McCarson looked alarmed and somewhat offended. “Are you crazy? I’m a professional.”
Alice smiled her stage smile. “A professional stalker?”
“I’m not stalking you,” McCarson growled. “Like I said, I was told that you were blackmailing my client. Now, if you can prove otherwise—”
“She doesn’t have to prove anything,” Drake said. “You’re the one who broke in here tonight. Turns out I’m a witness. Convincing the police you’re not a stalker or a burglar will be your problem.”
“Go ahead, have it your way,” McCarson said. He shook his head. “But I’m telling you, you’re wasting your time. Ms. North is right in saying that the Whitcombs are powerful. They could buy and sell half of Resonance City. Who do you think the cops will believe?”
“I’m pretty sure they’ll take my word for what happened here tonight,” Drake said.
“Yeah?” McCarson looked amused. “Who do you think you are?”
“Drake Sebastian. My family owns Sebastian, Inc. Maybe you’ve heard of the firm. It could buy and sell Whitcomb Industries.”
McCarson groaned. “Ah, shit.”
“It gets better,” Drake said. “Among other things, we design and manufacture most of the high-tech security equipment and the psi-tronics that the local cops use. Sebastian, Inc. has a lot of connections with the Crystal City PD.”
McCarson grimaced. “Shit.”
“We’ve also got an excellent relationship with the local Ghost Hunters Guild. I could call in a favor from the Crystal City boss. Trust me when I tell you that the Whitcombs don’t have any influence over him. The Guilds have always been good at making problems disappear into the tunnels.”
McCarson exhaled heavily. “I believe you. You’ve made your point. I knew this job sounded a little too good to be true.”
“Unfortunately, pressing charges against you and making them stick would be more trouble than it’s worth,” Drake said. “I don’t have the time to spare. I think we might be able to resolve this situation to everyone’s satisfaction, however.”
McCarson eyed him with deep suspicion. “What’s it going to cost me?”
Drake smiled. “Your specialty: information.”
McCarson looked even more wary. “Information about who or what?”
“Your client must have given you a file on Ms. North.”
“What of it?”
“I want everything that’s in it.”
McCarson managed a fairly good imitation of appearing deeply offended. “Haven’t you ever heard of client confidentiality?”
“Sure, but your little act of breaking and entering tonight indicates to me that your ethics are somewhat flexible.”
McCarson’s mouth twisted. “Just trying to make a living.” He shot a veiled look at Alice. “Besides, as far as I knew, Ms. North is a blackmailer. That ranks pretty damn low on the ethics scale.”
“It would if it were true,” Drake said. “But it’s not.”
“How do you know that?”
Drake started to respond but there was no need.
“Get real, McCarson,” Alice snapped. She threw out her arms to indicate the shabby little studio apartment. “Do you think I’d be living in a dump like this if I was making big bucks blackmailing the Whitcombs?”
McCarson blinked. It was clear he had not considered that angle.
“Huh,” he said. His brow furrowed. “Well, maybe you haven’t been able to spend the money yet.”
Alice raised her eyes to the ceiling. “Oh, for pity’s sake. Face the truth, Mr. McCarson. You’re working for a woman who is obsessed with revenge. I get that. But she’s wasting time and money looking in all the wrong places. She should be looking for whoever murdered her son.”
“That’s enough,” Drake said. He studied McCarson. “I want the file. I assume it’s on your computer.”
“No, Mrs. Whitcomb’s assistant gave me a hardcopy file when I agreed to take the job,” McCarson said. “For some reason the client doesn’t want a computer file created.”
“Sure, because it would be evidence that she’s been stalking me,” Alice said.
McCarson ignored that. “The file that I was given is locked in the trunk of my car. But I’ll tell you right now, there’s not much in it.”
“Let’s take a look,” Drake said.
They all trooped down the hall and back downstairs to the lobby. Outside McCarson led them to an inexpensive rental parked at the curb. He opened the trunk, reached into a briefcase, and removed a file folder. He handed it to Drake.
“Knock yourself out,” McCarson said. “Can I go now?”
“Sure,” Drake said. “One more thing, though.”
“Now what?”
“When you tell Ethel Whitcomb that you’re off the case, you can tell her something else.”
“What’s that?” McCarson asked.
Drake looked at him. “Let her know that Ms. North has moved on with her life. Tomorrow she will be entering into a Marriage of Convenience with me.”
Alice opened her mouth on what he knew was going to be a shocked—make that horrified—protest. He moved his head ever so slightly, willing her to keep silent. Somewhat to his amazement, she closed her mouth again without uttering a word.
McCarson did not appear to notice the byplay. He just snorted and slammed the trunk of the car.
“I don’t know why you want to enter an MC with Ms. North, given her track record with husbands, but I assume you have your reasons. Good luck and watch your back is all I can say. Can I go now?”
“Yes,” Drake said. “But make certain the news of the marriage gets to Ethel Whitcomb.”
“No problem,” McCarson said.
He walked around to the driver’s-side door and got behind the wheel.
Alice stood beside Drake. He could tell she was seething. Together they watched McCarson’s car turn the corner and drive away into the night.
“What in the world was that all about?” Alice asked.
“I need you on Rainshadow. I do not need an endless series of investigators following you to the island and getting in my way.”
“I see.” She gave that a moment’s consideration. “You think that if Ethel believes that I’m in an MC with you she will back off on the stalking?”
“Ethel Whitcomb might be determined to carry on with her campaign of harassment, but she’s going to have a big problem finding private investigators who will agree to work for her once they find out that you’re married to me.”
“Oh. Yeah.” Alice blew out a long sigh. “I see where you’re going with this.”
“I’m fairly certain that common sense and a healthy survival instinct will convince ninety-nine out of a hundred PIs to decline her offer of a job. They’ll know what they’re going up against.”
“And the one who isn’t convinced?”
“We’ll know something important about him, whoever he is.”
“Which is?”
“That he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed.” Drake hesitated. “But this plan will only work if the marriage is for real.”
Alice’s brows shot up. “You’re suggesting we actually go through with an MC?”
“Ethel Whitcomb is bound to check, don’t you think?”
Alice groaned. “Probably. What happens if I accept your job offer and agree to an MC and we actually find those missing crystals?”
“After the business on Rainshadow is finished, I’ll take care of Ethel Whitcomb for you.”
Alice gave him a searching look. “Geez, you’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Consider it a bonus payment for helping us find the crystals.”