A.”
Quinn raised an eyebrow. “A?”
“Makes me sound cool.”
“Makes you sound stupid.”
“Matter of opinion.”
Quinn stood up. “All right. Then let’s go, A.”
“I said my close friends.”
Chapter 21
Four minutes later Nate and Quinn stood at the door to Liz’s apartment. From inside they could hear music.
He listened a moment longer.
Miles Davis. “How Deep Is the Ocean.” One of Quinn’s favorites.
“You all right?” Nate whispered.
As way of answer, Quinn raised his hand to knock on the door. But he hesitated, wondering again if this might be a mistake. Maybe a perimeter stakeout would be best. Liz could go on as she always did, completely unaware of his presence.
He let his hand rap against the door three times, then took a step back.
There was no indication from inside that someone had heard him.
Quinn knocked again.
“You ready?” Quinn whispered.
“I am. Are you?” Nate asked.
From beyond the door, he could hear the soft thud of feet on carpet, then the knob turned, and with little fanfare the door opened. Liz stood just inside, wearing the same clothes he’d seen her arrive home in. The friendly smile she initially greeted them with faltered.
“Jake?” she said, confused.
“Hi, Liz.”
She stared at him as if she wasn’t sure he was there.
“Can we come in?”
For the first time she seemed to realize Quinn wasn’t alone. She looked at Nate, then back at Quinn. Finally, she stepped aside so they could enter.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I’m in town on business,” Quinn said. “Thought I’d come by for a visit.”
Several silent seconds passed, then she said, “Okay, you’ve visited. You can tell Mom you stopped by, saw my place, saw that I wasn’t living in a shack. You can even tell her we had a nice talk if you want.”
She reached for the door.
“Liz, please,” Quinn said.
She stopped.
“Can’t we just talk for a bit?” He smiled. “That way I don’t have to lie to Mom.”
Her shoulders rose as she took a deep breath, then she straightened up and ran a hand through her hair. She led them into the living room and nodded at the couch.
“Please sit,” she said. “I’ve got some lemonade and some water.”
A good hostess even in adversity. That she had learned from their mother.
“Thank you,” Quinn said. “Water would be nice.”
“It’s sparkling,” she told him.
“That’s fine.”
“What about your friend?” she asked.
“I’m sorry,” Quinn said. “I should have introduced you. This is Andrew Cain. He’s the son of someone I do work with. Andrew, this is my sister Liz.”
Nate stuck out a hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Liz barely touched his palm before she let go again. “Water or lemonade?”
“Water too. Please,” he said.
Without another word, she headed into the kitchen. Quinn motioned for Nate to sit down. Liz came back and stopped short. Nate was sitting on the couch, and Quinn was on the chair.
After Liz handed out the waters, she moved to the window. She had opted for no drink and standing.
“Liz, sit down,” Quinn said. “Join us.”
Again there was the deep breath. “I’m fine here.”
“Liz.”
When she turned to her brother, the look on her face was not quite hatred, but close. She stood where she was for a second, then walked over and sat down on the couch as far from Nate as possible. She stared at the coffee table, while Quinn licked his lips and rubbed the fingers of one hand against the palm of another, neither saying anything.
Nate looked back and forth between them, then finally said, “This is a great place. You been here long?”
Liz looked at him. “Almost two years.”
“Swanky.”
“It’s paid for by a scholarship,” she said, defensive.
“Nice.” Nate looked around. “What are you studying?”
“I’m sorry. Who exactly are you?”
Quinn jumped in. “I told you, he’s the son of a colleague.”
“And why is he with you?”
“Hey,” Nate said. “I didn’t mean to upset you. This really is a nice place. And the way you’ve set it up, it’s, you know, comfortable. I’m sorry. People tell me I sometimes come off a little abrasive.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “Sometimes they’re right.”
Liz seemed to relax. “It’s fine. And … thanks. People tell me I sometimes get a little defensive.”
Nate laughed. “We’re the perfect combination, then.”
That brought the hint of a smile to her lips. “How long are you in town?” she asked her brother.
“A few days,” Quinn said.
“And then home?”
“Unless something else comes up.”
She nodded without feeling, but said nothing more.
“School,” Quinn said. “How’s it going?”
“Fine.”
“How much longer until you graduate?”
“Two more years.”
“Have you been able to—”
His cell phone buzzed in his pocket.
“I’m sorry,” he said as he pulled it out.
WILLS
“Everything all right?” Nate asked. His tone was light.
“Yes. Sorry,” Quinn said. He accessed the log on his phone. “Just a second.”
He could hear Liz let out a faint sigh, and imagined her rolling her eyes as he scrolled through his recent calls
