“You know how bad that looks?”She felt like slapping sense into him.
“I need to find out who did this, Selena.Morimer has eyes and ears I don’t have.”
“And you thought what, exactly?That you’d stroll up, ask politely, and he’d become a confidential informant out of civic pride?Morimer doesn’t do anything for free.”
“No, he doesn’t.”
“What did you offer him?”
Connor looked away.
Selena stopped pacing.“Tell me.”
“I paid him some cash.That’s all.”
The motel room seemed to shrink around the words.
“With what money?”
“My money.”
“How much?”
“Six thousand.”
“Six thousand dollars?”She stared at him.“Connor, are you out of your mind?”
“That’s been suggested more than once today.”
“Don’t joke.”
“I’m not.”
Selena pressed two fingers to the bridge of her nose, then dropped her hand.She knew she had to report this to Meg.At least, that was what the professional in her was saying.But Selena, the girl who fell in love with Connor in high school, was saying something very different.
Protect him.
She looked at Connor.“A man like Morimer only does something when he’s getting a good deal in return.”
“He took the money.”
“He took the opening.”
Connor shook his head.“I won’t owe him anything.Don’t worry.”
“That isn’t how this works.Once you’re in his pocket, he keeps a hand on you.”
“I’m not in his pocket.”
“How can you know?”
“Because I didn’t promise him anything.”
“Ask whether he accepts refunds if he decides the price has changed.”
Connor’s eyes hardened.“I’m not naive.”
“Yes, you are, if you think this ends with six thousand dollars and a handshake.”