“You want coffee?” I asked my brother.
“Hit Fortnum’s before hitting here. I’m juiced up,” he answered.
“And you didn’t bring me one?” I asked.
“Sorry, Ally. Didn’t think about it. Gotta have a word with you about a coupla things, then I gotta get back to Roxie.”
Hmm.
I was curious, so I decided not to give him shit about dissing me on the coffee.
I moved to a couch and sat with my leg tucked under me. I dipped my head to the other side and Hank moved there, settling in.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“We got a lock on who wrote that book,” he answered.
Oh shit.
“Honey, it’s Jane,” he finished.
I took in a breath and admitted, “I know.”
He did a slow blink. “You know?”
“I figured it out a few days ago. I’ve been trying to decide what to do with it.”
“You figured it out,” he stated.
“Uh… yeah,” I confirmed.
My brother stared at me.
Then he shook his head while looking away with a small smile playing at his lips.
That was weird so I called, “Hank?”
He looked back at me. “Mace phoned this morning.”
Here we go.
I was going to find out if I passed the Mace Test.
“And?” I prompted.
“And he said you were great last night, Ally.”
I passed.
So I smiled.
“I’ve asked Lee to train you,” Hank continued.
I stopped smiling and stared.
Then I asked, “What?”
“You need experience with a skilled investigator. The best in town is Lee. You need a license so you can charge enough to take care of you. He can help you get that. So I’ve asked him to train you.”
Oh my God!
I had Hank’s vote!
“And?” I said again.
“He’s thinking on it.”
Crap.
“Which means no,” I stated.
“It doesn’t mean no. It just doesn’t mean yes.”
Mm-hmm.
Whatever.
“I’m gonna tell him you figured it out about Jane,” Hank said. “And I’m gonna tell him you sat on that in order to figure out what to do, rather than reacted and fucked shit up. Even Lee didn’t know what to do. And you caught on before Brody. And as for me, through anything, I’ll have your back.”
