Page 32 of Filthy Liar

“And an investigator in my own right.”

Jason frowns. “That’s what concerns me.”

I change the subject. “Do you ever worry about having a conflict of interest between clients?”

“Yes.” A muscle twitches in his jaw. “Do I have a conflict of interest that you think I should know about?”

“That’s not my job.”

“Whatisyour job, exactly?”

“We’ve been over this.”

“Did you go to journalism school?”

“What does Wilson say?”

“He tells me I should stop obsessively thinking about you.”

“Smart man.”

He gets up and paces. After a few silent minutes, he gestures toward the kitchenette. “I’d offer you something to eat, but it may not be up to your standards.”

I blink at him. “I don’t have standards.”

He frowns. “The bagels and muffins?” He groans. “Of course that was an act.”

“No, that was a job. And an act, sure, if we’re being literal. But aren’t all jobs acts on some level? I haven’t slept properly in a very long time. Most days, I run on coffee, salad, and sandwiches, all prepared by other people. Whatever you have is fine. A granola bar sounds grand.”

His hand clenches into a fist on the table. “How long has it been since you had a good meal?”

The night before I left Malibu. “A while.”

“Can I buy you breakfast?”

I should say no. I want to say no, but I want to say yes even more. And right now, I’m too tired to deprive myself of a good meal, even if it comes with complicated company. “Sure. Why the fuck not?”

He gives me a faint smile. “That’s the spirit.”

It’s early enough that when we arrive at a diner a block away, we have a booth to ourselves with a healthy amount of distance from any other customers.

The coffee is good and our food comes quickly, and Jason lets me refuel in quiet. It’s not until I slow down and put my fork down, my plate mostly clear, that he starts a conversation. “Yesterday, you asked me about PRISM.”

I’m genuinely surprised that he’s voluntarily returning to that subject. “Is this breakfast on the record?”

He doesn’t look amused. “Nothing is ever on the record between us. Got it?”

I roll my eyes. “Got it.”

“What do you know about it? Why were you asking?”

“I know enough, and it’s deep research for a story. You seemed surprised when I brought it up.”

“It’s not like they have Wikipedia page.”

“I spent years investigating Gerome Lively and Amelia Dashford Reid.”

“Is that what brought you here in the first place?”

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