"No one is talking to Brooke tonight. There will be security on her room as soon as she gets out of surgery. There is nothing more we can do here," he added as he urged her toward the exit. "Did you recognize the man talking to Kyle?"
"No. I've never seen him before," she said as they got outside. "He sounded like he was involved. Kyle didn't seem to believe the burglar theory."
He met her gaze. "Yes, they sounded very much involved. But Kyle was shocked by Brooke's attack, which means he's not at the top. I'm not so sure about the other guy."
"We need to find out who he is."
"We will. I sent his photo to my team. We should have his identity shortly."
Haley was still thinking about the man with Kyle when they got back to Matt's apartment. She kicked off her heels and dropped onto the couch in exhaustion. Her adrenaline rush had finally worn off, and now she was just tired.
Matt grabbed two sparkling waters out of the fridge and handed her one as he sat down next to her.
"Thanks," she said, taking a grateful sip of the cool, bubbly liquid. "So, what now?"
Before he could reply, he got a text.
"What does it say?" she asked impatiently.
"Kyle's friend at the hospital is Viktor Danilovich. He's an importer/exporter and real estate investor. Worked alongside his father until his parents died in a carbon monoxide poisoning at a resort in Fiji while on vacation last year."
She raised an eyebrow. "That sounds weird."
"It appears to have been a tragic accident. His parents were from Belarus, but he was born in the US."
"Now he's running his family business."
"Yes." He looked back at his phone. "Here's the link we're looking for. Viktor's younger brother, Alexei, went to Westbridge with Henry, Drew, Trent, and, presumably, your brother. Do you remember that name?"
She shook her head. "No." She wanted to feel excited about the new information, but she just felt overwhelmed. "How are we ever going to figure this out, Matt? We're adding suspects instead of eliminating them."
"That isn't defeat in your voice, is it? You, the intrepid reporter who never gives up?"
She frowned at his words. "I'm frustrated."
"Of course you are. But we are making progress. It might be small steps, but we're moving forward."
"I'm a little surprised by your upbeat attitude, Matt. If I had had to guess who was the most optimistic of the two of us, I would have picked me."
A grin lifted his lips. "I would have, too. But I have more perspective on this case than you do." He paused. "I'm starving. How do you feel about turkey chili?"
She was taken aback by the abrupt change in subject, but also hungry and somewhat intrigued by his suggestion. "Turkey chili?"
"Are you a fan?"
"I am, but doesn't that take a long time to cook?"
"Not when I can just defrost it. I made a big batch last week."
She was continually surprised by the man next to her. "Then I'm in," she said as she got up and followed him into the kitchen.
While Matt was heating the chili, she made herself useful by fixing a salad with the lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes he had in the fridge.
As she finished the bowl and set it aside, she watched him stir the chili and said, "This is strange, isn't it? Friday morning, you wanted to arrest me, and look at us now, cooking together, living together…" Her voice drifted away as he gave her a look that was a mix of amusement and something else she couldn't define.
"Making a salad doesn't count as cooking, and as for living together, you are in the guest room."
"I know, but you have to admit, this feels oddly domestic but also nice. I've never had a man cook for me before."
