"She told me she's working on something."
"Do you believe her?"
"Well, she's part of the white-collar crime division, and there are a lot of CEOs wandering around, so it's possible." He paused as his gaze caught on the man stepping onto the patio with Jill. "Isn't that Trent Adler?"
"It is. And it looks like Jill is pointing him in our direction, which means she's not trying to hide him from us, which probably means he doesn't have anything to hide."
"Or the best defense is a good offense," he murmured.
ChapterTwelve
Haley considered Matt's rather cynical statement as she watched Trent move in their direction. Trent was of average height, dressed in an expensive dark-blue suit, his light-brown hair styled, his boyish, charming face giving him a rich boy-next-door kind of look. The last time she'd seen him, he'd been wearing jeans and a T-shirt, his eyes red from lack of sleep and maybe even some tears for her brother. He'd been twenty-one then and had seemed completely overwhelmed when she'd met with him the day after her brother's body had been found. He'd been nicer to her than some of the others. He'd actually given her a hug and told her how much he'd liked Landon.
"Haley," he said, giving her a compassionate smile. "Trent Adler. My sister told me you were here. I was surprised, but it's good to see you." His gaze ran down her simple blue dress. "You look better than the last time I saw you."
"I was going to say the same thing. This is Agent Matt Lawson."
He nodded, turning to Matt. "I heard you have some new information about Landon's death. Henry also told me yesterday that an associate of his died, and you were there asking questions about her. Are the two incidents related?"
She was surprised by his direct questions, but maybe Trent was smart to go on offense because he didn't appear at all threatened by their presence.
"I can't answer that," Matt said. "It's an ongoing investigation."
"Well, your appearance here suggests a connection, whether you can answer or not. What do you want to know? How can I help you?"
"Did you see Landon at the party? Did you witness his excessive drinking? Was there any kind of fight?"
"I wasn't at the party. I was at a friend's house that night, but my friends told me Landon was drinking heavily, that he started early on his twenty-first birthday celebration." Trent paused. "Landon was a good guy. He got along with everyone. I can't imagine anyone wanting to hurt him. He was very well-liked."
"I heard he was having problems with fraternity brothers wanting him to help them cheat by changing their grades or giving them test answers in advance," she interrupted. She didn't miss the sudden shift in his expression, although he quickly tried to cover it up.
"I don't know about that. I can't imagine Landon would help anyone cheat. He was very ethical."
"If he was being pressured by someone in the house, who do you think would have led that charge?" Matt asked.
"Are you suggesting that one of my fraternity brothers killed Landon?" Trent asked, bewilderment in his voice. "Because he wouldn't help them cheat?"
"I'm just asking questions," Matt said.
"The questions are insulting. And, no," Trent said with a decisive shake of his head. "I don't believe anyone was pressuring Landon, and I certainly don't believe anyone killed him. Whoever is feeding you that information doesn't know what they're talking about."
"Who doesn't know what they're talking about?" Henry Adler interrupted. "Agent Lawson, we meet again."
"Mr. Adler," Matt said, with a tip of his head.
"And Haley Kenton," Henry added with a nod in her direction. "It's been a long time."
"Yes, it has." Henry had been the least forthcoming of anyone she had spoken to about Landon. Even at twenty-one, he'd seemed slicker than the others.
"What are you talking about?" Henry asked.
"Landon's death," Trent said.
"I thought you were investigating Sabrina Lin's murder. How does that tie to Landon?" Henry asked with an inquisitive gleam in his eyes.
"I can't say," Matt replied.
Henry gave her a hard look. "What about you? Do you believe they're connected, Haley?"
