Page 43 of Concrete Evidence
Marc had agreed to play an online version of a game called the Royal Game of Ur, supposedly five thousand years old, before hitting the road back to Houston. “And this originated in ancient Mesopotamia?”
“Yes. And you haven’t answered me.”
“Why would a fifteen-year-old want to play a game this old?”
“It’s fun, and you still haven’t answered my question.”
Marc peered into her face with her button nose. Just plain cute. “She’s a woman I interviewed for an open case.”
She tapped her chin. “The FBI website doesn’t mention taking interviewees to dinner. On a Sunday.”
“Busy week ahead, and this way I get ahead of my list.” He studiedthe rules for Ur and downloaded the game onto his iPad. “You go first. I’ll take the black disk.”
She took her online move, and the iPad sounded like her disk scraped over rock. Go figure.
“Brother, is she smart and pretty?”
“Haven’t paid attention.” He took his turn and landed on a bonus square. “I’m off to a good start.”
“Not unless you change clothes before you go to dinner.”
He glanced at his jeans and knit pullover. “What’s wrong with what I have on?”
She shook her head. “Your jeans look like you ironed a crease in them, and you’re wearing a white shirt. Not a fashion statement.”
“I’ll take your recommendation into consideration.”
“Hard to do when I don’t know what’s in your closet.”
“Soon you can fix me.” With the game tied two to two, he reached into his reservoir of questions. “Did you play this with our father?”
“Yep.”
“Ever play it with Liam Zachary or Senator Elliott?”
A dramatic breath filled the small kitchen. “Am I being recorded?”
“You are too smart for your own good.” He grinned, never expecting to have this much fun with Tessa.
“Yes. Both of them. Dad got hooked on Ur.” She took her move. “And I usually won.”
Marc stored her response. “He was competitive?”
“Is it hot in August?”
“Ever hear a criticism about Mr. Zachary?”
“Dad said he took too many chances.”
“In what way?”
Tessa shrugged. “The two were on the phone, and it was Dad’s answer to something Liam said.”
“What else did you hear?”
Her demeanor shadowed. “Whatever they were talking about,Dad refused to go to you for help. He said, ‘I won’t put Marc into a situation that could get him killed.’”
“Why didn’t you tell me this before now?” Marc couldn’t mask the irritation in his voice. “I’m sorry. What’s going on with you? I don’t understand the concern about a girlfriend, and now I sense you’re trying to protect me.”
