Chapter 3

The door opened and Marco poked his head in, smiling at Natalie. "Mr. Milton is here."

"Thank goodness," she mumbled as she pushed to her feet.

"Mrs. Jernigan, don't leave Miami without notifying us," warned Jack. He shoved the photos and notes together into the file.

"Sure. If there's nothing else, I really need to speak to Mr. Milton."

"Be my guest." Jack frowned at Marco. The kid still wore that idiotic grin as Natalie passed by him into the hall.

"Leonard!"

The portly attorney turned from his conversation with a tall black-haired man. Natalie jerked to a halt and her jaw dropped. She didn't know which was more shocking - Leonard's new toupee or the fact that she recognized the other man.

"Paolo? Paolo Sabbatini?" she stammered. "What are you doing here?"

Leonard rushed forward before Paolo could respond and thrust a cup of coffee into Natalie's hand. "My dear girl, how are you?"

Natalie took a quick slurp. "Coping, I guess. I don't know." Her hands trembled as she took another drink. "Leonard, you have to help me sort out this mess! They're accusing Jeff of all kinds of things."

"I know. Paolo filled me in." Leonard's eyes slid from Natalie's distraught face to Paolo. "I didn't realize you two were acquainted."

"High school," said Paolo. His eyes drilled into Natalie.

"High school. Well, that . . ."

"That was a long time ago," said Paolo, cutting off the lawyer. "Marco has some papers for you to review." He indicated the younger agent who was advancing up the hallway.

"Of course." He glanced back to Natalie. "This shouldn't take long, then I'll drive you home." He patted her arm. "You'll have to have some of Mildred's blueberry muffins. She was putting them in the oven when I left."

"Okay," sighed Natalie. Leonard meant well, but made her feel like a child who needed a treat after getting a vaccination.

Leonard ambled off with Marco. Paolo and Natalie were left alone in the hallway. Already today she'd experienced shock, anger, and confusion. Now curiosity was added to the mix. "So . . . you didn't answer my question," said Natalie.

"I work here."

"You work here? You're FBI?"

A woman pushing a cart loaded with files prepared to enter the conference room. Paolo stepped over to hold the door open for her His jacket gapped open and Natalie glimpsed the gun under his left arm.

"I heard you went to law school after the University of Georgia."

"I did. Among other things."

He seemed disinclined to elaborate. They stood sizing up each other. If anything, Paolo was even more handsome than in high school. He looked like a corporate CEO with his expensive suit and exquisite grooming. Natalie caught a whiff of his designer cologne and her mind wandered back fifteen years.

He came to the states as an exchange student from Naples, Italy. Rumor had it he was from a wealthy Mafia family. Back then, he'd been a champion swimmer and tennis player when he wasn't seducing cheerleaders and pretending to need English tutoring. Natalie had been assigned to help him. She was appaled when she discovered his English was perfect and he only wanted to avoid sixth period calculus and cozy up to the other tutor, blond and busty Chelsea Baker. He even took Chelsea to prom and probably to bed afterwards.

Natalie snapped back to the present and frowned. "Now you're investigating my husband," she said flatly. Her brain was frazzled after the morning's events.

"I investigate white collar crime. Jernigan is one of the biggest crooks we've ever encountered. For five years we've been trying to put all the pieces together. He fled because he knew we were closing in." Paolo coninued to stare at her, but his eyes, the color of the Adriatic, seemed to soften with sympathy. "I'm sorry you got caught in the middle of this."

Natalie rubbed her forehead. A headache was developing. "Five years. That's how long I've known Jeff."

Leonard came bustling around the corner. Paolo glanced in his direction, then back to Natalie. "People are rarely what they seem," he said.

"Well, the good agents of the FBI are through with you, Natalie. Let's get you out of here," chirped Leonard. He took her elbow and steered her away. As they turned the corner, she cast a glance back at Paolo. People are rarely what they seem.

Was he referring to Jeff, or himself?