Page 76 of Smoke Screen
As houses went, this was nice. He supposed. Too highbrow for his taste, but these big-time finance guys, at least in Phin’s opinion, wanted everything over-the-top.
And not necessarily because they liked it. Rory Emlynson was one of them. He drove a Rolls because no one else on his block had one. Did the guy evenlikethat car?
At least when Phin made a major purchase, he enjoyed it.
People.
Complicated.
He rang the doorbell and, since this wasn’t exactly a stealth mission, lifted his head to the overhead camera and smiled. A few seconds in, the front door opened.
Phin had met Rory’s wife, a blonde with skin stretched tight over high cheekbones—she needed to ease up on the visits to her plastic surgeon—a few times at events. Now she stood eyeballing his jeans and pressed white T-shirt, her green eyes oozing annoyance.
“Can Ihelpyou? There’s no soliciting in this neighborhood.”
Seriously? That’s how she answers her door? He peered down at his Magnanni low-top sneakers. What about this get-up said homeless? He nearly laughed.
“Mrs. Emlynson, I’m Phin Blackwell. We met at Congresswoman Anderson’s charity ball in March. I’m a friend of Rory’s. I can promise you, I’m not selling anything.”
“Oh,” she said, her red lips forming a perfect oval. “I’m so sorry. We have the help constantly ringing the bell.”
Thehelp? What. The fuck? Who talked like this?
He might hate this woman.
“I could see wherethatmight be a problem,” he said, heavy on sarcasm.
“You really have no idea.”
She was right about that. Phin cleared his throat and stifled a sigh. “I was hoping to catch Rory after his round. Is he home?”
Knowing the man’s schedule added to Phin’s credibility and might earn him some points.
“He’ll be here any second.”
When she failed to invite him in, he considered his next move. She was probably alone. Why would she let him in?
Even if he knew her husband, he could be a freaking ax murderer.
Plus, no way he’d leave Maddy outside alone.
He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll wait out here.”
Before she got the door closed, a glistening white Range Rover pulled into the curving driveway.
Phin hustled to the three-car side garage before Rory could pull in, close the door, and duck him.
The stained door glided up in silence and Rory eased the SUV inside, killing the engine. He slid from the vehicle, offering a toothy smile tighter than his wife’s most recent facelift.
“Phin.” He exited the garage, moving into the sunlight with an extended hand. “This is a surprise.”
I’m sure it is.
Phin glanced to the curb where Maddy kept to her word and sat in the car, windows up. He’d left the engine running, AC on, so she wouldn’t bake.
“I was in the neighborhood.”
Rory rolled his eyes. “No, you weren’t.”
