10:18 a.m.
JANIE STEERED their rented Honda Civic down the Atlantic City Expressway toward Philly as Veena, in the passenger seat, furiously scribbled notes—underlining phrases, drawing arrows to related ideas, circling key words.
Janie loved watching her boss work. It was like Veena was spilling the contents of her brain onto a series of yellow legal pads. Janie ordered them in bulk and sometimes had a hard time keeping up with the demand.
“What did you think of Ms. Cline?” Veena asked.
“I wish I could down a shot of her confidence,” Janie replied. “She seems to have life pretty much figured out.”
“She’s a mess, and her so-called confidence is yet another mask she wears. She’s still that same frightened ninth-grader who turned people-pleasing into a way of life.”
“Whoa, V. Kind of harsh, don’t you think?”
Veena shrugged and continued making notes.
“But yeah, I guess I can see that,” Janie said. “What tipped you off? Was it the Irish coffee?”
“No—the constant need to impress us. Only people who feel inferior do that.”
“Well, one thing was clear,” Janie said. “Roz was totally into Archie Hughes. She spoke of him like he was the love of her life, not a casual fling.”
Veena nodded. “She also knows a lot more than she’s saying. She probably thinks she’s protecting his memory, but I’m sure she’s also treading carefully. Above all else, Roz Cline is a survivor, and she doesn’t want to get sucked into the whirlpool.”
“So what’s the plan?”
“We stay on her until we learn what she knows. Roz was wary of me, but maybe she’ll cozy up to you, my underling and her potential enabler.”
“Me?”
“You’re the trusted underling. She’ll want an inside track on what I’m looking for, and you’re in a unique position to give it to her. Drop her a text. Tell her you loved what she said about living without shame, and gee, you really wish you could do that too. Maybe offer to buy her a drink, see where it goes.”
“I’m still hung up on the word underling, V. Is that how you see me?”
“Good—you can use that!”
Janie frowned. “Not exactly what I meant, but point taken.”
“Meanwhile, Cooper Lamb will be watching Archie’s other romantic entanglement, Maya Rain.”
“Cooper? I didn’t realize we’d partnered up with the opposing team.”
“We’re both trying to figure out the truth. That puts us on the same team.”