him, spilling her guts. Part of her was tempted. And part of her wanted to run out of here and never speak to him again—forget about her updated will and everything else.

“I’m your attorney, Cassandra.”

She nodded. “I know.”

He eased back, looking her over with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

She glanced at her watch. “I need to get going.”

“Okay. That’s fine.” He paused. “Maybe we can talk more later? You can come by the office?”

“Maybe.”

“And you’ve got my number.”

“Yes.” She grabbed her purse.

He slid the pastry bag across the table. “Don’t forget these.”

“Oh. Thanks, but I’m trying to avoid sweets.”

He gave her that charming smile again. “They’re oatmeal. Practically health food.”

She laughed, and immediately felt a rush of guilt. How could she laugh today?

“You have them.” She stood up. “Thanks, anyway.”

***

Nicole stepped out of the San Antonio FBI field office and took out her phone as she headed to her car.

“What’s the word?” Brady asked the instant he picked up.

“I just dropped off the thumb drive,” Nicole told him.

Ostensibly, the purpose of her trip was to hand-deliver the memory stick containing the surveillance footage Emmet had collected from the convenience store near Aubrey Lambert’s apartment. The footage showed a man in a dark hoodie and sunglasses walking down the street toward the back gate to Aubrey’s apartment complex.

But the real reason for her visit was to remind Brady’s FBI contact of the video evidence they had already dropped off.

“And? Did they take a look?”

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