Nick gave her an approving look. “Here in Adelina Beach it’s easy for him to fade into the shadows of Los Angeles. He’s more likely to stand out in a small, isolated town like Burning Cove.”
Vivian picked up her glass of wine, took a sip, and set the glass down on the counter. She started to crack eggs into a bowl. Rex observed the process with an intent expression. She glanced at him and decided to add a few more eggs. He was, after all, a large dog.
“For all we know the assassin could be a woman,” she said.
“True.”
His ready agreement amused her. “You don’t have any illusions about the female of the species?”
“I know they can be just as deadly as the male,” he said.
She smiled a little. “Obviously you are a man with modern attitudes when it comes to women. About this investigative work of yours—”
“What about it?”
“Judging by your clothes and that very nice custom Packard convertible parked out front I assume it pays well?”
“Occasionally. But if you’re wondering how I can afford the clothes and the car, the answer is that after my parents were killed I went tolive with my uncle. He’s very good at investing. He taught me a lot. I’ve been... lucky.”
“You’ve made money in the middle of the Depression?” She sniffed. “Something tells me more than luck is involved.”
“Uncle Pete has a knack for spotting good investments. He taught me everything I know. I look for companies engaged in activities that are vital to an economic recovery. Mining. Oil. Steel. Firms involved in agriculture.”
Vivian nodded. “The basics that the country needs to survive.”
“That’s the idea.” He drank some coffee.
Vivian smiled. “My father would approve of your approach. So would my sister.”
“Your sister?”
“Lyra got Father’s talent for business. If he wasn’t so old-fashioned he would have the sense to put her in charge of Brazier Pacific when he retires. He loves us very much but unfortunately he is not at all modern in his thinking. He wanted me to marry a man of his choosing, someone qualified to take charge of the company. I refused. Now that I’m gone he’s putting pressure on Lyra to take my place. Same man, incidentally.”
“Is she going to marry the man your father wants her to marry?”
“Looks like it.” Vivian cracked the last egg into the bowl. “Next month she and Hamilton Merrick are planning to celebrate their engagement.”
“Who is Merrick?”
“The man I was supposed to marry. My father and Hamilton’s have been close friends and business associates for decades.”
“So Merrick is set to take over your father’s firm?”
The speculative edge on the question caught her attention.
“Don’t go down that road,” she said. “If Hamilton marries my sister, he’s going to end up running Brazier Shipping. Why take the risk of having me murdered now? It would be more sensible to wait until he’s safely married to Lyra.”
“People are not always logical when it comes to large financial windfalls.”
Vivian picked up a whisk and started thrashing the eggs. “I admit I can’t say I trust Hamilton to be a faithful husband, but I refuse to believe he would hire a professional assassin.” She paused, thinking about it. “How does one even go about finding someone who is in the murder-for-hire business? I doubt if they advertise in the telephone book.”
“Good question.”
Chapter 13
Nick dreamed the dream that had haunted him for the past year...
It is one o’clock in the morning. The rooftop of the hotel is cloaked in fog. Down below, the streetlamps infuse the mist with a ghostly light, but here on the roof visibility is limited to less than a yard.
