"I used that argument."
"And?"
"It got me nowhere."
"Appeal to her basic human decency."
"I did that too. Didn't shake her a smidgen. If she would run around on her husband, I doubt she has a sense of decency. Although," he added on a mumble, "she seemed decent enough at first."
"Well, if worse comes to worst, Pat Bush could subpoena her."
"To appear before a federal grand jury." Lucky sighed and tiredly dug his fingertips into his eye sockets, which were shadowed by fatigue. "I was hoping it wouldn't have to go even that far. With business so bad…" He lowered his hands and looked at his brother. "I'm sorry, Chase. I really screwed up this time. And the worst of it is that I'm dragging Tyler Drilling, you, and everybody else down with me."
Chase rose from his barstool and affectionately slapped his younger brother between the shoulder blades. "Your hide is more valuable to me than the business. I'm worried about the guy who actually set the fire. What's the bastard planning to do next?" He consulted the wall clock. "Guess I'd better get on out there and baby-sit those investigators."
"I'll be along later."
"Uh-uh. You're taking the day off."
"Says who?"
"Says me."
"You're not my boss."
"Today I am."
They'd been playing that universal sibling game almost since they were old enough to talk. Lucky gave in much sooner than usual.
Chase said, "You look like hell. Stay home today. Get some sleep." Turning, he headed for the bedroom. "If you're gone by the time I get out of the shower, I'll be in touch later today."
After Chase had withdrawn, Tanya smiled at her brother-in-law. "What would you like for breakfast?"
"Nothing," he replied, getting to his feet. "Thanks, though." At the front door of the apartment, he pulled her into a hug. "I should take a cue from my big brother, find a woman like you, marry her, and quit screwing around for good. Problem is, since you've been taken, there aren't any good broads left."
Laughing, she shoved him away. "Lucky, I seriously doubt you'll sweep a woman off her feet by referring to her as a broad."
He smiled, but there was more chagrin than humor behind it. His blue eyes were tired and dull and puzzled. "Tanya, why would a married woman share a motel room with a total stranger in the first place, then let him make love to her?"
"It happens all the time, Lucky. Don't you read the statistics?"
"I know, but…" He gauged her worried frown. "I know you probably feel uncomfortable talking about this with me, but I feel like a jerk discussing it with another man, even Chase. Will you listen? Please?"
"Of course."
He hesitated, but only momentarily. "Devon just wasn't the type to pick up a stranger and go to bed with him. I've been with plenty of women who do it routinely, and she was different."
"How so?"
"In every way. Looks. Attitude. Actions." He shook his head in bafflement. "Why would she take a life-threatening risk like that? For all she knew, I was a psychopath, or had a venereal disease or God knows what else. She's married. She and her husband live well. She's got a successful career. Why would she risk all that? And if she's got the guts to do it, why get squeamish when it's time to 'fess up?"
"I don't know, Lucky," Tanya said, sounding genuinely sorry that she couldn't provide him with an answer. "I can't imagine being unfaithful to Chase. I can't imagine even being tempted."
He squinted his eyes with concentration. "I don't think she planned it to happen. It wasn't like she was on the make. In fact, she tried everything she could to avoid me. She's almost militant in her feminism, takes issue with sexual labels, things like that. Real defensive about it." He paused, carefully choosing words to describe Devon Haines to Tanya.
"She's put together well, you know? Dresses professionally. Seems to have every situation under control. I certainly couldn't call her flighty." He blew out a gust of air, indicative of the depth of his confusion. "She's just not whimsical. And it's not like she seduced me, or even vice-versa. I mean, it just sorta happened. We were both half-asleep and kinda rolled toward each other, and I started touching her, kissing her, and she started responding, and before we knew it, we were … you know."
During his speech Tanya had been watching him closely. "Lucky," she asked softly, "which bothers you most? The fact that she declines to come forward and clear you? Or the fact that she's married?"