Trust Me on This - Jennifer Crusie [21]
It was the way they stood, she decided. And moved. And looked around a room. Big men so confident, they couldn’t imagine a situation they couldn’t handle. That agency they both worked for must train them to be that way. No one could be born as sure of himself as these two were.
Alec pulled chairs out from the desk in the corner of the room, waving to them as he spoke. “Victoria, this is Harry Chase, my boss. Harry, this is my aunt, Victoria Prentice.”
“We’ve done that already,” Victoria said. “Should I call down to room service for coffee?”
“Hell, no,” Harry growled. “This isn’t a party.”
“No, thank you, Aunt Vic,” Alec said. “It’s getting late, so I’ll just give you the basics and let Harry fill in the rest, and then we can all get some sleep.”
Victoria sat down and smiled sweetly at Harry because she knew it would disconcert him. Harry scowled at her.
Alec looked at both of them, confused. “Have you two met before?”
“Oh, no,” Victoria said. “I’d have remembered Harry.”
“Can we get on with this?” Harry said.
“Sure,” Alec began but Harry overrode him, turning to Victoria as he spoke.
“There’s a guy in this hotel going by the name of Brian Bondman who’s made a career out of bilking college professors,” he told her.
“What’s his real name?” Victoria asked.
“Forget it,” Harry said. “If you don’t know it, you can’t use it accidentally and screw everything up.”
“Harry,” Alec said. “Be nice.”
Victoria tried to wither Harry with a glance, but he ignored her and went on. “We’ve almost had him a couple of times, but he’s gotten away through sheer dumb luck.”
“Dumb luck,” Victoria sniffed. “Sounds like an excuse.”
“Aunt Vic,” Alec warned.
“Well, he’s here now, and we’re going to get him this time,” Harry said. “And Alec’s brainstorm is to use you to nail him.” His tone of voice made it clear how he felt about that plan.
“We want you to make contact with him,” Alec told her. “Be your usual charming self and talk about your money and your investments. You know, act rich.”
“What if he checks me out?” Victoria said. “I’m not rich.”
Harry looked at her gold earrings, silk blouse, and perfect hair, and snorted. Victoria ignored him.
“Harry, knock it off.” Alec turned back to Victoria. “He won’t, Aunt Vic. You’re a professor and that’s enough for him. He’ll see your name in the conference program and figure he’s home free.”
“He can’t be too bright if he’s targeting college professors,” Victoria said. “We’re not known for being wealthy.”
“Depends on your definition of ‘wealthy,’ ” Harry said. “You’re sure not poor.”
Victoria ignored him some more. “Any ideas on how I meet this man?”
“There’s a woman,” Alec said. “Dennie Banks. She’ll introduce you to him. In fact, she can’t wait. You’re having lunch with her tomorrow.”
Victoria rolled her eyes at him. “I can’t, I’m having lunch with Janice. I should have known you’d find a woman. Is this your blonde?”
“Brunette,” Alec said automatically. “And you have to ditch Janice for Dennie because Dennie is going to introduce you to her partner, and he’s the one we want.”
Victoria turned to Harry. “And after I’m introduced, then what?”
“Then we put a wire on you, and we’ve got him,” Harry said. “That’s the theory anyway.”
“A wire?” Victoria looked nonplussed.
“Don’t you ever watch TV cop shows?” Harry asked.
“No.” Victoria put her chin in the air. “I’m an intellectual.”
“You are not.” Alec glared at both of them. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you two, but snap out of it. You’ve got work to do. Act like adults. This is no time to start a second childhood.”
“A wire,” Harry said with palpable patience, “is a very small microphone and transmitter. What he says to you, we will hear and tape.”
“Big deal.” Victoria sniffed. “I don’t see what’s so tough about this.”
Harry sighed. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“In fact, we don’t even need your blonde, Alec, so I can still have