Page 49 of Last Date

I swallowed hard. “You’re Elon Green.”

His gaze flickered. “Yes.”

I adjusted my ice pack against my throat. I hoped Elon didn’t expect witty conversation from me because it wasn’t going to happen.

“You can’t identify the guy, can you?”

“I don’t think so.” Maybe when I calmed down a little I could remember more about the guy. “I think he had a mustache.”

“A lot of men do.”

“Yes.”

“I saw him follow you upstairs,” Elon said. “I didn’t think anything of it.”

“You saw him?”

“Not clearly.” He wrinkled his brow. “He caught my attention because he still had his coat on and his hood up. Most people take their coats off once they’re inside.”

I was once more struck by how odd he was. Since I’d run into him again, I was very tempted to ask him if he’d given me a flat tire that night. But I wasn’t sure how to bring it up.

“I saw your photo in the newspaper.” He studied me with dark eyes. “You were with my brother when he died.”

I stiffened. “I was on the boat.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to imply anything nefarious.”

I cleared my tender throat. “I’m… uh… sorry for your loss. For your family’s loss.”

“Thanks.” He sighed. “Were you my brother’s lover?”

I grimaced at how blunt he was. “No.”

“I wouldn’t think so.”

I narrowed my eyes.

He laughed gruffly. “You look offended. Don’t be. You probably think I’m implying you weren’t good enough for him. In truth, it’s the opposite. My brother wasn’t a very nice person.”

Did he have no filter at all?

Mary appeared next to him. “Elon, we need to go.”

I met her cool gaze and found no empathy there. I didn’t waste my breath giving her my condolences for Allister’s death. I got the feeling they’d mean literally nothing to her. She barely seemed to register my existence.

Elon stood. “I hope your throat feels better soon.”

“Thanks.”

Mary tugged at his sleeve. “Hurry. We should go before the police arrive. I don’t want you caught up in this sordid business.”

“I’m coming.” Elon sighed. “Maybe we’ll run into each other again, Kip. We seem to do that a lot.”

Mary looked less than thrilled at that prospect.

“You never know,” I said.

“We need to gonow, Elon,” Mary hissed.