A.R. Winters - Valerie Inkerman 01 - Don't Be a Stranger by A.R. Winters

wouldn’t have seen it in you!”
    “That’s not true!” I protested quickly. “That’s uh…” I smiled despite myself, and Jerry glared at me.
    “You do know he’s a player, right? He never spends more than one night with the same woman.”
    “I’m not planning on sleeping with him.” Not straight away, at least.
    “Well, I’d hope not! He’s a suspect! Maybe he’s just being nice to you to throw us off his trail.”
    I shook my head. “Don’t be silly. We’re not – it’s just an interview. Over dinner. That’s all.”
    “Ok, then. I’ll come along with you.”
    “No. No way.”
    “Why not? You said I could come along with you from now on.”
    “I don’t want you messing things up,” I said quickly. “I don’t want you saying stupid things.”
    “I won’t say a word. You won’t hear a peep from me. Scout’s honor.”
    “You were never a boy scout.”
    “Well, whatever. I’ll be good. I promise.”
    “No. It’s not going to happen, Jerry. I promise I won’t sleep with him, and I won’t even see him again until the investigation’s over.”
    “Unless there’s a lead on him.”
    “Unless there’s a lead on him,” I agreed, even though I was sure there wouldn’t be.
    “And you’re not going to sleep with him?”
    “No! Of course not!” Well, at least not right after the first date.
    “I don’t know… the guy’s pretty charming.”
    “I’m sure I’ll be able to resist him.”
    “Huh.”
    Jerry didn’t seem to be completely convinced, so I decided to gather up my index cards and said, “Anyway, I’m going to go for a run now.”
    “No, you don’t have time.”
    I glanced at the clock. It was almost three o’clock. “There’s five hours to go. I’m sure I’ll be able to get dressed in that time.” And do my hair and makeup and maybe do a few crunches.
    “No, I mean, I set up an appointment with Kevin at four o’clock for you.”
    I frowned. “Esme’s ex-boyfriend? How’d you do that?”
    Jerry smiled. “We went to the same high school. He was three years older than me.”
    “Right. Of course you’d know him. Is there anyone in Manhattan you don’t know?”
    Jerry shrugged modestly, and I sighed. “Ok, fine. And since I can’t take you to dinner, you can come on this one with me.”
    “Great! We’ll meet him at the Starbucks near his office.”
    I nodded, hoping that for once, I’d learn something new about Esme.              

Chapter Twenty- One
     
    Kevin was a tall, bespectacled man who looked vaguely stressed out. He turned up at exactly four o’clock, checking his watch and glancing around the half-empty Starbucks until he spotted us.
    He greeted Jerry with a manly, back-slapping hug, and then turned to shake hands with me. “Good to meet you.”
    I smiled and said something polite in response, after which he excused himself in order to get a coffee.
    I watched him go up to the counter. This particular Starbucks had comfy-looking armchairs scattered about, and a wall lined with small wooden tables. The few patrons at this hour were mostly business-types who seemed to be meeting clients or discussing work. Kevin fitted right in, with his dark business suit and slightly harried expression.
    When he came back to join Jerry and me, he said, “I was really sorry to hear about Esme, of course. So unexpected.”
    I nodded. “Yes. Do you – you didn’t think she might have had any enemies, anyone who might’ve wanted to hurt her?”
    “Oh no, of course not. Esme was a sweetheart.”
    “Why’d you break up?”
    Kevin shrugged. “We were in different places. I wanted to settle down, and Esme wanted to focus on work. In the end, we decided we weren’t right for each other, not just then.”
    “Are you with anyone else now?”
    Kevin smiled, and held up his left hand. A thin gold band glinted on his finger. “We got married last month.”
    “Congratulations!” I said. “That’s great news.”
    “Yeah,” said Jerry, “I