Page 35 of Little Dark Deeds

He’d interrupted me, a fact I decided to overlook, for now.

“When I was speaking to Lila a few minutes ago, did you hear our conversation?”I asked.

“Most of it.I heard you say you’re a private investigator.”

“I am.I’m also assisting the police with their investigation.”

“Again, I’m not sure how I can help.”

“You said Tyler’s a close friend.I assume you know a fair bit about his private life.Don’t you?”

“I mean, we’re men.We don’t go into all the details about our lives outside the workplace.We hang out sometimes, grab a few beers, that kind of thing.”

He’d shifted from portraying Tyler as a close friend to downplaying their connection, now referring to him like he was an acquaintance.

“Has Tyler ever talked to you about Tiffany?”I asked.

“Why would he?”

Jordan was playing coy, and I couldn’t decide if he knew about the affair or not.I was about to mention it when he sighed, looking me in the eye as he said, “Aside from working with Tiffany to find a house, she was a client, just like any other client.”

Unless Tyler made a habit of sleeping with many of his female clients, she was a lot more than that, and I’d grown tired of Jordan’s deflections.

“Did you know Tiffany and Tyler were having an affair?”I asked.

“I ...to be honest, no,” he stuttered.“Where are you getting your information from?”

“I had lunch with Tiffany before she died, and she told me she was in a relationship with Tyler.At the time, she didn’t know he was married.Do you think I’m misinformed?”

“I’ve known Tyler and Jana for years.I’m not sure why your friend told you what she did, but I don’t believe it.”

It was obvious I was pushing buttons he didn’t want pushed, and based on the look on his face, he was just about at his breaking point.

“I get why you believe she was telling you the truth, given she was your friend and all,” he said.“To me, it makes no sense.”

It was about to ...

I leaned forward, looking him in the eye.“Given Tyler is yourclosefriend, I understand why you’re being protective and covering for him.”

“I’m not.”

“You know what’s interesting about my job?I’m good at reading people.It helps me know when to turn up the heat with someone I’m questioning, or when to tone it down.I often know when a person is lying to me.”

Up to now, he’d kept his cool, but after my last comment, his expression soured.“I don’t like what you’re insinuating.”

“And I don’t like that you’re lying to me.”

Shaking his head, he said, “This conversation is over.”

Over for him, perhaps.

Not for me.

“Let’s go over the facts,” I said.“You’ve been tapping your foot on the floor nonstop for the last ten minutes.And then there are the words you’ve chosen to use, words like ‘to be honest.’These are just a couple of indicators that a person is lying.”

He tipped his head toward his office door.“I’d like you to leave now, unless you’d rather I call the police and tell them I’m being harassed.”

Crossing one leg over the other, I said, “What a marvelous idea.Go right ahead.”