Stalked by Brian Freeman

was normally plastered in place with half a can of hair spray, was mussed and spiky. He hadn’t shaved, and there was a yellow growth of stubble across the lower half of his face.
    “Sorry I’m late,” Dan said. “I was on the phone until two this morning about the new job. I can’t wait to move to Washington. Nothing wrong with Duluth, but I was born in Chicago, and it’ll be nice to be back in a real city again. Where Chinese food doesn’t mean the lunch buffet at Potsticker Palace.”
    Abel grunted. He ordered takeout every Monday from the Potsticker Palace and thought it was damn good.
    Dan put a croissant and two cheese Danish on a plate. “Not much for small talk, are you? That’s why some people think you’re a prick, Abel. Think about that. You’re looking even skinnier than when I last saw you. You don’t have cancer or something, do you?”
    Abel felt his face growing hot. “I run, okay? Everyone else in this town piles on lard to hibernate for the winter, and meanwhile, my cholesterol is one hundred and seventy-one without taking any goddamn Lipitor.”
    Dan laughed. “K-2 was right. You do go ballistic about that.”
    The man was deliberately pushing his buttons. Abel wasn’t going to miss him. He hoped that Dan went to a Chinese restaurant in Washington and choked on his broccoli stir-fry.
    “No offense, but why am I here?” Abel asked impatiently. “You don’t usually call me in until we’re ready to make an arrest.”
    “Well, are we?”
    “No way. We won’t have anything back on the forensics for a few weeks.”
    “All right, tell me what you’ve found since we last talked.” Dan sat down and chewed the end of a croissant.
    “I’ve looked at Sorenson’s finances. He had a net worth in the high seven figures and a strong cash flow at his business. He did well in the market. No litigation at the company. He hasn’t dismissed an employee in two years. There’s nothing suspicious in his work life.”
    “All of his money goes to Maggie now?” Dan asked.
    “Most of it. I saw his will. There are charitable provisions and some outright gifts to two sisters and a few nieces and nephews. Nothing more than a hundred thousand dollars. The bulk of the estate winds up in his wife’s hands.”
    “Nice nest egg for a cop. What about the happy couple?”
    “Not so happy.”
    “What does Maggie say about their marriage?”
    “She says they were fine, but she’s lying. I’ve got reports of arguments and affairs. He wasn’t sleeping in their bed. You ask me, they were headed for a divorce.”
    “Can we prove that?” Dan asked.
    “Not at this point. I do know that Maggie was seeing a shrink. Tony Wells. Sorenson went to see Tony the night he was killed.”
    “Do we know why?”
    “I called him. Tony says he can’t say anything unless Maggie waives privilege.”
    “That’s not likely,” Dan said.
    “Tony thinks Maggie is innocent, for whatever that’s worth,” Abel added.
    “It’s not worth squat. What about these affairs?”
    “His secretary says Sorenson catted around. I don’t have any names yet.”
    “What about Maggie? Is she getting any on the side?”
    “I’ve started asking around the department, but people don’t want to talk about her.”
    “Do you have her under surveillance?”
    “Sure, that’s standard M.O., but Maggie knows we’re doing it. She’s not stupid.”
    “Keep it up anyway. Twenty-four seven. I don’t want anyone saying we gave her special treatment.”
    “K-2 already ordered it.”
    “If you’re looking for affairs, remember that she’s always had a thing for Stride,” Dan reminded him.
    “Everyone knows that’s platonic.”
    “Yeah? Don’t be so sure.”
    Abel’s eyes narrowed. “Do you know something?”
    “I’m just saying they spend half their lives together. Check it out.”
    “If you say so.” Abel wasn’t convinced. He didn’t like Stride and didn’t much like Maggie either, but that didn’t mean they were heating