Page 201 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

She repeated the conversation.

He looked thoughtful. “Okay, from what you said, here are the points of interest: ‘Piper’s a good woman, but she doesn’t understand. You’re the only one I can trust.’ Then, he asked you to forgive him.”

She wrinkled her nose, more confused than ever. “None of it makes any sense. I’m hoping to get more information, tomorrow, when I meet with Piper.”

“Good.” He tipped his head. “Corbin said Jordan was meeting with a divorce attorney. It seems strange that he and Piper were leaving on a cruise the following day if they were having severe problems.”

“Exactly.” She folded her arms over her chest.

“Did Jordan give you anything the day he stopped by?”

“No.”

He let out a breath. “Tell me again everything that happened, leaving out no details.”

“Seriously? How many times do we have to go through this?”

“As many times as it takes to get to the truth.”

She told him again, right down to the part about Jordan helping her collect the items in her purse. “I got the feeling that he’d seen someone or something that frightened him. I tried to see what he was looking at, but the terrace was filled with people eating lunch.” She spread her hands. “People come and go all the time at the resort. I have no idea who Jordan was looking at.”

His brows furrowed. “Maybe, the guy who tried to kidnap you?”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“Someone must think that Jordan either told you something, or gave you something.”

She threw up her hands. “Assuming this is even about Jordan.”

He rubbed his chin. “From where I’m sitting, I’ll bet this is about PZT. A drug with the potential to cure Alzheimer’s could be worth billions.”

“That’s what Corbin said.”

A new light came into Maddox’s eyes. “Let me see your purse.”

“Huh?”

“You said you tipped over your purse and Jordan helped you put the contents back.”

“Yes,” she said, not sure where this was going.

“Is it possible that Jordan slipped something into your purse without your knowledge?”

“Yeah, I guess. Anything’s possible, I suppose.” She scrunched her eyebrows. “Why would he do that?”

Maddox gave her a checkmate look. “Because you’re the only one he could trust, remember?”

She stood. “I guess there’s only one way to find out, right?”

“Right.”

She retrieved her purse and sat back down beside him.

“Dump it out on the coffee table,” Maddox instructed.

Great! Now Maddox would see the tampon, just as Jordan had. Oh, well. It was a fact of life. She turned over her purse, the contents falling onto the table.

“Does anything look amiss?”

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