walk by but didn’t acknowledge her in any way.
Jess figured Humphries to be the property manager or head of security; either way, she didn’t like being summoned. And she hadn’t gotten her driver’s license back. At the threshold to the office, the concierge allowed her to enter and shut the door behind her, leaving her alone with a distinguished-looking man. His dark hair was streaked with gray, and he wore a sharp navy suit.
“My name is Jonathan Humphries. I manage this property and oversee security here. Please…have a seat.” With a refined quality to his soft-spoken voice, the man offered a chair in front of his desk with a sweep of his hand.
“No thanks. I prefer to stand.” She walked over to a nearby window and checked out the view of the bustling street beyond the reflective glass. “It’s been years since I’ve been in high school, but your summons feels like a call to the principal’s office.”
“Ah, Ms. Beckett. Why does that not surprise me?” Humphries held her license in his hand, staring at it. When he looked up, he shook her by asking, “How is Seth?”
The initial sternness in the man’s expression softened, and his voice reflected genuine concern. She narrowed her eyes.
“So you know what happened to him?”
“Yes, he contacted me a short while ago. And I know he considers you a friend. If that hadn’t been the case, I can assure you that we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” He handed back her license. “Why are you here, Ms. Beckett?”
She thought she had known the answer to that question…until now.
CHAPTER 10
Jess pocketed her license and kept her eyes on Jonathan Humphries, sizing the man up. In the end she opted for a rare first step—honesty.
“I wanted to see who Seth was protecting at the expense of his freedom. He’s cut himself off to fight this thing alone when he could use all the help he can get. Is he protecting you?”
“No, but I’m not at liberty to say any more on the subject.”
The man sat behind his desk, looking worried and bone weary. Jess shoved her hands into her jeans pockets and remained standing, still feeling the edge of a faltering defiance.
“I’m arranging for legal counsel, and if bail money is required, I’ll cover it,” Humphries added.
“That’s a start. Thanks.” With his cooperation, she slumped into one of his chairs. “You know, I thought if I came here, I’d get to know more about Harper. The guy’s a regular ghost. I definitely think of him as a friend, but I know nothing about him.”
Humphries found humor in what she’d said. A sad smile came and went. If she hadn’t been watching him, she might have missed it.
“Do you form such loyalties for people you hardly know, Ms. Beckett?”
“Actually, no, but Harper is…special.”
“Yes, he is.” The man fixed his gaze on her. “Perhaps you’ve grown attached to him for other reasons.”
“What?” She narrowed her eyes. “Look, whatever I feel for Seth Harper is none of your business. And he’s just a kid, for cryin’ out loud. Like I said before, I consider him a friend.”
“He’s not that much younger than you, Ms. Beckett.” He stopped and heaved a sigh. “I’m sorry. As you say, it’s none of my business.”
Jess wasn’t sure she was more concerned about the fact he’d done his homework on her age or that the man had speculated on a relationship between her and Harper. And she got the distinct feeling he wouldn’t approve. The man was damned protective.
Glancing toward the window, Humphries looked lost in his memory.
“Seth may look young, but he had to grow up fast,” he said. “And he’s quite practiced at keeping secrets, but I often wonder what personal price he’s paid for that privilege. Forgive me if I’ve overstepped.”
“So you’ve known him for a long time?”
“Long enough,” the man replied, reaching his tolerance for her prying. “I wanted to meet you…and to tell you I will assist if I can, now that he’s asked for my help. But beyond that, I won’t betray his confidence. I hope you understand.”
Harper sure had a way of garnering unflinching loyalty from his friends, if Humphries could be counted as one. She had no idea how this man fit into Harper’s life, yet he clearly held her boy genius in high regard. She saw it in his eyes.
“And I hope you understand, Mr. Humphries. Just because you have limits to what you’ll share about Harper doesn’t mean I won’t find out what you’re hiding. You’ve drawn a line in the sand where your cooperation ends, but as far as I’m concerned, areas marked as off-limits only make me more curious.”
He pursed his lips and clenched his jaw, keeping his annoyance in check.
“Tell me, Mr. Humphries. Were you aware of Seth’s connection with the murder victim, Amanda Vincent?” By the disapproving look on the man’s face, she knew what his answer would be.
“Yes, I was. But like I said, I won’t betray his confidence.”
She smiled.
“I may not have known Harper as long as you, but for a guy who likes his secrets, I have a hard time believing he’d confide in you about her. You don’t look very open-minded when it comes to drug-addicted hookers.” When Humphries grimaced at her choice of words, she backed off the attitude. “The truth is, I would have been concerned for him, too.”
He clearly did not approve of Seth’s involvement with Mandy. And she couldn’t blame him. But how far would he go to protect Seth from himself? And what about the man with the real clout, the one Humphries worked for? Did he feel the same?
“Yes, well, I think we understand each other. Here’s my card.” He handed her his business card with a sad expression on his face. “I know I have no right to ask this, but I’d appreciate a call if you learn something new.”
“I can’t make any promises. And I won’t betray his confidence either.”
“Have a good day, Ms. Beckett.” In civil fashion, Jonathan Humphries gave her the boot.
Perhaps he only wanted to meet her, to size her up for himself. She wasn’t complaining. His curiosity had given her the same opportunity. And having one more link to Harper got her closer to answers. She headed for the door to his office, but something made her turn around.
“There is one thing.” Jess had no idea why she was in a sharing mood, but something in the way Humphries talked about Harper warmed her up to the notion. “The police took a blood sample from Seth that might help his case. Getting a quick turnaround on that tox screen sure wouldn’t hurt.”
She shrugged and left the man’s office without waiting for a response, heading back the way she’d come. But when she walked by the door to the small-yet-spotless break room, she noticed an employee bulletin board and wandered in to check it out, playing a hunch.
Humphries struck her as someone who would take his job seriously, going above and beyond his normal duties to see that his ship ran smoothly. A captain with enough resolve to go down with his sinking vessel rather than being the first rat off the ship. And it wouldn’t be a stretch to think he’d be the gatekeeper to anyone above him, but how Harper fit into the puzzle was still a mystery.
She scanned the notices posted on the corkboard. Nothing stood out, except for one thing.
All employee notices were on the letterhead of Pinnacle Real Estate Corporation. Something about the name clicked with her, but not enough for the fog to clear from her memory.
“Can I help you?” A woman’s voice came from behind her.
Jess turned and came face-to-face with the humorless administrative assistant to Jonathan Humphries.
“I was just looking to see if you had any openings.” Jess grinned. “’Cause I can totally see me working here.”
Surprisingly, the woman humored her with a smile, one of those enigmatic Mona Lisa numbers. “Come on, I’ll show you out.”
