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around me.
    I sat there watching the house for almost twenty minutes before Carter called back.
    “Anything going on?’ he asked.
    “No. Just sitting here cold and hungry. Did you find her real name?”
    “Yep. Her name is Reece Dutton and she owns the house you’re looking at. She’s thirty-three years old, has been divorced a few years and has one child, a daughter named Amy but, get this, she works as a guidance counselor at Fitch high school.”
    “If she’s gainfully employed then why is she hooking on the side?”
    “Good question,” he said. “Maybe her ex isn’t helping with child support and she needs to subsidize her income.”
    “So what next? Should we call Wayne and tell him we found her?”
    “I still want to try and find out who paid her to sleep with Wayne Thursday night.”
    “Well, there’s no point in me hanging around here any longer. Why don’t I come get you at the hotel?”
    “Thanks. I’ll be waiting for you outside.”
     
    Once I picked Carter up, he suggested we grab a bite to eat. Since I was starving, I wholeheartedly agreed. We found a Papa Gino’s, went inside and ordered a large veggie pizza.
    After getting comfortable at a booth, we discussed how best to proceed with the investigation.
    “Wayne just wanted to know Rita’s real name,” I said.  “So, technically, the job is done, right?”
    “Wayne will want to know who hired her. He’s the one we’re really looking for.”
    “Unless Reece was lying to you,” I said. “Maybe the story she told you about the guy at the mall was bogus. I mean, it sounded pretty unbelievable to me.”
    “You might be right. Either way, we should let Wayne know the score.”
     

Chapter 8
     
    When we told Wayne that Rita’s real name was Reece Dutton and that she worked as a prostitute, his expression was filled with hurt and confusion.
    “I had no idea she was a prostitute,” he said, hanging his head in shame.
    “She told us that a guy paid her two thousand dollars to get you to take her home,” Carter said. “Any ideas? Is it possible someone you work with played a prank on you?”
    “No. Why would anyone waste two grand on a practical joke like that?” Wayne stood up and began to pace the room slowly like a lost soul. “So what do we do now?”
    “Well, Sarah and I can keep working on this with the hope of finding this guy who paid Reece to sleep with you. She gave us a vague description of him. Middle aged, about six feet tall, well dressed. Can you think of anyone who fits that?”
    Wayne pursed his lips, eyes focused straight ahead as if in deep thought. “That pretty much describes most of the guys I work with. As I said, though, none of them would have done this. It doesn’t make sense. Maybe that prostitute is lying to throw you guys off.”
    “That’s a possibility,” Carter agreed, “but she seemed pretty sincere to me. Here’s what I suggest. Let us go to the Cambridge mall and ask around. Maybe someone there will be able to confirm seeing Reece talking to the man who fits the description last Thursday around lunchtime.”
    “Fine,” Wayne said. “I guess it’s worth a shot.”
     
    I stared out the windshield as the rain pelted down. The highway was deserted at this hour but Carter was driving faster than he should have been in the circumstances. I’ve learned not to be a back seat driver with him, so I kept my opinions to myself.
    When Carter pulled up to my apartment it was 9:25pm and probably too late to offer him a nightcap. We’d had a long day and I was exhausted. Carter seemed a little droopy-eyed as well. I leaned toward him, placing my hand on his leg. “Pick me up in the morning?”
    He offered a tired smile as he softly pinched my chin. “You bet.”
    I waited half a beat, just to see if he’d lean over and kiss me, but he didn’t. The small display of affection on my chin was apparently all he was willing to give. “You’re feeling guilty about Max, aren’t you?”
    He blinked