Page 78 of Tide and Seek

I frowned.“How’d you know about the texts?”

“Oh, uh…” Harris laughed awkwardly.“I don’t recall.”

I narrowed my eyes because it was obvious he was lying.

Looking guilty, C.J.held up her hand.“It was me.I’m sorry.Max told me and I let it slip to Harris.”

I sighed.“We were trying to keep that quiet.”

“Sorry again.I wasn’t thinking.”C.J.grimaced and then frowned.“Hey, where is Max?”

“Meeting with his insurance agent in town.He should be back soon,” I said distractedly.“I think I’ve been looking at this all wrong.I suspected Luke might have been the burglar, but now I’m wondering if it was that guy with the red sports car.”

“Problem is,” Harris said, shrugging.“It could be anybody.Could be one of us even.”

C.J.scowled.“It’s not one of us, what are you talking about?”

Harris laughed sheepishly.“I just mean, you can never be too careful.”

“Oh, is that what you meant?”She rolled her eyes.“Hey, do you think maybe car guy and Luke are working together?I feel guilty even suggesting that, but Luke knows the neighborhood, knows when people are home or away.And from what you’ve said this Stiles fellow has money, a nice car, respectable enough not to draw suspicion.”

“Maybe Luke tells him when it’s safe to burgle the houses, and Stiles does the actual theft.”Harris lifted his brows.

“Maybe, although Stiles, if that’s even his name, didn’t look like the guy who’d do the dirty work,” I said.“He looked like he’d be the brains of the operation.”

My pride stung at the idea that Max and I had been played by Stiles.We’d stood there making polite conversation with someone who might have been casing the neighborhood, and we’d swallowed his story hook, line, and sinker.Maybe being on vacation had dulled my cop instincts and made me less suspicious.

“Harris,” C.J.said, “you need to keep a closer eye on things.How could that guy have gotten in here and had a whole conversation with Max and Royce without you even knowing he was here?”

“Well, I’m only one person, and I have to check on other properties too.”He tucked his vape away, looking guilty.“But I’ll keep a closer watch from now on.”

“Fair enough.”She sighed.

“And speaking of keeping this community safe, I’d better get back to work.”He gave me a courteous nod.“Nice meeting you, Royce.Hope you and Maxwell enjoy the rest of your vacation.”

“We’ll do our best.”

“Later, C.J.”Harris headed toward her house, taking the narrow path along the side that led out to the lane in front.

“I should probably go too,” I said, looking up at the threatening clouds.“Max will be home soon, and it looks like rain.”

“Before you go.”C.J.stood, twisting her hands nervously.“I wanted to apologize for pushing Max to talk to James.I could see Max was really upset when he came out of my room.I badgered James until he told me what he did.”

I frowned.“What exactly did James do?”

“Max didn’t tell you?”

“No.”

She bit her lip.“I guess you have a right to know.Apparently, James tried to kiss Max and convince him they should be together.”

I stiffened as a flush of anger worked its way through me.“You’re kidding.”

“Unfortunately, no.”

I scowled.“Wow, I’ve been trying really hard to be cool about James and he pulls that shit?”

“I know.But just so you know, Max was pissed.He laid into James telling him he loved you and that was that.”She glanced toward James’s dark home.“James was devastated and also really embarrassed.”