Page 120 of Maneater

“No way,” I whisper, then tip my head. “How tall is he?”

Rory types a few more times before answering. “Driver’s license says five ten, so probably five eight.”

I can’t help it: even in a serious moment like this, I have to laugh.

“And Tanya?”

Rory looks up at me with a wide smile on her lips.

“Five five.”

“So that would give a good three-inch gap, right?” I ask, thinking of the video of Tanya arguing with our mystery man. When Rory smiles, a chill races through me.

“Did we just find our guy?” She shrugs.

“I mean, I’d venture to say yes. It makes sense. If he’s as possessive as she says, making the hotel look bad, then, in turn, Daniel would make sense if he thought she was cheating on him with Daniel.”

“We need to set up a trap,” Rory says, and I nod then, reaching for my phone and texting Rowan that we’ve got something and he’s cleared to wrap things up. On the monitor, Rowan pulls his hand away from where Tanya is slowly creeping to him and checks his phone.

“Sorry, I’ve got to take this,” he says, back to all business, any flirting gone from his tone. It makes me smile, knowing it was all a mask to win her over. I fight the childish urge to giggle when I see her face drop with confusion at his sudden change. Then he stands and moves around his desk, walks to the door, and opens it. “Thank you for taking time out of your morning to meet with me. If you have any insight into the happenings, please let me know.”

Slowly, she stands and then walks toward the door. “We should?—”

Rowan cuts her off again. “I’m sorry, I really do have to go. I have a meeting to get to.”

He ushers her out the door and closes it behind her. Then he turns to where he knows the camera is, smiles, and gives it a thumbs-up. I shake my head and laugh, then text him to say to come up to our room as soon as he can.

“What if Carter isn’t trying to help but cover up his brother’s fuck-ups?” Rory asks contemplatively, continuing to dig through files she shouldn’t have access to. “It looks like his brother may have helped to raise him. Single mom, latchkey kids, super close. Their social media channels show they spend a lot of time together. It would explain his trying to cover up for his brother.”

“And possibly why he wouldn’t want Tanya to turn him in. Why is he annoyed at Tanya for flirting with Daniel?” It’s all falling into place in my mind. “He would, of course, think Tanya continuing to date Daniel would be bad: every time his brother got wind, he tries to sabotage Daniel’s hotel.”

Rory nods, mirroring the wide smile on my lips.

“Now we have to catch him,” I say with a smile. Rory groans in exasperation, but my own smile widens further. “My favorite part.”

FORTY-FIVE

Suspect list for Daydream Resorts based on current intel:

Randy

Tanya

Carter

FORTY-SIX