The waiter set down their coffees. Only then did Foreman finally speak.


    "Star, are you looking into what happened to Joshua?"


    Joshua was currently working as Ste''s assistant. Now that something had happened to him, there was no way Ste would just sit back and do nothing.


    She nodded.


    "Have you found any leads?" Foreman pressed.


    Ste''s thoughts churned as she considered how much to reveal. Before she could decide, Foreman lowered his voice.


    "Did you find out it''s connected to Haynie?"


    Ste''s eyes met his. "Foreman, do you... know something?"


    His expression turned grave. He nodded, speaking quietly. "This whole thing-it was Jasper who gave Haynie the idea. Jasper can''t keep his mouth shut. He let it slip to me yesterday. And there''s more..."


    Foreman studied Ste''s face for any reaction. "At first, they wanted to stage a car ident and have Joshua killed outright. When that failed, they moved on to n B. If something scandalous came out about Joshua, knowing you, you''d never keep someone like that around."


    Ste let out a mirthlessugh. "Haynie really does know me too well."


    Foreman dropped his gaze, sipping his coffee and hiding the glint in his eyes.


    He went on, "I heard Jasper say that, even though he and Haynie set this up, there might be some truth to it."


    He nced at Ste. "You know what they say where there''s smoke, there''s fire. No one knows where Joshua really came from. No background, no records. Maybe..."


    Ste cut him off with a frown. "Joshua isn''t that kind of person."


    Foreman''s gaze sharpened. "Star, do you really trust him that much?"


    "It''s not about trust," Ste replied. "I believe what I see with my own eyes."


    For a moment, Foreman''s breathing quickened.


    "But sometimes, what you see is just a mask. People can fake anything."


    bet


    Ste looked at him, a bit surprised "If he was really after money, I''d be target. And yet,


    his


    felt


    e slightest threat from ever


    him."


    Given her worth, if Joshua had any ill intentions, he would have made a move by now. But-


    She continued, "He''s never


    overstepped-not with me, not with Abby or Candida. Even when he stands up to Haynie on my behalf, it''s always within reason. He never uses it as an excuse to get close to me."


    "And with Keen and Marvin, he''s always acted perfectly normal." Foreman took another sip, as if tamping down a flood of emotion.


    "Still, that doesn''t prove he''s innocent. Maybe he''s just good at hiding it. The way he suddenly lost his memory after that ident with you don''t you think that''s suspicious?"


    "Star, after all this time, do you really think he''s just an ordinary guy?"


    Ste fell silent, her gaze distant.


    Foreman drew a deep breath. "There''s something I''ve never told you." "What is it?"


    "A while back," Foreman said, "I saw Rachel talking with Joshua."


    "When?"


    He hesitated, then lied smoothly, "Remember that day we all went horseback riding at the club?"


    There had been a crowd that day-Joshua, Rachel, and Foreman among them.


    Foreman kept twisting the knife. "What if he and Rachel already knew each other? What if he got close to you just to help her?"