He was impressed, but he was also troubled that she hadn't called him with the information. "I thought you were going to reach out to me if you found anything. That was the deal for not taking you in, remember?"
"I haven't found anything yet. I don't even know for sure if Alanna was the one texting with Sabrina."
"She was."
"You got her phone open," Haley said, a new gleam in her eyes. "What else did you learn? Did Sabrina know how my brother died? Did she say who was involved?"
"No. The text messages between Sabrina and Alanna were cryptic, no details, just concern about getting involved in something they never explicitly talked about."
She gave him a speculative look. "Is that true or just what you're telling me?"
"It's both."
"Then we need to talk to her."
"Ineed to talk to her," he corrected. "You need to let me handle this."
Haley immediately shook her head. "You need me."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm the link, Agent Lawson. I know Westbridge. Alanna and Sabrina went there, and the information Sabrina had for me was about my brother. Alanna will be more willing to talk to me than to you."
"You might be the last person she wants to talk to if your brother got Sabrina killed."
Her lips tightened. "I'm speaking to her. You can't stop me."
He could stop her, but she had made a fair point, and he was more interested in getting information than fighting with her. "Fine. You can come with me, but I'll take the lead."
"Got it, boss," she said with a sarcastic edge to her voice. "You lead; I follow. Do you want me to open the door for you so you can go in first?"
She was definitely more of a smart-ass now than she'd been this morning. He grabbed the handle and opened the door for her. "After you. My grandfather told me to never let a woman open a door for herself if I'm standing right there."
"He sounds like a charming man; nothing at all like you."
He couldn't help but smile. "He would agree with that assessment."
"Is he still alive?" she asked as they walked through an empty lobby to the elevator.
"Sadly, no."
"It's weird," she said as she pushed the button for the elevator.
"What's weird?"
"To hear a man talk about his grandfather teaching him something."
"That's strange?"
"To me it is, but I don't know much about families."
He wanted to ask her what she meant by that cryptic comment, but the elevator doors were opening, and it was time to focus on work.
Stepping into the lobby of Hartwell and Associates, he gave the older woman sitting at the desk a brief smile. "I'm Special Agent Matt Lawson," he said, showing her his badge. "I'm here to see Alanna Morris."
The woman stiffened. "Oh. Okay. I'll see if she's free. Can I tell her what this is about?"
"Just tell her it's important."
