Page 18 of Dead Man's Alibi

Outside, the sun was shining.The air danced with spring.Maybe a good omen, if he believed in that kind of thing.

But when he stepped into the diner, he came to a sudden stop.

Jillwasin the corner booth with her laptop out and a half-eaten breakfast in front of her.But she was also laughing.At a man across the table from her.And even though Cal could just see maybe a quarter of the man’s profile, he immediately knew who it was.

“Looks like you’ve got competition, Cal.”

Cal blinked, looked over at the waitress who was almost always here in the mornings.They’d gone to high school together, though she was a year or two older.He’d been friends with her husband once upon a time.

Even though he felt a bit like he’d been hit with a gong, he smiled at her now.“How could that be when I’ve got my eyes on you?”

She rolled her eyes, patted herverypregnant belly.Which made him think about Aly yesterday.Putting her hand on her stomach kind of like that.

But surely not already.Unless that was why she and Landon had gotten married so quickly.

And definitely none of your business.

“Uh-huh.You want some coffee over there or your own table?”Ashley asked.

“Coffee over at Jill’s table will be fine.Thanks.”Which forced him to move.

Across the diner.Jill spotted him before he fully made it over.She aimed that smile at him, so Cal smiled back.

Or tried.

“Hi.I didn’t know if you’d be coming.Oh, here.”She scooted her things over, offering him a seat next to her.

Which he had to admit was a better seat than Jake’s.

“I read that scene you sent me.Just have a few notes,” Cal said, taking a seat next to her, keeping his attention on her rather than Jake.

“Oh, great.”Her enthusiasm seemed so genuine.“Actually, thisisgreat.A police perspective.”She gestured at Jake.“And a lawyer’s perspective.”

“You’re just missing a criminal’s perspective,” Jake offered.

Cal figured he could look at him now.Jake’s posture was languid.His gaze was pointed.A littlesmirk, no doubt over the wordcriminal.

Cal held the gaze, took a page out of Nate’s book, and didn’t react.Just held the stare until Jake was the one who looked away.

What was he doing here anyway?Did he think he could get some kind of dirt on Nate from Jill of all people?He supposed they all ran in the same circle now, but Jill was certainly a reach to be bothering.

Jake shifted in his seat, pulled his wallet out of his back pocket.He pulled out a card, held it out across the table to Jill.“I need to get into the station, but if you have any other law enforcement questions, I’d be happy to help.Call me at the office, or my cell is on there too.Reach out any time, Jill.”

“Thanks.Jake.”

The first name seemed a little tacked on, but she smiled and took the card and watched as Jake slid out of the booth.

He tapped the table, gave Cal a smile that wasn’t friendly at all.“See you around, Bennet.”

Cal just nodded, watching Jake saunter away.“Sometimes I just want to punch that guy,” he muttered.

“I thought you two were friends.”

Cal ran his palm over his jaw and realized he’d forgotten to shave again.“Sort of.Not so much right now.”

“Why?What happened?”

He hesitated.She’d likely find out from Aly at some point, but still… he hated making this whole thing with Nate a bigger deal than it was.