Page 83 of Little Dark Deeds

CHAPTER 29

Islept in until nine, waking to find a note on my nightstand from Giovanni.He’d taken Luka to the park and had made me a souffle, which was waiting for me in the oven.I grabbed my robe out of the closet and walked to the kitchen, pleased to find the souffle was still warm.As I ate at the bar, I made my game plan for the day.Goal one was to meet with Landon Fairfax, the man who’d accused Tiffany of ruining his life.

After learning about him a day before, I’d asked Hunter to get some information on him.I was now the proud recipient of his phone number, address, and a few other pertinent details.Hunter had also been in touch with Tiffany’s former client, Rylie Fairfax, who filled her in on Landon’s daily routine.

I drove to a popular cycling trail that he biked around almost every morning, hoping I wasn’t too late.I parked, waited a while, and then I spotted two men, one fitting the description Hunter had given me.He was lifting a bike over a rack onto the back of a high-end truck.Mission accomplished, he turned to the man next to him and gave him a high-five.The men parted ways, and I exited the car, hurrying over to catch him before he left.

He looked, in a word, douchey, as expected—clad in a sleek, bright, form-fitting jersey that hugged his torso.His padded cycling shorts were tight, ending mid-thigh, and they did the perfect job of emphasizing his muscular quads.

I approached, saying, “Landon Fairfax?”

He seemed startled as he looked my way, but as our eyes met, a flirtatious smile formed.“Who’s asking?”

“My name is Georgiana Germaine, and I—”

“I know who you are.”

“You do?”

“I’ve been following the case, or should I say, my people have been following it for me.”

His people.

A way of establishing his status from the get-go.

We were off to a smug-worthy start.

“And what have yourpeoplereported so far?”I asked.

“Let’s just say I know just about all there is to know about the case.From what I hear, you’re a tenacious one.I’m glad to meet you.”

He extended a hand.

I looked at it, but I wasn’t in the mood to shake.

“Before Tiffany died, you threatened her,” I said.

“I’m aware.”

“You said she ruined your life.”

He leaned against the truck.“I may have been a bit more dramatic than I intended, but in a way, she did ruin it.What’s your point?”

“Your threat places you at the center of my investigation.”

“I suppose it does.”

We stared at each other, blinking in turn, neither of us saying a word.

“I expected you to be a lot more defensive,” I said.

“Why should I be?I knew I’d be questioned, by you and the police, which is the exact reason I have people keeping tabs on what’s going on.”