“Not that I know of.” Something flickered in Dani’s expression.
Spencer frowned. What was she hiding, and why she was hiding it? Was it simply a matter of not trusting him or something more ominous?
Spencer had all four women run through the incident with Mikeloff one more time, then tell him what they knew about Regina and the people who had been at her party. Finally, after finishing his tea and thanking Dani for the best cupcakes he’d had since his mother hung up her apron and retired to Florida, he rose from the table and said goodbye.
As he jogged back to his truck, a plan began to form. He could use the excuse that the vic was a student at the university and ask for a meeting with the police chief to feel her out about Mikeloff. But before he did that, he needed to gather some intel on the detective.
He texted his confidential informant requesting a meeting and she replied that she would see him at her favorite bar at seven thirty. It was only a little past six o’clock so he had ninety minutes to kill. He’d spend that time reaching out to a few of his ex-colleagues about Mikeloff.
Spencer also planned to do some research of his own on Little Miss Cupcake. Had something happened during her previous employment that she wasn’t telling him? He hadn’t pushed her about whatever she was hiding because he damn well knew that arguing with a woman was like trying to read the terms of agreement on the computer. Eventually, he always ended up ignoring everything else and just clicking I AGREE.
But he still wanted to make damn sure she was innocent of any wrongdoing before he decided to help her. All he needed was to be taken in by another con artist like his ex-wife. She’d left him bleeding money and involved in a long, drawn-out divorce, which is why Dani would have to earn his trust and assistance. He sure as hell was never giving it blindly again.
Nevertheless, his gut told him that Little Miss Cupcake could worm her way into his heart if he wasn’t careful. Good thing his undercover training had taught him to keep his emotions in check. He might lust for Dani, but he wouldn’t act on it, and he certainly wasn’t going to fall for her.
He was annoyed with himself at his fascination with Dani. He knew better than to let good-looking females past his defenses. Too many foolish women fell for the badge, not the man behind it. And once they were faced with the reality, they ended up hating the very job that they’d romanticized.
Still, later that night as he entered the bar where he hoped to find his informant, for one crazy nanosecond, Spencer considered stopping back at the Cook Mansion once he’d spoken to his CI.
But as he drank a bottle of beer, he reminded himself that he still had no idea what Dani was concealing. His research hadn’t turned up much beyond the basic facts. She was twenty-nine, born and raised in nearby Towanda, and her father worked for a company that manufactured fast-food equipment. She’d graduated with honors from college and accepted a job at Homestead Insurance, where she remained until approximately eight months ago.
There hadn’t been anything online about why she quit her job. And her social media presence hadn’t even hinted at a current boyfriend. Just as Spencer chugged the last of his Corona, he spotted Vivi O’Hara tottering toward him on impossibly high heels.
He blew out a frustrated breath at the mystery of Ms. Danielle Sloan, then shoved thoughts of her aside and concentrated on his CI.
Vivi’s brightly painted red lips curved into a predatory smile as she wrapped her arms around Spencer’s neck. She purred in his ear, “I haven’t seen you in a long time, lover boy.”
Grabbing Vivi’s arms, he peeled her off him and plopped her onto a stool. The woman was buttoned into McClean County’s underbelly, and she insisted that the only way she could talk to Spencer without putting herself in danger was to pretend they were hooking up.
“I’ve been out of town,” he lied smoothly. “But I’m back for a while, so how about we move this to one of the booths in the back?”
“Aren’t you even going to buy a girl a drink first?” Vivi put her hands on her tiny waist and tossed her long, black hair. The wrinkles near her hazel eyes deepened and she said, “Make it a double Jack.”
“Sure.” Spencer flashed a repentant grin.
“And get one for yourself.” She winked. “I’m going to ply you with liquor until you think I’m too beautiful to resist.”
“There isn’t enough beer in Illinois for that to come true,” Spencer muttered under his breath.
Vivi narrowed her eyes and demanded, “What?”
“I said you look good in blue.” Spencer forced a smile. “I’ll meet you at the table.”
It was only a few minutes past eight and the crowd was still relatively quiet. But after another hour or two, with more alcohol under their belts, the noise would be deafening. Spencer planned on being long gone by that time.
After getting Vivi’s drink and another bottle of beer for himself, Spencer joined her.
She threw him a flirty smile and said, “You know, we don’t have to meet here. You could come to my place.”
“Maybe next time.” Spencer gave her the same answer as always.
Vivi touched a manicured hand to the back of her hair and said, “I’m beginning to think you don’t find me sexy.”
“It’s not that.” Spencer took a swig of beer to hide his annoyance. He noted the pique in Vivi’s eyes and realized that unless he slept with her, he would lose her as a CI. And since there was no way he was banging her, he needed to make this Q & A a good one, since it might end up being the last bit of info he got from
